Rent-to-own furniture company expands with new store in Spring Hill
Employee Fabian Cooper sits in a staged living room, every item for rent, at the newly opened Great Rooms store in Spring Hill. Photo Source: Beth N. Gray | Special to the Times
Wind through the artfully appointed, staged living rooms, the topically styled five-piece dinette sets, the bunk bed to queen-size bedroom suites, and it still likely will be the 75-inch Sony LED television that blows shoppers away.
“We actually already delivered one,” said muscle man Fabian Cooper at Great Rooms on the day after the furniture rental store snipped its grand-opening ribbon Aug. 1 at Mariner Crossing plaza.
It is the seventh store for the Tampa-based company, which opened its first store in Tampa in 2011.
TVs and computers will be most in demand, said owner Frank Rutkowski of Holiday, based on his four years of experience operating a Great Rooms store in New Port Richey, which continues under his ownership.
The Spring Hill store’s lineup includes more than a dozen television choices, including the latest concave screens. Computer selections range from desktop to laptop.
“Most customers rent to own,” Rutkowski said. “That’s my ultimate goal. We do everything to help them do that. We’re not the type of rental for a weekend party. We’re more in the line of you’re wanting to own this merchandise.”
While customers can rent an item for as little as a week, contracts are normally for 12, 18 or 24 months. The longer the contract, the less the per-month charge. For instance, a living room suite that rents for $200 monthly over 12 months may cost $150 monthly over 18 months, Rutkowski explained.
“We’ll write that all out for you, all cards on the table, so you can see what’s best for you,” he said.
Outright cash sales are also offered, as well as three- to 12-month buyouts with no interest or finance charges. That 75-inch TV rents for $69.99 per week for 24 months, or can be purchased for $3,399.
Rutkowski defined rent-to-own customers as ages 20 to 45, middle income, “families that really like beautiful merchandise, and I make it affordable for them.”
And beautiful are the room settings Rutkowski himself designed.
Early in his career in the furniture field, Rutkowski said, “I learned from an interior decorator. I followed her around for six months. Every time she moved something, I asked her why.”
“I set this up,” he said of a particular living room arrangement in coordinated colors and complementary styles. “You may not like the tables with it. Whatever you like, we’ll put together a package that you like.”
Brand names are a focus for the store’s merchandise, with some 300 items on display, from sofas to candlesticks and wall art, maybe 10,000 more units available through vendors’ catalogs. They include Ashley and Crosley furniture, Whirlpool and Amana appliances and Mitsubishi, LG, Sony and Apple electronics, to name a few.
“We’re the next biggest store for Ashley Home furniture next to Ashley HomeStores themselves,” Rutkowski said. “And we’re cheaper than them because I’m not sitting down on (U.S.) 19,” with higher overheads “and lots of charge accounts.”
Another plus, as he sees it, is there are no credit checks.
“Not everybody has the best of credit,” he acknowledged.
As a business protection, the store asks for driver’s license identification, a copy of a pay stub and personal references.
In Hernando County, Great Rooms will compete with similar rental outlets — Aaron’s on Commercial Way and Buddy’s Home Furnishings on Spring Hill Drive, for example. “We are very price conscious as well as aware of our competitors,” Rutkowski said. “Most times we can beat them.”
He also points to a Great Rooms business philosophy of giving back to the community. Last week, he was in talks with Springstead High School about a local fundraiser.
Rutkowski himself will manage the Spring Hill store and its four employees for at least the first year. The company has a five-year lease at the plaza with extension options.
“We plan to be here for a long, long time,” Rutkowski said.
Source: Tampa Bay Times
Contact Beth Gray at graybethn@earthlink.net.
Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.
For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.
Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!
Lauren Talicska
Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials
Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.
You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).
Charles Smitherman
APRO
Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry.
Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.
Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.
Mike Kays
Ashley Furniture Industries
As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.
Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.
The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.
Mike Tissot
Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own
Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.
He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.
Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.
