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| Trade portal for companies who rent to own furniture, electronics, appliances, custom wheels, jewelry and other home goods. |
Archive
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Report; Consumer Electronics Manufacturers' Retail
Strategies Could Be Risky "OEM storefronts and kiosks represent a major change that will disrupt the current retail ecosystem. Bypassing their existing distributors and retailers could prove successful for some, but might present challenges for others." - Vamsi Sistla, Research Director, ABI Research...more |
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 Can I Borrow That?; LynnRay Financial Answers The Question,
"When Is Borrowing OK?"In the course of serving the Rent to Own industry, Lynnray Financial Corporation fields a number of different questions concerning the right time to borrow funds to expand an existing business. Here are the questions Lynnray asks in return...more |
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LG Electronics Names K.I. Kwon President, Consumer
Electronics Division "I am proud to have the opportunity to continue to grow brand presence, drive our U.S. businesses goals, and meet and exceed our dealers and customers' expectations." - K.I. Kwon, President, LG Electronics USA Consumer Electronics Division...more |
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 Las Vegas Market ReportColor Trends In Furniture; Expert Predicts Bright Hues Playing Off Complex Neutrals "We are in the midst of a decade where Americans have finally embraced true color: bright colors, multi-colors." - Christine Chow, Director of Membership, Color Association of the United States...more |
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Hispanic Interactive Advertising Awards |
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 Kansas Rent to Own
Dealers Take First Steps Toward Association"In most cases, bad amendments pass due to a lack of information on the part of legislators, not out of any malice toward a given industry." - Whitney B. Damron, J.D., Governmental Affairs, Topeka, Kansas...more |
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Whirlpool Reports Record Q2; Maytag Integration On Plan
"We expect flat-to-moderate industry unit shipment growth during the second half of the year. Despite somewhat softer near-term demand, the underlying industry fundamentals remain positive." - Jeff M. Fettig, CEO, Whirlpool...more |
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Acer's Market Share in LCD Displays Sees 63% Increase Acer's growth of over 1800% is almost unprecedented," said Chris Connery, vice president of market research at DisplaySearch...more |
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 User Friendly RTO Software From IdealIdeal Software also offers a Windows version of the TIRM Corporate Office module to maintain company-wide inventory and consolidate reporting. The program coordinates offsite management of multiple locations, monitors store and individual employee performance, and helps decrease shrinkage and safeguard corporate earnings. ...more |
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Rent-A-Center Reports Same Store
Sales Up 1.1%; Raises 2006 Guidance "Our same store sales increased 1.1% for the quarter, which is primarily related to changes in our promotional activities as well as an increase in the number of units on rent. In addition, we believe our customer has adjusted to the current level of fuel costs." - Mark E. Speese, Chairman and CEO, Rent-A-Center...more |
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Consumers Plan 11 Percent Spending Increase On Electronics
During This Year's Back To School Season; Overall Spending
Will Be Flat Combined electronics (computers, printers, cell phones, MP3 players and DVD players/recorders) shows the greatest signs of increased spending with 36 percent planning to purchase in this category, compared to 25 percent last year...more |
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Rent To Own Car Dealership Rapidly Expanding In Missouri |
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 Kansas Rent to Own Association President Jess Fisher
Prepares For This Weeks Meeting In Topeka"I look at associations like TARA (Texas) and MRDA (Missouri) and the great network they have established. That's what I want for Kansas." - Jess Fisher, President, Kansas Rental Dealers Association...more |
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 Hoss Power Fills Audio Void For Rent to Own IndustryHoss Power, founded by an RTO dealer to fill a void in the marketplace for integrated audio component and rack systems, is still going strong a decade later...more |
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 Correction: RevisedColorTyme Re-Enters Kentucky Market With Louisville Opening "I don’t just make a sale, I build a relationship. We can beat everyone else’s price, but if we don’t have the superior customer service, we’ll lose our customers." - Troy Colon, ColorTyme Franchisee...more |
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U.S. PC Shipments Ahead Of Forecast; Dell, HP Account For
Half Of All Units Shipped "Aggressive competition between processor vendors and the delayed release of Windows Vista will contribute to the changes vendors face entering the next cycle in the PC market." - Loren Loverde, Director, IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker...more |
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Valassis Acquires ADVO For $1.3 Billion Valassis, a marketing services company, has acquired ADVO, the rent to own industry's leading direct mail media company. The transaction is valued at approximately $1.3 billion including approximately $125 million in existing ADVO debt...more |
