Consumer Confidence Unchanged In May
"The pickup in the job market is offsetting the impact of rising gas prices and escalating tensions overseas...more

Congressman Dick Armey Named to Rent a Center Board of Directors
"...whether is it is welfare reform, tax relief or tort reform, we still fight every day for the principals of a smaller and smarter government...more
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) commenting on Dick Armey

Entrepreneur Magazine Announces 2004 Woman of the Year
Rieva Lesonsky, senior VP/editorial director of Entrepreneur, announced the Entrepreneur 2004 Woman of the Year...more

The Rental Industry Buying Group (TRIB) Show Sets Records
PHOTO GALLERY: 84 Rent to own companies attended the show and, in true buy-fair fashion, reportedly wrote over $10 million in PO's, a 10% increase over 2003. TRIB also awarded over $20,000 in prize money for companies writing orders at the show. John Spangle was elected President of the group...more

Arkansas Rental Dealers Association
Below are photos from the show...more

Put Your Rent to Own Delivery Vehicle To Work
Is your delivery or work truck invisible? Blending into the streets, not being noticed? Have you realized the potential of your vehicle, the EARNING potential? Imagine the impact of a billboard, for a fraction of the cost, selling YOU at every street corner...more

Court Orders Steel Supplier to Continue Deliveries to Whirlpool
Whirlpool filed the motion today for injunctive relief to prevent ISPAT from unilaterally imposing surcharges or terminating steel shipments...more

CEA Predicts 1 Million HDTV's In Homes By Year End
CEA has been preparing consumers for the introduction of Digital Cable Ready HDTVs since early this year. Print materials and an educational video have been distributed widely through consumer events, trade shows and media partners...more

Samsung Introduces Complete Line of Flat Tube HDTVs With Built-In HD Tuners
"Samsung is the only company to offer a complete line of integrated sets -- with four screen sizes -- at under $1,000," said John Lavoie, Marketing Manager for Samsung Electronics America's Visual Display Group...more

U.S. Women Business Owners Underserved; Available Credit for Women Business Owners Often Goes Untapped According to National City Survey
This survey was launched in April and was directed to mostly non-customers of National City Corporation. It was conducted in Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania...more

Next Generation of TVs Going Mainstream: Screen Size and New Technology Features Driving Sales
Among owners of plasma televisions, 9 percent have plasma televisions between 50 and 59 inches and 6 percent said they had television screens measuring 60 inches or more...more

Washington Senator Patty Murray Cosponsors Rental Purchase Agreement Act; Senate Co-sponsor Count At 50%
The addition of Murray brings the Senate cosponsor count to 25; 13 Democrat and 12 Republican. Senator Daschle joins Washington Representative George R. Nethercutt, Jr. (R-WA) as a rent to own industry supporter...more

Toshiba Demonstrates Wider FST PURE Television Line at Annual Dealer Line Show
The company also announced the addition of the 26"w screen size to its line of wide HD Monitors...more

RTO Pro Surpasses 500 Locations
RTO Pro, a leading point of sale software provider for the rental purchase industry, announced that North Country Rent to Own, a Gouverneur, New York based 10 store chain, has chosen RTO Pro as their store operating software...more

Brand Source/Home Rental Source Announces 2004 National Convention and Buy Fair
Today Brand Source, an organization of 1500 independent Appliance, Electronics, Furniture and Rent to Own Dealerships throughout the United States, announced that it's 2004 National Convention and Buy Fair...more

Shuster and Lampson Cosponsor Rental Purchase Agreement Act
The number of active Rent to Own industry supporters cosponsoring HR996, House version of 'The Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act', is quickly approaching 100...more

CEO Firings Decline But Remained Near Record Levels
The younger the CEO when hired, the higher the likelihood of being fired. Chief executives forced from office last year were, on average, 49 years old when they were hired...more

HP Settle Dispute With Canada; Company To Pay $105 Million
HP announced it has resolved a dispute with the Government of Canada, stemming from a complex scheme designed to exploit both parties through contracts inherited through HP's merger with Compaq Computer...more

