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H E A D L I N E S
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11-20-09
Gates Opens Second Wichita easyhome
"Despite
difficult economic conditions, our first store in Wichita has
been very successful." - Bud Gates, CEO, easygates...more
11-19-09
California Adopts Misguided Plasma Ban
California has decided to save the planet, one
plasma TV at a time. In spite of overwhelming opposition, the
California Energy Commission (CEC) yesterday adopted a rule that
imposes unprecedented and unnecessary energy efficiency
standards on television sets sold in California...more
 11-19-09
Premier Preps for January
Orlando Convention
The Premier Companies will hold its 2010 Annual Dealer
Convention in Orlando, Florida January 25-27 at the JW Marriott
Grand Lakes...more
11-19-09
Panasonic Recognized By CES Innovation Awards
Panasonic's DMP-B15 portable Blu-ray player has been awarded a 2010 Innovations
Award by the Consumer Electronics Association...more
 11-18-09
Aaron's Driver Reutimann and 2008 Playmate Team Up to Benefit Troops
All proceeds
will help the AFF
provide financial assistance for our wounded service members and
their families...more
 11-18-09
Rent-A-Center Names Trey Feiler VP Development
Reporting to Dave West, executive vice president of Operational Services, Feiler is
charged with administration of the Company's real estate,
construction and facilities departments...more
11-17-09
Survey: Wellness Programs Lower Absenteeism
U.S. respondents spend an average of $163 per employee per year on wellness
incentive rewards, up from an average of $100 two years ago...more
11-17-09
Experian Survey Reveals Consumer Shopping Behavior Changes
While the recession will continue to play a significant role during the 2009
holiday season, there are some consumer trends towards indulgencies and
convenience this year...more
11-17-09
LED to Dominate LCD Backlights in 2011
"While there
are still some technical and cost premium concerns about LED
backlights, this is the first time the LCD TV supply chain has
joined forces to aggressively promote the benefits of LED
backlight products." - Yoshio Tamura, Senior Vice President, DisplaySearch...more
11-16-09
Retired Bassett CEO Robert Spilman Dies
Robert H. "Bob" Spilman, former president, chairman and CEO
of Bassett Furniture Industries, died Sunday night. Spilman was
inducted into the Furniture Hall of Fame in 2005...more
11-16-09
Association Critiques FDIC Small Dollar Loan Program
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's (FDIC) two-year small dollar loan
pilot program is proving to be a failure after one year...more
11-16-09
Consumers Increase Comparison Shopping
According to new data released by The NPD Group. consumers put comparison
shopping and value at the top of their holiday lists...more
11-16-09
Whirlpool Logs 30 Design Awards in 2009
Whirlpool Corporation has achieved a record year for design awards...more
11-16-09
VIDEO
Georgia Resident Wins Aaron's Lucky Dog Day Sweepstakes
Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE:AAN), the nation's second largest rent-to-own operator,
surprised Ruth Usher, the grand prize winner of Aaron's National Lucky Dog Day
Sweepstakes, on Wednesday morning at her home in Perry, Georgia...more
11-12-09
In Store Tax Prep Deadline Approaching
Taxes are
inevitable for most customers. Turning them into an income
stream for a rent-to-own dealer takes planning." - Steve Minish, head of business development for eTax Partners...more
11-11-09
Consumers Remain Cautious as Holiday Shopping Period Approaches
With just a little more than two weeks to go until the
traditional Black Friday shopping blitz, consumers are showing
more interest in purchasing personal electronics. One quarter
(24.9%) of Americans are planning to buy small or personal
electronics this month, up five percentage points from October,
according to the Consumer Reports Index...more
11-10-09
Rent-to-Own Industry Recession Proof
Myth
There is no evidence that the rent-to-own industry is
recession-proof or that a down-economy results in any
significant benefit for rent-to-own companies. In fact the evidence points
