By locating immediately adjacent to one of Badcock & More's 300 locations, Home Now will test the conversion rates of customers unable to qualify for retail credit.

W. S. Badcock Corporation held a ribbon cutting Wednesday to celebrate the opening of its 8,000 sq ft Largo, Florida Home Now Rental Ownership store. The Largo store is located immediately adjacent to the one of Badcock's industry leading retail locations. See a complete photo gallery of the ribbon cutting and celebration here.

W. S. Badcock Corporation held a ribbon cutting Wednesday to celebrate the opening of its 8,000 sq ft Largo, Florida Home Now Rental Ownership store. Home Now is the rent-to-own division of Badcocks. See a complete photo gallery of the ribbon cutting and celebration here. This is Home Now's 4th location.

The Largo Home Now store represents Badcock's first test of a Rent to Own store located immediately adjacent to the one of its industry leading retail locations. "We hope to convert customers who don't qualify for credit at Badcock & More," said Albert Kohut, Badcock's VP of New Business Development. By locating immediately adjacent to one of Badcock & More's 300 locations, Home Now will test the conversion rates of customers unable to qualify for retail credit.

Dan Companion, Director of Operations for Home Now, believes the benefits of locating next to Badcocks go even beyond converting retail credit turn-downs. From increased floor traffic to advertising synergies, Companion says the the side-by-side strategy is a win-win. "We think this could be one of our biggest stores," he said.

Sabrina Radkowsky will manage the Largo location. Radkowsky comes to Home Now with 14 years of management experience and is on fire about the concept of locating next door to Badcock & More. "Customers who can't qualify for credit at Badcocks will get the same quality service at Home Now," she said. "We get our 'customer maniac' philosophy from Badcocks. The company has been around for a long time and is universally respected by consumers for its integrity and value."

Home Now donated $1,000 to Religious Community Services Inc. (RCS), a local charity that serves the homeless and battered women. Photo left to right: Joyce Smalling, RCS Administrator; Albert Kohut, Badcock's VP of New Business Development; Dan Companion, Home Now Director of Operations; Duggan Cooley, CEO of RCS.

Badcock operates retail locations throughout the Southeast and is one of the country's top furniture retailers. The company also carries a broad line of appliances and electronics.

Radkowsky describes being a 'customer maniac' as doing whatever it takes to satisfy customers from the day they walk through the door for the first time until the day they acquire ownership. With her drive and determination to satisfy customers, she says, "We can't fail. This store will put Home Now on the map."

Badcock's Home Now division carries most of the Badcock retail inventory in their lineup. Kohut said that, by locating next door to a 25,000 square foot Badcock & More, Home Now will be able to show triple the inventory selection.

In celebration of the Home Now ribbon cutting, W.S. Badcock Corporation donated $1,000 to Religious Community Services Inc.. (RCS), a Largo based charity that serves the homeless and battered women.

W.S. Badcock Corporation celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2004. The company is headquartered in Mulberry, Florida and employs more than 1,200 people in over 300 retail locations in seven states.

In 1998, the company hired current president Don Marks, a former Rent-A-Center Divisional Vice President. Marks' rent-to-own experience was key in making the decision to enter the rent-to-own sector. Albert Kohut, also a former Rent-A-Center VP, hired former Rent-n-Go (Vermont) owner Dan Companion as Home Now Director of Operations in 2004.

W.S. Badcock Corporation committed to test the RTO concept and, if it proves as successful as company insiders hope, Badcock has stated it will open 100 RTO stores in the Southeast.