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MicroBilt Partners With Teletrack; Expands Use of Alternative Credit Reporting
Teletrack delivers management solutions for non-traditional lending markets including payday loan companies, rent-to-own stores, non-traditional credit consumer finance businesses, non-prime auto lenders and credit unions...more

Whirlpool Foundation Announces 2008 Scholarship Winners
Three $16,000 scholarships, payable over four years, two $2,500 Honor Awards and one $1,000 Incentive Award were presented to outstanding graduating high school students...more

RTO Professional Training Series Topic #6; Boomers and Millennials; Solving Generational Conflict in the Workplace
Born approximately between 1978 and the early 1990s, the Millennials are the most diverse generation in US history and the largest since the infamous Baby Boomers exploded into America's conscientiousness...more

Rent-A-Center Donates Technology To Allen County Ohio Red Cross
"With this generous donation from Rent-A-Center, we will be able to help people affected by disaster more efficiently by assisting them at the scene." - Brenda Mead, Operations Director, Red Cross, Allen County Ohio Chapter...more

Fisher & Paykel Expands North American Operation
This expansion is designed to streamline our manufacturing costs, and bring increased consistency and efficiency to the company's production process in the U.S. market...more

The Art of Building Loyal Rent-to-Own Employees
As rent-to-own companies begin to compete as aggressively for qualified workers as they do for customers, we must improve our ability to develop and retain talented staff. Losing talented employees costs more than money, it costs customers...more

Nintendo's Wii Tops Canadian Sales
The Wii console was the number one selling home console system in Canada for 13 of the past 17 months...more

Change In-Store Signage to Influence Purchase Decisions
Only 30% of all buying decisions are made by consumers before they enter your store. Chet Pensak, president of Inform Print & Promotions, says that store signage is consistently the best return of all advertising investments...more

U.S. PC Growth Slows; Dell, HP, Acer Lead Shipments in Q1
As worldwide PC shipments grew by 14.6% to 69.5 million units in the first quarter of 2008, the U.S. market slipped to a meager 3.5% year-over-year growth rate as the general economic malaise currently affecting the U.S. economy has begun to impact the local PC market as well...more

Updated Rent-to Own Industry Statistics
Due to its publicly available standardized reporting method over a 15 year period, Rent-A-Center data is the only verifiable rent-to-own industry operational data available and is the benchmark for independent operators to gauge their performance versus the industry as a whole...more

OLED Predicted to Make Advances Against LCD
Eighty percent of total respondents to a recent Displaybank survey said OLED TV was superior to the LCD TV in image quality, and 92% of the respondents said that 3cm is an appropriate thickness for 40-inch OLED TV...more

Enhancing the RTO Customer Experience With Video
Companies go to a great deal of expense in training their employees to maximize the impact of that first few seconds of face time with a potential customer - and it's worth it...more

Inform Print and Promotions Enhances Ad Specialty Search Functions
With the enhanced search capabilities, users can search by whatever features they need. Whether it's a particular product made of a particular fabric or for certain event or a budgeted item that must be a certain amount, users can find the product best suited to their needs...more

Tax Refund Xpress Offers Reduced Rate For RentDirect Members
Nationwide RentDirect members pay one flat discounted rate for all of their individual and business tax needs...more

U.S. Foreclosure Activity Up 57 Percent From March 2007; Nevada Leads Country In Foreclosures
The March numbers show that overall foreclosure activity so far this year continues to run nearly 60 percent above the levels we saw last year...more

Stanley Furniture First Quarter Sales Plummet 16%; Lowers 08 Forecast
As a result of weaker than anticipated sales, Stanley lowered its 2008 sales guidance to a range of $233 million to $243 million, compared to $282.8 million in 2007...more

CEO Confidence Declines To Lowest Level Since 2000
The Conference Board's Measure of CEO Confidence, which had posted a sharp decline in the final quarter of 2007, fell again in the first quarter of 2008...more