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 Midas TouchPRO/Store, a business operating system developed in 1984 to help a local rental company, has grown to be the RTO industry leader in writing effective software solutions...more |
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 Dream Machine Goes Fishing; Aaron's Sports Sponsors Janet Parker
In Women's Bassmaster Tour“When [Aaron’s] started asking about me and the various pro fishing tours I was involved in, I was flattered because they have such a successful marketing history centered around motorsports." Janet Parker, Driver of the Triton Aaron's Dream Machine....more |
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New Software Offers Las Vegas Market Attendees Market
Planning Vendor Tools |
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 Aaron’s
To Give Away Hooked on Phonics Program With Every Computer
Rental"It is our sincere hope that our computer customers complete the Hooked on Phonics program with their kids, enabling thousands of children to read at a level they might not have otherwise achieved." - Mitch Paull, Senior VP Merchandising and Logistics, Aaron Rents...more |
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Rent to Own Inventory Finance Summit Set For Dallas; Group
To Develop More Effective RTO Finance Models Attendees reportedly include some of the heaviest hitters in the industry. In addition to RTO company owners and executives, key finance associates from Nationwide Marketing Group and several rental-industry CPAs and other experts will also be on hand....more |
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 Bringing Good Things To Rent“In this industry, you need to be aware of trends, but you can’t take your eyes off the entry-level merchandise. For instance, front load washers are getting a lot of buzz and I won’t argue they are a hot item. But when washers and dryers represent 65-70% of our appliance sales, we need to tread cautiously and offer a variety of merchandise for the rental consumer.” - Paul Eichberger, GE Appliances’ Rental Sales Manager...more |
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Textron Appoints Jeff Bell To Head New Electronics and
Appliance Inventory Finance Unit "Jeff joins the outstanding group of finance professionals we gained as a result of the EFC acquisition, quickly growing Textron Financial's share of the vast consumer electronics and appliance market." - Keith Boudreau, the president of the Technology Finance Division...more |
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Payday Operator First Cash Reports Record Q2; Raises 2006
Guidance "Our new store openings are ahead of schedule, and we are clearly on track to meet or exceed our 2006 store opening target of 60 to 70 new units." - Alan Barron, CEO First Cash Financial Services...more |
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Recruiting Survey; Measuring New Hire Quality "Retaining the best and the brightest is going to become increasingly more challenging, and only those organizations that choose to work hard to keep the best people they have will succeed." - Nick Burkholder, founder of Staffing.org...more |
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 Have You Got Game?; Florida State Games Provides RTO Game
BundlesBecause Florida State Games keeps between $20 and $25 million in inventory on-hand at any time (ballooning to as much as $35 million during fourth quarter), rental dealers don’t have to buy deep to keep a selection of game bundles on hand...more |
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 Are You an Entrepreneur? What to Consider Before Deciding
Whether Owning a Business is Right for You According to the International Franchise Association (IFA), almost 80 percent of new business start-ups fail each year. For this reason, many people opt to use franchising as a secure way to become a business owner...more |
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Vendors To Participate in Next Months RTO Training Expo;
Dealer Registration Still Available "Our new format is designed to give owners, managers, and RTO Professionals at all levels the product and service skills they need to be more effective operators." - Mike Tissot, President of Ohio Rental Dealers Association...more |
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Help-Wanted
Ads Increase But Growth Has Slowed "While the number of online job ads rose in June, the monthly growth rate has slowed over the last several months." - Gad Levanon, Economist, Conference Board...more |
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Updated Agenda for 4th Annual HDTV Conference; The Future Of
TV Session will explore the latest audio enhancements in HDTV including new solutions for flat panel TVs which can deliver a more home theater like experience and allow TV brands to further differentiate their products vs. the competition...more |
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 TruckSkin
To Give Live Graphic
Installation Demos Las Vegas Furniture MarketMembers of the TruckSkin team will be installing both changeable truck side graphics and adhesive cab wraps at booth 72339 (south hall) of the Las Vegas Convention Center three times per day...more |
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Nintendo DS Outselling All Other Game Systems "Nintendo DS is the only game system available a year ago that showed growth over the same period, and it did so in overwhelming fashion, with a leap of 426 percent." - George Harrison, SVP Marketing, Nintendo of America...more |
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 Demand For Wireless Internet Access Drives Surge In Notebook
PC Ownership"The technologies that support mobile notebook usage are poised for very strong growth in the future as consumers begin to learn how to utilize these new wireless platforms along with their existing desktops." - Brian Cruikshank, Managing Director, Ipsos Technology & Communications...more |
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 E.H.P.
