03-19-04 SEI/Aaron's Acquires Rent-n-Go; Ends Companion Family 22 Year Run as Vermont Dealers The Companion family has been a rent to own fixture in Vermont since 1982 when Roger Companion, Dan's father, started Companion's Rent to Own. After working for his father, Dan started A1 Rent to Own in 1990 at the age of 21. A1 later merged with Consumers Rent to Own and became Rental Express in 1991...more

Wal-Mart Earns #1 Spot on DiversityBusiness.com List of Top Corporations for Multicultural Businesses
"We know that building a diverse supplier base is not only the right thing to do, but a business imperative...more
Charlyn Jarrells Porter, Chief Diversity Officer for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc

Analyst Upgrades Rent a Center As Company Acquires First Canadian Locations
On March 5, 2004, Rent a Center completed the purchase of five Canadian rent-to-own stores for $3.2 million Canadian dollars ($2.4 million U.S. dollars)...more  

Chinese Manufacturer Desay Shipping Sub $400 DVD Recorders
DVD recorders and home theater recorders expected to become one of the fastest-growing segments in digital entertainment during the next several years, with possible unit sales of up to 51 million units by 2006...more

Southern Democrats Support Rental Purchase Agreement Act
Neither Taylor nor Cramer have cosponsored Rent to Own legislation in the past although both Representatives voted in favor of HR1701, the 107th Congress' version of the Act, which passed in 2002...more

APA Marketing Recalls Entertainment Center
APA Marketing Inc., of Commerce, California announced the safety recall of 400 Encore! Home Entertainment Wall Units Units...more

Study Finds Women and Men Owners of Million-Dollar Firms Use Different Growth Strategies
Among the findings; Women are more likely to have started their businesses (73%) than the men (60%), rather than having purchased, inherited, or acquired them in some other way...more

 

03-16-04 Exclusive "Vivat Prokat" (Wow Rent to Own); UK Entrepreneur Ian Woodcock Brings RTO to Moscow What do you get when you mix a dashing entrepreneur from the Isle of Man, a rent to own consultant from Texas, and a Russian "go-to-guy" named Igor? You get the seeds of a new industry in the land of black caviar and kvas. After two years of corresponding via email, and no small amount of begging, RTO Online is proud to present the story of "Vivat Prokat" (Wow Rent to Own)...more

United Arab Emirates Embraces Rent to Own
As demand for home finance and property financing booms in the UAE, the new products from Tamweel are designed to satisfy demand for finance provided within the guidelines of Islamic financing...more

Shoppers' View Adds Regional Comparisons To Mystery Shop Online Reporting
Shoppers' View, the Rent to Own industries mystery shop leader, announced the addition of regional comparison reports to their secure online-reporting system...more

Rent-A-Center To Match Donations Up To $100,000 During Fund-Raiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
"Our co-workers really enjoy our involvement in this program, so we decided to add another week to the length of the campaign this year...more
Mark Speese, chairman and CEO of Rent-A-Center

Imagery Marketing Consultants Complete First Hispanic Commercial
Quality Rentals of Tacoma Washington contracted with Imagery marketing Consultants to produce a Spanish language television commercial. The recently completed 30 second spot titled "$10 today" starred local talent Myrella Parente...more

Aim For The High End To Increase Electronics Rentals
By Mark Taylor, Home Rental Source; Rent to Own industry buying group
Customers want cutting edge technology. Drive your electronics business with higher-end items like DVD recorders, digital camcorders, flat screen TV's and computers. Yields are higher and demand is increasing...more

Viewsonic Adds HDTV Set Top Box For Over-the-Air Digital Broadcast Signals
The HD10 will be available in April  for an estimated street price of $399...more

Higher End Merchandise Drives Bestway Rent to Own Net Income Up 273%; Same Store Sales Up 7.5%
"The pay offs we've seen are tighter inventory controls, a reduction in delinquent accounts, increased customer counts, as well as a reduction in employee turnover...more
David A. Kraemer, President and Chief Executive Officer

IDEAL Software User Conference Nears
"Perhaps the best part of the conference is the sneak preview of our new Windows version, currently under development"
David Goldman, president of Ideal Software Systems...more

Wisconsin Assembly Votes 58 - 41 To Kill Rental Purchase Agreement Act
In a vote late Wednesday night, the Wisconsin Assembly voted 58 to 41 to "indefinitely postpone" AB 898, the Wisconsin Rental Purchase Agreement Act. An indefinite postponement is a motion to kill a proposal in its house of origin for a legislative session. The Joint Finance Committee had recommended passage in both houses on Monday...more