Average Internet User Visits 100 Sites Per Month
Internet users spend less than one minute per page (0:52) while surfing, reinforcing the need for companies to quickly grab the attention of visitors...more

Rent-A-Center Opens 23rd Nevada Location In Pahrump
To show its appreciation for being welcomed to the Pahrump area, Rent-A-Center is contributing $2,000 to two organizations at its grand opening ceremony scheduled for 9 a.m. today. A $1,000 grant is being made to the Pahrump Community Library. A $1,000 donation is also being provided to No to Abuse, a locally based women's shelter...more

Aaron's Founder Charlie Loudermilk to Unveil Tribute to Andrew Young
The park, conceived and funded by lifelong friend and Aaron's founder Charlie Loudermilk, tells the story of Andrew Young's life and his contributions to Atlanta, the United States and the world...more

Consumers Shift Spending To What They Need, Not What They Want
"Tax rebate checks will be in the mail soon. Normally consumers see them as windfalls to splurge on a big ticket item. But this year more and more Americans will be using the rebates just to pay their bills." - Britt Beemer, America's Research Group...more

Chairman Barney Frank Calls for GAO Study on Fair Lending Enforcement
Frank said in the letter that members were "concerned about Federal regulatory efforts to monitor other types of lending, such as small business lending and unsecured lending...more
 

Rent-A-Center Testing Bill Pay Kiosks In Two Markets
"We're working to broaden the scope and convenience of the products we offer." - Brent Turner, vice president of financial services for Rent-A-Center...more

Congressional Brain Trust Sponsors Rent to Own Legislation
Henry Cuellar is the most degreed Congressman serving in the House. He holds an Associate’s Degree from Laredo Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University where he graduated Cum Laude, a degree in International Trade at Texas A&M International University, a law degree from the University of Texas-Austin and a Ph.D. in Government from UT-Austin...more
 

Niger Innis: Financial Literacy Next Frontier of Civil Rights Movement; Testifies Before Ohio Attorney General Regarding Payday Lending
Congress of Racial Equality National Spokesperson Niger Innis testified today at a public hearing chaired by Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann and attended by a committee of Ohio Legislators...more

RentDirect Nationwide Membernet TV Gets a Facelift
"We knew that many of our members did not have access to the content needed to properly display TV features. We saw what competitors were doing and realized we could create something even better." - Les Kirk, Executive Vice President, Nationwide Marketing Group...more

UNCLE; The End of Payday Lending in Arkansas
McDaniel said in a press conference Tuesday that his March 18th letter threatening to sue payday lenders out of existence had the desired effect - nearly all of the state's 156 payday lending locations will shut down...more
 

Survey: One-in-Four Workers Make Up Fake Excuses for Arriving Late to Work
15 percent of workers say they arrive late to work at least once a week, while nearly one-in-four of all workers (24 percent) admit to making up fake excuses to explain their tardiness...more

Senior Republicans Announce Support of Rental Purchase Agreement Act
Eleven term Texas Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX 21st) and eight term Kentucky Representative Ron Lewis (R-KY 2nd) announced their cosponsorship of the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act of 2007 (H.R. 1767) Tuesday...more

Cash Store Appoints New Board Members
"With the expected implementation of provincial regulations, Cash Store Financial is well positioned to further strengthen its dominant market position in Canada." - Gordon Reykdal, Chairman and CEO, Cash Store Financial...more

CEA Tells Congress Consumer Education on Digital Transition Working
CEA claims its consumer education campaigns have raised consumer awareness by 80 percent over the past 18 months...more

Louisiana Rental Dealers Association Registration Deadline Extended
Hotel registration for the 2008 Louisiana a Rental Dealers Association (LRDA) Annual Membership Conference scheduled for April 22-23 at Paragon Casino and Resort in Marksville, Louisiana, has been extended until Friday, April 11, 2008...more

easyhome First Quarter Webcast Scheduled
easyhome announced its plans to enter the US market in March of 2007 after signing a franchise agreement with former Rent-A-Center Chairman & CEO Bud Gates...more

