Bad Policy Starts Small; Alabama Town Proposes Tax On Rent to Own Payments
The tax would effect all "tangible personal property rentals" and is (as any good tax PR firm would advise) wrapped in a good cause; a $12 million park that includes baseball fields and an indoor/outdoor swimming complex...more

Long Battle To Raise Maximum Late Fees Comes To Successful Conclusion In Texas
The new law will raise the current $2 minimum late fee to $5 and raise the maximum late fee to 10% but no more than $10. The new fees cannot be implemented on old agreements and the change does not take effect until September, 2005...more

Rental Purchase Agreement Act Gets Flurry Of Support
The Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act is gaining momentum in D.C.. 11 Senators and Representatives have announced co-sponsorship of the Act since Wednesday...more

RTO Veteran Key Addition To ColorTyme Franchise; Group Plans 18 Stores By 2008
"We go above and beyond the average level of service, because that’s the only way to serve our customers" - David Pagano, ColorTyme Franchisee....more

Premier Rental Purchase Opens Altoona PA Store
"Perry Reese, (Washington, Pa.) told me how Premier had worked well for him and about the support Premier offers. They really make it easy" - Sandi Whited, Owner, Premier Rental-Purchase, Altoona, Pennsylvania....more

GE Releases Citizenship Report; ''Our Actions''
"In an increasingly global and transparent world, we measure our performance in a context broader than financial results and stock price" - Ben Heineman, GE Senior Vice President of Law and Public Affairs...more

How To Get The Most Out Of Market, Vendors
A breakfast seminar, sponsored by World Market Center, will be held from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27 in the 2nd floor Seminar Room of World Market Center...more

Texas House To Vote On Rent To Own Late Fee Bill
Texas Senate Bill 709 (SB 709), which would allow an increase in late fees for rent to own agreements, is set for a vote in the Texas House of Representatives Thursday, May 19th. State Senators passed the bill (31-0) in April...more

Average US Household Spends $1,250 Annually On Electronics
"U.S. households spend heavily on consumer electronics because they recognize the tremendous value these products deliver" - Gary Shapiro, CEA President and CEO...more

Rental Purchase Agreement Act Gains 3 Key Co-Sponsors
Serving his 13th term in the US House of Representatives,  Ralph M. Hall (R-TX) along with first term Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and David Vitter (R-LA) announced their co-sponsorship of the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act of 2005...more

Top 10 Retail Stores For April; Discounts Drive Traffic
The number of shoppers frequenting discount stores has not fallen below 88 percent since April of 2004...more

RentSmart Launches Website; gorentsmart.com Provides Concise Overview of RentSmart Benefits
According to group director Dennis Willich, “We have always had a very robust member website featuring a sophisticated backroom function with access to training, vendor programs, group promotions and the like...more

Quebec Court Approves easyhome Class Action Settlement
While denying any wrongdoing and liability of any kind whatsoever in relation to the allegations made by the plaintiffs, easyhome Ltd. considered it desirable to settle the litigation...more

Tennessee Rental Dealers Association Re-Energized
"We had been pretty dormant over the last several years. So to see this much support of what we’re trying to do it very satisfying" - Larry Goad, Zion's Rental Purchase, President TRDA...more

Rentcash Same Store Sales Up 144%; Rental Division Revenue Per Store Up 54% Year Over Year
"Revenue levels, operating incomes and net income continued to improve significantly this quarter as a result of the maturation of earlier opened stores" - Gordon J. Reykdal, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rentcash...more

Rent To Own Agreement History Can Benefit Consumers; House Subcommittee To Hold Hearing Next Week
The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institution and Consumer Credit will meet on Thursday, May 12, for a hearing that will focus on how to help consumers build credit histories through nontraditional methods, including rent to own...more

The First Step In Writing More Agreements Is Hiring The Right Person
"The first step in closing the sale is hiring the right person for the job" - Richard Griswold. RTO Online Contributor, Senior Operating Partner, Griswold Group...more

dPi Teleconnect Uses Innovation To Increase Revenue For Rent to Own Companies
"dpi's Web Central serves as a mechanism of support in providing our customers with the best products on the market" - Chad Mitchell, Kelly Rentals...more

easyhome Announces Approval of Stock Split
Canada's largest rent to own company approved the stock split of the company's common shares on a one and a half for one basis...more

North Dakota Democrat Supports Rental Purchase Act
Senator Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND), a supporter of consumer focused rent to own legislation, yesterday announced his co-sponsorship of the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act of 2005 (S603 or The Act)...more

eMachines Expands Online Training
In an effort to support retailers, eMachines offers online sales and support training courses through CyberScholar. SED International, a premium electronics supplier to the rental purchase trade, added emachines to it's lineup in February...more

Canada's Largest Rent to Own Posts Record Revenue; Same Store Sales Up 7%
"Despite the first quarter being seasonally challenging, we were able to, for the first time in my tenure, achieve net customer growth and rental unit growth" - David Ingram, President and CEO, easyhome...more

Breaking News
RTO Amendment Clears Texas House; Passes Unanimously
"This is a stunning victory" - Kelly Sayre, TARA president...more

