Rent-A-Center Reports Record Diluted Earnings per Share; Same Store Sales Down 1.3%
"...we are beginning to see positive trends in our payouts, which had been running abnormally high over the last year or so...more
Mark Speese, CEO Rent a Center

U.S. Unveils New $50 Note With Background Colors
The new $50 note will be issued in late September or early October. The $50 note will be followed later by a new $100 note. Decisions on new designs for the $5 and $10 notes are still under consideration...more

Kenwood Among Sponsors Of Digital Home Conference
CONNECTIONS: The Digital Home Conference and Showcase, produced by Parks Associates in partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association, is the largest international executive conference for digital home technologies...more

10th Annual Rent One Charity Golf Outing June 24th
Funds raised by this year’s outing will help benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis and KARE (Kids At Risk Educationally). KARE provides assistance to children in Hamilton and Jefferson Counties (Ill) who are at risk educationally and economically with the necessities in life...more

National TV Sales And Rental In Growth Mode
Lebanon Missouri based National TV Sales and Rentals recently acquired two locations from Miami Oklahoma based Carol Jeans Home Furnishings dba Onward Rent to Own...more

10 Million Girls And Boys Expected To Participate In Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day
"Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day enriches the education of America's girls and boys and creates a dynamic interaction between the workplace and the classroom...more
Marie C. Wilson, Ms. Foundation President

Ashley Furniture Recalls 22,000 Bunk Beds
The bunk beds being recalled are sold under the group name “Trails End”, “Cottage Retreat”, and “Stages”...more

Philips Electronics Survey Reveals Consumers Are Dreaming of the Premiere Home Theater
"Of those polled, almost one half of respondents (45 percent) have a home theater space in their home with the most common location in the family room or den (48 percent)"...more

Sony SVP Greg Gudorf To Address Development Of The Digital Living room
In his session Content Distribution in the Digital World, Mr. Gudorf will examine HDTV (high-definition television) as a medium for change in the digital home...more

Maytag Reports 7.3% Sales Increase
"...rising costs of steel, resins and fuel were challenges in the first quarter, and will continue to demand aggressive management...more
Ralph Hake, Maytag chairman and CEO

DMI Helps Raise Flexsteel's Net Sales 46%
Net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2004  increased 46%...more

Whirlpool Sets Record For Units Shipped In Q1
"The company's solid results were driven by the strong performance of our North American and European operations," said David R. Whitwam, Whirlpool Corporation's chairman and chief executive officer...more

New Overtime Eligibility Rule Triples Salary Threshold; New Rules Take Effect In 120 Days
Under the new rules, workers earning $23,660 or less are guaranteed overtime...more

A Simple Plan To Increase Mother's Day D's
Jewelry is an emotional item. Make it your mission to have every customer actually touch and feel a piece of jewelry...more

TruckSkin Turns Delivery Trucks Into 'Rolling Billboards'
A truck graphics solution that lets rent to own companies create and own a new advertising medium is attracting some big-league attention...more

Bryce Company Reports Record Quarter; Expanding Operations Facility To Meet Increased Demand
"This was by far our strongest first quarter ever," said Bryan Collins, president of Bryce Company. "Rent to own dealers around the country are implementing the Bryce BOR Builder program and our growth is a direct reflection of their success...more

Kansas Rent to Own Dealers To Form New State Association
"Kansas has never had an active association," said Gloria Homeier-Schwien (who's who), owner of  G-5 Retail dba Hometown Brand Center in Beloit and McPherson Kansas, and organizer of the event...more

U.S. Leading Index Increased 0.3 Percent In March
The upturn in the leading index since March 2003 signaled stronger economic growth...more

Mitsubishi Introduces 29 TVs, HDTVs, Monitors, Displays and DVD Players
This year's product line includes LCD monitors ranging from 22 to 55 inches; rear-projection TVs measuring 42 to 65 inches; 42-inch to 61-inch plasma monitors; and seven models with microdisplay technology spanning 52 to 82 inches in size...more

Vaughan Furniture Company To Close Bedroom Plant
Imports of wood bedroom furniture from China have been blamed for the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs in recent years...more

Furniture Retailers of America To Hold Briefing on China Bedroom Furniture Trade Case At High Point Market
Starting as early as June 17, Chinese bedroom furniture imports could be subject to massive import duties because a group of domestic manufacturers have filed a petition with the U.S. government...more