Manitoba Sets Maximum Payday Loan Charge Based On Sliding Scale
Manitoba will enforce varying payday loan rates based on not only income, but the source of that income...more
 

Rent-A-Center Webcast Set For April 29
Rent-A-Center will broadcast its quarterly earnings conference call on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at 10:45 a.m. ET over the Internet...more

DreamSeat Rolls Out RTO Program; Luxury Leather Recliners for Rent-to-own Sports Fans
In response to the demand and overwhelming interest in sports-themed luxury recliners, DreamSeat offers loyal sports fans leather, embroidered recliners with baseball, football, hockey & basketball team logos and colors...more

Michigan Warns Payday Lenders to Stop Overcharging For Returned Checks
Under Michigan's Deferred Presentment Service Transactions Act, companies can charge customers a maximum of $25 for a returned check due to insufficient funds...more

Rent to Own Industry Photo Gallery Now iPhone Optimized
RTO Online also announced the addition of an iPhone enhanced photo gallery application. iPhone users can now efficiently navigate thousands of photos, view automated slideshows, choose favorites and send photo-postcards directly from any iPhone or iTouch mobile device...more

Soto Opens San Antonio Premier
Roy Soto likes interacting with and helping his customers and taking care of those he works with. It's what appealed to him most about the rental purchase industry in the first place and what ultimately pulled him away from his career as a top sales manager with Mead Johnson Pharmaceuticals...more

Association Enlists Florence Henderson to Help Seniors Get Ready for the Analog-to-Digital TV Conversion
"We know that one of the best ways to reach seniors is through their families. With Convert Your Mom we're asking baby boomers to help make sure everyone is ready well in advance." - Gary Shapiro, CEA's president and CEO...more

New York Exterminator: Bed Bug Infestation an Epidemic
Mike Deutsch can't believe the places he and the other technicians at Arrow Exterminating are finding bed bugs these days: inside lamp bases, clock radios, TVs, computer keyboards, between the pages of books, inside electric switches, behind ceiling moldings and in one case, inside a cell phone...more

RTO Magazine Reports Record Digital Downloads
On April 2nd, visitors downloaded over 1,000 copies of the current issue, "Top 50 - What's Hot in Rent to Own Consumer Electronics", in the first 12 hours of availability...more

Registration Open For July Las Vegas Furniture Market; All Exhibitors To Consolidate With Opening of Third Building
With the planned opening of Building C, the Summer 2008 Las Vegas Furniture Market will be the first time that all exhibitors will be on the World Market Center grounds, eliminating the need for buyers to shuttle back and forth to temporary exhibits...more

Father Of The VCR To Be Inducted Into CE Hall of Fame
The Rent-to-Own industry began simply - renting TVs and VCRs. But did you know that you have a lawyer to thank for making it possible?...more
 

La-Z-Boy Abandons Domestic Cut and Sew; Moves All Production to Mexico
La-Z-Boy will abandon all domestic cut and sew operations, sending the production to Mexico. The company said today it will close its 675,000 square foot Tremonton, Utah plant...more

RTO Excellence Profile; Washington D.C.'s Epic Ventures
In November 2004, the partners, who had in the past worked together in the rent-to-own industry, sat down and compiled a list of 60 to70 best practices. From that list, the two determined which of those activities were most important. Twenty-two of the activities stood out as essential and became known as the Top Gun Checklist...more

Canadian Payday Loan Association Supports Ontario Legislation
Although the CPLA supports the legislation, it disagreed with the Ontario Government's labeling of payday loan customers as the province's 'most vulnerable consumers'...more

Survey Shows Mixed Results For Hiring Pace
Thirty-one percent of employers said they increased their number of full-time, permanent employees from January through March while 57 percent reported no change and 11 percent reported a reduction in headcount. One percent was unsure...more

Drive to Simplify IRS Home Office Deduction Gaining Steam
The National Federation of Independent Business estimates that 9 million small businesses have home offices. According to the IRS, only 3.2 million tax returns claimed the home office business deduction in 2005...more

