 APRO: The Official Voice of the Rent to Own Industry
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RTOHQ.org Sitemap
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Sitemap of APRO's RTOHQ.org Website:
APRO's RTOHQ Homepage APRO's RTOHQ.org website is the Official Voice of the Rent-to-Own Industry. Find RTO news, rent-to-own events and calendars, rent-to-own resources and rent-to-own industry information at RTOHQ.org. Contact APRO Contact the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations. Phone, fax, address and email contact information for APRO. Join APRO (Rental Dealers) Use this form to join APRO as a Rental Dealer. Join APRO (Vendors) Use this form to join APRO as a Rent-to-own Vendor. RTO Today Weekly e-Newsletter Use this form to sign up for RTO Today, APRO's weekly e-Newsletter for the Rent-to-own industry. APRO's Rent-to-Own Customer and Employee of the Year Entry Form Use this form to nominate someone for APRO's Rent-to-Own Customer of the Year or Employee of the Year Awards. APRO's Rent-to-Own Photo Gallery Browse through the photos from APRO and Rent-to-own events and happenings. About Rent-to-Own Rent-to-own Product Manuals Here are links to rent-to-own product manuals available online from some of APRO's vendor companies. If you are an APRO vendor and would like to make your online product manuals more accessible to your customers, please contact APRO by e-mail or by calling 800/204-2776, ext. 103, and your company's ... Rent-to-own Reports and Studies Survey of Rent-to-Own Customers published by the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Economics [This report is most beneficial to policy makers, news reporters, legal and legislative analysts] While there has been considerable debate concerning the rent-to-own industry over the past decade or more, there has been little independent systematic ... Rent-to-Own Organization and Company Websites Rent-to-own Organization Websites AVB-BrandSource Arkansas Rental Dealers Association California Rental Dealers Association Florida Rental Dealers Association Illinois Rental Dealers Association Missouri Rental Dealers Association New York Rental Dealers Association Ohio Rental-Purchase Dealers Association RentDirect Nationwide Rental-Purchase Dealers Association of Indiana Tennessee Rental Dealers Association Texas Association of Rental Agencies ... Rent-to-own franchise companies Here are most of the key players in the rent-to-own franchise industry. A complete profile of each company - including information on what franchisors are seeking in franchisees, as well as statistics and expected growth - is available both on this website and as a PDF by clicking on ... Rent-to-own franchising By Geoff Williams They can focus on their business and not have to worry about vendor or business relationships. We’ve already established those on their behalf,” says Larry Sutton, owner of Rent-n-Roll Custom Wheels and Tires. “We also have a media buying service. We can take ... RTO: Rent-to-Own Changing With the Times Ownership is just an option The emphasis is on renting, not necessarily owning. While ownership is an option, industry research and statistics have consistently shown that over the past 20 years, three out of four rent-to-own customers—75 percent—return their products within four months. The choice is the ... The rent-to-own customer The rent-to-own transaction is the most flexible transaction in the marketplace today. The fact that customers can return a product at any time for any reason distinguishes itself as a unique and valuable transaction filling many niches. Consumers have choices. They can buy used merchandise, which many customers do ... Rent-to-Own: Cost vs. Value No long-term obligation.Terminate the agreement at any time for any reason.Never incur debt.Credit is never extended.Credit checks are never required.Flexible payment options: weekly, bi-weekly, monthly.Early-purchase options-offering significant price reductions.Re-instatement rights. If a customer has to return a product for any reason during ... Rent-to-own prices For years, critics of rent-to-own have targeted the industry’s prices as being the primary negative aspect of the business. What those critics fail to acknowledge is that rent-to-own doesn’t simply offer new, name-brand products. With every transaction, customers receive unparalleled service, flexibility of payments and no obligation ... Rent-to-Own Industry Overview What is rent-to-own? The $6.8-billion rent-to-own industry—or RTO—is relatively new to the American economy. The unique rent-to-own transaction sprang up in the 1960s in response to a growing consumer need for acquiring the use of household products without incurring debt or jeopardizing the family’s credit. ... What is APRO? APRO's Rent-to-Own Collection Practices These collection guidelines were initiated by the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations for its members and their businesses. Use this link to download a printable PDF of the Collection Practices that you may wish to display in your stores. APRO has also created a list of Code of Ethics ... Meet the staff of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations Bill Keese, Executive Director 800/204-2776, ext. 101 Bill oversees all operations of the association, manages the staff and resources and implements APRO board policy. If you've got a policy question– or any question about APRO– he's the person to contact. Email: bkeese@rtohq.org Tulisha Carson, Office Manager 800/204-2776, ext. ... APRO Vendor Advisory Committee The APRO Vendor Advisory Committee serves a critical function in addressing APRO suppliers’ needs and issues. The committee sets the direction and helps with many of the specifics of the convention and buying show, while providing an important link between vendors and dealers. Committee members serve staggered, two-year terms ... APRO's Board of Directors APRO is governed by a 17-member elected board of directors. Sixteen directors serve staggered two-year terms with eight directors elected each year. The 17th board member is from the vendor community and is elected by the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. All directors are elected at the annual convention. For ... Honoring the Rent-to-own Industry's Finest The APRO "Buddy" Awards are presented every year to those outstanding individuals and organizations that have raised the level of what can be done to better the industry for everyone. The recipients are named at the annual APRO Awards Banquet held during the association's Convention and Buying Show. ... APRO's Scholarship Foundation Association of Progressive Rental Organization members are dedicated to the future of the rent-to-own industry and have demonstrated their commitment by establishing a permanent fund to award college scholarships each year. The APRO Scholarship Foundation is currently in its development phase, raising the funds necessary to establish a permanent ... RTO [Relief to Our] Employees Disaster Relief Fund In 2005, members of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations contributed more than $190,000 to help rent-to-own employees get back on their feet after the devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The rent-to-own community helped 159 employees survive and recover from these natural disasters. Unfortunately, natural disasters ... Rent-to-own Industry Timeline Rent-to-own Industry 1980-1989 July 1980 In Dallas, the first meeting of rental dealers is held November 1980 Incorporation of the Association of Progressive Rental Dealers Association; Ed Winn III appointed executive director of APRO March 1981 First issue of The APROach is published July 1981 First annual APRO Convention ... APRO's Rent-to-Own Code of Ethics These ethics guidelines were devised by the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations for its members and their businesses. You may also download a printable PDF of the Code of Ethics that you may wish to display in your stores. APRO has also created a list of Collection Practices in ... Membership Benefits APRO saves you money! APRO general counsel Ed Winn