to the opposite conclusion - the recession has had a negative
affect on the RTO industry albeit to a smaller degree than
retail...more
11-09-09
easyhome Same Store Sales Up 1.8 Percent, Net Falls to Zero
easyhome Ltd. (TSX:EH), Canada's leading rent-to-own company, today announced
its results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009...more
11-06-09
easyhome Opens Oklahoma City Franchise
Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC today announced the opening of a new
franchise store in the U.S....more
11-06-09
Ratner, Reichenbach Open Second Maine Premier
"Our goal has always been to open multiple stores, and now
that we have survived this past year's lending freeze, we are
back on course," said Ratner, a 26-year rent-to-own industry vet and
longtime entrepreneur. "We feel we will bring a lot to the
Auburn community by giving it more quality choices in
rental-purchase and retail and also through our commitment to
customer care."...more
11-04-09
Editorial:
Study Finds Payday Lending Root of All Evil
Stripped of all the sixty-six point Scrabble words,
the trio conclude that if payday loan stores are banned, clouds
will part, rainbows will appear, bunnies will play in the
streets and children will skip to school on polished sidewalks
to learn about violent crime from history books...more
11-04-09
Aaron's Increases Dividend
"This is the fifth
consecutive year we have increased our dividend rate." - Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr., President and Chief Executive
Officer, Aaron's...more
11-02-09
Association Launches Underbanked Policy Initiative
The Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) announced
today the launch of a policy initiative to provide
national leadership and new ideas on public policies that
encourage and enhance access to reasonably priced financial
services for the financially underserved...more
 11-02-09
BrightHouse Plans Biggest Ever Christmas Marketing Spend
BrightHouse, the UK's largest rent to own company, will
launch a £1.5 million ($2.45 million US) marketing campaign to
support its 189 stores during the 2009 Christmas season...more
11-02-09
Rent-A-Center to Extend Term of Senior Credit Facility
"Our strong
operating cash flow has allowed us to substantially reduce our
debt level over the past twenty-four months." - Robert D. Davis, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, Rent-A-Center...more
 10-30-09
One Day Left in easyhome Contender Challenge
Only one day remains in
the Be A Contender challenge, launched by easyhome, Canada's largest Rent to Own operator, to
identify the best RTO operators in the United States. The grand
prize - a fully funded easyhome franchise...more
10-30-09
ColorTyme Plans Franchisee Webinar
On Monday, Nov. 2, ColorTyme will host a Webinar for its
franchisees – a first-time event for the rent-to-own company.
During the secure online presentation, ColorTyme CEO Bob Bloom
will offer franchise owners a detailed presentation that will
include industry trends and current initiatives...more
 10-30-09
Steve Dovale Opens Orlando Premier Home Furnishings
"Premier has a unique model. No one else is doing it on a nationwide scale. It's
tricky to meet the needs of two diverse markets, those who lease and those who
buy." - Steve Dovale, Franchisee, Premier Home Furnishings...more
 10-30-09
Premier Wraps Annual Executive Team Retreat
The Premier Companies, recently named the 5th fastest growing young franchise in
the United States by Franchise Magazine, wrapped its annual Executive Retreat in Corolla, NC...more
10-30-09
easyhome to Webcast Q3 Conference Call
easyhome Ltd. (TSX:EH), Canada's largest rent-to-own company, will hold its
quarterly management conference call on Tuesday, November 10, 2009...more
10-29-09
Sixty Five Percent of Consumers Expect to Cut Back on Holiday Spending
The effects of ongoing economic turbulence continue to weigh heavily on the
pocketbooks and minds of shoppers as the 2009 holiday season approaches.
According to a new Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll, 65 percent of
Americans plan to cut back on overall holiday expenses such as gifts, travel,
and entertaining...more
10-29-09
Small Businesses
Key to U.S.