Direct South; Appliance Delivery In One Day To 90% Of US“E.H.P. gets rental dealers product when it’s convenient for them, not when it’s convenient for us.” Gilly Bailey, President, E.H.P. Direct South...more |
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 On A Mission; Electrolux Financial Corporation and
RentDirect"The Electrolux Financial Corporation is here to help RentDirect members with inventory financing...more |
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Rent Way Webcast Scheduled Rent Way will host a conference call to discuss quarterly results Thursday, August 3rd, 1006...more |
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Rent-A-Center
Completes Refinance; New Structure To Facilitate Entry Into
Financial Services "We believe this [structure will allow] us to scale our secured debt as we continue to grow our core rent-to-own business and expand our entry into the financial services business." - Robert D. Davis, Chief Financial Officer, Rent-A-Center...more |
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Reuters Reporting Rent Way For Sale; Rent Way Responds Rent-Way Inc. issued a statement this morning in response to yesterday's Reuters report that Rent Way hired Citigroup to oversee the sale of the company...more |
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 Light My Fire; Dimplex North America Creates Firestorm of
Demand In RTOWho’d have thought mantelpiece fireplaces – long known as permanent fixtures in predominantly grand old homes – would be such a hit in the rental market? Apparently, Wayne Strachan had a hunch...more |
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U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Addresses Diversity Best
Practices Conference; Reports Unemployment Down, Minority
and Women-Owned Businesses Up "That is real progress, and a tribute to the entrepreneurial opportunities that America provides." - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao commenting on the increase in minority owned business' in the U.S....more |
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 Coast is Clear for RTO Success; Coaster Company of America,
The RTO Industry's Warehouse"Since joining RentDirect, the overall reaction has been extensive. We have opened up a large number of accounts that we otherwise wouldn’t have. It’s a strategic alliance when the vendor and the dealer come together in the best interests of the consumer. RentDirect helps to make that alliance possible.” - Larry Furiani, Vice President of Dealer Relations for Coaster Company of America...more |
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UK Rental Company Homebuy
Reports Record Fiscal Year |
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 Retention, Retention, Retention; Keeping Rent to Own
Customers Loyal With Direct Mail“We believe the RTO industry is really a culture that you can’t teach to someone who hasn’t lived and breathed it for themselves.” - Al Benson, Sales Manager, Central File...more |
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Vegas Market Design Gallery To Feature Latest Home
Furnishings Trends "We are very pleased to be in Las Vegas for our third show and thoroughly believe that Las Vegas Market is positioned to be the premier furniture Market in the U.S." - Mike Ragan, Rags...more |
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Rent to Own Rim and Tire Operations Require Specialized
Approach To Insurance A traditional rent to own store is insured much like a retail location, with product liability coverage as well as liability for the premises. Renting tires and rims requires specialized insurance." - Jeanette Beardsley, Walter L. Clark & Associates...more |
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 July Issue
of RTO Magazine Mails This Week "RTO Online and RTO Magazine have always focused on useful RTO business content. The 160 page July issue contains nearly double the amount of content of previous issues as well as 50 interviews with leading RTO industry vendors." - Roy Griffaw, President, RTO Online, Inc., Publishers of RTO Magazinee...more |
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Retailers Urge Trading Status For Vietnam; Move Could
Increase Furniture Imports |
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 Inventory Financing Solutions; Capital Solutions Understands
Unique RTO Sales Cycle“CSHPI was at the forefront of RentDirect since its inception. Recently, we attended the RentDirect Member-to-Member conference in Dallas as a primary contributor where we provided our finance expertise to assist dealers with their growth plans."- Charlie Love, Rental Business Development Manager for CSHPI...more |
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Legislation Will Raise Cost Of Consumer Electronics "A barrage of legislation, like the audio broadcast flag, the Perform Act and the analog hole bill, would require [manufacturers] to design their products to add cost and reduce features and operability." - Gary Shapiro, President, Consumer Electronics Association...more |