III, APRO's general counsel, provides limited free legal advice to members. Wage-and-hour consultation Harry Weisbrod Associates Inc. provides limited free wage and hour consultation to members. Credit/debit card program Moneris Solutions is dedicated to providing cost effective payment solutions tailored ... The Voice of Rent-to-Own The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations is the international voice for the rent-to-own industry founded in 1980. APRO is the nonprofit trade association advocating and representing the rent-to-own industry before the U.S. Congress, Internal Revenue Service, state legislatures, the courts, media and the public. The association offers a ... Rent-to-own Events 2008 Rent-to-Own Convention and Buying Show Make your rent-to-own connection! August 11-14, St. Louis Renaissance Grand Hotel and America's Center New Schedule APRO has revamped its Convention and Buying Show schedule for 2008 in order to make the meeting more convenient for rental dealers and exhibitors. This year's exhibit hall will feature extended hours in ... Rental Advertising Excellence Contest “Advertising is the No. 1 source of rent-to-own’s public perception.” Trenholm Marketing Research’s report on the public perception of rent-to-own View 2007 winners in PDF format here. APRO's 2008 RAE Awards Contest is ready to heat up. The last several years, the rent-to-own industry's longest ... RTO Customer & Employee of the Year Rules & Judging Criteria Contest Rules & Judging Criteria: The entry deadline for 2008 contest will be summer 2008. Winners and finalists will be announced in July 2008. Click here to enter contest online. Click here to download a PDF contest entry form. Rent-to-Own Customer of the Year Eligibility requirements: Must be a ... RTO Customer of the Year and Employee of the Year Awards APRO's Employee and Customer of the Year are those customers and employees who inspire, help or sacrifice for the betterment of their families and/or communities—just like the previous recipients listed below have done. If one of your customers and/or employees represent rent-to-own with such honor and character then ... APRO Rent-to-Own Events Overview APRO’s Annual Rent-to-Own Convention and Buying Show This annual event is the largest, most-prestigious event dedicated to the rent-to-own industry. More than just a trade show, the APRO Rent-to-Own Convention and Buying Show includes two days of educational seminars offered by top speakers and RTO industry experts from ... Upcoming Rent-to-Own Meetings and Events Printer Friendly Version... Interested in having your industry-related event publicized here? E-mail APRO with the complete information on the event, including a contact name, telephone number and e-mail address for each event and we'll be happy to add it to the calendar of events. Use this link for more ... State RTO Associations State Rental Dealer Association Presidents Alabama-Mississippi Rental Dealers Association Lee Duvall, president Baber’s Inc. 2500 Amonett St. Pascagoula, MS 39567-2422 228/312-0350, ext. 806 Fax 228/312-0387 leeduvall@babers.com Alaska Rental Dealers Association Inactive Arizona Rental Dealers Association Inactive Arkansas Rental Dealers Association Alan Frazier, president Rent-A-Center 912 W. 4th Fordyce, AR 71742-2216 870/882-9211 alnfrazier@aol.... State Rent-to-Own Statutes and Economic Impact APRO calculates the key economic indicators for each state according to APRO’s database and the annual industry survey conducted by statistical research firm Industry Insights. APRO has been the leader in defining the rent-to-own industry statistically for the past decade and continues to refine and build the rent-to-own ... State Rent-to-Own Association Resources The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations encourages all rental dealers to become involved in industry activity on the state level in addition to participation on the national level through APRO. State associations were crucial in developing the comprehensive network of positive state rent-to-own laws that govern how rental dealers ... RTO Legislative Activity PAC and Team APRO Support Rent-to-Own APRO’s goal is to secure federal legislation that properly defines rent-to-own. Contributions to APRO’s Political Action Committee and Team APRO allow APRO to continue working as the voice of the rent-to-own industry for the passage of such legislation. APRO would like to recognize the following contributors to ... APRO's Political Action Committee APRO PAC supports candidates for political office who have demonstrated their support of the rent-to-own industry. Only qualified candidates for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives are eligible to receive these funds. APRO PAC is dedicated to the protection and preservation of the rent-to-own ... Rent-to-Own Bill Co-sponsors Rent-to-own legislation is currently under consideration in both houses of Congress, thanks in no small measure to APRO’s Dave Egan Legislative Conference held February 11-13 in Washington, D.C. At the conference, more than100 rent-to-own dealers, vendors and lobbyists held over 350 meetings with members of the 110th ... Independent Studies of Rent-to-Own Survey of Rent-to-Own Customers published by the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Economics Between December 1998 and February 1999, more than 12,000 randomly selected U.S. households were surveyed, identifying more than 500 rent-to-own customers who were interviewed about their experience with rent-to-own stores. The survey is ... Rent-to-Own Legislative History Federal: Below is a summary of the major federal initiatives aimed at passage of a Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement Act: 2007-2008 | 110th Congress: H.R. 1767 by Representative William Lacy Clay (D-MO) with 84 co-sponsors; S. 1012 by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) with 21 co-sponsors. 2005-2006 | 109th Congress: ... Rent-to-own vs. Other Public Companies The Truth about Rent-to-Own Profits Rent-to-own’s supposedly “exorbitant” profits have been a primary point of criticism from the industry’s detractors—but the numbers show that RTO profits are in fact lower than many corporations in the U.S. This chart represents a sampling of public companies ... Seeking the Support of Congress Why federal rent-to-own legislation? Passage of a federal rent-to-own bill will benefit consumers, businesses and the American economy The rent-to-own federal bill defines the rent-to-own transaction as a lease The rent-to-own transaction provides millions of consumers a debt-free, flexible way to acquire products. There’s no other transaction like ... Rent-to-own Legislation: Our Message to Congress Dear members of Congress and Congressional staff members, We in the rent-to-own industry serve 3 million satisfied consumers each year. Rent-to-own is now a $6.8-billion-a year-industry. Our customers are hard-working Americans who choose rent-to-own for their household needs because of its flexibility as a no-debt, no-obligation transaction. Rent-to-own ... Welcome Legislators An Introduction to Rent-to-Own: We know your time is valuable and we appreciate that you took the time to visit our site to learn more about the rent-to-own industry. On these pages, we hope you find it easy to locate the resources you need on the industry, its customers, ... APRO's Legislative Conference APRO’s 2008 Dave Egan Legislative Conferencewas held February 11–13 in Washington, D.C., at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel. Rental dealers and other industry supporters from around the country met on Capitol Hill toaddress issues facing the rent-to-own industry.Duringthree days of strategizing, networking and over 350 meetingswithelected ... Rent-to-own Legislative Activity and Resources A history of the rent-to-own industry's legislative efforts and its current strategies regarding state and federal legislation Seeking federal legislation The rent-to-own industry is an established part of the American economy. Since the industry’s inception in the 1960s and its rapid growth in the past 26 years, consumers, ... State