Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Majik Rent-To-Own Changes Ownership After 40 Years

APRO member Majik Enterprises International Inc. dba Majik Rent-To-Own was recently acquired by Pennsylvania-based Blue Ocean Brands, LLC. This is Blue Ocean’s fourth acquisition and the company now operates 20 stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky, under the Majik, LifeStyle Home Furnishings, and RentMart names.

Known for respecting the heritage and culture of the businesses it acquires, Blue Ocean was handpicked by rent-to-own veteran Dan Fisher, who founded and led Majik for the past four decades.

“Selling your business after 40 years is an extremely difficult decision,” Fisher said. “But Blue Ocean’s strategy of embracing our company culture and unique position in the marketplace made it much easier.”

Dan hopes to honor the memory of his daughter, Maria Fisher, with the next phase of his career.

Fisher said his decision to sell his business began almost seven years ago, when his daughter Maria was killed in a tragic car accident.

“Since that time, I’ve struggled with my focus,” said Fisher. “I’ve found myself wanting to move to ‘phase two’ of my career. And even though I’m not 100-percent sure what that is, I think it will be led by my desire to honor my daughter.”

Fisher and his wife Tricia invested a portion of their sale proceeds into Blue Ocean’s growth platform, and Dan will serve on the company’s Board of Directors; he also hopes to remain active on the APRO Board of Directors.

“Blue Ocean leadership recognizes that Majik’s team and culture are the reasons for our success,” said Fisher. “The Blue Ocean leadership team has toured all the Majik stores with our COO Mike Simoncini and me, taking time to speak with each individual employee. We feel they really understand what makes Majik Majik.”

Indeed, Blue Ocean has hired every Majik employee, keeping their compensation, benefits, and other Majik perks intact.

Majik managers enjoy a premier perk of their employment – a company-covered cruise to Bermuda in 2022.

“We’re extremely appreciative of the opportunity to partner with the entire Majik team,” Blue Ocean CEO Bill Short said. “Their reputation and culture are among the best in the industry, and we look forward to fostering continued success and opportunity across the entire Blue Ocean platform. We are especially excited to have Mike Simoncini assume the role of Blue Ocean’s COO, overseeing all store operations and support functions.”

Looking ahead, Fisher plans to take some time to strategize next steps, then hopes to open a new small business designed to benefit the Maria Fisher Foundation.

“Tricia and I have donated $5-25k annually in scholarships and to other nonprofits since Maria’s death, but our goal is to increase our contributions significantly and do some pretty big things in honor of Maria,” said Fisher. “I believe this transition will bring me some peace, closure, and hopefully continued connections with an industry I love.”

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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.