Badcock Opens First Home Now Rent-to-Own Pilot Store; Marks First Rent- to-Own Store to be Developed by Major Retailer
“We are very proud to be able to celebrate the opening of the first Home Now pilot store,” said Don Marks, president and CEO of Badcock. “The synergy between Home Now and Badcock makes for an exciting concept that we look forward to expanding.” The company plans 2 more locations by the end of 05' and, according Marks, as many as 100 locations in 10 years...more

TARA Executive Director Lynn Clark Retires; Association Names New Director
After 11 years of groundbreaking service to the rent to own industry, Lynn Clark is retiring...more

New Game Boy Micro Ships September 19
The hardware will come in both silver and black versions, each with three removable faceplates so users can personalize their Micro...more

Help-Wanted Online Data Series Declines in July
The New England region, at 1.88 ads per 100 workers, continues to lead the way in the number of ads per 100 participants in the labor force. Following closely are the Pacific Coast (1.86) and Rocky Mountain (1.84) regions...more

Aaron Rents Secures Canadian Franchise Financing
Aaron Rents opened its first Canadian franchised store in Kitchener, Ontario in November 2003...more

Final Notice For Midwest RTO Expo Registration
"To accommodate last minute registrations, the deadline restrictions have been lifted on the online registration" - Tony Craig, ORDA...more

Midwest RTO Expo Bigger and Better; Dealers From Nine States To Attend
The regional approach to rent to own industry tradeshows is a hit with dealers and vendors alike. Next week's second annual Midwest RTO Expo in Columbus, Ohio is a perfect example...more

Paul Doize and Steven Michaels Named VPs of Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership Division
"These promotions are in recognition of the outstanding performance and contributions of Paul and Steve to the success of the [Sales and Lease Ownership] division" - R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aaron Rent...more

Maytag Declares Whirlpool Proposal Superior; Changes Recommendation and Postpones Special Meeting
Triton has the right to terminate the Triton merger agreement immediately. In the event of such a termination by Maytag or by Triton, Triton will be entitled to a $40 million fee from Maytag, which Whirlpool has agreed to pay...more

Whirlpool Corp. Pays $850,000 in Back Wages to Settle Discrimination Claims
The consent decree settles the department's allegations that Whirlpool engaged in hiring discrimination from March 1, 1997 to February 28, 1998...more

Robert Briley Named APRO Rental Dealer of the Year; Convention Wraps In Vegas
Robert Briley, owner of Abilene, Texas based Rent City, was named 2005's Rental Dealer of the Year by APRO (Association of Progressive Rental Organizations) during Thursday nights Awards Banquet at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada...more

easyhome Reports Record Same Store Growth of 11.9%; Class Action Settlement Puts Quarter In Red
"To date, 27 [stores] have opened since November 2003 and have averaged break-even in month 6 compared to month 10 in our model" - David Ingram, President and CEO...more

Hometown Rentals Converts to ColorTyme; Former accountants agree to multi-store, multi-buyer deal
Hobbs, a retired CPA, opened his first rent-to-own store in 1991 with a fellow Rotary Club member who suggested it. He and his wife wanted to offer their customers a wider range of products at better prices as well as use ColorTyme’s resources to provide increased service options...more

Whirlpool Will Support Every Habitat For Humanity Home Built Around The World By 2011
"Habitat literally changes people's lives - not just for Habitat homeowners, but also the volunteers and donors who get involved with Habitat" - Ted Dosch, Whirlpool's corporate vice president and controller...more

ColorTyme Returns To Joliet; Company financing enables veteran rent-to-own professional to open first of many stores
First time ColorTyme franchisee Jim Suchy is no stranger to rent-to-own. In fact, Suchy capitalized on two decades of rent-to-own experience to open his first ColorTyme store, here in Joliet...more

APRO Elects 8 Board Members; Tradeshow Opens
APRO President Shannon Strunk and Executive Director Bill Keese cut the ribbon officially launching the tradeshow portion of the 2005 Buying Show...more

APRO Convention Kicks Off In Vegas
APRO (Association of Progressive Rental Organizations) is celebrating it's 25th year. Over 1000 members and vendors gathered in Las Vegas Monday to kick of the 2005 APRO Buying Show and Convention at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center...more

James MacAlpine Named National Director Of RentSmart
"One of the things that makes Nationwide so successful is their desire to be partners with the industry they serve" - James MacAlpine, National Director, RentSmart Nationwide...more

RentDirect Nationwide Buying Show Kicks Off In Dallas
Over 3000 independent retailers, rent to own dealers, and vendors gathered at the Wyndam Anatole in Dallas, Texas Saturday to kick off Primetime...more

RentSmart Goes “Direct” With New RentDirect Nationwide Identity
"This new branding package should allow us to enhance our group-provided advertising and collateral materials and offer another competitive edge for our members" - Dennis Willich, RentDirect Nationwide director...more

Coalition For Fair Rental Regulations Needs You!
"There are no “dues” or “membership fees”. Only your commitment to assisting the Coalition in achieving its goal to the extent you can is required" -Ron Waters, CFRR Executive Director...more