Rent-to-Own Statutes and Economic Impact APRO calculates the key economic indicators for each state according to APRO’s database and the annual industry survey conducted by statistical research firm Industry Insights. APRO has been the leader in defining the rent-to-own industry statistically for the past decade and continues to refine and build the rent-to-own ... RTO Education Resources APRO's Rent-to-Own Seminars The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations offers educational seminars designed for owners and employees at a number of industry events. Take advantage of the valuable networking and educational opportunities by learning how to make yourself, your business and your industry better. APRO's annual Convention and Buying Show For two ... Rent-to-Own Glossary of Terms Account: a term usually used to designate a customer who has a unit on rent or a rental agreement. Account number: the identification number given to each account and used as a reference for tracking the progress of the agreement. Account transfer: the reassignment of a rental agreement from ... Take a FREE Rent-to-Own Online Training Course! Congratulations! You have taken the first step toward your Rental Training Online education. For a limited time, APRO is offering a free Rental Training Online course, “Introduction to Rent-to-Own.” The course is a $19.90 value—but can be yours free. To receive this free course, just ... Rental Training Online Registration Before entering APRO’s Rental Training Online Virtual University, you may want to print this page to use as a guideline for registering for online courses. Use this link to download a printable PDF of the registration procedures. Important: Each student must have his/her unique e-mail address before beginning ... Rental Training Online Courses APRO’s Rental Training Online Virtual University was designed to provide basic, specialized training for store-level RTO employees. The program is very flexible and allows students to learn at their own pace, when and where it is convenient for them and their companies. The cost per course is $29.... RTO Advertising & Media Download APRO Logos and Graphics Below are links to download APRO’s logo for members’, vendors’ and advertisers’ needs. You can also download a version of the logo specifically for your Web site, letting visitors know you are an APRO member. Click here if you need a logo in a version other than the ... Product Focus and Advertising Deadlines In every issue of Progressive Rentals, a listing of who’s who of RTO vendors is featured. These listings highlight rent-to-own industry product and service suppliers who support the industry in a variety of ways. February–March 2008: Who’s Who in Miscellaneous RTO Services Advertising space closing: January ... Advertise with APRO: Expand Your Market Progressive Rentals magazine The premier magazine serving the ever-changing rent-to-own industry Progressive Rentals is APRO’s award-winning, bi-monthly magazine with an emphasis on current developments in the rent-to-own industry. As the premier magazine serving this booming industry, advertising in Progressive Rentals is essential for those companies targeting the rent-to-own ... APRO Publications Progressive Rentals Magazine Archives Welcome to the Progressive Rentals Magazine Archives. Here you can browse past magazines in full PDF format, or read through the articles on this site or download them for later. Archives are listed in reverse chronological order: 2008 Progressive Rentals Archives February - March 2008 December 2007 - January ... Rental Viewpoint E-newsletter Archives Back issues of Rental Viewpoint—APRO’s former online newsletter—are available by clicking on the links below, listed in reverse chronological order. Note: some of the links within these archive documents have been removed. Use this link to sign up for RTO Today—APRO’s current weekly online ... Other APRO Rent-to-Own Publications APRO offers a wide variety of publications to help your rent-to-own business—some available to APRO members only at no charge. Many of these publications have been updated recently and reflect the marketing, advertising, legal and financial analysis specific to the rent-to-own industry. These reports were written by some ... Progressive Rentals Magazine Progressive Rentals is the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' award-winning, four-color, bimonthly magazine providing news, industry trends, management techniques, details on upcoming events, APRO member opinions, in-depth profiles of RTO dealers from across the nation and more. Click on the links below to access PDFs of the feature articles ... Rent-to-own News Registration for fall PrimeTime! begins May 15 On May 15, online registration will begin for the next big buying show, PrimeTime! by Nationwide Marketing Group at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 17-20. “PrimeTime! in Vegas is a must see this year,” said Ed Kelly President of Nationwide Marketing Group, “... High Touch users give "high marks" to conference Rent-to-own dealers from around the globe are giving rave reviews to the 2008 High Touch Users Conference which concludes today in Wichita, Kansas. The conference was the company's biggest ever, drawing some 70 attendees -- dealers and employees -- from over 33 companies. Roberto Van Dams of UHR Rents. ... NEW PODCAST: Mike Tissot, High Touch guest presenter Mike Tissot, owner of Countryside Rentals, has been a High Touch user for over a decade. He's a hands on owner, and over the years has developed an in-depth understanding of various aspects of High Touch's software package. Tissot was one of around a half dozen High Touch Users ... NEW PODCAST: John Rogers, High Touch sales group director John Rogers is the sales group director for High Touch Technology Solutions and has been with the company for 13 years. Click here for podcast with John Rogers, High Touch sales group director. In this exclusive APRO podcast, Rogers describes the genesis behind new enhancements the company is rolling ... NEW PODCAST: High Touch User Gary Ferriman Gary Ferriman, owner of Showplace Rent-To-Own, is a long time user of High Touch software. He was a participant in a number of High Touch "vision castings" in which the company tapped its client base to develop new tools and features to help rent-to-own dealers do what they ... "Modernization", upgrades key to High Touch success Key software enhancements, streamlined communication tools and an overall move to modernize systems are just a few improvements High Touch officials shared with clients Thursday morning during the general session of the company's users conference in Wichita, Kansas. Over 70 rent-to-own and other industry professionals packed conference rooms at ... NEW PODCAST: High Touch Users Conference takes Wichita High Touch Senior Management High Touch Technology Solutions launched its biggest ever users conference Wednesday, hosting a cocktail reception for over 100 rent-to-own professionals at the company's new digs -- four floors of a 10 story office building in downtown Wichita, Kansas. PODCAST: Click here for Wayne Chambers Interview ... Rent-A-Center renovates nurses' lounges at Harlem Hospital Rent-A-Center coworkers from around New York and the company’s home office unveiled new furnishing makeovers of three nurses’ lounges at the Harlem Hospital Center and provided courtesy meals today in honor of Nurses’ Appreciation Week. Additionally, the company also funded the Hospital’s “Nurses Day Appreciation” meals ... Moneris Solutions to offer Discover Network card acceptance as part of new pact Moneris Solutions, one of North America's largest payment processors, today announced an agreement with Discover Financial Services in which Moneris will offer Discover Network card acceptance as part of an integrated service to small- and mid-sized merchants. Under this agreement, Moneris and their BIN-sponsored Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs) will ... House bill continues momentum On May 7, three additional members of the U.S. House of Representatives joined a growing list of co-sponsors in support of