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Arkansas Teacher Wins "Rabbit Ears Pioneers" Contest
The contest encourages over-the-air television viewers to prepare now for the nation's transition to digital television, which will be complete on February 17, 2009...more

Three Quarters of Americans Burned Out at Work
"Unmanageable stress levels in the workplace can seriously impact an employee's productivity and home-life." - Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources, CareerBuilder...more

Republican Kay Granger Backs Rental Purchase Agreement Act
First elected in 1996, Congresswoman Granger is the highest ranking Republican woman in the House of Representatives and the only Republican woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas...more

Breaking
RentDirect Launches Rent-to-Own Industry Trade Association
Ending weeks of speculation, RentDirect, the rent-to-own industry's largest buying group, has launched the Nationwide Rental Coalition (NRC), a new rent-to-own industry trade association that will coordinate member and vendor participation in the legislative process on the state and federal level...more

No Other Truck than a Dunning Isuzu for One Aaron's Franchisee
Charles Smithgall works in big numbers. He owns 65 Aarons franchises, the largest number in the company, with several under construction...more

Rent-A-Center Treats New York Kids to Sky Chiefs Game
Rent-A-Center coworkers from around New York and the company's home office hosted 50 children from the Southwest Community Center in Syracuse for a picnic, Sky Chiefs baseball game and fireworks show...more

Las Vegas Vegas Furniture Market; Then and Now
The registration deadline for the upcoming Las Vegas Furniture market, scheduled for July 28 through August 1, is today - July 11, 2008...more

E-Complish Offers Its Direct Pay to the RTO Industry
E-Complish builds, at no cost to a dealer, its interactive automated system whereby store customers who prefer to use a toll free number to call in their payment are prompted through a series of steps in a 2-3 minute payment process...more

Ohio Coalition Gets Payday Loan Ballot Initiative Approval
The committee has until September 1 to get the 240,000 signatures needed to put the issue before voters in November...more

Greg White Promoted to La-Z-Boy Senior VP Sales
Greg White has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales and Merchandising for upholstery giant La-Z-Boy. White will report to Kurt Darrow, President and CEO...more

Whirlpool to Close Two Plants
Whirlpool will shutter its Oxford, Mississippi Puebla, Mexico, manufacturing facilities. Units produced at Oxford will be transferred...more

Drew Summa Opens Oakland Park Florida Premier RTO
Drew Summa got out of the Marine Corps in 1989. His next step was to find a civilian job – thus began the story of his RTO career. "I ended up answering an ad in the newspaper for Rent-A-Center," he said. "That's because I couldn't find anything in the Yellow Pages under 'field artillery'."...more

What is Hispanic Heritage Month 2008
In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, which was observed during the week that included Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month long celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15)...more

Diversity Critical to Business Success
While the majority of workers (61 percent) agree that having a diverse workforce makes their organization more successful, almost half of employees (47 percent) have felt discriminated against at the office...more

Survey Finds CEO Confidence in Economy Steady
CEOs continue to rate current economic conditions as unfavorable, and their short-term expectations suggest this slow growth environment will exist for the remainder of the year...more

GE to Spin Off Entire Consumer Business Unit
"As we explored our options for Appliances, it became clear that the fastest, most efficient step we could take in completing the transformation of our Industrial portfolio would be to focus on a possible spin-off of the entire unit." - Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO, GE...more

Consumer Electronics Spending Will Rise 10% in 2009
Consumers' ongoing desire for mobility makes this the largest CE category worldwide both in terms of unit sales and revenue...more

Aaron's Tops Rent to Own Search; Bestway Continues Climb
Aaron Rents took the top spot from Rent-A-Center. Bestway continues to climb the rankings, coming in at #4. Central and Affordable are consistently in the top 10 despite the fact that they operate 5 and 3 locations respectively...more

Workers Sacrifice to Buy Gas
"Today's workers have had to modify personal budgets, spending choices and commuting habits to manage the adverse effects today's gas prices have had on their pocketbooks." - Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources, CareerBuilder.com...more

Gas, Food Prices Continue To Hurt Discretionary Spending
The circumstances have created a balancing act for consumers who are spending less for discretionary items to compensate for higher costs for necessities...more

