Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Affordable Home Furnishing Lifestyle Website, ShopRTO.com, Unveils New Website

APRO-Shop-RTO-Logo-Sidebar-FlatShopRTO.com, the rent-to-own association’s consumer facing website, announces its newly designed website giving it a complete new makeover with E-zine style and look. ShopRTO.com promotes affordable home furnishing and lifestyle tips and when the rent-to-own option makes sense for the consumer. The $8 billion dollar rent-to-own industry rents with the option to own furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. The largest inventory rent-to-own stores offer is furniture representing 40% of its annual revenue. That equates into $3.2 billion dollars of furniture rentals and sales. “We’re excited by the new look and potential of ShopRTO.com. The site is the rent-to-own industry’s modern version of “Get Crackin’” of the pistachio growers association but all digital. We understand the future of home furnishing shopping starts with the internet so that’s where we’re focusing our energy,” remarks Mark Connelly, APRO President and Arona Executive Vice President. Arona is the second largest Aaron’s franchise in the U.S. shoprto-redesignShopRTO.com was germinated from years of market research in which focus groups showed that more than 90% of consumers start with the Internet when shopping for home furnishings. The data was reviewed by Prevail Strategic Marketing that then recommend the rent-to-own association take advantage of the Internet-dominated shopping trends and create a consumer-centric website that helps promote rent-to-own as part of a lifestyle rather than just another retail choice in the market. “When shoppers rent-to-own furniture and such, they get a full service of delivery, repair, loaner if repairs need to be fixed off-site and, most of all, a debt free transaction keeping the consumer free from the legal obligations of traditional credit,” continues Connelly. “Today, the customer shopping experience goes broader and deeper than just walking into a store,” says Jill Adams McDonough, founder of Prevail Strategic Marketing.  “Consumers expect to access information and advice about products and how to use them whenever and wherever they want.  ShopRTO.com offers a lifestyle-oriented, information-rich, 24/7 interactive resource.  It doesn’t take the place of a knowledgeable, warm and helpful neighborhood rent-to-own sales person, but it goes a long way toward helping to educate and empower the customer.” “As anticipated, the concept is working. The highest visited page is the rent-to-own store locator. Viewers go to the site, read something they’re interested in with the rent-to-own option as part of the article and go to the store locator to find their nearest rent-to-own store,” says Trent Agin, APRO Public Relations Committee Chairman and Board of Director. “Now we need to boost its viewership to a whole new level and think the new redesign is great step in that direction.” ShopRTO and APRO encourages vendors such as furniture brands to help offer articles and tips and, in return, promote their brand as the source. For more information on ShopRTO, contact APRO Deputy Executive Director, Richard May at (800) 204-2776, ext. 104.

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Mike Lewis

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.