Business and Job Growth
Small businesses will play an important role in the nation's
economic future. The Office of Advocacy's
Small
Business Profile for the United States, released today,
provides details about small business employment, business
starts and closings, bank lending in 2008, the demographics of
business ownership, and firm and employment change by major
industry and firm size...more
 10-29-09
VIDEO
How Rent to Own Trade Associations Can Serve Members
Most folks join their industry's trade association to grow their business
through new and innovative methods, learned through a collaborative
community—the trade association...more
10-28-09
Wal-Mart Launches Rent to Own Pilot Program
Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT), the world's largest retailer, is running
a pilot rent-to-own-vehicle program at superstores in the
Phoenix metro area. Wal-Mart chose LIVE X Auto
Exchange as its partner for the test. Vehicle service will be performed by
Wal-Mart
Tire and Lube Express. All contracts are paid bi-weekly and
carry an initial term of four weeks...more
10-27-09
RTO Dealers Should Prepare For 2010 Tax Season Now
Rent to Own dealers are already starting to fight what Steve Minish, head of business development
for eTax Partners,
calls the January through
March RTO doldrums by adding a tax preparation service to their
line-up...more
10-27-09
Rent to Own Career Center Tops 5000 Users
RTO Career Center, operated by RTO Online Inc. as a free service to the rent-to-own industry, registered its
5,000th active user Monday...more
10-26-09
Rent-A-Center Same Store Sales Plunge Six Percent;
Fewer stores, units per customer
Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ:RCII), the nation's largest
rent-to-own operator, today reported total revenues for the
quarter ended September 30, 2009 decreased $37.5 million from
the same period in 2008. The decrease in revenues was primarily the result of a
6.1% reduction in same store sales...more
 10-26-09
VIDEO
Touch Me; Windows 7 Changes PC
Rental Landscape
The rent-to-own industry always benefits from new technology
that increases consumer demand for computers. The launch of Windows 7 brought with it a surge of new
all-in-one (AIO) PC announcements by traditional PC vendors and
monitor brands...more
10-26-09
Small Business Owners Show Little Optimism
Half of
Small Business Owners Surveyed Say Economic Recovery More Than a Year
Away...more
10-26-09
Quarter of Consumers Polled Considering TV Purchase
Screen size and a better picture are the two most important things for
prospective TV buyers, according to The NPD Group's 2009 TV Inventory Study.
One-in-four consumers say they'll most likely be making a new TV
purchase in the next six months...more
10-23-09
Rent-A-Center Joins RentDirect Buying Group
Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ:RCII), the nation's largest rent-to-own
company, has joined RentDirect...more
10-23-09
Plan Your Holiday Promotions
As the holiday season quickly approaches, store managers and marketing types are
planning the holiday "event." It may be radio, TV, direct mail, email blasts or
an in-store promotion...more
10-22-09
Rent-A-Center Opens First RTO Store in Cary NC
"This is a
great opportunity to show the 120,000 Cary residents what
Rent-A-Center has to offer in the way of home furnishings." - John Nelson, Manager, Cary, NC Rent-A-Center...more
10-22-09
Teletrack Launches Check Risk Evaluation System
Teletrack,
a leading rent-to-own industry provider of risk management
solutions, introduced RevealCheck, a tool for check
cashers that provides quick, easy and affordable access to check
cashing history and identity risk information...more
10-22-09
Tax Preparation Creates Additional Revenue Without Increasing Costs
In today's increasingly competitive marketplace many Rent to
Own companies are prospering by offering Tax Preparation
services to their customers...more
10-22-09
Aaron's Franchise Same Store Revenues Up 7.8%
Aaron's, the country's second largest rent-to-own
operator, reported revenues for its Sales & Lease Ownership
division in the third quarter increased 7% to $414.4 million.
Same store revenues for franchised stores were up 7.8% for the
third quarter of 2009...more
10-22-09
Consumer Electronics Holiday Spending to Increase
Shawn DuBravac, CEA's chief economist and director of
research and Steve Koenig, CEA's director of industry analysis,
kicked off the 2009 Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
Industry Forum this week with the popular Holiday Sales and
Forecast presentation...more
10-19-09
Aaron's Extends Sports Marketing Partnerships
Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), announced a continued partnership with the Atlanta
Hawks, the Atlanta Thrashers and Philips Arena...more
10-15-09
Thousands Write Congress to Preserve Payday Lending
"So-called
consumer advocacy organizations who have nothing to lose do not
speak for the 19 million American households who use payday
loans." D. Lynn DeVault, President , Community Financial Services
Association of America...more
10-15-09
Tyson Johnson Elected President of Kansas RTO Association
The Kansas Rental Dealers Association (KARD) held their
annual meeting at the Prairie Band Casino in Mayetta Kansas