H.R. 1767 – the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act – bringing total co-sponsorship of the legislation to 89. APRO members are encouraged to continue to communicate ... Rebate checks could spur $5 billion in electronics spending This month the federal government began releasing approximately $112 billion to U.S. households as part of a larger economic stimulus package meant to bolster a flagging economy by increasing consumer spending. While speculation on what if any significant impact the package will have on the economy as a ... Midwest RTO Expo registration now available through APRO Web site Rent-to-own Dealers planning to attend the fifth annual Midwest RTO Training Expo September 9-10 in Columbus, Ohio can now register online through the APRO e-communities link. Organizers expect around 200 attendees at the event, which last year attracted rent-to-own professionals from seven states including Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, ... Alliance HealthCard Reports Fiscal 2008 Second Quarter Results Alliance HealthCard, a leading provider of health discount and lifestyle benefits, today reported record revenue, gross profit and net income, for the second quarter, which ended March 31, 2008 Fiscal 2008 Second Quarter Highlights: -- Revenue increased 28% to $5.3 million -- Gross profit up 76% to $2.... Rent One Celebrates remodeled store opening Over 100 community and state leaders, guests and friends joined Rent One owners Larry and Sharon Carrico Friday May 2 to celebrate the grand opening of their recently remodeled Mt. Vernon store location. Ribbon Cutting for remodeled Rent One, Mt. Vernon location. The 21,000 square foot store is ... Aarons puts brakes on new store openings According to an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlie Loudermilk, board chairman and chief executive officer of Aaron Rents' explained at the company's annual meeting today, why the rent-to-own chain's stock hit a one-year low of $13.27 during day trading in January. "We made a mistake in ... Price controls and property taxes top CAL-APRO's May 20 agenda Paul Davis has seen first hand the damage price controls can wield on an industry. As president of the California Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (CAL-APRO), Davis hopes to aim the spotlight on California's restrictive price fixing statute that limits not only the prices of new goods but the ... Silver lining? Economy limps forward, GDP up a dull .6 percent If the gross domestic product is any indication, the U.S. economy may be down, but it's not yet out. According to the Associated Press, the Commerce Department recently reported the country's gross domestic product grew by .6 percent in the first quarter of 2008 amid a stymied housing ... New credit card rules could be boon to rent-to-own industry A proposal to crack down on the fees and interest rates credit card companies charge high risk accounts could radically prune the amount of credit those companies are willing to issue, according to financial analysts, forcing customers to secure goods and services through other means, including rent-to-own. According to ... Premier dealer conference May 19-21 Premier franchisees will roll up their sleeves and get down to business at the upcoming dealer conference May 19-21 at the Downtown Marriott in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to featuring meetings of Premier's marketing and purchasing boards, the meeting will also feature presentations from industry experts representing various facets ... Local rent-to-own named "Business of the Year" Quality Furniture & Appliance was recently named "Business of the Year" by the St. Martinville, Louisiana Chamber of Commerce. Quality Furniture and Appliance staff Jules Etienne, Kevin Dugas, Deanne Delahoussaye and owner Byron Blanchard. Photo by Sally Angelle. At their Annual Banquet held April 22, 2008, the St. ... Rent-to-own state associations need their hero APRO's State Association Coordination Committee has spent the past ten years facilitating the grassroots organization of rent-to-own dealers throughout the country under the leadership of "Tiger" John Cleek from Cleek's Rent-to-own in Columbia, MO. Rent-to-own state associations have helped protect the rent-to-own industry in state and federal legislative ... Texas dealers weigh in on new bedding rules A contingent of Texas rent-to-own dealers and industry representatives appeared before state health department officials April 30, to offer comment on a proposal to expand record keeping requirements for mattresses and other bedding items. Industry leaders say the new rules would create unnecessary paperwork demands and do little for ... Rent-A-Center's community initiative defrays $12,500 in gas costs for voluteers Rent-A-Center coworkers from around New York and the company’s home office visited with four community organizations in Albany, Schenectady and Troy handing out $12,500 in gas gift cards to those group’s volunteers to say “thank you” during National Volunteer Appreciation Week. More than 400 volunteers ... Your business IS news: Promoting rent-to-own in the local media "Tiger" John Cleek got more than he bargained for when he tried to promote his company's store of the month in the local newspaper. Cleek, who owns nine Cleek's Lease or Own stores in Missouri, had intended to buy a display ad in the Boonville Daily News, congratulating ... Bowling for autism expects up to 200 When John Cleek Jr. founded Bowling for Autism five years ago, he probably never thought his goal would reach $25,000 for the event. But the success of the program, which has already raised $60,000 in total for the Judevine Center for Autism in Columbia, Missouri just seems ... Nationwide Marketing Group honored for energy conservation Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) was honored the second year in a row with the Energy Star Award for excellence in promotion and outreach recognizing efforts in working toward protecting the environment and saving energy. The award was presented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of ... Rent-A-Center Q1 profits more than double Rent-A-Center said this week its first quarter profits more than doubled from last year when net earnings were reduced by a litigation-related charge. Increased sales at existing stores also helped boost overall revenue, according to the company's quarterly earnings report. The Plano-based rent-to-own company earned $36.4 million, or ... Minnesota Rep. Bachmann, others to join RTO bill The rent-to-own industry will soon add additional co-sponsors to its pending federal bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to congressional staff members. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-6th) Freshman Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann, who represents Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, has agreed to sign on to H.R. ... Nevada mattress regulations could have significant impact on local RTO dealers New sanitation requirements in Clark, County, Nevada will require all mattresses, bedding and upholstered furniture to undergo a high heat sterilization process before being re-rented, according to regulations approved by the Southern Nevada Health District. The regulations, which were approved last October and will affect the cities of Las ... MemberNet TV 2.0 offers new high definition content for tv walls Nationwide RentDirect this week, officially rolled out its first upgrade to MemberNet TV. This latest version, MemberNet TV 2.0, offers RentDirect members more control over the content displayed on their TV walls and boasts a larger selection of HD programming. According to Nationwide RentDirect, with the right content ... Florida legislative conference a success FRDA members meet with Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, 3rd from left. A half dozen Florida Rental Dealers put a personal face on rent-to-own this week when they travelled to Tallahassee to meet with a number of state legislators and officials including Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. The April ... Kentucky dealers meet