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Premier Rental Purchase Names Stutzman VP Franchise Development
Clyde Stutzman, a long-time consultant to the retail and franchise industries, has been named to the newly-created post of Vice President of Franchise Development for Premier Rental-Purchase and its affiliated companies, Premier Home Furnishings, Premier Wheel Rentals and U-Getcha Cash....more

VIDEO
Convention Coverage
RentDirect-Nationwide PrimeTime! Trade Show Opens; RTO Online Provides Exclusive Video Coverage From the Show Floor
RTO Online conducted nearly a dozen video interviews with leading rental vendors and dealers, including a conversation with Tony Battaglia from Blue Ribbon Rentals. Battaglia, a twenty-plus year veteran of the rental industry is a strong believer in the importance of participating in buying groups...more

Convention Coverage
3,000 Attend RentDirect-Nationwide PrimeTime! Convention;  Former Philadelphia Eagle Vince "Invincible" Papale Keynotes; Trade Show Starts Today
RentDirect-Nationwide officials say it is the group’s largest East Coast meeting ever, with double-digit attendance growth...more

Convention Coverage
RentDirect-Nationwide Kicks Off In Orlando
RentDirect's winter PrimeTime! convention got underway Sunday evening with a welcome reception at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, Florida...moree

Suspects In Custody For String of 30 Smash & Grab Burglaries At Tucson Rent to Own Stores
By January of 2007, Tucson detectives were investigating over 30 smash and grabs at rent to own stores around the city. Police say more than $100,000 of merchandise was stolen in the string of robberies....more

High Point Market Authority Beefs Up Entertainment Venue
"We’re continuing to work on improving the Market experience for all concerned." - Brian D. Casey, president and CEO, High Point Market Authority...more

Nationwide Marketing Group Announces Agreement With Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services
"We're committed to providing a top-notch program with an unparalleled level of service that benefits both the participating members of Nationwide Marketing Group and its customers." - Vince Raneri, Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services...more

Taxes, Insurance, Government Regulations Top Small Business Owners Concerns For 2007
Interestingly, those who have owned their businesses for fewer than five years are more likely to establish clear goals or objectives for the coming year than those who have owned their businesses longer - 78% versus 63%...more

UPDATE - 1:46 PM EST
Rentcash Gets Offer For Rent to Own Division
An as yet unnamed company has made an offer to acquire Insta-rent, the Rent to Own division of Canadian operator Rentcash...more

Sports Lifestyle Furniture From Baseline Hot After Super Bowl
RTO dealers and retailers should order Colts furniture now to capitalize on their recent national championship win while they are still smoking hot in the fan’s eyes. - Brown Councill, RTO Sales, Baseline Licensing Group...more

RentDirect-Nationwide to Kick off PrimeTime Convention This Weekend
At Nationwide and RentDirect-Nationwide, it’s our mission to go one step further, past size and buying power, and be the ultimate resource for independent dealers.
Ed Kelly, President, Nationwide Marketing Group...more

Missouri AG Wants 36% Cap On Payday Loans
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon sent a letter to the General Assembly asking them to pass legislation restricting interest on payday loans to "roughly 36%."...more

Convention Coverage
Mike Thompson Named Rent One Manager of the Year; BDI Laguna takes vendor of the year; Podcast Interviews With Thompson And Six More Rent One RTO Pros
Mike Thompson was named Rent One Store Manager of the Year for 2006 Wednesday at the company's annual awards dinner in St. Louis, Missouri. Mike has managed the Sparta, Illinois Rent One store for three years. Rent One also named Kelly McClellan, National Accounts manager for BDI Laguna, Rent One Vendor of the Year. See a complete photo gallery and podcasts...more
 

Convention Coverage
Podcast; Rent One Kicks Off 2007 Managers Conference In St. Louis; Interviews With VPs Trent Agin and Mark Williams
"Our training sessions are about gaining an edge. Knowing just a little more than the next guy can be that edge." - Kris Lowe, Human Relations Manager, Rent One...more

OSHA Issues Employer Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for Influenza Pandemic
Employers and employees should use this guidance to help identify risk levels and implement appropriate control measures to prevent illness in the workplace.
Edwin G. Foulke Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor Occupational Safety and Health...more