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CEO Confidence Drops; Execs See Slower But Profitable Growth "CEOs' confidence has waned in the second quarter and expectations signal slower economic growth in the coming months. However, the majority of CEOs do not foresee slower growth having an adverse impact on corporate profits. " - Lynn Franco, Director, Conference Board Consumer Research Center...more |
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Growth Of Broadband Increasing Demand For HDTV |
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 ColorTyme Racing's Johnny Chastain Scores Four Consecutive
Wins"Car owner Randall Twiggs has more laps and more experience on that track than anyone on the planet. He gives me a great car and I all I have to do is keep from running into things." - Johnny Chastain, Driver, ColorTyme #00 GTO...more |
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LG.Philips
Sees Q2 Loss As LCD Prices Fall "Looking ahead, we expect to see prices begin to stabilize, and anticipate sustained growth in consumer demand for LCD TVs, in the second half of 2006." - Ron Wirahadiraksa, President and CFO, LG.Philips LCD....more |
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 Budget PrePay, Inc.; Broad Program And Support Key To
Successful Prepaid Phone ProgramBudget PrePay has invested millions in software development, allowing rent to own companies to sell prepaid products over the internet without the need to purchase or rent a POS terminal...more |
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| Breaking Former Home Choice RTO Exec Launches Online Financial Services Company Rent Way acquired Home Choice in 1998 for $231 million, more than doubling Rent Way's size and making it the second-largest rent to own company in the United States at the time...more |
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 Live RTO Jewelry Programs Drastically Increase RevenueFor those rental stores who aren’t ready to commit to an entire program, Bryce Co. has put together a new introductory selection that is affordable for any dealer willing to test the waters with live jewelry...more |
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 Taking The Edge Off Your Rent to Own Showroom Floor“Rental showrooms are filled with hard-edged, gleaming merchandise. Botanicals are used to soften the edges and make the showroom feel more like home." - Elizabeth Strachan, Botanica by LABS....more |
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Rent-A-Center Acquires Aaron's Puerto Rico
Locations The sale was reportedly completed in late June. Terms of the sale are not known...more |
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Cash America
Acquires Online Payday Lender CashNet USA For $35 Million "The integration of this delivery channel provides us with an important foundation in this new avenue for growth in the cash advance industry." - Daniel R. Feehan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cash America International...more |
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 That's a Wrap; ColorTyme Dealers Wrap
Memphis
ConventionColorTyme franchisees gather every summer to celebrate successes and plan for the coming year. The company has plenty to celebrate with over 40 new locations opened in 2005 and its entry into both the payday loan and wheel and tire sectors...more |
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 Father Son Aaron's Franchisees Joe and Ben Bost Celebrate Customers;
Host
Three USAR Pro Cup Series Drivers at autograph sessionDrivers included Brett Butler, who will drive the #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine in Saturday’s race alongside Andrew Rogers who will race the #18 Termidor/Aaron’s Dream Machine and Ken Butler III who races the #00 Aaron’s Dream Machine...more |
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 How to Have a Banner Year; Customized RTO Marketing Program“We offer every RentDirect member a no-cost consultation phone call to discuss their marketing needs. From that call, we will create a free circular layout and work from there to earn that store’s business.” - Bill Sauther, President of Banner Retail Marketing Group...more |
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Las Vegas Market Showcases Expanded Juvenile Furnishings "Vegas Kids offers buyers an excellent opportunity to take a broad look at what's new. Key manufacturers are taking large steps to increase their offerings in the juvenile category." - Dana Pretner, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, World Market Center...more |
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 Baseline Licensing To Feature RTO Services and West Coast
Teams at Summer Las Vegas Market; Group Signs #9 Kasey Kahne
of NASCAR Evernham Motorsports"Kahne licensed products rank in the top 5 in sales for current Nextel Cup licensed drivers. Kahne products include sofas, adult and kid's recliners, video rockers, rocking chairs and rugs." - Brown Councill, RTO Sales, Baseline Licensing Group...more |