with attorney general, other state officials A trio of Kentucky Rental Dealers this week trekked to Frankfort, Kentucky to meet with the attorney general and other top state officials on a "mission of goodwill" to create and maintain a positive image of rent-to-own in the state. According to KYRDA President Chris Bolin, dealers met ... LRDA closes out annual conference with elections, educational seminars, visit from Landrieu staffer The Louisiana Rental Dealers Association wrapped up the final day of its two-day annual conference Wednesday with a jam packed agenda filled with board elections, educational presentations and an update from Sen. Mary Landrieu's office on a developing partnership to put computers in the hands of resource strapped communities ... NEW PODCAST INTERVIEW: TARA President Dan Matthews Dan Matthews is the president of the Texas Association of Rental Agencies (TARA) and owner of Dallas-based Rent Plus. Click here for Podcast. Matthews recently addressed attendees at the Louisiana Rental Dealers Association (LRDA) meeting in Marksville April 22-23. He urged members of the newly reorganized LRDA to stay ... NEW PODCAST INTERVIEW: Jeffrey Everson, regional representative to Sen. Mary Landrieu Jeffrey Everson, regional representative for Sen. Landrieu, gave attendees at the recent Louisiana Renal Dealers Association annual Click here for podcast. conference an update on the "Computers for Kidz" initiative -- a community partnership program led by APRO, LRDA and Landrieu's office -- that will provide RTO industry ... NEW PODCAST INTERVIEW: LRDA member James Stephens of ColorTyme Click Here for Podcast James Stephens is a new LRDA member and first time attendee at the association's annual meeting in Marksville, Louisiana April 22-23. Stephens is a new ColorTyme franchisee with a store in Shreveport. In this exclusive APRO podcast, Stephens reflects on the plight of the independent ... Aaron Rents Q1 Revenues Up 13 percent, earnings exceed estimates Aaron Rents, Inc. this week announced revenues and earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2008. For the first quarter of 2008, revenues increased 13% to $437.3 million compared to $387.9 million for the same quarter a year ago. Net earnings were $24.8 million versus ... LRDA annual conference tees off new era of activity Rent-to-own dealers and vendors from Louisiana and beyond trekked to the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville to take part in the newly invigorated Louisiana Rental Dealers Association (LRDA) meeting April 22-23. LRDA members kick off their annual meeting with a round of "four man scramble". Around 13 of ... New York bed bug bill will have little impact on RTO industry A bill recently introduced in the New York sate legislature dealing with bed bug infestation will have little to no impact on the rent-to-own industry, according to APRO Legal Counsel Ed Winn III. The bill, A 10612, which proposes to amend two sections of New York's public health code, ... Petra Industries welcomes Bazooka Mobile Audio to its product line Petra Industries has joined forces with Southern Audio Services Inc. (SAS) to expand its product base. SAS, manufacturer of the Bazooka Mobile Audio Line, has agreed to the disbursement of various products through Petra Industries. “Bazooka is a leader and innovator of everything bass,” says Paul Mattes, ... High Touch Users Conference biggest ever April 2008 has been a busy month for High Touch Technology Solutions. The Wichita, Kansas based company celebrated it's 24th anniversary April 1 but there was little time to celebrate. Last Friday, the company officially relocated to its new corporate digs -- four floors in the Old Savings and ... Rent-A-Center makes $4,200 Red Cross merchandise donation Rent-A-Center’s third gift in its statewide Random Acts of Caring community initiative will help enable the Allen County Chapter of the American Red Cross to accomplish more during its emergency field responses as well as enhance capabilities back at its main office. The brand new merchandise includes: four ... Florida legislative conference rescheduled A group of seven Florida rental dealers will make their way to Tallahassee April 22 to continue a tradition of promoting the rent-to-own industry at the state level. The event will stand as the ninth annual Florida Rental Dealers Association (FRDA) Legislative Conference -- a rescheduled downsized version of ... Petra partners with Griffin technology to offer customers more Petra Industries, a leading national wholesale distributor of consumer electronic, custom installation products, mobile audio/video accessories and appliance connection supplies, announced today the addition of Griffin Technology’s products to its extensive inventory of more than 15,000 products. “It’s very important for us to bring Griffin’... Wyatt wins first APRO Scholarship Show-Me Rent-To-Own saleswoman Penny Wyatt is used to going the extra mile. She's a single mother raising a 14-year-old son, a full time award-winning employee and a full-time student on the Dean's list. Her commitment to both her career and education has earned notice from her employer, colleagues, customers ... Rent-n-Roll catapults in Franchise 500 ranking In a prestigious listing of "who's who" in franchising, RNR Custom Wheels & Performance Tires (formerly Rent-n-Roll) recently gained ground in Entrepreneur magazine's 2008 Top Franchise 500. This year the company, which began franchising in 2003, ranked number 252 versus 426 in 2007. RNR Staff at the recent ... Tax Refund Xpress offers discounted rate to Nationwide RentDirect members Tax Refund Xpress (TRX) is now offering specialized tax service to RentDirect members for far less than other income tax solution companies. Nationwide RentDirect members pay one flat discounted rate for all of their individual and business tax needs. Benefits include unlimited e- filing, tax updates and access to ... Tennessee dealers welcome new members June 9-10 Tennessee Rental Dealers Association (TRDA) President Larry Goad makes no bones about it. If you're an independent rent-to-own dealer in the state of Tennessee and not a member of the TRDA, you've got a lot to lose. "The goal for us is to get the word out," ... Should you be "staging?" Take the APRO staging survey! Slumping home sales may have depressed other areas of the economy, but for the rent-to-own industry, a bloated housing market could translate into a dynamic new revenue stream. Home staging is a growing industry built on the concept of preparing a home for sale in order get top dollar ... TRIB Group Survey: members give high marks to first TRIB-AVB show If the results of a recent survey are any indication, TRIB Group's decision to co-locate its trade show with mega retail outfit Associated Volume Buyers (AVB) was a winning move. As the nation's most respected and well-established rent-to-own buying group, TRIB struck a strategic alliance with AVB-Brand Source two ... Could your store be next? FCC levies $6 million in DTV fines The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently proposed fines against 11 retailers for violating rules designed to prevent consumers from unknowingly buying TVs that cannot receive digital signals when broadcasters make the switch on February 17, 2009. According to the FCC enforcement orders, the fines included about $1.1 million ... RENT-A-CENTER opens new Nevada store, contributes $2,000 to community Today, Rent-A-Center hosted a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony at its new Pahrump, Nevada store, offering area customers a new choice for leasing or buying brand-name furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. The new store is located at 661 S. Hwy. 160 and features approximately 4,000 square feet of ... UHR Rents, Bryce Jewelry inspire dual marriage proposals Chalk it up to spring, the stars or just plain coincidence. The tides of passion have probably led to more than a few jewelry counter marriage proposal over the years. But how about two marriage proposals on the same day, occurring about the same time, in two separate stores ... Rent One sponsored baseball