Association Warns Congress Not To Derail Digital TV Transition
"Cyren Call’s proposal would derail Congress’ plan to facilitate the DTV transition. CEA urges the FCC and Congress to maintain the DTV and Public Safety Act as it was signed into law last year." - Jason Oxman, VP Communications, CEA...more

The Power Of One; RentDirect Buying Show Approaches
"Every person who works at Nationwide RentDirect is filled with a passion for helping independent dealers not just survive, but totally thrive. We are here to help our members grow. Period." - Dennis Willich, Nationwide Southwest CEO...more

Report; Small Business Startups Drive State Economies
"Now more than ever, state policymakers should be aware of how their decisions affect small business. Creating an environment that values entrepreneurship and risk-taking is sure to increase economic growth, personal income, and employment." - Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist, Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy...more

Texas Rental Dealers Wrap Legislative Conference; Report Solid Start To 80th Session
As a small businessman in Texas, I have to pass on the property tax cost to my customers. By eliminating the tax on leased merchandise, I can continue driving down rates for consumers. - Lyle Digby, Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership Franchisee, Texas...more

Rentcash to Webcast Conference Call
A link to the live webcast will be available from My RTO Portfolio...more

Rent-A-Center Reports Net Loss For Q4 On Charges; Same Store Sales Increase 1.0% Company Establishes $58 Million Reserve for Hilda Perez Litigation
Despite the lack of class certification or judgment of liability in the Perez case, we felt it appropriate to take a pre-tax, non-cash charge at the end of the year in the amount of $58 million due to unfavorable rulings against us in this case and the information available to us at this time." - Mark E. Speese, Chairman and CEO, Rent-A-Center...more

LG Electronics Claims Two Of Five Finalist Nominations For Best Video Display in 2007
LG's 47LB1DA 47-inch Full HD LCD Integrated HDTV and the 50PC1DRA 50-inch Plasma Display with Built-in HD DVR. CEA's Mark of Excellence Awards honor outstanding innovation and achievement in custom home electronics, services and installation technologies setting trends in the custom home electronics industry...more

Senate Approves Minimum Wage Hike
The Senate bill includes a small-business tax package regarding expensing, depreciation and cash accounting. Each of these proposals provides at least some relief to the small-business community which will be disproportionately hit by the wage hike...more

Surprise - Men and Woman Are Different, Even On Super Bowl Sunday; Men Watch Game, Women Watch Ads
Women were more than twice as likely as men to say they enjoyed watching the ads (36 percent vs. 17 percent)...more

PC Rental Agent Implementation Builds Momentum
PCRental Agent is software installed on rental computers allowing them to be locked down by the RTO dealer. Once locked down, the computer cannot be restored or even used until it is unlocked...more

Expert Predicts Upholstery Color, Texture Trends
"For 2008-09 color sources are coming from the Far East, Indian Market and the New England Shores. We are seeing aged neutrals, landscape blues, greens and ivory and also scarlet and sky blue accents. - Christine Chow, Director of Membership, Color Association of the United States...more

Trend Guru Says Furniture With A Conscience Is Hot
"The sustainable trend is the biggest trend to hit design in years. Reclaimed and recycled wood is hot. Companies are using soy-based cushions and water-based fabrics." - Michelle Lamb...more

RTO Online Records Record Visitor Traffic In January
"RTO Online Inc. continues to reinforce it's position as the authoritative source of independent news and information for the rental purchase and sub-prime financial services sectors." - Roy Griffaw, founder and president of RTO Online Inc...more
 

The History Of Black History Month
We owe the celebration of Black History Month to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born to parents who were former slaves, he worked in the Kentucky coal mines as a child and enrolled in high school at age twenty...more

LCDs To Account For 33% of Total TV Shipments In 2007; 60% By 2011
Demand for LCD TVs is forecast to pick up from 64.50 million units this year to 100 million units by 2009, representing nearly 50% of the total, and will double by 2011...more

Maytag Recalls 2.3 Million Dishwashers; Fire Hazard
The affected units were shipped between July 1997 through June 2001. See table for model and serial numbers...more