October 14. Rent-A-Center's Tyson Johnson (Wichita) was elected
president...more
 10-14-09
Nationwide Southwest, RentDirect Donate $15,000 to TARA PAC
Nationwide Southwest CEO Dennis Willich and
RentDirect
executive director James MacAlpine presented a check for $15,000
to the Texas
Association of Rental Agencies (TARA) PAC fund. The donation was
accepted by Dan Mathews, president of TARA during the group's
annual convention this week in Dallas...more
10-14-09
RTO Sign Maker Doubles WindBlade Line
"The WindBlades
are huge, bold, inexpensive and can be installed anywhere
quickly." - Steve Lenhart, President, Signs4Retail...more
10-13-09
Washington Post Payday Lending Story Misleading
"These inaccuracies
are significant because the story purports to be about
unregulated financial services whose customers are unbanked." - D. Lynn DeVault, President, CFSA...more
 10-13-09
Gainesville ColorTyme Takes Donations for Accident Victim
Mike Gavidia, a friend to Hertell and franchise owner of the
Gainesville ColorTyme, said that "Ron is the kind of man who
helps other people. He puts people first, before himself. He's also a great
family man – husband and father of two teenage boys...more
 10-13-09
RimTyme: Franchise Week 2009
By Tim Hogan, Vice President, RimTyme
Some of the greatest products and advertising initiatives have been created by
franchise owners. The
same applies to RimTyme. ColorTyme Franchise Owner Jim Moore
decided to offer custom wheels and tires. Later, he opened
several ColorTyme Custom Wheels stores. Evolving from Jim's
inventiveness, the RimTyme franchise business was born...more
10-13-09
Ernst & Young Study Confirms Payday Loans Fair and Reasonable
Based on the study
findings, it is clear that attempts to impose artificial rate
caps will result in the elimination of a product used
responsibly by millions of Americans to address small dollar,
short-term credit needs...more
10-13-09
eTax Offers
RTO Dealers In-store Tax Prep Services Without Liability
"Our customer
resources program provides any client from any location the
ability to instantly communicate with their dedicated tax pro."
- Steve Minish,
head of business development for eTax Partners...more
10-13-09
Holiday Retail Outlook Down Four Points
The NPD Group released the results of its annual survey of
consumers' holiday spending intentions. Thirty percent of
consumers surveyed told NPD they plan to spend less this
holiday, a four point increase over last year's results...more
10-12-09
Judge Denies Whirlpool Patent Claim Against LG
A U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) judge again
denied the final remaining claim by Whirlpool Corporation
concerning refrigerator products from LG Electronics. LG and
Whirlpool are both major whitegoods suppliers to the rent-to-own
channel...more
 10-11-09
William McCrae Elected President of TARA
William McCrae, owner of Buzz's Rental Purchase, was elected
president of the Texas Association of Rental Agencies today at
the group's annual convention in Dallas...more
10-10-09
Texas Rent to Own Dealers Hold Annual Convention
The 26th Annual Texas Association of Rental Agencies (TARA) convention will kick
off Sunday at the Hotel InterContinental-Dallas...more
10-09-09
easyhome Enters Tulsa Market
Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC announces the opening of a new
U.S. franchise store. The store will open on October 10, 2009 on East 31st
Street in the Garnett Crossing Shopping Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gates is the
master franchisor for easyhome, Canada's largest rent-to-own company...more
 10-09-09
Premier UGetcha Cash: Franchise Week 2009
By The Premier
Companies
When traditional banks left the small loan market years ago,
they left working families in need of cash with limited
options for meeting sudden needs. Particularly hurt were
those in financial crunches who certainly could not afford
to bounce a check with overdraft charges at banks soaring.
This sparked rapid growth in the payday loan industry and a
renewed interest and support in recent months by lending
institutions...more
 10-09-09
Study Finds Bad Bosses & Toddlers Have Much in Common
A new five-year comparative study on bad and childish boss
behavior reveals increases of up to 50 percent in such traits as
self-oriented, impulsiveness and stubbornness. Traits also
shuffled, with "Self-oriented" moving to the top spot, far
outpacing its earlier contender, "Stubborn."...more
10-09-09
Most Small Businesses Plan No Raises in 2010
Even though 77 percent of small business owners don't plan to give raises in
2010, most aren't even talking to employees about their "hidden paycheck,"
according to a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. small business owners...more
10-09-09
House Committee to Markup Consumer Financial Protection Act
Barney Frank (D-MA),
Chairman of the
House Committee on Financial Services, today announced a markup
the Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009 - to be reported as H.R.
3126...more
10-09-09
Amscot Donates 4,160 Bike Helmets in 12 Florida Counties
Florida based payday loan provider Amscot Financial will
donate and distribute 4,160 free bike helmets on Oct. 22 in 12
Florida counties where the company operates branch locations.
