"We are astonished at how well we're doing and strive to keep it up. We try to work with each individual customer to meet their needs and make it affordable for them to have nice furniture. Most appreciate this and tell their friends"
Judy Pickens
E-Z Pick'ins Furniture Sales and Rent to Own

With a last name like Pickens, what else would you name your store? The Pickens family, Ray, Judy, and Son Sean, have operated Timeless Decor, a furniture retail operation, in Hot Springs Arkansas since 1999.

The retail business is good but, according to Judy Pickens, "This year we've experienced an unprecedented number of credit rejects through  Citi Financial." The company was turning away customers with cash but poor credit at an alarming rate. Judy explained "We needed to give people the same type of nice furniture, but make it affordable." In April of this year, Ray and Sean hit upon the answer...rent to own.

The Father Son duo opened E-Z Pick'ins Furniture Sales and Rent to Own while Mom held up the retail end of the universe. Grand opening was May 14th, 2003. Since then the store has been, in Judy's words "overrun with customers". She adds, "We are offering something customers can't get at other rent to owns in [Hot Springs], top quality furniture and accessories, appliances and electronics which are "brand new". The company plans to stock only new merchandise. Returns are refurbished and transferred to the 'Timeless Decor Warehouse' store and sold as used.

"It is our intent to only carry new furniture and appliances and make it affordable," said Judy. She explained "In this way, we hope to minimize or eliminate any repossessions or returns. So far, it's working." The biggest challenge to date has been keeping stock levels up. "We have several full semi loads come in each week and yesterday we received two full loads, so needless to say we're snowed under right now", said Judy.

By all accounts, Sean Pickens is a master at marketing and sales. "He is an integral part of E-Z Pick'ins Furniture and the sole secret of its success" says Judy. In between rental agreements, Sean designed and published the company's new website http://www.e-zpickinsfurniture.com. The site is still under construction but well worth a look (It's almost enough to change my mind about Flash...almost) RTO Online will review the site when complete.