RTO Online Reports 6.1 Million Page Views In March
RTOonline.com registered over 6.1 million page views in March, a 46% increase over the same period in 2007. The average visitor viewed over 17 pages per visit in March, a 57% increase over the same period in 2007...more

No Customer Left Behind; Ron Smith Combining Rent to Own and Retail in Moline
Ron Smith is a firm believer that in Rent to Own (RTO), there is no substitute for customer service and no better way to build a reputation that attracts success. He has seen throughout his 20 year RTO career that excellent service speaks for itself through satisfied individuals who tell their friends. That is Smith's main strategy for promoting his new Premier Home Furnishings store in East Moline, Ill...more

Economic Confidence Index Plummets; Half of Small Business Owners Rate Economy Poor, Getting Worse
"While the passage of the economic stimulus plan last month and Fed rate cuts may have influenced February's upturn, the mood is considerably darker now." - Sastry Rachakonda, Discover...more

Mike Bertolani, New Age Electronics, Retains Status on APRO Vendor Advisory Board
New Age Electronics, a leading solution and logistics provider delivering an unsurpassed supply chain model to consumer technology retailers and vendors, announced that industry veteran Mike Bertolani, who recently joined New Age as national account manager, Retail/Rental Division, will retain his status on the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) Vendor Advisory Board. New Age was recently approved as an APRO vendor. Bertolani has been an APRO member for 13 years and has served on the board for the past three years...more

DAC Products Reports Demand For Store Fixtures High
The single most popular piece according to DAC sales associate Chris Hodges, continues to be DAC's AV Wall. The RTO industry demands versatility in merchandising, especially with televisions. DAC's AV Wall has the flexibility to use either heavy-load shelving or AV hanging brackets...more

03-28-08
Download Census Data on All U.S. Counties
Rent to Own companies can use this data to pick locations and coordinate more effective marketing campaigns...more.

DATATrue Reports Successful TRIB, RentDirect Shows
We are excited to be supporting the RTO, Payday Loan, Check Cashing and Signature/Title Loan industries as a major foundation of our nations sub-prime service market,” states Dan Jobrack of DATATrue...more

Convention Coverage
Karl Huchthausen, Kevin Wood Take Aaron's 2007 Managers of the Year; New podcasts
For the second consecutive year, Farmington, New Mexico General Manager (GM) Kevin Wood was awarded Aaron's 2007 Franchise Store of the Year. Karl Huchtausen, GM of the Lewisville, Texas Aaron's, took top honors for company owned stores. The pair were presented with 2008 Cadillacs during Aaron's Awards banquet at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida Wednesday...more

Convention Coverage
2000 Aaron's Pros Kickoff Survivor 2008; Interview with Aaron's VP Joe Fedorchak
2,000 Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership managers and executives kicked off the company's 2008 National Managers Meeting in Orlando, Florida with the annual Aaron's Jamfest. Live music and the Aaron's Dream Team Girls were on hand to perform and pose for photos. See 200 photos from Tuesday's Jamfest here...more
 

easyhome Announces Normal Course Issuer Bid
easyhome Ltd. (TSX:EH) announced the acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange of easyhome Ltd.'s Notice of Intention to Make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (the "NCIB")...more

Access to Payday Loans Reduces Foreclosures Says Working Study
Communities affected by natural disasters are more resilient and less likely to face foreclosure, says a working study, "Payday Lenders: Heroes or Villains?" by researcher and University of Chicago faculty member, Adair Morse...more

RTO Pro Software Adds Automated Collections Module
RTO Pro, a leading point of sale (POS) software package for Rent to Own industry, announced the availability of their telephony software "Automated Collections Module" (ACM). The ACM allows RTO companies to create and deploy mass automated telephone-calling campaigns...more

Artist David Garibaldi, Vegas Furniture Market Raise Money for City of Hope
David Garibaldi’s live Rhythm and Hue performance was a hit. He brought down the house with three 6 foot by 6 foot paintings, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Mick Jagger...more

