They were there for us when we had no where else to turn. (ColorTyme President) Bob Bloom helped keep us in business and I’m grateful to everyone at corporate and so many other ColorTyme franchisees for their continued support.
Tom Neyhart, ColorTyme Franchisee

Tom and Lisa Neyhart's Gretna location was repaired and reopened in early November last year. With the help of ColorTyme’s unique financing options, the couple opened a new location to replace their New Orleans store in southern Baton Rouge in December

When Hurricane Katrina struck the Louisiana Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, Tom and Lisa Neyhart not only witnessed the widespread destruction in the region they’d come to call home, they also saw two-thirds of their business demolished by the catastrophic New Orleans’ floods.

Before Katrina, the Neyharts owned three ColorTyme locations in Louisiana, one each in Baton Rouge, Gretna and New Orleans. The New Orleans store was completely destroyed and deemed a total loss while the Gretna location was damaged badly. Tom was left with one of his three stores operating: Baton Rouge.

“ColorTyme came through for us at a critical time, we wouldn’t have survived without them,” Tom said. “They were there for us when we had no where else to turn. (ColorTyme President) Bob Bloom helped keep us in business and I’m grateful to everyone at corporate and so many other ColorTyme franchisees for their continued support.”

The Neyharts’ Gretna location was repaired and reopened in early November last year. With the help of ColorTyme’s unique financing options, the couple opened a new location to replace their New Orleans store in southern Baton Rouge in December – building on their established presence on the north side of the city and the large influx of people following Katrina.

“We would love to be able to go back to New Orleans, we’re all locals and our roots are here,” Tom said. “We had such loyal customers and strong relationships in New Orleans. Even though we have a long road ahead, we’re looking forward to expanding in Louisiana with locations possibly in Hammond, Baton Rouge and even back in New Orleans some day.”

Tom got his start in the rent-to-own (RTO) industry in 1983, working after school while finishing college. However, RTO seemed to stick with him and he began working with a ColorTyme franchisee in 1991. By 1993, he was a partner in a franchise and in 1999, bought the business outright from his partner. Tom built his franchise into the three successful stores by 2005. His wife, Lisa, and he have both been prominent figures in the RTO industry, serving in the past as President of the Louisiana Rental Dealers Association, APRO board member and President of the New York Rental Dealers Association.

ColorTyme, Inc. is the oldest franchised rent-to-own or rental purchase company in the United States with nearly 300 stores.