Over the past seven years, Amscot has given away more than
25,000 free bike helmets to families living in Central Florida...more
 10-08-09
Wheel Workz: Rent to Own Franchise Week 2009
By The Premier Companies
In 2008, The Premier Companies, a rental-purchase franchising
organization, joined with Wheel Workz, a leader in wheel retail
and leasing, to form Premier Wheel Workz. This joint venture
offers franchise opportunities to experienced wheel and tire
dealers and rental-purchase veterans...more
 10-08-09
Rob Lewis Elected President of Oklahoma Rental Association
Rob Lewis, District Manager for Rent-A-Center,
was elected president of the Oklahoma Rental Dealers Association
(ORDA) Wednesday in Tulsa at the group's annual meeting,
sponsored by Nationwide Southwest and RentDirect. Lewis has
served as ORDA's vice president for 3 years...more
10-08-09
DSI Systems Opens Chicago Sales Office
"The
opportunity to open our 31st branch speaks volumes to the
success of the independent dealer in 2009." - Doug Robison, President, DSI Systems...more
10-06-09
Consumer Survey Predicts Flat Holiday Season
A survey of 2,300 adults 18 years and older conducted in September by Burst
Media found that 62.8% of consumers plan to spend the same or cut back on their
holiday purchases compared to 2008...more
 10-06-09
Premier Rental Purchase: Rent to Own Franchise Week 2009
By Trooper Earle, President and CEO, The Premier Companies
The Premier Companies recently was ranked the fifth Fastest
Growing Young Franchisor in America by FRANdata, the franchise
industry's source for objective information and analysis. While our growth over
the last few years has exceeded our expectations, we were surprised to see it
relative to other...more
 10-05-09
RTO Magazine Available on Facebook
RTO Magazine, the rent-to-own industry's leading trade
publication, is now available on Facebook. To see all issues,
visit the main page, click the Photos tab, find and click the Album "RTO
Magazine Issues."...more
10-05-09
Rent-A-Center Opens 35th Mississippi Store
Rent-A-Center will hold a ribbon cutting
ceremony Thursday, October 8, 2009 to dedicate the opening of the
company's 35th Mississippi location in Booneville...more
 10-05-09
Former
Thorne/Rent-A-Center Exec Don Marks Dies
Marks was a former Rent-A-Center/Thorne executive. Among
other assignments, he spent 3 years in Europe as Managing
Director of Radio Rentals and Crazy George before joining Badcock in 1998. He was instrumental in Badcock's entry into the
rent-to-own sector with the Home Now brand...more
10-02-09
Stine, Jackson Open First easyhome Franchise in Omaha
easygates announced a new
easyhome franchise store opening on October 3, 2009, in Omaha,
Nebraska. The store is the first opened by JSNB Enterprises,
LLC, an easyhome franchise owned by Jerry Stine and Vernell
Jackson...more
 10-02-09
Father of HDTV Honored in New York
Every time you rent a High-Def TV, you might want to say a
silent thank-you to Dr. Woo Paik, CTO of LG Electronics. The
national Library of American Broadcasting honored Dr. Paik as the "Father of
HDTV" at the Seventh Annual Giants of Broadcasting Awards ceremony in New York
City...more
10-02-09
Rent-A-Center Furnishes Brooklyn Boys & Girls Club
Rent-A-Center recently furnished a "RAC Room" and the Thomas S. Murphy Boys
& Girls Clubs in Brooklyn...more
10-02-09
Rent-A-Center Furnishes Ohio Domestic Violence Shelter
Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ:RCII), the nation's largest rent-to-own company, made a
donation of furniture and electronics to the Domestic Violence Shelter in
Mansfield Ohio through the company's Random Act of Caring initiative...more
 10-02-09
Rent to Own Franchise Week 2009: easyhome
easyhome is a proven success with over 230 stores in Canada
and the US. easyhome is Canada's largest merchandise leasing
company and third largest in North America. Our entry into the
U.S. is being led by Bud Gates, former CEO of the world's
largest rent-to-own company and CEO of easygates, LLC...more
 10-02-09
Oklahoma Rental Dealers Prep For Annual Meeting
Members of the Oklahoma Rental Dealers Association (ORDA)
will meet Oct. 6-7, 2009 at the
Hard Rock Casino and Resort near Tulsa. The annual event is
sponsored by Nationwide Southwest. Nationwide Southwest covers
the cost of rooms and meals for all attending dealers...more
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