Kentucky House Approves Payday Loan Database, Restrictions
The bill reduces the service fee for a transaction charged by a licensee from $15 to $12 for a period of 30 days, rather than 14 days...more

Online Shopping by Minorities Up Sharply
Among African-Americans, 40.6 percent now shop online, compared to 27.1 percent five years ago. More than 20 percent now make five or more purchases in a year and 10.9 percent make more than twelve...more

Aaron's Set For Next Week's National Managers Meeting
The 18th Annual Aaron's National Managers Meeting will be held March 25-27, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort near Orlando, Florida. Over 2,000 managers, executives and home office personnel are expected to attend the event where Aaron's will recognize the accomplishments of 2007 and look ahead to rest of 2008 and beyond...more

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gutierrez to Address Washington Forum
The Consumer Electronics Association announced that the Honorable Carlos M. Gutierrez, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, will deliver the opening keynote address at the CEA Washington Forum...more

Rent-A-Center Donates Computers, TVs to Ohio Special Needs Academy
Summit Academy Schools in Warren, Ohio serve children who have fallen through the cracks of traditional educational settings due to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome and High- Functioning Autism...more

Employee Retention Concerns Double in 2008
The survey finds that 81 percent of executives consider employee retention an important business priority, a staggering jump from the 41 percent in 2007...more

Gas Prices High Enough; Americans Tell Congress No More Gas Taxes
The poll found just 18% of Americans are willing to pay 50 cents or more in taxes per gallon to reduce greenhouse emissions. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) has called for a 50 cents per gallon gas tax increase...more

Southern, Western States Lead Nation in Population Growth
According to the estimates, all but one of the nation’s 10 fastest-growing counties were located in the South or West...more

Simmons Commits $25 Million to Bedding Industry Marketing Campaign; Strings Attached
"In order for such a campaign to be fair to all it cannot allow 'free riders,' Simmons will support this effort only if 75% of the industry, based on dollar value, supports the campaign and all are involved in ISPA as members." - Charlie Eitel, CEO of the Simmons Bedding Company...more

Full Text of Letter From Arkansas Attorney General Demanding Payday Lenders Cease Operation
In addition to demanding payday lenders cease their lending practices immediately, McDaniel also demands they "void any and all current and past-due obligations of their borrowers, and refrain from any collection activities related to these type loans...more

Report; Shrink #2 Business Challenge
Margin shortfalls directly attributed to shrink is the #2 business challenge identified by retailers in RSR's recent research report...more

Survey Finds Decline in Consumer Electronics Spending
The survey of 4,427 consumers, conducted February 18-25, looked at discretionary spending on a range of popular electronic devices, including video game consoles, digital cameras and iPods...more

Martha Stewart To Speak At High Point Furniture Market
"This special Martha Stewart event is part of one of the most extraordinary line-ups of educational and social events in the history of the High Point Market." - Brian D. Casey, president and chief executive of the High Point Market Authority...more

Older Internet Users Feel Web Content Not Relevant
72.5% of respondents 45-54 years say online advertising is focused on people younger than they are...more

Survey Finds 86% of American Workers Believe Glass Ceiling Still Exists
The majority of workers (59 percent) think women are treated differently than men in the workplace, with 42 percent claiming that women are treated worse, and 17 percent reporting better treatment towards females...more
 

LG Awarded Mark of Excellence for Super Blu
LG Electronics was awarded the 2008 Mark of Excellence in the Best Video Component category by the Consumer Electronics Association for its "Super Blu Player"...more

NHTSA's Proposed Tire Registry Rule Gets SBA Support
The proposed rule would reduce costs and recordkeeping requirements for small tire dealers as well as improve registration rates so that consumers get notified of tire safety recalls...more

Audit Finds 99 Percent of U.S. Payday Lenders in Compliance With Best Practices
871 audits have been completed and 173 remain pending. While not complete, the preliminary findings were encouraging. Ninety-nine percent of the store locations met all of the following criteria...more