03-10-04 ColorTyme's Sam Lowe and Ace Rent to Own's Tim Carpenter Named Directors of TARA As Convention Wraps Up The 21st annual Texas Association of Rental Agencies (TARA) convention and tradeshow wrapped up on Tuesday. The 4 day event, held in San Antonio Texas, was presided over by the TARA Board of Directors (left) and organized to perfection by TARA Executive Director Lynn Clark...more

Rent a Center Wins System Integration Achievement Award
Kristi Toupal, from Rent-A-Center accepted the award at the AIIM Expo in New York Monday...more

Wisconsin Attorney General Supports Rent to Own Bill As Amended
"The Attorney General and the Department of Justice believes this amendment is a positive step for state consumers...more
Michael R. Bauer, Administrator of the Division of Legal Services

RTO Tradeshow Texas Style
Everything is bigger in Texas. State Rent to Own association tradeshows are no different. Lynn Clark, Executive Director of TARA (Texas Association of Rental Agencies), received high praise from exhibitors and dealers alike for raising the bar of industry events...more

Ernie Lewallen Signs Development Agreement With Rent-n-Roll
"Not since the early 1980's have I felt this much excitement about the RTO concept...more
Ernie Lewallen, former APRO President and current owner of UHR Rents

Breaking: Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee Recommends Passage Of Rental Purchase Agreements Act
The bill must be passed in both houses and signed by Governor Jim Doyle by Thursday or the process must begin again next session...more

Rent to Own Dealers And Exhibitors Gather For Welcome Reception
Texans know how to throw a party. Attendees at the 2004 TARA convention enjoyed a welcome reception (21 photos) sponsored by BrandDirect Southwest and Benefit Marketing Solutions...more

Texas Association of Rental Agencies; TARA Golf Classic Held In San Antonio
23 teams completed in the 4 man scramble. The team of Neil Noris, Craig Kruetzler, Rick Solis, and Charles Dobbs took first place with a score of 59. Below are photos of all 23 teams...more
 

Matt Worthington of Rent America and Amy McFarland of Showcase Home Furnishings enjoy Casino Night at TARA 2004

Texas Rent to Own Association Kicks Off 2004 Convention
The Texas Association Of Rental Agencies (TARA) kicked off it's 21st annual convention and tradeshow Saturday in San Antonio Texas. Record attendance is expected from TARA's 64 member companies representing over 500 Rent to Own locations in the Lone Star State. TARA is one of the oldest and the largest state Rent to Own association in the US...more

Wisconsin's Joint Finance Committee To Hold Public Hearing Monday
The Wisconsin Rental Purchase Agreements Act will be discussed in a meeting of the Joint Finance Committee Monday March 8th at 1:00 PM (Central time)...more

Arson Confirmed In Radio Rentals Blaze
Arson has been confirmed as the cause of the blaze with damage estimated at $500,000...more

Rocky Mountain Region Scores Biggest Year-to-Year Rise in Consumer Confidence
This area – which includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Nevada – has also registered solid increases in help-wanted job advertising in key cities in this region...more

Wisconsin Senate Sends Rental Purchase Act To Joint Finance Committee
The Wisconsin Rental Purchase Agreements Act is one step closer to becoming law. By unanimous consent, the Wisconsin Senate today sent the Act to the Joint Committee on Finance...more

Sealy Acquired By Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts For $1.5 Billion
Sealy Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of bedding products, announced today that it had signed a definitive merger agreement with affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) in a transaction valued at approximately $1.5 billion...more

Michael Dell Steps Down As Dell CEO; Names Kevin Rollins To Post
Twenty years after founding Dell, Michael Dell will transfer the title of chief executive officer to Kevin Rollins, with whom he has led the world's fastest-growing, most profitable computer systems company since 1997...more

La-Z-Boy Appoints Former HUD Secretary Mel Martinez To Board
La-Z-Boy appointment of Mel Martinez, former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to its board of directors in a special meeting on Wednesday...more

Texas Rent to Own Dealers Prepare For Convention
Rent to Own professionals across the Southwest are preparing for Saturday's kickoff of the 21st annual Texas Association of Rental Agencies convention and tradeshow in San Antonio...more

ColorTyme Charity Golf Tournament Raises $12,600
Steve Arendt , President of ColorTyme participated in the tournament, as well as ColorTyme Franchisees Tony Nickolas, and his partner Eric Wiseman from Richmond, VA, John Lee and Pete Pechi from Charlotte, NC, James Holub, from Sterling, CO...more

Rent to Own Industry Suppliers Honored By Department Of Energy At Washington Ceremony
The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored winners of the 2004 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year at an award ceremony in Washington DC last night...more

