“I don’t think of myself or my business as just renting out furniture,” Malone said. “I’m a provider of dreams
Eric Malone, ColorTyme Franchisee

First time ColorTyme franchisee Eric Malone never thought that a fateful business dinner a few years ago would lead him to his future wife, much less a new career. He’ll start another new chapter in his career with the opening of his first ColorTyme store this April in Spring Lake, NC.

After meeting his future wife at a restaurant during a business dinner in Atlanta, Malone married and moved back to North Carolina to be closer to his wife’s father Jim Moore, a ColorTyme franchisee. Malone learned the rent to own business while working for Jim Moore for three years. He decided to take the next step and open his own ColorTyme store with the hope of opening three more stores in the next five years.

Malone doesn’t think about the rent-to-own industry or his ColorTyme store in typical fashion though. To Malone, he’s providing his customers with an alternative proposition for a lifestyle they think they can’t have.

“I don’t think of myself or my business as just renting out furniture,” Malone said. “I’m a provider of dreams that helps people get things that they want but think they can’t afford. We can get go-karts, aquariums and wheels—if you want it, we can get it for you and provide the means to ownership that you can afford.”

Malone will also offer custom wheels to his customers, a relatively new trend in the rent-to-own industry. And because many customers often need a new appliance in an emergency, most pieces are delivered on the same day and fixed or replaced immediately as well.

“My first priority is service – getting people what they need; if an item needs to be repaired, we won’t go home until it’s been fixed or replaced,” Malone said. “In both rural and urban environments, customers come because they want to see ColorTyme folks. This business is about people and as one of those people, I’ll be here everyday.”

ColorTyme, Inc. is the oldest franchised rent-to-own or rental purchase company in the United States with nearly 300 stores. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, ColorTyme offers customers the opportunity to own the things they want and need in a way they can afford, just as founder Willie Talley envisioned ColorTyme 25 years ago. The company got its start when Talley began selling Curtis Mathes color televisions and realized many of his customers couldn’t afford to buy a new TV in one payment. A new brand and concept was born. Now in its 25th year, the company has launched an aggressive franchise development plan and is on track to grow significantly in the next five years with many of its newest locations being developed by former rent-to-own professionals who want to the opportunity to go into business for themselves.