The Andromeda home theater seating is offered in the DirectOne import program.
RowOne Home Entertainment will introduce domestic and imported programs for its home theater seating at Nationwide Primetime, Aug. 14-17.
The imported home theater seating program called RowOne Direct will allow dealers to buy directly from inventory, shipped from Hickory, N.C. The program also offers mixed container direct pricing with a minimum order of 25 of one style in the same cover.
“Home theater seating is sold in multiple quantities so 25 is not a large quantity to order,” said Robert Cribbs, president of RowOne. “Reactions from dealers learning that they can buy such small quantities and still get container pricing have been very exciting.”
The program is designed to provide small and midsize dealers the flexibility to order several styles of chairs in one container. Smaller dealers will be able to take advantage of the same shipping costs as large dealers without committing to a full container.
The Manhattan is all leather made in Hickory, N.C.
“We have arranged with a freight forwarder, factory-to-dealer delivery,” said Cribbs. “There are no warehouse ‘in and out’ charges, and the freight bill goes directly to the dealer from the freight company, not from RowOne Direct.”
RowOne is also introducing 100% leather in its domestic home theater chairs in response to strong demand, according to Cribbs.
Produced in Hickory, N.C., the domestic line includes straight and curved rows with different lighting options and a selection of fabric, bonded leather or full leather covers. Sofa and loveseat options are available in all styles.
“Our director of sales and marketing, Laura Atkins, has worked with the factory to develop the leather color line, now consisting of 16 popular colors,” added Cribbs. “Her background in upholstery and motion seating has been a tremendous help, assuring that the chairs have the right style and comfort.”
RowOne Home Entertainment is located in booth 1872 at the Nationwide show.
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.