Whirlpool To Expand North American Production
Approximately $100 million of the 2004 investment will fund initiatives at the company's manufacturing facilities in the United States...more

Media-Savvy Consumers a Harbinger for What's to Come in Visual Entertainment
"Media-savvy consumers want what they want, when they want it, and are willing to experiment with new options as they become available...more

Retailer Study: What Scares You About Wal Mart?
The survey shows that retailers have a complex view of Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer claiming sales of $256 billion annually and gobbling up market share in a myriad of categories from toys and games to clothing...more

U.S. Small Business Administration and HP Honor Nation's Top Women Entrepreneurs
SBA Deputy Administrator Melanie R. Sabelhaus, Lt. Governor Toni Jennings (R-Fla.), and other prominent national speakers will honor women who have launched successful ventures and achieved outstanding growth...more

Rentcash Announces 96% Revenue Increase
During the quarter, the Company opened 19 new stores...more

Senate Powerhouse Tom Daschle Cosponsors Rental Purchase Agreement Act; Senate Co-sponsor Count Nears 50%
As Minority Leader, Daschle's cosponsorship of the Rental Purchase Agreement Act virtually insures support (or at least no significant roadblocks) from democrats in the Senate...more

Rent A Center Completes Rainbow Acquisition; RAC Storecount Exceeds 2,800
Rent-A-Center announced the acquisition in February for $16.00 in cash per share of Rainbow common stock or $94.9 million...more

Americans Playing More Games, Watching Less Television
Factoid: The average age of a game buyer is 36...more

PENTAX To Ship First Combined High Resolution Digital Camera and Video Movie Camera In June
The palm-sized OptioMX features 3.2 effective megapixels and 10X optical zoom to capture still images and high resolution (VGA) full-motion movies on MPEG-4 format with zoom capability. The camera will retail for $399.95...more

Coaster Co. of America Recalls 22,000 Bunk Beds
The recall involves model 2008, 2056, 2256 and 2258 bunk beds. The metal bunk beds were sold in twin/twin and twin/full sizes. A Coaster Company of America label can be found on the bed frame of the top bunk...more

SBA Hall of Fame Honors Businesses That Once Were Small But Now Have Grown
The 2004 Hall of Fame inductees are...more

Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas Score Biggest Gains
The three-year nightmare in manufacturing conditions hit this region hard and was accompanied by depressed commodity prices. Now, commodity prices are starting to recover and the manufacturing sector is no longer in free fall...more

2006 Consumer Electronics Show Plans Expansion
For the second year in a row, CES has sold out the existing convention center and is using outdoor structures to accommodate additional space needs...more

Short Term Consumer Loan Industry Embraces Code of Practice; Community Financial Service Association Formed
The newly formed Canadian Association of Community Financial Service Providers  which represents companies operating over 1,200 service outlets across Canada providing payday loans announced today it will work with all levels of government to ensure consistent compliance with strict and transparent business standards throughout the industry...more

"Media-PCs" To Account for 40% of U.S. Home Computer Sales in Five Years
Media-PC hardware units and software packages will reach seven million U.S. households, approximately 20% of all U.S. households, in five years...more

 the world's first Networked DVD Player streaming the critically- acclaimed Rhapsody music service from RealNetworks, Inc. to any TV or stereo in the home...more

Six New Cosponsors For Rental Purchase Agreement Act
The lone Democrat in this group of six, Representative Leonard Boswell (IA), voted against Rent to Own legislation n 2002 (HR1701). None of the 6 latest supporters have cosponsored rental purchase legislation in the past...more

Rent To Own Guide To First Impressions
When your actions say, "Hey, you pay my salary," your customers will notice. The result will be more long-term customers...more

Rent Rite Acquisition Has Far Reaching Effects
"I find myself wondering how large Rent-A-Center will grow...more
TRIB Executive Director Dennis Shields

