Aaron Rents Acquires 'Rent-2-Own'
Texas rental powerhouse Rent-2-Own (21 locations) has been acquired by Aaron Rents in a deal that closed June 14th. 15 locations will operate as Aaron Sales and Lease Ownership stores. At least six Rent-2-Own locations will be converted to tire and rim rental and operate under the name RIMCO, a division of Aaron Rents...more

Senate Hearing Set For Rental Purchase Act; House Co-Sponsor Count Hits 30
Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) has invited Members of the Coalition for Fair Rental Regulations to testify on behalf of the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act of 2005 (S603) at a Senate Banking Committee hearing Tuesday, June 21, at 10am...more

Judge Approves easyhome Class Action Settlement; Company To Revise Rental Agreements
"...to provide further transparency in our business practices, and avoid the risk of future litigation, we have committed to revise our rental agreements such that they cannot be construed as giving rise to an interest charge in excess of the rate prescribed in the Criminal Code of Canada" - David Ingram, President and CEO of easyhome...more

RTO Magazine E-Book Goes Online
"Publishing the magazine in it's entirety online will fulfill our mission of "360 degree" industry coverage" - Roy Griffaw, founder, RTO Online, Inc....more

When Borrowing Money is Appropriate and Beneficial
"A business may have all the necessary ingredients that contribute to successful growth and development, but without the necessary funds no plan may be implemented"...more

Survey; Stronger Retail Sales May Lie Ahead
"39% said they are more comfortable today about purchasing household items. 37% of respondents rated their personal financial situation in general will be stronger in six months than it is today"...more

Collier Resigns As CMO Of La-Z-Boy
Collier joined La-Z- Boy in 2002 as vice president, marketing for La-Z-Boy Residential...more

Registration Begins For Midwest RTO Expo
Starting today, dealers and vendors can begin registering online for the Midwest RTO Expo using the new Tradeshow Registration System developed by RTO Online (www.RTOonline.com)...more

New Jersey RTO Bill Hearing Scheduled
The Consumer Affairs Committee of the New Jersey Assembly will hold a hearing Thursday, June 16, 2005 to consider the A3851; "New Jersey Rental-Purchase Consumer Protection Act."...more

Association Gives Mixed Review Of FCC Handling Of Digital TV Transition
For smaller sets, 13- to 26- inches, the requirement would double the development costs for manufacturers, as well as double the price of a typical 13-inch television to consumers...more

Consumer Confidence Rebounds After 18-Month Low In May
"...sharp difference between positive consumer attitudes about their current situations and their relatively pessimistic outlook for the future"...more

Gov. Blagojevich Signs Illinois Payday Loan Reform Act
Illinois will create a new state database that lenders will use to lookup the applicant’s payday loan record. If a new loan violates the rules, the payday lender will not receive authorization to issue it...more

Eight More Legislators Endorse Rental Purchase Agreement Act
The Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act of 2005 gained 8 co-sponsors this week as 2 Senators and 6 Representatives agreed to co-sponsor federal rental purchase legislation supported by the Coalition for Fair Rental Regulations...more

Second Midwest RTO Expo Scheduled For August In Columbus
The Expo, held at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio,  starts Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005 with a golf outing, followed by the Welcome Reception at the Convention Center...more

Sandberg Furniture To Host “Rental Rocks in Vegas”
Sandberg Furniture, a leading supplier of furniture to the rent to own industry, will host "Rental Rocks in Vegas" at the 'House of Blues' for Rent to Own dealers attending the Las Vegas Furniture Market in Las Vegas, Nevada in July...more

Furniture Brands International Closing Four Plants; Eliminating Over 1000 Jobs
"...an accelerated step in our continuing effort to balance our domestic production with our import program" - W.G. (Mickey) Holliman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Furniture Brands...more

Payday Lenders and Credit Bureau Join Forces to Help Consumers Build Credit; Consumer advocates support industry move
"I am thrilled that CFSA recognizes the need, not just to help payday advance customers get by financially, but to help them get ahead" - Illinois State Representative Susana Mendoza (D-1)...more

Bassett Acquires Eight Stores in Dallas
"We were relatively pleased with our second quarter sales performance, even though business conditions continue to be tough at retail" - Robert H. Spilman, Jr. president and CEO...more

