RTOonline.com continues to be the primary source of news for rent-to-own pros and the leading source of industry-related information for the press, legislators and researchers worldwide.

Photo/RTO Online

The most viewed photo of the year was this shot of Gidget Meaut (Classic Flame), taken at the 2009 Nationwide Rental Coalition Riverboat Cruise in New Orleans. See photo gallery of the event here.

RTO Online Inc., the rent-to-own industry's leading source of news and information, today released its list of the Top Rent to Own Industry Stories of 2009.

Top three stories of 2009:
1. Policy Matters Ohio Prepares Rent-to-Own Report
2. New Federal Agency May Have Rent-to-Own Industry Oversight
3. Rental-Purchase Agreement Act De-Mystified

See Top Stories by Month below.

Top Story: In June, RTO Online learned that Policy Matters Ohio, a group associated with PIRG, was developing a rent-to-own industry report that included policy recommendations for Ohio legislators. The report was based on inaccurate and biased information. Our story was published in advance of the report's release.

The second most popular story of 2009 was New Federal Agency May Have Rent-to-Own Industry Oversight. In July, The Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009 was delivered to Congress by the Obama administration. RTO Online reported that the Act will form a new government agency, the CFPA, with broad powers including possible regulatory oversight of the rent-to-own industry. An amended version of the Act has since been passed by the House.

The third most popular story of 2009 was Rental-Purchase Agreement Act De-Mystified. RTO Magazine, the rent-to-own industry's leading print publication (published by RTO Online, Inc.) devoted an entire edition to clarifying RTO industry supported federal legislation. The issue, the first of its kind ever published, resulted in more mail than any print edition in our history. Download the special edition here.

RTO Online published 141 video and audio podcasts and nearly 3,000 photos from rent-to-own industry events in 2009. The most viewed photo of the year was a shot taken at the 2009 Nationwide Rental Coalition Riverboat Cruise in New Orleans (see photo above). The Rent to Own Industry Photo Album now contains over 18,000 photos from various events.

RTOonline.com served over 2.5 million unique user sessions in 2009 and continues to be the primary source of news for rent-to-own pros and the leading source of industry-related information for the press, legislators, trade associations and researchers worldwide.

Top Rent-to-Own industry stories by Month - 2009:

January:  APRO Continues Tradeshow Co-Location Debate
February: Check-n-Go Follows Rent-A-Center Video Lead
March: Rental Purchase Agreement Act De-Mystified
April: Aaron's Completes Rent Removal From Name
May: Data Reinforces Importance of Setting Proper Rent-to-Own Due Dates
June: Policy Matters Ohio Prepares Rent-to-Own Report
July: New Federal Agency May Have Rent-to-Own Industry Oversight
August: RentDirect to Increase Appliance Co-op Funds 66 Percent
September: easyhome Looking for the Nation's Best RTO Operator
October: Rent to Own Career Center Tops 5000 Users
November: Rent-to-Own Industry Recession Proof Myth
December: Rent-to-Own Usage Included in FDIC Study

Top 10 Stories by Month - 2009:

 January

1.  APRO Continues Tradeshow Co-Location Debate

2.  We Are Soldiers; Son of ColorTyme's Deering is Second Generation Airborne

3.  Freddie Mac to Offer Rent-to-Own Option on Foreclosed Homes

4.  Preemption Top Concern for Attorneys General

5.  Stanley Furniture CEO "Indicators at historically low levels"

6.  Rent-A-Center Named in Top 50 Most Valuable U.S. Brands

7.  John Martin Out of Retirement; Set to Open Premier RTO in Valdosta

8.  The End; Circuit City to Close Remaining Stores

9.  RTO Online Broadcasts Video Interviews With 13 Premier Dealers and Execs

10.  New York City Council Sets Rent-to-Own Hearing

February

1.  Check-n-Go Follows Rent-A-Center Video Lead

2.  Kelly's Sales and Leasing Converts to Aaron's

3.  Anti Rent-to-Own Group Nominated for New York Times Award

4.  Interview With Dave Edwards, President, SEI Aarons

5.  Rent-A-Center Aims to Double-Down on Brand Building Success

6.  Groundwork Laid for Consumer Rental Purchase Act of 2009

7.  Texas Association of Rental Agencies Unveils Website

8.  Special RTO Marketing Funds to be Announced at RentDirect Meeting

9.  RimTyme Expands Houston Custom Wheel Rent-to-Own Operation

10.  Small Business Owners See Little Value in Stimulus

March

1.  Rental Purchase Agreement Act De-Mystified

2.  Rep William Lacy Clay Cosponsors Payday Loan Reform Act

3.  Rent-to-Own Transaction Offers Alternative to Cautious Consumers

4.  CRL Claims Racist Motive in Payday Loan Site Selection

5.  Barney Frank Vows to Continue Financial Reform Agenda

6.  Nationwide Rental Coalition Hosts Conference and Cruise

7.  Premier Named 5th Fastest Growing US Franchise

8.  Bestway Overtakes Rent-A-Center for Popular Search

9.  Rent-A-Center Launches New Brand in Canada

10.  Text of Rental Purchase Act Released

April

1.  Aaron's Completes Rent Removal From Name

2.  Bless Me Father For I Might Be A Democrat

3.  Portables Lift PC Sales as HP Takes Lead in U.S. Market

4.  Giving the Rent-to-Own Industry a Voice

5.  Rent-A-Center's DeMoss to Update NRC

6.  New England Rental Dealers Set National Focus

7.  2008 Spotty Growth Year for RTO Industry

8.  easyhome RTO Franchise Enters Texas, Arkansas

9.  ColorTyme Shows Strong Support for Rental Purchase Act

10.  Nationwide Rental Coalition Brings New Blood to Washington DC

May

1.  Data Reinforces Importance of Setting Proper Rent-to-Own Due Dates

2.  Explanation of Antitrust Concerns Facing Trade Associations

3.  Democrats Slow to Support Rental Purchase Act

4.  Will the Rental Purchase Act Become Law?

5.  Revised Furniture Tip-Over Standard Issued

6.  Vendors Attending Fewer Tradeshows in 2009; Show Selection Critical

7.  Hanover ColorTyme Rallies Support for 10 yr Old's Heart Transplant

8.  Dear Mr. President, Enough

9.  The Premier Companies to Host Rent-to-Own Franchising Open House

10.  Latino Consumer Growth Doubles General Consumer Market

June

1.  Policy Matters Ohio Prepares Rent-to-Own Report

2.  Interview with Wayland Russell, Founder of Rainbow Rentals

3.  VIDEO: Rent-A-Center Massachusetts Supreme Court Hearing Today

4.  Rent-A-Center Makes the RTO Industry's Case

5.  Video Interview with ColorTyme CEO Bob Bloom

6.  easyhome Plans for The Big Time; 2009 Conference Kicks Off

7.  Republicans Move to De-Fund Anti-Rent to Own Group

8.  Live to Ryde: The Tyme Travelers

9.  Payday Lending and McDonalds, the Missing Link

10.  Rent-A-Center Prepares Strong Case for High Court

July

1.  New Federal Agency May Have Rent-to-Own Industry Oversight

2.  CORT Reports Early Success From Staging Program

3.  Rent-A-Center Denies Washington AG Allegations

4.  Barney Frank to Fast-Track Consumer Protection Agency Bill

5.  Bill Short Resigns as Executive VP Ops Rent-A-Center

6.  Multiple Trade Associations Move Industry Forward

7.  RTO Photo Galleries: American Rentals Trade Expo

8.  CRL Claims Payday-Loan Demand Exaggerated

9.  Rental Purchase Act House Co-Sponsorship Breaks 100

10.  Follow the Money: Why Credit Unions Oppose Payday Lending

August

1.  RentDirect to Increase Appliance Co-op Funds 66 Percent

2.  Inconvenient Truth: Wisconsin Payday Loan Study Supports Industry

3.  Economy Hits easyhome Revenue

4.  Lebakkens Rent to Own Thrives in Wisconsin

5.  Rent-A-Center Approaching 300 Texas Locations

6.  RentDirect is Fastest Growing Division at NMG

7.  Mike McConnell: Policy Matters Ohio Tactics "Soviet"

8.  July Tough Month For Low Income Consumers

9.  ColorTyme University Celebrates 33rd Graduating Class

10.  Lines Blur Between Retail and Rent to Own

September

1.  easyhome Looking for the Nation's Best RTO Operator

2.  Say What: 57% of Californians Oppose Proposal to Ban Big Screen TVs

3.  Rent to Own Legislation Gains New Support

4.  Rent-A-Center Supports Buffalo Mayor's Literacy Program

5.  Bank Founded by Aaron's Patriarch May Fail

6.  Simmons Bankrupt; Announces Restructuring

7.  Trade Association to Oversight Chair: Ridiculous

8.  RTO Magazine Publishes Second Franchise Edition

9.  Wexler Supports Rental Purchase Act

10.  Beemer Predicts Q4 Retail Train Wreck

October

1.  Rent to Own Career Center Tops 5000 Users

2.  Wal-Mart Launches Rent to Own Pilot Program

3.  William McCrae Elected President of TARA

4.  Washington Post Payday Lending Story Misleading

5.  RTO Magazine Available on Facebook

6.  How Rent to Own Trade Associations Can Serve Members

7.  Father of HDTV Honored in New York

8.  Nationwide Southwest, RentDirect Donate $15,000 to TARA PAC

9.  Ernst & Young Study Confirms Payday Loans Fair and Reasonable

10.  Rent-A-Center Same Store Sales Plunge Six Percent; Fewer stores, units per customer

November

1.  Rent-to-Own Industry Recession Proof Myth

2.  Editorial: Study Finds Payday Lending Root of All Evil

3.  California Adopts Misguided Plasma Ban

4.  BrightHouse Plans Biggest Ever Christmas Marketing Spend

5.  Rent-A-Tire Acquires Two Georgia RNR Stores

6.  Association Critiques FDIC Small Dollar Loan Program

7.  Aaron's Driver Reutimann and 2008 Playmate Team Up to Benefit Troops

8.  easyhome Same Store Sales Up 1.8 Percent, Net Falls to Zero

9.  Consumers Increase Comparison Shopping

10.  Experian Survey Reveals Consumer Shopping Behavior Changes

December

1.  Rent-to-Own Usage Included in FDIC Study

2.  Model Consumer Disclosure Forms Issued by Fed

3.  FDIC Study Reinforces Need for Non-Bank Financial Services

4.  RTO Supplier New Age Electronics Enters Video Game Space

5.  Assemblyman Hoyt Praises Rent-A-Center

6.  Bestway Rent to Own Revenue Climbs 14%

7.  Rent to Own Professional Training Series Topic 16: What's Your Leadership IQ

8.  Building Relationships With Your Employees

9.  Beemer: Survey Confirms Lower Holiday Spending

10.  A Rent to Own Christmas Story