LG Electronics CEO Michael Ahn Highlights Progress at Summer Line Show
"Every division is up, with consumer electronics experiencing the highest percentage growth, at a phenomenal rate of 68 percent" - Michael Ahn, president and CEO of LG Electronics North American Headquarters...more

Aaron Rents Acquires Six California Franchise Stores
"The entire western United States is an area where we have substantial growth opportunities" - R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr., Chairman and CEO...more

Rent-Way Records Q3 Loss; Same Store Sales Up But Warns For Fourth Quarter
"...our results for the full fiscal year will be in line with our guidance, however we expect revenue and operating income will be slightly below guidance for the fourth quarter" - William McDonnell, Rent-Way's Vice President and CFO...more

easyhome Ltd. Schedules 2005 Second Quarter Webcast
easyhome (EH.TO), Canada's largest rent to own company, has scheduled a conference call to discuss the results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2005...more

Canadian Teachers Acquire Serta Mattress Company
Teachers' Private Capital, the private equity arm of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan ("Ontario Teachers'"), announced today they have signed a definitive agreement to buy National Bedding Co. ("NBC"), maker of Serta mattresses...more

Wisconsin Legislators To Debate Rent to Own Law
Wisconsin, one of the last remaining states to consider Rent to Own a credit sale, will get a chance to correct that long-standing error this week...more

New Premier-Rental Purchase Store Opens in Syracuse
“The only way to control your own destiny is to own your own store,” says Richard Vadnais. After 18 years in the RTO business he decided to take the plunge and will be opening his own Premier Rental-Purchase store in Syracuse, NY in September...more

Sandberg Furniture Hosts Rental Dealers at Vegas Market
Over 100 rent to own and retail furniture dealers gathered in the House of Blues Foundation Room to celebrate Sandberg's new market introductions, including the new Hollywood Premier sleep system...more

Payday Loan Association Says New Disclosure Law Levels Playing Field
"While this is like asking hotels to disclose a daily room rate of $200 as an annualized figure of $73,000, we are advising association members to respect the law" - Bob Whitelaw, CACFS President and CEO...more

As Consumers Go Digital, Service Issues Take Center Stage
"Service is about more than repairing a product; it's about demonstrating your value to the consumer through communication, timeliness and proof that you understand the technology you are working on" - Gary Shapiro, CEA President and CEO...more

La-Z-Boy Warns; "Weaker-than-anticipated retail environment"
"The weaker-than-anticipated retail environment during what is historically the industry's slowest season leads us to now expect year-over-year sales for the quarter to be essentially flat" - Kurt Darrow, President and CEO...more

Survey; Bargain Hunters Drive June Results
Stores offering appliances, electronics and computers slipped from fourth most visited by shoppers in April to ninth most popular in June...more

Furniture Brands International Q2 Sales Flat; "Business Conditions Challenging"
"This quarter the weakness was most pronounced at Broyhill. Several of our Brands, including Thomasville, saw year over year increases in sales, but those increases were not in sufficient amount to offset the weakness at the middle-end" - W. G. (Mickey) Holliman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer...more

Aaron Rents Reports Same Store Revenues Up 7.3%; Earnings Guidance Raised
"Our guidance for the third quarter of 2005 is to expect revenues in excess of $270 million" - R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr., Chairman and CEO...more

Aaron Rents Completes $60 Million Private Debt Placement
"These funds will initially replace shorter term borrowings under our revolving credit agreement and will provide additional financial resources to enable us to continue the rapid growth of the Company" - R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr., Chairman and CEO...more

Las Vegas Furniture Market Draws Stunning 54,000 Attendees
20,000 would have been  good showing, 54,000 is, in the words of one attendee, "High Point's obituary." That's typical of the off-the-record speculation at this weeks inaugural World Furniture Market in Las Vegas Nevada...more

Rent-A-Center Lowers 2005 Expectations; Same Store Sales Still Red
"We currently have fewer agreements on rent relative to our prior expectations due to weaker than expected demand in June and to date in the month of July. As such, including a softer outlook for the balance of this year, we are lowering our guidance for the remainder of 2005" - Mark E. Speese, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer...more

Retailers Say Go For It; Maytag To Begin Negotiations With Whirlpool
Whirlpool reports complete lack of opposition to Maytag Acquisition from the top 20 trade customers and buying groups, including the top four retailers and top three buying groups that represent 90% of retail appliance sales...more

2005 Midwest RTO Expo Just Four Weeks Away!; Still Time To Register
Upon it's debut in 2004, the Expo set a record for a non-national RTO event with 45 vendors/sponsors, 27 dealer companies from 8 states, and 324 total attendees participating...more

Whirlpool Ups Bid For Maytag
"I expect the Maytag Board of Directors to do what's best for Maytag shareholders and immediately and fully support this proposal" - Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool's chairman, president and CEO...more

Missouri Rental Dealers Regional Approach to Training
Each summer since 2003, MRDA has sponsored a 3 day, 3 city marathon of training aimed primarily at store managers who seldom get opportunities to attend annual tradeshows...more