LG Launches DivX Compatible DVD Products; 13 New Models Available in Canada
"We created our 2005 DVD product line to empower our users to enjoy the widest variety of entertainment content possible" - Ross Snow, LG Canada's Director of Sales and Marketing...more

NASCAR Drives Aaron Rents Marketing; Waltrip To Drive Aaron’s “Dream Machine” Through 2008
"Michael Waltrip Racing has been an integral part of Aaron’s marketing plans since 2000. The national exposure that Michael and the Dream Machine have gathered in that time cannot be measured in dollars and cents" - Ken Butler, President of Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership...more

Cash Now Sees 1.5 Billion Un-Banked Consumers Worldwide; Launches New Debit Card
Cash Now estimates that this market potentially includes approximately 150 million individuals in the United States, of which less than 12 million maintain active prepaid debit card accounts...more

U.S. Consumer Confidence Index Rebounds In May
Consumers’ expectations for the next six months, which had been losing ground since January, reversed course in May..more

Chicago Man Wins RentWay National Sweepstakes
RentWay will give away one Harley-Davidson motorcycle each week for twelve weeks...more

1,000 Vendors To Show At Inaugural Las Vegas Furniture Market
Building A at World Market Center features more than 230 permanent showrooms on 10 floors, and includes leading companies in the home furnishings industry...more

Hard Deadline Proposed For Switch To Digital TV; Even If Government Must Supply Equipment For Low-income Households
Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas, said he would be willing to support a limited equipment supply program, so long as it is targeted toward low-income households...more

Help-Wanted Advertising Index Turns Cautious
In the last three months, help-wanted advertising declined in seven of the nine U.S. regions...more

RTO Online Releases Rent to Own Consumer Survey Data
"Personnel changes were nearly 4 times as likely to cause a customer to return merchandise and switch companies than a lower payment or a even a lower overall price" - From RTO Magazine Consumer Survey...more

RTO To The Power Of X; XM Radio Expands Rental Industry Presence
CVS Systems is the only distributor in the Midwest with an Authorized XM/RTO program...more

Aaron Rents Acquires Ten Franchised Stores
"These stores are located in major population areas in which we can add numerous additional stores" - R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr., Chairman and CEO...more

Rent to Own Property Tax Amendment Dies In Texas Senate
"I do not believe this bill's failure can in anyway be interpreted to mean that the legislature disagrees with our position" - Terral Smith, RTO industry lobbyist...more

Former HUD Secretary Endorses Rental Purchase Agreement Act
Florida Senator and former Cabinet Secretary Mel Martinez (R-FL) has endorsed the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act of 2005, a bill supported by the Coalition for Fair Rental Regulations, a rent to own industry trade organization...more

Rent-Way Makes Zack's ROE List
"Rent-Way recently posted fiscal second-quarter earnings per share that eclipsed the consensus estimate by an impressive 350%" - Zacks.com...more

Rent-A-Center Announces Apollo Management Sale of 7.2 Million Rent-A-Center Shares
This follows the recent resignation of Andrew S. Jhawar, Partner of Apollo Management, L.P., from Rent A Center's Board of Directors on May 18, 2005...more

Rent-A-Center Collects Over $250,000 For Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Rent-A-Center has raised $717,709 for Big Brothers Big Sisters in the past 3 years...more

House Overwhelmingly Approves Business Checking Freedom Act of 2005; 424-1
"The Business Checking Freedom Act will repeal an unfair, outdated law that is standing between our local small businesses and their ability to earn interest on their own money" - Representative Sue W. Kelly (R-NY)...more

Toshiba Showcases New Line of FST PURE Flat Color Televisions
All TheaterWide models are available now. Cinema Series is expected to be available in September, 2005...more

Rent A Center Appoints Marketing Guru To Board
Rent-A-Center has named Michael J. Gade to its Board of Directors. Gade replaces Andrew S. Jhawar, Partner of Apollo Management, L.P., who resigned from the Board of Directors on May 18, 2005. Gade will serve the remainder of Mr. Jhawar's term, which expires at the Company's 2006 annual meeting of stockholders...more

Pre-Paid Services Key To RTO Industry Growth
In the absence of new merchandise categories, diversification of services has become the leading growth driver of Rent to Own industry profits in recent years...more