team wins national logo contest Even before the minor league baseball season has started, the Southern Illinois Miners have already had a major victory. The Sports Biz blog on CNBC.com, authored by Darren Rovell, played host to the second annual minor league baseball logo contest this spring. Rovell seeded the logos, with the ... Cuellar and Kirk support RTO bill Cuellar and Kirk support RTO bill, co-sponsorship now at 86 Rep. Mark S. Kirk of Illinois Two more U.S. Congressman officially joined a growing list of colleagues Friday in support of H.R. 1767 -- the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act. Second term Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar and ... ORDA elects new board, projects bigger better Expo Around 40 rental dealers from across Ohio elected a new 13-member board of directors Wednesday after a day of training, planning and motivational presentations at the annual Ohio Rental Dealers Association Spring Business meeting in Columbus, Ohio. All current executive officers were re-elected, including ORDA President Mike Tissot of ... Nationwide's MemberNet TV Gets a Facelift Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) strives to be on the cutting edge of the newest and most innovative commercial technology. Now NMG is preparing to make their HD MemberNet TV content even better. MemberNet TV -- NMG's high quality HD content for TV walls -- is getting a face-lift that ... Republicans Smith and Lewis join federal bill Texas Rep. Lamar Smith Two more U.S. Congressman today put their names behind legislation that will provide federal definition for the rent-to-own industry and add further protections for its customers as well. Republicans Lamar Smith of Texas and Ron Lewis of Kentucky officially joined a growing contingent of ... Rent-A-Center first quarter 2008 conference call broadcast April 29 Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ:RCII), will broadcast its quarterly earnings conference call on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at 10:45 a.m. ET over the Internet. This call will be held to discuss the earnings release that will be issued after the close of the market on Monday, April 28, 2008. Audio ... Aaron's Dream Machine driver in national spotlight Number 00 Aaron's Dream Machine driver Michael McDowell made the rounds on New York talk shows Monday recounting his harrowing 170 mph wreck last Friday in Ft. Worth during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Michael McDowell and wife Jami on the set of the Today Show. Click ... Who needs flood insurance? Bolin flooding raises insurance questions After four hectic days battling floodwaters and salvaging inventory, Chris Bolin's Madisonville, Kentucky rent-to-own store is finally back in business. Well, at least he's accepting payments there. Bolin Rental Purchase parking lot. The flooding had forced Bolin to close the swamped store, relocate inventory and set up a temporary ... New York rental dealers get energized May 15 Staying energized and involved in the community are two ways New York State Rental Dealers Association (NYSRDA) President Dave Edwards plans to help transform the image of rent-to-own. New York state has seen the introduction of several detrimental rent-to-own bills over the past year in addition to being the ... Quality Rentals helps flood victims recover. First the December floods destroyed homes and displaced hundreds in Lewis County, Washington. Then last month, a fire destroyed a warehouse filled with donated goods. Unloading the Quality Rentals truck with cameraman in tow. But on April 3, rent-to-own dealer Kevin Quinn of Quality Rentals joined other area businesses, ... Rent-A-Center veteran opens Premier store in San Antonio New Premier franchisees Roy and Sharyll Soto. Roy Soto opened his Premier Rental Purchase store in San Antonio earlier this year. A seasoned, award-winning 18-year veteran with Rent-A-Center and former top sales manager with Mead Johnson Pharmaceuticals, Soto is using his experience and success as a springboard for his ... Petra Industries appoints veteran communications executive Mallory New Petra Vice President of Sales Jackie Mallory. Leading consumer electronics distributor, Petra Industries, today announced the appointment of Jackie Mallory as Vice President of Sales. In her new position, Mallory is responsible for leading Petra’s strategic sales and training initiatives with specific attention on Petra’s Inside ... Debit card payments up 21 percent in Federal Reserve Study Between 2003 and 2006, American's overall use of electronic payment methods jumped 12 percent according to a new study by the federal reserve system. The study, released late last month, also shows exponential growth in the pre-paid card sector which includes open-loop cards that are not limited to specific ... Arkansas state meeting to feature HR tips, merger talks It was only three years ago an anti-rent-to-own bill introduced in the Arkansas Senate rallied Arkansas rental dealers and unified them in a way that is still apparent today. Though the Arkansas State Legislature is not in session this year, the Arkansas Rental Dealers Association (ARDA) is taking no ... Washington APRO member helps "Fill the Warehouse" for flood victims When a 100-year flood ravaged western Washington last December, flooding around 600 homes in the town of Centralia, local rent-to-own dealer Kevin Quinn stepped into action. Kevin Quinn Within days of the flooding, which submerged approximately 8 miles of Interstate 5 and displaced hundreds, Quinn, who owns 20 Quality ... Blanchard wins Moneris RTO ipod giveaway Byron Blanchard of Quality Furniture & Appliance was named the winner in Moneris Solutions RTO Information Portal "Win an iPod" contest. Blanchard is the proud new recipient of a 16GB Apple iPod touch -- a $400 value. The contest was launched February 11 in recognition of Moneris' new ... Industry veteran Ron Smith opens own Premier Home Furnishings in East Moline, Illinois After 20 years in the RTO industry, Ron Smith recently opened his Premier Home Furnishings franchise in East Moline, Illinois. Though he's opened many, this store is different. This time, it's his own. Ron Smith in his new Premier Home Furnishings franchise in East Moline, Illinois. It’s also ... New recruitment campaign uses video to carry APRO message APRO member Larry Goad's idea to streamline the association's membership recruiting campaign by creating a DVD landed him the role of video host in the production. Producer Richard May, director Bert Long and Larry Goad on the set. Goad, of Zion's Television Showrooms, who scripts and stars in his ... LRDA meeting to focus on membership, political activism, identity theft The Louisiana Rental Dealers Association annual membership meeting will tee off on April 22 with a golf tournament and cocktail reception leading to a full plate of association related business the next day. LRDA Vice President Dave Boggan says 30-40 state dealers are expected at the association's annual business ... TRIB Group buys $23.7 million at tradeshow; smokes previous record by 30 percent TRIB Group officials this week were ecstatic to learn actual purchase orders from last week's “Silver at the Summit” tradeshow exceeded initial estimates and in fact broke all previous single-show buying records for the group and possibly the rent-to-own industry as a whole. Buying frenzy at TRIB's recent ... APRO Website makes it easy to share RTO content Click here to share video content New APRO Web site tools now allow users to easily e-mail site pages, news, videos and podcasts to others with the click of a button. In addition, videos now come complete with an "embed" feature which makes it possible to cut and ... ORDA maintains proactive presence with AG's office Gary Ferriman of Showplace Rent-to-Own A trio of Ohio rent-to-own veterans took their industry's message to the state attorney general's office Tuesday in a proactive move meant to open dialogue and show the industry's due diligence in addressing consumer issues. Ohio Rental Dealers Association President Mike Tissot and fellow ... Customer Expectations: Third