Experian Ranks U.S. Metropolitan Areas by Credit Score
Minneapolis Minnesota ranked #1 with an average score of 707. Dallas Texas ranked last with an average score of 653. See List...more

GoVideo To Launch Networked DVD Player Streaming RealNetworks' Rhapsody This Summer
GoVideo announced it is introducing

Serta Moves Into The Middle East
Serta is positioned as an Ultra Premium brand in the Middle East market...more

Can Manufacturing Survive?
The study reveals that in both good times and bad times in the U.S., at least 16 million jobs are created or destroyed each year – 14 percent of all U.S. employment... more

easyhome Reports Same Store Sales Up 8.7%; Customer Count Up 6%
"This quarter represented our 30th consecutive month of comparable revenue growth powered by 6.0% more customers than one year ago...more
David Ingram, President & CEO

Toshiba Notebooks to Support New Intel Pentium M Processors
Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. (TAIS) today announced the company's support of the new Intel Pentium M processors 735, 745 and 755...more

Rent-A-Center Completes Acquisition of Rent Rite
Rent-A-Center, Inc. announced today that it completed the acquisition of Rent Rite Rental Purchase for 12.75 times Rent Rite's average three month recurring revenue, or approximately $58.4 million...more

Fight Over Chinese Bedroom Imports Getting Ugly
"Companies such as Stickley's that are setting up plants outside of the U.S. to be, so-called 'globally minded,' while at the same time claiming that the petition they filed against China will 'save American jobs,' are not fooling anyone...more
Mike Veitenheimer Vice President and Counsel of The Bombay Company

North Dakota Democrat Senator Byron Dorgan Cosponsors Rental Purchase Agreement Act
The addition of Dorgan brings the Senate cosponsor count to 23; 11 Democrat and 12 Republican. Senator Dorgan joins North Dakota's senior Senator Kent Conrad (D) as a rent to own industry supporter...more

Women In The Home Industries Today (WITHIT) Seeking Nominations For WOW Awards
Retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and other industry professionals are invited to nominate deserving individuals and businesses in the home furnishings industry. Nominations can be made in the following categories...more

New Study Finds Debit Cards More Popular Than Cash For Purchases Between $20 and $100
In the $20 - $50 category, debit payments account for more than half (55 percent) of all purchases...more

Kenwood Appoints New Reps and Distributor
Kenwood USA Corporation announced today the appointment of new rep firms for its Northern California and Midwest sales territories and a new distributor for Northern California...more

Reducing Overhead Costs Is Still the Top Priority for Chief Financial Officers
"The role of the CFO is clearly changing from the historic role of business analyst to the new role of business partner and catalyst for change...more
Booz Allen Senior Vice President Gary Neilson

Speakers Captivate Sold-out Audiences at Nation’s Largest Kitchen/Bath Event
The Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference showcases products that change the kitchen and bath industry...more

Jovita Carranza Named Hispanic Business Magazine Woman of the Year
"Hispanic Women will have an increasing impact on the face of the U.S. economy that cannot be ignored...more
Jesus Chavarria, publisher of Hispanic Business magazine

Ideal Software Launches Data Vault Backup Service For Rent to Own
The tedious and time-consuming process of making regular copies of computer programs and data files is a well known shortcoming for most computer users. Ideal’s Data Vault Service provides automated backup and assisted recovery...more

O'Rourke Sales Company Adds VOOM
"HDTV is the only new viable profit center that puts retailers at the cutting edge of technology," said Jeff O'Rourke, president of O'Rourke Sales Company...more

Whirlpool CEO David Whitwam to Retire June 30; Board Elects Current President and COO Jeff Fettig to Top Post
"After 17 years as CEO of Whirlpool, I couldn't be more confident and comfortable about my decision...more
CEO David R. Whitwam

Hispanic Market Advertising to Exceed $3 Billion by 2005
According to a recent study by HispanicBusiness.com, advertisers spent an estimated $2.79 billion in 2003 to market their products to U.S. Hispanics, a 13-percent increase from last year...more