Payday Lender EZCORP Sees Stimulus Check Effect
"Lower than expected bad-loans were influenced to some degree by the economic stimulus checks received by our customers during May and June." - Joe Rotunda, President and Chief Executive Officer, EZCORP...more

Now Bedding; Sealy Reports Domestic Sales Off 16%
"We expect our second-half performance to be challenging as industry trends weakened further in June and retail traffic remains soft." - Larry Rogers, Interim CEO, Sealy...more

Stanley Furniture CEO, "Worst since 80s"; Company to Close NC Plant
"Historically low levels of consumer confidence, housing activity and personal disposable income has led to an industry-wide weakness in consumer demand for residential furniture not seen since the early '80s" - Jeffrey R. Scheffer, CEO, Stanley Furniture...more

Economy Hammers Jennifer Convertibles Revenue; Losses Climb
"Sales have been dramatically impacted by the downturn in the economy and the housing market which has hit the furniture industry particularly hard." - Harley J. Greenfield, CEO, Jennifer Convertibles...more

Premier Home Furnishings; Rent to Own Franchise Week 2008
At first it seems counterintuitive to an experienced retailer or an RTO veteran to form such a marriage. Both have different approaches to customer service, merchandising and financing. But what Premier Home Furnishing dealers are learning is that retail and leasing aren't mutually exclusive...more

07-08-08
Rent-A-Center Webcast Set For July 29
Rent-A-Center will broadcast its quarterly earnings conference call on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 10:45 AM ET...more

07-08-08
Almo St. Louis Expo to Feature Samsung
"We're upping the ante again with new manufacturers, new trainings, a larger show floor and the Panasonic Living in HD exhibit." - Warren Chaiken, President & CEO of Almo...more

Marketing TVs as a Music Platform
The reasons rent-to-own consumers have for upgrading to the latest TV technology now includes listening to music...more

Congressional Approval Rating at All-Time Low
A survey of 1,000 likely voters reveals only 9% give Congress good or excellent ratings. The data, released today by Rasmussen, also reveals most voters (52%) say Congress is doing a poor job, which ties the record high...more

Rent-A-Center VP York Climbs Mountain for Store Manager
Would Your Boss Climb a Mountain For You? Rent-A-Center Senior Jim York Makes a Promised 13-mile Trek up Pikes Peak to Reward Store Manager for Reaching Growth Goals...more

Foray Into Rental Market a Success for BriteLite
"It seems perfectly suited to RTO and will offer dealers some very interesting and profitable options." - Arash Shamoeil, President of Sales, BriteLite...more

Employment Trends Index Declines; More and Steeper Job Losses
The decline in payroll numbers somewhat understates the weakness of the labor market. In addition to the jobs that were lost, the number of people who were working part-time but wanted a full-time job rose by 750,000 in the last six months...more

Cash America to Exceed Q2 Earnings Estimates
The Company's updated expectation for the second quarter of 2008 is now between 62 cents and 64 cents per share, up over 44%...more

ETTSI Launches Rent-to-Own Dealer Training Program
Some of the subjects to be covered include: lead generation, increasing AOR, idle inventory reduction, PIF and sales closing...more
 

Dealers Prep For Vegas Furniture Market
This month's Summer Las Vegas Furniture Market will be the first time all exhibits, showrooms, social events and seminars will be on one central campus. The market runs July 28 – August 1...more

Olevia LCD Maker Syntax-Brillian Files Chapter 11
The Chapter 11 filing includes all of Syntax-Brillian's subsidiaries with the exception of Vivitar...more

Wogan Badcock Nominated to Furniture Hall of Fame
Wogan Stanhope Badcock, Jr. (1932-1996), former president of W.S. Badcock Corporation, has been nominated to the American Furniture Hall of Fame. Badcock launched its Rent-to-Own division, Home Now, in 2004 to re-capture a segment of the market lost during Badcock's "re-imaging" (Badcock & More) as a more upscale retailer...more
 