installment in book review series Editors Note: APRO is proud to present the third in a semi-regular series of articles by George M. Schorsten Jr., Operations Manager CEO of Blue Ribbon Rentals, reviewing the book, "Exceeding Customers Expectations, What Enterprise, America’s #1 Car Rental Company Can Teach you about Creating Lifetime Customers", ... APRO's first ever scholarship award contest narrows to five Five finalists have moved one step closer to claiming APRO's first ever annual college scholarship award. The candidates, who submitted essays for the contest, are vying for a $2,000 college scholarship made available through the non-profit APRO Scholarship Foundation. Finalists were chosen earlier this month by a preliminary ... RSVP today for April 9 ORDA meeting All those planning to attend the upcoming Ohio Rental Dealers Association annual business meeting April 9 are urged to RSVP. ORDA President Mike Tissot is asking attendees to email or call 740/634-2666 by April 1 in order to allow planning for enough free complimentary lunches for the event. The ... Ohio congressman visits local rent-to-own For 10 years, UHR Rents Owner Ernie Lewallen has travelled to Congressman Steve Chabot's Capitol Hill office to educate him on the merits of the rent-to-own transaction. Today, Chabot got first hand experience. Rep. Chabot, who represents Ohio's 1st Congressional District, met Lewallen at his "Seven Hills" store ... Stock analyst says stimulus package will benefit RTO A stock analyst's recent prediction that a two-year $168 billion economic stimulus package headed to American consumers will boost Rent-A-Center's cash flow and stock price is likely good news for the rent-to-own industry as a whole. According the Associated Press, shares of Rent-A-Center stock rose late last week after ... NEW VENDOR VIDEO: American Sentry Guard offers custom surveillance, management solutions American Sentry Guard is a premier manufacturer and leading distributor of remote video management systems, that offers surveillance and training tools to increase productivity and decrease attrition. Click here to watch the video. A leading manufacturer of professional and enterprise-class digital video management systems, American Sentry Guard is a ... NEW VENDOR VIDEO: AMCOR offers cutting edge in portable air conditioning For over 50 years, Amcor has specialized in all facets of environmental control: air conditioning, air purification and dehumidification. Click here to watch the video. With an eye towards high quality living environments and meeting demands for both style and substance, Amcor began with several air purification models and ... NEW VENDOR VIDEO: Step 2 molded plastic items a natural RTO fit As the world's largest rotational molded plastic toy manufacturer, Step 2 offers easy to clean children's accessories, toys and furniture. Click here to watch the video. Based in Ohio, the company was founded in 1992 and currently has three manufacturing sites in Ohio and Georgia. Known primarily for its ... Rent One stores flooded in midwest deluge The torrential rainfall and widespread flash flooding that have battered the central United States this week have claimed at least three rent-to-own stores as well. Rent One trucks in Harrisburg, Illinois. Two Rent One stores, one in Marble Hill, Missouri, and one in Harrisburg, Illinois were shut down when ... Rent-A-Center brings gift of technology to Warren, Ohio schools Rent-A-Center’s second gift in its statewide community initiative – entitled Random Acts of Caring – is benefitting the students and staff of Summit Academy Schools in Warren, a learning center designed to build hope, success and well-being through advocacy and education for children with special needs. RAC is ... TRIB Board re-elects Lewallen, Leach is vice president TRIB Board re-elects Lewallen, Leach is vice president In its final order of business Thursday morning, the TRIB Group Board of Directors wrapped up the group's 25th anniversary tradeshow and convention in Dallas by electing officers. Re-elected TRIB President Ernie Lewallen Current board president Ernie Lewallen, of UHR Rents, ... Spangle honored with top TRIB award, members purchase $15 million at tradeshow Long-time TRIB board member John Spangle of Friendswood was honored Tuesday with the Norman W. "Slats" Slatton Sr. President's Award -- TRIB Group's most prestigious honor. TRIB Group President Ernie Lewallen presents John Spangle TRIB's highest honor Tuesday. The honor -- awarded to a TRIB member who has ... NEW VIDEO: AVB's Lawrence, TRIB's Lewallen and new TRIB member Brownie Calvin weigh in on first AVB-TRIB tradeshow in Dallas AVB CEO Bob Lawrence In this exclusive APRO video, AVB Brand Source CEO Bob Lawrence shares his thoughts and motivations behind AVB's decision to partner with TRIB Group -- the nations oldest and most respected rent-to-own buying group. Lawrence says the co-located TRIB-AVB tradeshow has broken all attendance records, ... EXCLUSIVE PODCAST: Ellison Crider discusses trends in rent-to-own software industry Ellison Crider of RSSS.Click to listen to exclusive podcast. Live from the buying floor at the historic TRIB-AVB trade show in Dallas, RSSS General Manager Ellison Crider shares his observations on trends within the rent-to-own software industry and predictions on what it means for customers and dealers alike. ... Keese addresses TRIB membership APRO Executive Director Bill Keese addresses TRIB members. APRO Executive Director Bill Keese addressed close to 200 TRIB Group members at their annual membership meeting March 18 at the "Silver at the Summit" Tradeshow in Dallas. The membership meeting was the first of three such meetings TRIB members ... Independents will pick up "big box" slack TRIB AVB tradeshow attendees in Dallas Tuesday. Despite a gloomy economic picture marred by a housing slump, high oil prices and cutbacks on consumer lending, AVB Brand Source CEO Bob Lawrence said the time was one of opportunity for the independent business owner. Lawrence made his remarks during the ... Former APRO President Strunk elected to TRIB Board Shannon Strunk Former APRO President Shannon Strunk joined the TRIB Board of Directors Tuesday after winning election during TRIB's annual membership meeting in Dallas. TRIB members at that meeting -- which was held at the group's "Silver at the Summit" tradeshow and convention -- also re-elected current board ... TRIB Group's Dallas "Hot Show" hits $3.6 million sales record Speculation became reality Tuesday morning, as TRIB Group officials confirmed this year's "Hot Show" sales were the greatest ever, almost doubling last year's record total. TRIB Executive Director Dennis Shields at Monday's "Hot Show". TRIB Group Executive Director Dennis Shields reports dealers moved $3.6 million worth ... "Hot Show" launches historic TRIB-AVB tradeshow TRIB Group members representing close to 100 companies piled into the Coronado Room at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas to take part in an annual buying frenzy known as the TRIB "Hot Show". Some of the 100 TRIB dealers in Dallas for the group's 25th anniversary convention. ... Rent One's Angela Hunter profiled in local newspaper Rent One's "Rookie of the Year" Angela Hunter was the feature of a recent business profile in the Jonesboro Sun newspaper in northeast Arkansas. In the article, published March 13, Rent One higher ups credit Hunter's "can do attitude" and dedication to customer service as key to ... TRIB VENDOR FOCUS: PlanITROI offers refurbished computers at half the price of new When a computer reaches the end of its life with a large corporation, it could get a new one through PlanITROI, a new TRIB vendor at the upcoming "Silver at the Summit" tradeshow in Dallas March 17-19. The company -- whose name stands for "Plan Your Information ... TRIB VENDOR FOCUS: AmeriVap - powerful cleaning system, bed bug's worst nightmare When AmeriVap's Gerald Carmichael got a call from bed bug expert Dr. Michael F. Potter from the University of Kentucky five years ago, he knew his product was on target. After hearing about Potter's research on the resurgence of the pesky