DSI Systems Reports Rent-to-Own Electronics Business Up 300 Percent
DSI Systems, distributors of Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Sharp, LG, Pioneer, Direct TV and Sirius Radio to the rent-to-own (RTO) channel, has increased its RTO business 300% in recent months...more

Former Rent-A-Center Pros Ladd Welch, Chris Prater Join Bud Gates at easyhome U.S.
Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC announced the hiring of Chris Prater as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer and Ladd Welch as Vice President of Operations. Previously, both Prater and Welch worked with Mr. Gates at Rent-A-Center and THORN Americas...more

Video
New $5 Bill Begins Circulation Today; Video Podcast Describing New Features
The first redesigned $5 bill, which will continue to feature the portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, will enter circulation today, March 13 2008. Click play to watch the podcast video explaining the new $5 bill features...more

Rent-A-Center Hands Out 10,000 Transportation Passes in Rochester New York
Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII) coworkers from around New York state and the company's home office went into multiple Rochester neighborhoods today handing out 10-packs of one-ride RGRTA Freedom Passes free-of-charge to 700 randomly selected individuals...more

Sealy CEO Resigns; Board Taps Larry Rogers as Interim CEO
"There comes a time when change is necessary, both personally and for the Company, and I will refocus my energy on my family and the communities in which we live." - David J. McIlquham, Outgoing CEO, Chairman and President of Sealy...more

Use of Payday Loans Declined in 2007; Ohio State Survey
Consumer Finance Monthly, a survey of household finances conducted by the Center for Human Resource Research at Ohio State revealed the percentage of Americans who used payday loans fell slightly from 2006 to 2007...more

Simmons CEO Eitel to Chair Bedding Association
"We are at a major turning point in ISPA's history with the Board-approved involvement of the mattress retail community." - Charlie Eitel, Chairman and CEO, Simmons Bedding Company...more

One Fifth of U.S. Households Will Spend Stimulus Package Funds on Consumer Electronics
Despite clear uncertainties in the macroeconomic environment, this new research coupled with shipment data for key categories like flat-panel TVs from CEA's shipment data program suggests technology remains essential to consumers...more

Lynnray Financial States Bullish Outlook For Rent to Own Industry
2007 was a record year for Lynnray Financial Corporation, a provider of inventory financing programs tailored for the Rent to Own (RTO) industry. "We're very bullish on the RTO industry," says Bill Lassiter Executive Vice President of Lynnray. "We see the government tax rebate incentive package and the deadline for switching to HDTV as very real drivers for a healthy 2008."...more

D&H TRIB Booth to Feature Lenovo, Acer, GPS, LCD
"Our focus in rent-to-own this year has been to pinpoint opportunities and find ways for owners and dealers to leverage trends they haven't been able to before, like in the hugely popular wireless category." - Jeff Davis, Senior VP of sales, D&H Distributing...more

Check Into Cash Says 36% Loans Can't Be Done; Closes Remaining Oregon Locations
"We tried to work within the constraints of the law, but lost money each and every month we tried to operate there under the new rules. We have proven that it cannot be done." - Allan Jones, CEO, Check Into Cash...more

Big Brothers Big Sisters Benefits from Rent-A-Center Fund-Raiser
"The stores get very competitive with one another to see which one can raise the most money, and local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies benefit from their efforts.' - Mark Speese, chairman and CEO, Rent-A-Center...more

Harvard Law Paper Seeks to Quantify Effects of Credit Restrictions on Rent to Own Industry
Abstract - One of the strongest arguments against regulating credit cards is the substitution hypothesis, which states that if a restriction on one form of credit decreases access, borrowers will respond by using other, less desirable forms of credit...more

DOE Predicts Gas To Peak at $3.50-$4 Per Gallon
"Even if the national average monthly gasoline price peaks near $3.50, there is a significant possibility that prices during some shorter time period, or in some region or sub-region, will cross the $4 per gallon threshold." - U.S. Department of Energy...more