Drumbeat of Bad News Continues to Drive Consumer Sentiment Down
"Consumers are being ground down by the cumulative effects of high gasoline and food prices, a falling stock market, weakening housing values and a shaky job market." - T.J. Marta, Economic and Fixed Income Strategist, RBC Capital Markets...more

SEMA Elects New Board
Five new members were elected to the 2008-09 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Board of Directors. SEMA represents the automotive specialty and performance parts industry that includes custom wheels - a popular rent-to-own category...more

West Pointer Named President and COO of Cash America Retail Services Division
Weese attended the United States Military Academy at West Point where he received a bachelor's degree in economics...more

High Touch Hosts Special Olympics Tourney
Special Olympics Kansas touches the lives of nearly 6,000 athletes who train and compete year-round in 22 sports. The Special Olympics Athlete Oath: "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."...more

New Age Electronics Expands Sharp Distribution to California, Florida
New Age Electronics announced has expanded its existing distribution agreement with Sharp Electronics Corporation...more

"Pump It Up" Gasoline Promo Added to ETTSI Premiums Catalog
By building in added value, ETTSI provides RTO dealers the opportunity to present customers with bonus gift items like gasoline, MP3 players, exotic travel, and other attractive premiums for the same, and in many cases lower, cost of old fashion "chachka" items...more

California Check Cashing Stores Launch Financial Literacy Program
California Check Cashing course leaders have presented the program to high school economics and American government classes in San Jose, Sacramento and East Bay...more

Legal Duties of Nonprofit Board Members
The rift among rental dealers stemming from the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' (APRO's) decision to merge tradeshows with TRIB/AVB appears to be widening. Many rent-to-own dealers are questioning a decision that they fear limits participation in Association activities by one group - RentDirect members - while giving an apparent advantage to another - TRIB members...more
 

RTO FRANCHISE WEEK PROFILE
Premier Rent 'N Ride Offers Unique Combination of RTO, Automotive and Franchising
Premier Rent 'N Ride can help you avoid these scenarios through our aggressive lease/purchase franchise system, tailor-made to support your business, whether you are starting up or whether you have been in business since the Model T...more
 

Association Honors Furniture Retailer of the Year
The Southeastern Home Furnishings Association (SEHFA) recently honored its top retailer and manufacturer's representative at its Annual Convention in Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, Destin, Florida...more

E-Complish Host Pay Finds Niche in RTO Market
With the increased use of Internet by rental customers, E-Complish offers its Host Pay services to RTO dealers to help them reduce no pays and late pays and ultimately decrease truck rolls...more

Dell Adds Blu-ray Player to New Studio Brand
The first Dell Studio products are the Dell Studio 15 and Dell Studio 17. These laptops combine striking visual color elements and personalization options...more

Rent-A-Center Brightens Cleveland High School
The company is donating a Whirlpool Cabrio washer and dryer combination after learning that coaches were taking uniforms home to personally wash them since the school had been doing without on-site capabilities...more

Help-Wanted Index Falls Fifth Consecutive Month
The Conference Board Help-Wanted-Index dipped one point in May. The Index is now at 17, down 10 points from one year ago...more

Nunn Surprised by Popularity of BriteLite RTO DJ Kits
"It's a unique product with multiple applications. I don't think anyone else has anything like it. I've been in bus 32 years, and I've not seen anything like it." - Michael Hunt, The Nunn Company...more

Report; 2012 Before Blu-ray Outsells DVD
According to a report issued today by the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), it will be 2012 before sales of Blu-ray Discs will exceed those of standard DVDs. 2012 Blu-ray disc sales are projected to be $9.5 billion...more
 

IRS Approves 17 Percent Increase in Business Mileage Deduction
The Internal Revenue Service yesterday announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2008.  With the average rent-to-own store operating two vehicles, the deduction will have a significant impact...more

Economy Taking Toll; Small Business Owners Spending Less
With rising oil prices and constant talk of a recession, small business owner optimism is waning...more

RTO Pro Adds Website Features
RTO Pro, a leading point of sale (POS) software package for Rent to Own industry, announces improvements to website www.RTOPro.com...more