Seven Things Your Store’s Appearance Tells Your Customers
"In my 25 years of market research, I have learned that you don’t market to sell merchandise, you market to sell the store"...more
Britt Beemer, America's Research Group

PC Market Accelerates with Increased Business Demand While Dell Recaptures Lead, According to IDC
"A number of factors, including an aging installed base, rapid portable adoption, and aggressive pricing, should continue to drive growth into 2005...more
Loren Loverde, director of IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker

Rent A Center Conference Call to Be Broadcasted Live Via the Web
Audio of the call will be broadcast live.  A link to the live webcast will be available from My RTO Portfolio...more

6 Tips For A Successful Job Interview
Familiarize yourself with the company as well as the position. Get up-to-date on current corporate issues, so you can address any questions about direction and opportunity...more  

Study: 76% Of Major North American Companies Outsource One Or More HR Functions
"Many companies today view HR outsourcing as one of the most viable options to save money and improve services while also making a strategic contribution to the business...more
David Clinton, president of Accenture HR Services

Sealy Announces 10.4% Sales Increase
"The continued strong momentum with our top and bottom line results was driven by the success of our Unicased Posturepedic product line in the U.S."...more
David J. McIlquham, Sealy's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Rent Way Schedules Conference Call
A link to the live webcast will be available from My RTO Portfolio...more

Thomson (RCA) Reaches 13.5% Market Share In Digital Projection TVs
The company also reports a 7% share of all LCD TVs in Europe...more

Locksmith Shot During Repossession
The shooting occurred Monday evening when Woodbury County sheriff's deputies were serving civil papers to repossess a 43-inch TV and entertainment center...more

Things That Make Rent to Own Pros Go Hmmm
Why is it that some rent to own stores grow deliveries, BOR, APU and Revenue month in and month out while others eventually flat-line? Why do some stores peak then begin a downward spiral? Why do some rental professionals become successful through consistent growth while others 'hit a wall' or begin losing customers?...more

Stanley Furniture Beats The Street; Announces 14.6 % Increase In Q1 Sales
"It appears that improved economic conditions are finally producing positive industry growth...more
Jeffrey R. Scheffer, president and chief executive officer

National City Doubles Commercial Loan Fund for Women Business Owners
According to the Center for Women's Business Research, women entrepreneurs are the fastest growing segment of U.S. business owners...more

Women's Business Development Center To Hold 18th Annual Entrepreneurial Women's Conference
The goal of the conference is to help women develop, grow and succeed in business and to provide them with educational, networking and marketing opportunities...more

Walter L. Clark and Associates Specializes In Rent to Own Business Insurance
"With insurers like Hartford, Travelers, and others pulling out of the “Rent to Own” business, our goal is to maintain the availability of auto and business insurance for rent to own companies, "Said Jeannette Beardsley, agent for Walter L. Clark and Associates...more

Panasonic To Provide Technology At GOP National Convention
Panasonic will provide Viera plasma and LCD displays as well as audio products for the Convention...more

Hero Jessica Lynch To Appear At Klaussner Showroom During High Point Market
Lynch is scheduled to be at Klaussner's Asheboro North Carolina showroom on Wednesday April 14th...more

Suspect Arrested In Murder Of Rent a Center Manager
Michael Rivera is the assistant manager at the store. Items stolen from the store were found at his home...more

Tips For Turning Shoppers Into Renters
"The biggest obstacle to gaining a new customer is proving that you are uniquely qualified to meet their needs...more

More Than Two-Thirds of Americans Plan to Spend Their Tax Refunds on Everyday Purchases
The results of the Cambridge Consumer Credit Index wildcard question show that economy should be receiving a boost from consumer spending in spring and early summer...more

Rainbow Rentals Shareholders to Vote on Rent a Center Merger
Rainbow Rentals announced it has scheduled a special meeting of Shareholders for May 12, 2004 to consider and vote on the adoption of the merger agreement with Rent-A-Center...more

Kofax Implements Invoice Capture System for Rent-A-Center; 67% Efficiency Gain Expected
Rent-A-Center receives invoices from more than 85,000 different vendors across the country, with about 150 new vendors being added every week...more