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Kansas Association of Rental Dealers Set For Meeting This
Month In Topeka |
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 07-07-06Convention Coverage Florida's Mark And John Martin Named ColorTyme Franchisees of the Year The Martins are perennial achievers. The pair earned the award for Number One Store Growth in the entire ColorTyme system in 2004...more |
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07-06-066 Getting Connected Will Drive Electronics Business; Thirty Million U.S. Households Will Have Network by 2010 According to a new study, connected entertainment will be at the heart of the development and business opportunities in the digital home...more |
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07-06-06 2006 Mother's Day Versus Father's Day Consumer Electronics Sales "Even though consumers spent slightly more during the week leading up to Father's Day than the week leading up to Mother's Day, the increases over last year show that mom is becoming more tech savvy." - Stephen Baker, VP Industry Analysis, The NPD Group...more |
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 Customer Service Equals Customer Loyalty; Allan Williams
capitalizes on 18 years in RTO to build ColorTyme franchise
"I always encourage our managers and team members to think outside of the box when it comes to customer service, to go beyond what customers traditionally expect." - Allan Williams, ColorTyme Franchisee...more |
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Rent-A-Center Q2 Conference Call Set For
July
25th Rent-A-Center will broadcast its quarterly earnings conference call on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 10:45 AM ET over the Internet...more |
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 Ashley Accounts for Growth; Providing Solutions For The Rent
to Own Industry“Ashley is not just selling furniture to rental stores. We are providing solutions to help operators run their businesses more profitably.” - Jim Williams, Vice President of Sales, Ashley Upholstery...more |
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 Advertising Made Easy; Taking The Guesswork Out Of Rent to
Own Advertising“The advantage I see is the amount of resources that open up to rental dealers is just very impressive. I don’t know why anyone would try to do this on their own when there are groups like us out there to help.” - Jack Sweat, President, Advertising Made Easy...more |
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 ColorTyme Early Birds Catch July 4th Ballgame Ahead Of This
Week's ConventionAfter the game, the capacity crowd gave a standing ovation to 100 immigrants from more than a dozen countries who took the "Oath of Allegiance" to become naturalized citizens of the United States...more |
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 ALMO Be There; Understanding the Rent to Own Business and
Just In Time InventoryOne of largest distributors in US makes it easy to do business with RentDirect...moree |
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 Sign, Sign Everywhere a Sign; Rent to Own Store's Signage
and Fixtures Should Be Extension of Sales Team21C Retail Arts partners with RentDirect to help your rental store’s signage and fixtures act as an extension of your sales team....more |
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 Former California Angel To Keynote ColorTyme Convention
Speaker John Cassis also served as the pre-game inspirational speaker for the Chicago Bears football team for 12 years...more |
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RTO Online Releases Traffic Numbers For June, 2006 RTO Online, Inc. (www.rtoonline.com), the leading source of news and information for the rent to own industry, today reported website traffic numbers for the month ending June 30, 2006...more |
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The Root Of New York's Problem Editorial As the election nears, local politicians wanting a seat at the cool kids table when he's elected (and with his 69% approval rating, he will be), will continue to parrot Spitzer's extremism...more |
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 Rose Tomilloso Blending Retail and Rent to Own; Opens
Premier Home Furnishings in Rialto, California"Rose has demonstrated an ability to balance between retail and RTO, and that’s what is needed for success in the home furnishings industry." - Jim Schebler, President, Premier Home Furnishings...more |
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Does Home Theater Make People Happier?; Survey Says Yes Overall satisfaction is above 75 percent for all the technologies tested: owners of home theater systems have the highest satisfaction rate at 89 percent...more |
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 Aaron’s Associates Show Support for U.S.