insects, which have thrived as an world travel ... TRIB VENDOR FOCUS: Catnapper offers "steel technology wrapped in comfort" Jackson Furniture major accounts vice president Don Hunter hopes his Catnapper line of reclining furniture catches on with rent-to-own dealers as much for its durability as for it's comfort. As a first year TRIB vendor at the upcoming "Silver at the Summit" tradeshow in Dallas March 17-19, Hunter ... Iowa's Latham becomes 82nd co-sponsor Iowa's Latham becomes 82nd co-sponsor Iowa Rep. Tom Latham Iowa Republican Tom Latham Friday, officially became the 82nd co-sponsor to join H.R. 1767 -- the House version of the industry supported Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act. Latham, who represents Iowa's 4th Congressional District, is a seven-term Congressman who ... Big changes in store for ORDA at April 9 meeting A "regime change" is in store for the Ohio Rental Dealers Association (ORDA), which will elect a new board of directors at the association's upcoming annual spring business meeting. All seven board seats are due to be filled at the April 9 meeting at the Concourse Hotel and ... Gates names Prater and Welch to top posts at easygates Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC announced Chris Prater will take the helm as vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Ladd Welch sill serve as vice president of operations. Previously, both Prater and Welch worked with Gates at Rent-A-Center and THORN Americas, Inc. Easygates, was ... Customer Expectations: Second installment in book review series Editors Note: APRO is proud to present the second in a semi-regular series of articles by George M. Schorsten Jr., Operations Manager CEO of Blue Ribbon Rentals, reviewing the book, "Exceeding Customers Expectations, What Enterprise, America’s #1 Car Rental Company Can Teach you about Creating Lifetime Customers", ... Rent-A-Center gives away 10,000 bus passes in New York in "Random Acts of Caring" program Rent-A-Center coworkers from around the state and the company’s home office went into multiple Rochester neighborhoods today handing out 10-packs of one-ride RGRTA Freedom Passes free-of-charge to 700 randomly selected individuals. Additionally, the company is providing a total of 3,000 one-ride passes to three local organizations – ... NEW VIDEO: Congressional break makes ideal time for grassroots RTO activism CLICK to watch Rep. Clay's appeal to fellow legislators. Congress may be on Easter vacation, but successful rent-to-own activists will stay busy over the next two weeks. APRO encourages rent-to-own industry activists to use the upcoming congressional recess March 15 - 30 to schedule meetings with U.S. Congress ... "Silver at the Summit" buying show to offer best of retail and rent-to-own According to Associated Volume Buyers (AVB) CEO Bob Lawrence, the decision to co-locate trade shows next week with the oldest and most well-established rent-to-own buying group in the nation was one driven by convenience as much as necessity. Pooling resources with TRIB Group and providing more member options, Lawrence ... TRIB Group offers exclusive savings programs through Expert Warehouse Today, Mitsubishi and Expert Warehouse announced a new Mitsubishi Program exclusively available to TRIB Group members through Expert Warehouse -- the warehousing arm of Brand Source. The new program replaces the direct program for TRIB Group that was previously in place through Mitsubishi and includes additional incentives like the ... Nationwide Marketing Group named 2008 Energy Star promotion award winner, earns EPA nod for promoting energy conservation The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will honor Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) for its outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions at a special awards ceremony April 1 in Washington, D.C. NMG was awarded the 2008 Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award winner for its sponsorship of ... TRIB Group to celebrate 25 years of RTO buying power TRIB Group Executive Director Dennis Shields When an expected 500 rent-to-own professionals -- vendors and dealers -- make their way to the annual TRIB Group buying show in Dallas next week, they will be making history. In more ways than one. Established in 1983, TRIB Group is the oldest ... RentN Go Opens in Rio Rancho From left: Diego Gonzales, Juan Rivera and RNG Franchisee Manny Hosltrom outside their new Rent’N Go custom wheels store in Rio Rancho, NM. Rent’N Go custom wheels today announced the opening of its newest retail store in Rio Rancho, a suburb of Albuquerque, New Mexico, under the ... ColorTyme Awards Maine Resident Janna Beane $10,000 in Nationwide ColorTyme BigTyme $10,000 Giveaway ColorTyme recently announced that Janna Beane of South Paris, ME is the $10,000 prize winner. Over 100 ColorTyme stores nationwide participated in the ColorTyme BigTyme $10,000 Giveaway which brought in nearly 6,000 entries throughout the months of November and December 2007. Dave Colizzi is the franchise ... New Video: Rent-to-own industry donates 28 computers to St. Louis schools Congressman William Lacy Clay Friday, joined national, state and local rent-to own industry representatives in launching the "Computers for Kidz" program -- an initiative to help bridge the digital divide in urban areas. (Watch the video) Click here to watch the video On behalf of four area charter ... New supporters boost RTO bill co-sponsorship to 81 Rent-to-own dealers and industry vendors who attended APRO's 2008 Dave Egan Legislative Conference in February continued to see their efforts rewarded Friday. Tennessee Rep. David Davis In addition to APRO’s report Thursday (see related story) of Rep. Phil English (R-Pennsylvania) signing on to H.R. 1767, Reps. David ... High gas prices can lead to high crimes By Ed Winn III APRO Legal Counsel Ed Winn III, With gas prices on the rise, clever and, sadly, dishonest employees here and there are trying to take advantage of the situation. A dealer called the other day to report on just such a situation. As is the case ... Speed Queen celebrates 100th anniversary in 2008 The large home appliance market is famous for seeing brands come and go. That’s why Speed Queen is so proud to celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. “This milestone is something each of us at Speed Queen is proud of,” said Chuck Melton national sales manager ... Congressman English to join RTO bill U.S. Rep. Phil English and Lt. Commander Michael Baker APRO headquarters Thursday received a forwarded e-mail confirming U.S. Rep. Phil English, R-Pa., has decided to co-sponsor H.R. 1767. The e-mail, forwarded by George Schorsten -- chief operating officer for Ohio based Blue Ribbon Rentals -- came ... Vendor Video: Coaster's unique distribution system fits the needs of RTO furniture dealers Coaster Company of America is one of the leading National Furniture Distributors in the United States with seven branches nationwide and growing and over 20 years experience in the business. Click to watch video. Coaster Company of America is a California incorporated company which began operations in 1979 as ... Vendor Video: Scratch-B-Gone resurfaces scratched up appliances Scratch-B-Gone is a soft-metal restoration kit developed by inventor Barry S. Feinman. The product is designed to remove scratches while blending and oxidizing the newly restored metal to match the surrounding areas. Click to Watch Video Scratch-B-Gone is a product of Restore It Yourself, Inc., which was conceived by ... Vendor Video: Curry Real Estate Services offers unique tools for choosing rent-to-own location Click to watch video. Curry Real Estate Services (CRES) helps take the guess work out of leasing real estate for small business owners. At no cost to their clients -- CRES is paid by the landlord and listing broker -- Curry Real Estate Services provides location and relocation services ... Baber's new Rent-n-Roll brings store count to 56 Cynthia Baber-Strunk and Shannon Strunk of Baber’s Inc., announced the opening of their fifth Rent-n-Roll in Jackson, Tennessee on March 1st. Paul Wood, Shannon Strunk and |