New Jersey Rent to Own Bill Scheduled For Hearing This Week
The Consumer Affairs Committee of the New Jersey State Assembly has scheduled a hearing for A3851, the New Jersey Rental-Purchase Consumer Protection Act for this Thursday, 5-12-05...more

Rentcash Named #1 Canadian Small-cap Company
Canadian Business magazine named  Rentcash Inc the #1 Canadian small-cap company based on a 1 year return...more

$17.8 Million; TRIB Show Sets Record
TRIB (The Rental Industry Buying Group) members responded to deep vendor discounts during the two day TRIB Group Buying Show in Dallas, Texas...more

Rent-Way Reports Same Store Sales Up 1.4% Net Income Down
"Our new stores, which we define as stores open less than 15 months, collectively continue to perform ahead of plan and our store opening plan remains on course" - William Morgenstern, Rent-Way's Chairman...more

Convention Coverage
Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Kick Off TRIB Show (121 Photos of Day 1)
Every team has a cheerleading squad, but only Dallas has THE cheerleading squad. The 2005 TRIB (The Rental Industry Buying Group) Buying Show Welcome Reception picked up steam, literally, when TRIB Executive Director Dennis Shields took the stage to introduce the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders...more

Convention Coverage
Vendors Prepare For TRIB Buying Show
In a country where 90% of children's furniture and toys are imported, Step2 is making an impact in the rental market with merchandise Made in America...more

The Rental Industry Buying Group Convention Begins Tuesday
The Rental Industry Buying Group's (TRIB Group) annual convention and buying show begins Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005. This years "Showdown at the Texan" will be held at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas...more

Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership Extends Sponsorship Of NASCAR At Talladega
"The Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega has proven to be an exceptional marketing tool for Aaron’s right from the start" - Ken Butler, President of Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership division...more

U.S. House Approves Resolution Promoting Small Business Bill of Rights
The right to join together to purchase affordable health insurance for small business employees, who make up a large portion of the millions of Americans without health care coverage...more

ARDA Rental Dealers Elect New Board
President Joe Burchfield; Right Choice Rentals, Past President Alan Frazier; Rent Way, Vice President John Raines; Raines Investments, Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership...more

Bedding And Late Fee Bills Progressing In Texas Legislature
Texas state Senator Craig Estes (R-30; Wichita Falls) has agreed to introduce the "Bedding Bill" supported by the Texas Association of Rental Agencies (TARA). The bill clearly defines handling requirements for previously rented bedding. The current law puts an undue burden on small business...more

ACE Cash Express Posts Record Quarter But Warns; Effect Of FDIC Guidelines Unknown
"At this point, the Company does not know when or to what extent its revenues will change as a result of the compliance plans that the FDIC may ultimately approve" - Ace Cash Express...more

Consumer Confidence Declines More Than Five Points In April
"Looking ahead, consumers do not anticipate an improvement in economic growth nor in their incomes. And, they expect an even tighter job market over the summer months" - Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board’s Consumer Research Center...more

National TV Sales And Rental Home Office Destroyed By Fire
Fire destroyed the 22,000 square foot National TV Rental and Sales warehouse and central office in Lebanon, Missouri Wednesday. National is owned by Mark and Kathy Windsor. There were no injuries reported...more

Rental Dealers From The Natural State Gather In Hot Springs (36 photos)
Arkansas may be a small state, but ARDA is one of the most active rental associations in the country. Solid relationships bring vendors from major companies to Hot Springs each year...more

Aaron Rents Reports Same Store Revenues Up 8.3%; Raises Forecast for Year
All aspects of our business showed strong growth during the quarter, and based upon these results we are raising our profit forecast for the remainder of the year" - R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr., Chairman and CEO...more

Rent-A-Center Reports Third Consecutive Quarter Of Declining Same Store Sales; Company Cites "Difficult Retail Environment"
"We believe that higher energy costs and the overall difficult retail environment continue to challenge our business, as evidenced by our same store sales" - Mark E. Speese, Chairman and CEO...more

Arkansas Rental Dealers Convention Begins Tuesday
"More Rent to Own companies will be represented this year than ever before," said Jill Crews, Executive Director of ARDA. 65 Dealers and employees will attend this years convention...more

David P. David To Open Rent-n-Roll Stores In Indiana
"David and his company (American Rentals) have one of the best reputations in the Rent To Own Industry, and I am elated that they have chosen to join our growing RENT-n-ROLL family" - Larry Sutton, President of RENT-n-ROLL...more

Rent-Way Schedules Second Quarter Earnings Release
A link to the live webcast will is available from My RTO Portfolio...more

Aaron's Ken Butler to Charlie Loudermilk; 'We'll add as many stores in the next five years as it took us the previous fifty years to open'
To honor the company's founder, Charlie Loudermilk, Ken Butler, President of Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership announced a plan to double the company's storecount in 60 months...more

Rentcash Acquires Competitor Instaloans; Storecount At 300
With this acquisition, the Company will operate 330 stores in nine provinces...more