Baby’s Death Prompts Sauder Woodworking Recall Of 590,000 TV/VCR Carts
The carts can tip over and injure or kill children and adults when the cart and the television fall...more

CEO Confidence Hits 20 Year High
Half of all CEOs surveyed anticipate an increase in hiring plans over the course of the year, suggesting labor market growth should gain momentum in the months ahead...more

Inform Business Printing And Promotions Launches Online Catalog
The new online catalog site is designed exclusively to serve rent to own companies...more

Study Finds High-Definition TV Lacks Programming
HDTV service remains extremely limited in its reach, with only four countries offering the service beyond an experimental basis...more

ViewSonic Names Ten New Representative Firms to Deliver Full Product Portfolio
"These relationships extend our nationwide sales and marketing support resources, enabling us to place a stronger focus on reaching new AV dealers...more

It’s Ordinary People, Not Business Superstars, That Turn Good Companies Into Great Ones
Companies look for unicorns—mythical creatures with amazing powers—because they have been told they must...What really matters in organizational success is how the company utilizes the vast bulk of ordinary people...more

Authorities Investigating Death Of Rent a Center Store Manager
Police discovered the body after a call from Rent a Center's alarm company and are investigating the death as a homicide...more

Gateway To Close All 188 Retail Stores; 2,500 Jobs Eliminated
Gateway, Inc. said that after reviewing strategic options for its network of 188 company-operated retail stores, it is planning to close the stores on April 9...more

Study Shows 38% Of Women Over 40 Intend To Purchase PC In Next 6 Months
"As technology products become easier and more intuitive to use, they provide ways for women to stay connected and remain independent as they age...more
Caryn Harbour, a director with Frank About Women

The Best Offense Is A Good...Offense
By Rufus Mudsucker
In the rent to own business, as with any other, there are two ways to play the game; Defensively, where you spend time looking over your shoulder, watching your competitors every move and constantly reacting. Or offensively, where you enter a market intent on domination. As my dear sweet mother used to say, "Find the biggest SOB in the market and hit him so hard he forgets who he is."...more

Dell Shipping $799 Laptop
At $699, (after rebate) this represents a significant downward move in retail laptop pricing....more

Bush Industries Declares Bankruptcy; CEO Resigns
The Company intends to file a petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on or about March 31, 2004 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York...more

Consumer Confidence Unchanged In March; Consumers See Soft Labor Market
"The labor market not only continues to dampen consumers’ present-day spirits, but it is also making them less optimistic about the short-term outlook...more

New Line Of Bogo Jewelry Aims At Hispanic Market
To assist rental dealers in capturing a larger share of the Hispanic market, Jerry Bogo Company has introduced a new line of jewelry that appeals directly to this exploding demographic...more

Rent a Center Acquires Rapid Rentals
Rapid Rentals was acquired by Rent a Center in a deal that closed March 15th...more

Britt Beemer Cites Convenience As Key To Drawing Male Shoppers
"Men, you see, have never been the dominant sex when it comes to the exchange of money for goods -- be it at malls, strip centers or groceries. Much as it sounds like a stereotype, it is actually true"...more

Texas Couple Gives Birth In Rent a Center Parking Lot
A Seguin Texas woman gave birth to a 5 pound 14 ounce boy in the Rent a Center parking lot Thursday, March 25th...more

High Point Furniture Market Nears
The Market uses close to 11 million square feet of showroom space in 188 separate buildings in High Point & Thomasville, N.C. USA. The International Home Furnishings Market is considered the most important wholesale home furnishings market in the world...more

Home Rental Source "Buy Fair" Draws 1,500 Members
"This is our biggest Spring Buying Fair ever," stated Bob Lawrence, who indicated attendance was up by 25% over last year’s spring event and featured over 24 new suppliers offering members buying fair specials...more

Senate Powerhouse Thad Cochran Cosponsors Rental Purchase Agreement Act; Action Expected Soon
Five term Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) is the latest co-sponsor to S884; Senate version of The Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act. The only Mississippi official remaining uncommitted to passage of the Act is Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS 2)...more

Bassett Sales Down Slightly; Outlook Improving
Bassett Furniture Industries announced today that sales for the first quarter of 2004 were $76.6 million, down 1.3% from first quarter 2003 levels...more