High Touch Software announced the acquisition of  competitor Rental & Sales Software Systems (RSSS).

In an interview with Lyle Jones, President of High Touch, RTO Online learned that High Touch has coveted RSSS for some time...

Lyle Jones
President, High Touch
"I've made two other runs at them. The first was 8 years ago. The second was 5 years ago when Les and I went to a merger and acquisition conference in California. We contacted them again 6 months ago, and it all came together on Tuesday."

According to Tracy Lucas, Marketing Coordinator for High Touch, the two companies will continue to operate as separate entities.

Tracy Lucas
"[RSSS] will continue to operate as a competitor in the industry. The clients that are RSSS will continue as RSSS clients."

Software development teams will remain separate and no changes are planned for either software package as a result of the acquisition.

Including Rent a Center, High Touch's largest client, this acquisition raises High Touch market share to approximately 45% of all Rent to Own locations in the US, and nearly 1/3 of all privately held RTO locations.

Ellison Crider
VP Sales and Marketing
RSSS
"This merger insures the longevity of RSSS. I want to reassure all of RSSS clients that we will continue to support them the way we always have. With the retirement of *Les and Rosie, it was the right thing, at the right time. The stars were aligned and it worked"
*Les and Rosie Feldser, founders of RSSS

Following is the press release issued by High Touch Software...

High Touch, Inc. the leading software provider in the Rent-to-Own Industry announced today their acquisition of Rental & Sales Software Systems (RSSS), a competitor in the rent-to-own software market.

High Touch, Inc. and RSSS will work closely with each other to serve more markets and offer tailored retail and rent-to-own software solutions to their customers. Founded by Les and Rosie Feldser in 1982, RSSS has corporate headquarters in Corpus Christi and remote offices in Detroit, Michigan; Continental, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; Las Vegas, Nevada and Houston, Texas. RSSS operates nationwide, servicing industries that include rent-to-own stores, music and instrument stores, tire and wheel stores, furniture retailers and container rentals.

“As we approached retirement we began looking into ways to strengthen our company and ensure the level of excellent service and quality software our customers have come to expect,” said Les Feldser. “We are pleased to be acquired by High Touch and are confident this will be a win-win situation for our customers, our employees, and the industries we serve.”

Ellison Crider, previously Vice President of Marketing for RSSS, will assume the duties of General Manager. He says, “RSSS’s executive management team, as well as the current staff members, will continue to work as usual in Corpus Christi and our other remote offices and operate as a competitor in the rent-to-own industry. We look forward to continuing and enhancing our great client relationships as we work in concert with High Touch to give rent-to-own dealers the choice of the best of both worlds in computer software to control their businesses. This is truly an exciting development for the industry.” Currently RSSS has 22 employees supporting and servicing 664 stores in the rent-to-own industry and music retail markets.

“We have a great deal of respect for RSSS as a competitor in the rent-to-own industry. They have quality products and dedicated people,” said Lyle Jones, president of High Touch, Inc. “This is a positive move because it allows High Touch to serve new markets while increasing both company’s purchasing power for computers and peripherals. It also creates a combined synergy as the two companies join forces to better serve our customers.”

Based in Wichita, KS, High Touch, Inc. is a rent-to-own industry leader in software and hardware solutions. From their corporate offices they actively develop new products and service over 3,100 rent-to-own stores nationwide. In addition to this sector, High Touch has developed PRO/STAR™, a K-12 student management software product that is providing streamlined solutions to over 300 schools in the Midwest. This year High Touch also launched a cutting-edge software package for the deferred deposit industry.