Dollar Financial Records Loss On One Time Charges; Raises Guidance For 2007
Total Company funded loan originations were $339.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2006, representing a net increase of 32.1% or $82.5 million compared to the prior year...more
 

FNCS Expands Sub Prime Collection Department
With over 3,000 RTO, Check Cashing and Payday Loan locations providing asset placements, our sub-prime department is expanding its staff numbers by 40% to meet the demands of a clientele that grows significantly each week.....more

New York Democrat and PIRG Hero Maloney To Chair House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
Maloney is one of only 42 members of Congress awarded the title "PIRG Hero" for her 100% rating on PIRG's (Public Interest Research Group) annual Congressional Scorecard in 2006...more
 

Rent One Managers Prepare For Conference
In addition to in-depth manager training seminars, Rent One will name it's Manager of the Year, Store of the Year, Employee of the Year, and Vendor of the Year...more

Plasma Shipments Disappoint; First Quarter Over Quarter Decline Since 2003
Matsushita reclaimed the top position and dominated the Q4’06 market with a 40% share, up from 30% on 27% unit growth on the strength of its Panasonic brand...more

Rent-A-Center Grants Junior Achievement $800K To Fund Financial Literacy
The program will focus exclusively on schools where 51 percent or more of the student body qualifies for a free or reduced lunch program...more

Should You Pay Employees For Healthy Behavior?
According to a study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 84 percent of large company CEOs view healthy living incentives as the most promising tool to drive health care cost reductions....more

Prediction; Moderate Growth Early 07'
"Looking ahead, however, consumers are not as optimistic as they were in December. All in all, the Index suggests a moderate improvement in the pace of growth in early 2007." - Lynn Franco, Director, Conference Board Consumer Research Center...

Rent To Own Industry Execs Set Legislative Agenda At Dallas Conference
"We have 200 friends in Congress. They haven't gone anywhere." - Larry Carrico, President, Association of Progressive Rental Organizations....more

UPDATE: Read Report
It Begins; New York City Councilmen Lay Groundwork For Schumer's Anti RTO Legislation
The "study" referenced by the councilmen is the same fiction first cited in 2006 by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) just prior to his introduction of the Rent to Own Protection Act...more
 

Rawson Haverty, Chairman Emeritus of Haverty Furniture Dies at 86
"Mr. Haverty's leadership and business acumen were recognized throughout the industry and were of great benefit not only to the company but to the city of Atlanta." - Clarence H. Smith, President and CEO, Havertys...more

Texas Democrat Harold Dutton Introduces Rent to Own Price Cap
Texas State Representative Harold Dutton Jr. (D) has introduced House Bill 909, RTO industry killer legislation that would cap the total amount to be paid by a consumer under a rental-purchase agreement at 15% above the cash price....more

Forker and Chamberlain Open Second Michigan Premier Rental Purchase
"Our first store went unexpectedly well. It took off like it had wings. I always planned to open a second store. I wanted to think big. I have managed a multi-unit operation for someone else for 12 years. I know what one store can do, and that gives me the drive to go forward with more." - Jim Forker, Premier Rental Purchase Franchisee...more

Serta Expands Rental Lineup
“We had great response at the last RentDirect show and we are excited to be back. We plan to introduce a new Perfect Sleeper line at this show and also a new promotional line of Serta mattresses. This continues to be a strong alliance where everyone benefits - RentDirect, rental stores, Serta – and most of all, rental customers.” - Brad Rogers, Southeast Regional Vice President for Serta, Inc....more

Women's Trade Group "WithIt" Opens Office in World Market Center
WithIt, a trade organization dedicated to the support and development of female professionals in the home furnishings industry, opens its first satellite office, courtesy of the World Market Center, during the January Las Vegas Market dates...more

JD Byrider Opens Doors to New Opportunities in 2007
The upcoming Las Vegas NADA Convention on February 3rd through February 6th will feature J.D. Byrider Systems as a primary exhibitor showcasing new franchising opportunities....more

Update; View All Five 30 Second Spots From Rent-A-Center's New Ad Campaign; Coordinated effort by Launch Agency, RAZOR, Company Jones
The commercials are a fly-on-the-wall view of an everyday person suffering the miseries that come with old, broken down household appliances, electronics or furniture items...more