Payday Lender EZCORP Reaches Identity Theft Settlement With Texas AG
"After an extended period of factual and legal debate and negotiations, it became clear that it is in the best interests of both parties to settle this matter rather than pursue costly litigation." - Joe Rotunda, President & CEO, EZCORP...more

Federal Reserve Seeking Nominations for Consumer Council
The Federal Reserve Board is seeking nominations for appointments to its Consumer Advisory Council. The Council advises the Board on the exercise of its responsibilities under various consumer financial services laws and on other matters. The group meets in Washington, D.C., three times a year...more

Digital Transition Impacts RTO TV Ad Production
The choice of formats will have financial and creative implications for rent-to-own companies developing TV commercials. The costs for editing and finishing in HD are higher than SD - approximately 10-15%, or about $5,000-$7,500 for an average 30-second commercial...more

Gail Bower Opens Premier RTO Store in Colorado
Gail Bower made a rather unorthodox entry into her RTO career. She was in her late teens and looking for a job. She opened up the phone book and found the first thing she could that was close to her home in Westminster, Colorado...more
 

Training Experienced Employees More Important Than New Hires
Contrary to recent focus on the lack of workforce readiness among first-time employees, human resources professionals report that most workplace skills are of greater importance today for experienced workers than for new entrants to the workforce...more

InForm Adds RTO Price Tag Stock
Some RTO software programs have Price Tag Making sub routines. While these routines are convenient, many RTO  dealers don't use them because they print on plain paper. Off the shelf price tags often don't fit the stores theme...more

Annual Hispanic Retail Summit to be Held in Miami
Hispanic Retail 360 is the retail industry's premier event for retailers and marketers looking to grow their business with the Latino consumer market in the U.S...more

2009 CES Online Registration Available
Registration for the 2009 International CES is now available online. CES is the world's largest tradeshow for consumer technology and America's largest tradeshow of any kind....more

Wireless HDTV the Next Big RTO Thing?
Once the million-installations-per-year milestone is reached, Rent-to-Own companies and retailers will begin to see consumer awareness rise. Even without high consumer demand, the efficiency gains in delivery, installation and teardown are worth a look...more

Serta Sponsors Rod Stewart Concert at Vegas Furniture Market
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Rod Stewart perform and we look forward to bringing that experience to all market attendees." - Bob Sherman, President, Serta...more
 

U.S Flat-Panel Market Remains Strong but Caution Advised
Consumers have more debt than ever, and the stimulus package seems likely to go more towards paying high energy bills and reducing debt than actually making it to retail...more

Showing Eco-Concern Becoming Marketing Necessity
Younger generations are growing up in a culture steeped in environmental awareness. But boomers are increasingly showing brand loyalty to eco-friendly companies and products...more

New Age Reports ASUS Eee PC a Hit at Heartland RTO Tradeshow
During the show, New Age announced that it is now distributing the ASUS Eee PC, a small and extremely light portable computer...more

VIDEO - Breaking
Kanjorski to Back Rental Purchase Agreement Act
After two years of work led by Pennsylvania ColorTyme franchisee Louis Hall and other members of the Pennsylvania Association of Rental Dealers (PARD), 12 term Democrat Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) will cosponsor the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act of 2007 (H.R. 1767) See RTO Online's exclusive videocast interview...more
 

RTO FRANCHISE WEEK PROFILE
Why Are So Many RTO Pros Coming To ColorTyme?
FACT: ColorTyme continues to be the 3rd largest RTO company in the USA. In the past 5 years, ColorTyme/RimTyme has opened 136 new stores and added 48 new franchisees. FACT: Superb marketing programs are customizable and elective to use...more
 

Rent to Own Franchise Week 2008
RTO Online Inc., the rent to own (RTO) industry's leading trade news and information source, announces the second annual RTO Franchise Week. RTO Online will publish articles, company profiles and interviews with successful franchisees throughout the week...more

UK RTO BoxClever Banker Acquitted
Former WestLB Bank CEO Juergen Sengera was acquitted today by a Dusseldorf court of charges that he intentionally approved a $2 billion bad loan in 1999 to UK rent-to-own company Box Clever...more