La-Z-Boy Announces $71 Million Impairment Charge; Cites Chinese Imports As Major Cause
"The values of our casegoods businesses have been negatively impacted by the onslaught of import competition primarily from China...more
La-Z-Boy Incorporated president and CEO Kurt L. Darrow

Engineer Of The First Maytag Automatic Washer Dies At 93
In 1945, Cochran joined Maytag's research and development department at Newton. As project engineer, he headed a six-member team which developed the first Maytag automatic washer...more

Help-Wanted Advertising Dips One Point
In the last three months, help-wanted advertising increased in six of the nine U.S. regions. The largest increases occurred in the Middle Atlantic (19.0%), Mountain (14.7%), and New England (12.5%) regions...more

U.S. Consumer Confidence Improves in April
“The job market, which has a major impact on confidence, appears to be gaining strength...more
Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board’s Consumer Research Center

Missouri Republican Todd Akin Supports Rental Purchase Agreement Act
Missouri Representative Todd Akin (R-MO 2nd) has signed on as co-sponsor of HR996, The House version of 'The Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act', bringing the co-sponsor count to 85...more

Rent-Way Reports Same Store Sales Up 6.9%; Operating Income Doubles
"Since our June 2003 refinancing, we have had three consecutive full quarters of period over period increases in revenues and operating income and positive store comps...more
William Morgenstern, Rent-Way's Chairman and CEO

Furniture Brands International Reports Record Sales
"Orders in the first quarter of 2004 were up 8% over orders in the first quarter of 2003...more
W. G. (Mickey) Holliman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

HP Wins Pacesetter Award For Second Year; Named Top Company For Advancement Of Women In The Workplace
"At HP, having an empowered, diverse team of employees is essential to serving our customers around the world," said Emily Duncan, Vice President and Head of HP's Global Inclusion and Diversity organization...more

easyhome Announces Possible Class Action
easyhome Ltd., formerly RTO Enterprises, announced today that it is aware of a lawsuit against it in which the claimant seeks to have the action certified as a class action proceeding and is claiming among other things that easyhome's rental agreement is an agreement or arrangement for the advancing of credit...more

The Perfect Rent to Own Day
I had a dream last night. In my dream I had the perfect 'rent to own day.' Here's how it went...more

San Antonio's "The Cartel Group" Named Rent a Center's Hispanic Marketing Agency of Record
“Our initial efforts in the Hispanic market with Euro RSCG have been successful, but we are now ready to take our efforts to the next level...more
Ann Davids, Rent-A-Center’s vice president of advertising

easyhome to Webcast Q1 Conference Call
easyhome CEO David Ingram (who's who) will review the company's performance for the quarter ended March 31, 2004...more

Rent-A-Center to Acquire Rent Rite for $58 Million
Rent a Center will pay 12.75 times Rent Rite's average three month recurring revenue, or approximately $58.4 million...more

Note To Marketing; Don't Forget About English Speaking Hispanics
21 percent of Hispanic Internet users prefer Spanish-language sites, while 52 percent prefer English language and 28 percent use both equally...more

Women-Owned Businesses Growing Twice National Average; Utah Ranked #1 State
States in order: Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Kentucky, New Mexico (tied), South Carolina, North Carolina, Arkansas, Oregon...more

Dorel Credits RTA Juvenile For 42% Sales Increase
"Over the past several months numerous new products have been introduced, in both our Juvenile and Home Furnishings Segments"...more
Dorel CEO Martin Schwartz

Micro Touch Brings Profitability Back To Reclining Upholstery
"Massage chairs are to upholstery, what High Definition is to TV...more
William Barnett, founder and CEO of Micro Touch Inc.

Aaron Rents Reports Record Q1; Same Store Sales Up 13.7%
"Our first quarter results were better than expectations and we are raising our revenue and earnings forecasts for the remainder of the year...more
R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr., CEO Aaron Rents