Troops; Company Puts Marketing Muscle Behind “Red Friday”
Campaign"Red Friday’ is not a political agenda. Instead, this is a way to show our support for the men and women in the U.S. military who put it all on the line for our country every day." - Ken Butler, President, Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership...more |
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Reducing Hourly Employee Turnover The Institute for Retail Excellence estimates costs associated with separation, replacement, training, and lost opportunity is $9,428 per employee in retail...more |
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 Baseline To Show RTO Product At Vegas Market "In order to properly serve West Coast and Mountain Region Rent to Own and furniture retail customers and represent our West Coast licensed teams, we will be displaying product at the Summer Las Vegas Market." - Brown Councill, RTO Sales, Baseline Licensing Group...more |
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Pioneer Opens Retail Operation To Test New Product "Product technology is evolving so quickly and commoditization of product happens faster than ever. A company store allows us greater access to consumers for product testing and planning." - Craig McManis, VP, Pioneer Stores...more |
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Study Concludes Payday Loan Industry Threat to Military
Readiness Exaggerated Military enlisted personnel who have had payday loans repay them more quickly and are more likely to remain out of debt than their civilian counterparts...more |
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Human Performance Institute; Five tips for creating a
satisfying work environment "There is a very close relationship between high job satisfaction and feelings of effectiveness on the job." - Dr. Jim Loehr, CEO, Human Performance Institute...more |
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Consumer Confidence Up tick; Analyst Still Note Concern For
Second Half Some data indicate economy is shifting into lower gear heading into the second half of this year...more |
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Expanded Educational Series On Tap For Las Vegas Furniture
Market The Western Home Furnishings Association (WHFA) will present "Think Like a Brand, Act Like a Retailer_ - How To Make Your Store More Important Than Anything You Sell...more |
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 Mike And Jill Houseworth Continue Texas ColorTyme Expansion;
Enthusiasm and hard work allow for continued growth"Being a ColorTyme franchisee is one of the truest examples of the American dream. This is an industry where passion and dedication directly affect your level of success." - Mike Houseworth, ColorTyme Franchisee...more |
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RTO Veteran Comes Home; Doug Pint Returns To Open Indiana
ColorTyme "I became a ColorTyme franchisee because I was ready to make money for myself and because I saw that people just like me were having great success running their own stores." - Doug Pint, ColorTyme Franchisee...more |
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Core Values and Common Traits in the Heterogeneous Hispanic
American Market "Because of their different countries of origin, different levels of acculturation, and consequential distinctive traits and characteristics, Hispanics present unique yet complex business opportunities for marketers"...more |
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Time Or Money? Volunteerism On The Rise "For individuals overwhelmed by the requests for monetary support in our world today, giving time through volunteer activities can be an effective alternative." - Steve Siemens, president, Kiwanis International...more |
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Company Strategy Not Making It Far From The Boardroom;
Survey Says Only 19% of Employees Think Strategy Clearly
Communicated "Although more respondents this year indicated that their organization’s strategy is well communicated (41% vs. 33% in 2005), only 19% indicated that they believe daily work priorities are linked to a clearly communicated strategy." - Christopher Rice, President and CEO, BlessingWhite...more |
Convention Coverage
07-06-06
07-05-06