Before joining ColorTyme in 1991, Kogler worked and became friends with current Rent-A-Center President Mitch Fadel. Because of Fadel’s success in the rent-to-own industry and the autonomy ColorTyme offered its franchisees, Kogler decided to give the industry a try.

photo RTO online Bob and Nan Kogler at ColorTyme's 2005 Annual Convention and Tradeshow in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Koglers founded and organize ColorTyme's annual charity golf tournament at Traces Golf Club in Florence, South Carolina. This year's event raised a record $15,750 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). See story

Franchise veteran Bob Kogler may have been around the block a time or two in the rent-to-own industry, but he still takes a fresh approach to customer service at his South Carolina ColorTyme stores.

His second store—the first in Myrtle Beach—opened this month.

In addition to high quality furniture, computers, digital electronics and home appliances, Kogler's customers will be able to take advantage of payday loans at CashTyme, adjacent to the Myrtle Beach ColorTyme store.

Kogler considers every facet of his ColorTyme stores an opportunity to provide excellent customer service. He hires knowledgeable, friendly people to work in the stores but also defers to his wife’s talent for home décor to give his stores a warm atmosphere for customers to peruse the latest furniture, electronics and appliances.

“We treat our employees just like our customers, with respect and dignity, because it comes back to us in the end,” Kogler said. “We take pride in our stores because customers feel the presence of our ColorTyme family when they walk in the door and want to be a part of that. This is a people business and we try to keep it that way.”

Before joining ColorTyme in 1991, Kogler worked and became friends with current Rent-A-Center President Mitch Fadel. Because of Fadel’s success in the rent-to-own industry and the autonomy ColorTyme offered its franchisees, Kogler decided to give the industry a try with little rent-to-own experience. After working for ColorTyme from 1991 to 1996, Kogler opened his first ColorTyme store in 1997 in Wilson, N.C. and has since sold that store. Kogler and his partners—his wife, Nan, and Tom Karrat—have one store in Florence, S.C., as part of their company, Rent’s-Myrtle Beach Inc.

“Because I had spent a lot of time making money for other people, I decided to take the opportunity to make money for myself,” Kogler said. “I wouldn’t have been able to open the stores without the financing and flexibility ColorTyme provides to secure the inventory we need for our customers. Now we’re on track to open a new store every two years.”

ColorTyme, Inc. is the oldest franchised rent-to-own or rental purchase company in the United States with 276 stores. 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.