PHOTOS - Convention Coverage
ColorTyme Summer Retreat Kicks Off With Lobster Bake on Lake George
A lobster-bake for over 140 members of the ColorTyme extended family of franchisees, vendors and their families kicked off the first annual ColorTyme Summer Retreat at the historic Sagamore Hotel on Lake George Wednesday...more

PHOTOS - Convention Coverage
Rent-A-Center Pair Win MRDA Bass Tourney
Mary Hazel and Matt Mertens, both District managers with Rent-A-Center in the St. Louis area, took the prize for total weight - 3 fish totaling 9lbs 4 ounces...more

Video - Convention Coverage
2008 Heartland RTO Tradeshow Kicks Off in Lake Ozark; Interview with Ken Steiner, Executive Director, MRDA
While total attendance (145) is down slightly from 2007 (160), vendor participation is strong. 20% of the vendors showing at this years event are first time attendees...more

RimTyme Opens First Texas Store
With 12 successful custom wheel and tire franchise locations already under its belt, ColorTyme opens its first RimTyme store in the Lone Star state in Temple. "We'll be competing for customers looking for wheels, tires or more than likely a combination of both," said Scott Savell, RimTyme's regional director...more

Robin Loudermilk Takes CEO Spot at Aarons
The Board of Directors of Aaron Rents (NYSE:RNT) today announced that Robin Loudermilk has been elected President and Chief Executive Officer of Aaron Rents, Inc...more

RentDirect Takes on Bed Bug Issue with K4 Products
RentDirect Nationwide and K4 Products, LLC have reached an agreement that will equip Rent-to-Own member dealers with discounted products to protect used furniture from bed bugs...more

Judge Rules Against Whirlpool in LG Patent Suit
Whirlpool patents remain pending at the ITC, termination of the investigation with respect to these two patents is a win for LG on its freezer drawer technology. Whirlpool has no rights to appeal Judge Essex's decision...more

Nationwide Pulls APRO Financial Support Over Ethical Concerns
As a result of Association of Progressive Rental Organization's (APRO's) decision to merge conventions with TRIB/AVB in 2009, Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG), the largest buying group in the U.S., will pull its financial support for APRO events effective immediately...more
 

RentDirect Developing Legislative Action Alternative to APRO
The letter, obtained by RTO Online this morning, states, "APRO's recent decision to merge their 2009 buying show with Trib & AVB is seen as a move that will divide the RTO industry." The letter also states that, as a result of APRO's decision, many RentDirect members and vendors will be "unable or unwilling" to attend the 2009 APRO convention...more

Rent-A-Center Donates 2,000 Brooklyn Cyclones Tickets
In its latest Random Act of Caring, Rent-A-Center coworkers from around New York and the company's home office handed out $11,000 in Cyclones baseball tickets to 1,000 individuals around Brooklyn today to ensure they had a lucky Friday the 13th...more

Congress Introduces Home Office Deduction Simplification Act
"According to the Internal Revenue Service, only 2.7 million of the nearly 20 million Schedule C filers in tax year 2003 took a deduction for home office expenses, despite the fact that some 8.4 million Americans indicated they had one or more rooms used only for business." Congressman John M. McHugh (R- N.Y.)...more

High Point Furniture Market Shifts 2009 Dates
Effective with the Spring Market, April 25 to April 30, 2009, the High Point Market will encompass six days, officially opening on a Saturday and operating through the close of business on Thursday...more

Michelle Dunning Joins Nalley Motor Trucks
"I have built a solid relationship with my customers and hope they will find me at Nalley in an even better position to help them build their businesses." - Michelle Dunning, Sales Professional, Nalley Motor Trucks...more

easyhome Announces First US Franchise Locations
Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC announced the signing of two franchises totaling 16 stores. It is anticipated that 2 to 3 of these stores will be opened by the end of 2008...more

Advantage Rent-To-Own Seeking State Master Licensees
Advantage Rent-to-Own Homes (Homes) announces it is selecting applications for State Directorships (State Master Licenses) for individuals or entities with the ability to recruit, train and lead an organization of appointed statewide realtors and broker’s for its “Rent-to-Own (Homes)” program...more