Six Thousand Wisconsin Retailers Support Rent to Own
"Consumers should have the choice to rent merchandise with the option to own it rather than make an outright purchase. Current law denies that rental choice. SB 486 fixes that problem...more
Doug Johnson, Sr. VP & General Counsel of the Wisconsin Merchants Federation

New "Phantom" Game Console To Be Unveiled At 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo
E3 will mark the first time the new console system will be seen by the interactive entertainment industry at-large since a preview for select industry professionals in January at the Consumer Electronics Show...more

Breaking: Wisconsin Rental Purchase Act Gets Hearing
A hearing is being held this morning by the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Agriculture, Financial Institutions and Insurance to hear debate on Senate Bill 486 (SB486), the Wisconsin Rental−Purchase Agreements Act...more

HP and Philips Develop New Copy Protection For Direct Digital Broadcast Recording
"With this technology we help protect the rights of the content owners and help provide the consumer with a safe choice that should help ensure the DVD recording experience both today and in the years to come...more

easyhome Gets It Right
"It is clearly not a coincidence that our two best quarters ever came shortly after we moved to our new national brand...more
David Ingram, CEO easyome

Maytag CEO Projects Moderate Growth In 04; Cites Concern Over Steel Prices
One recent development of concern is the imposition of surcharges and proposed price increases for steel. "We're working to overcome the impact...more

Canada's easyhome Reports Record Revenue In Q4; Same Store Sales Up 7.7%
"The second half of 2003 included the first two full quarters operating under the easyhome brand and they have been the most successful quarters in the Company's history...more
David Ingram, easyhome's President & CEO

Wisconsin Legislators Reconsider Rent to Own; Introduce SB486 The Wisconsin Rental Purchase Agreement Act
Wisconsin legislators are reconsidering the states restrictive approach to rent to own with the introduction and fast-tracking of SB486, the Wisconsin Rental−Purchase Agreements Act...more

Philips Broadband Vision; Digital Content Anywhere and Anytime
"Our content and distribution partners no longer describe broadband in terms of household penetration levels, but rather share Philips' view that broadband is becoming a utility for consumers like water, gas or electricity...more
Gottfried Dutine, President & CEO of Philips Consumer Electronics

Top Companies Stepping up Efforts to Measure People
“As the service-based economy continues to grow, companies must be more rigorous in how they measure and engage with their employees...more
Mark Frost, General Manager of the Human Capital Management division of PeopleSoft

Blue Ribbon Rentals Brings Rent-n-Roll To Ohio
"We are extremely delighted to have Bill Wendell join the RENT-n-ROLL team. Bill is a proven winner and a great RENT to Own operator...more
Vince Ficarrotta, Vice-President of RENT-n-ROLL

Furniture Brands International Recovery Continues
Furniture Brands International announced today it expects first quarter 2004 sales and earnings to be better than previously expected...more

RTO Superstore's Brad Warden Acquires Hoss Power
"The Hoss Power products have been extremely successful in the Rent to Own business as well as retail...more
RTO Superstore owner Brad Warden

Pioneer And TV Guide Sign Agreement Resolving Pending Litigation
"Pioneer is pleased to put this issue behind us. Now we can devote 100 percent of our attention to...the end users of our products...more
Paul Dempsey, president of the Business Solutions Division of Pioneer Electronics

Bestway Amends Credit Agreement
The amendment adds a minimum year to date capital expenditure requirement and acquisition requirement...more

Canada: Dorel Posts Strong 2003 Results: Sales Increase 17.3%
The higher sales and earnings in the fourth quarter were driven by the RTA furniture group...more

Review Of Proposed Changes To Overtime Exemption Law
The Department of Labor’s proposed regulations would raise the salary threshold—below which workers would automatically qualify for overtime from $155 to $425 a week. This increase of $270 a week would be the largest since Congress passed the FLSA in 1938...more

Breaking News: Aaron Rents Partners With Dell To Serve Credit Rejected Consumers
Aaron Rents initiated a deal with Dell that could potentially generate huge computer rental revenue...more

ColorTyme's Bob Kogler Sponsors Golf Tournament; Proceeds To Benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research
South Carolina ColorTyme franchisee Bob Kogler is coordinating the First Annual ColorTyme and Florence Pride Golf Tournament. All proceeds from the event, scheduled for March 1st at The Traces Golf Club in Florence, South Carolina, will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation...more

Aaron Rents Reports Record Revenues; Same Store Sales Up 10%
Sales & Lease Ownership division increased revenues for the quarter 24%. Aarons will open 140 stores in '04...more