I believe independent dealers are the backbone of America. They personify the ideals of honesty, integrity and personal responsibility.
John Kasich

RentDirect Nationwide keynote speaker John Kasich delivered an impassioned speech to thousands of Nationwide Marketing Group members Sunday.

RTO Online will conduct video podcasts from the tradeshow floor beginning Monday. Check www.rtoonline.com for updates.

RentDirect Nationwide keynote speaker John Kasich delivered an impassioned speech to thousands of Nationwide Marketing Group members Sunday, calling on the many entrepreneurs in attendance to use the same values that have made them a success in business to fight what he says is a battle to preserve traditional values in the United States and “win the battle for America’s soul.” See photo gallery of Sunday's General Session.

“I believe independent dealers are the backbone of America. They personify the ideals of honesty, integrity and personal responsibility. Business doesn’t have to be just about the dollar. I think independent dealers, especially in smaller towns, are the people who keep our communities together. You’re the glue.”

Kasich said he accepted the offer to keynote the Nationwide Marketing Group meeting because of the strong connection he feels to both the business owners in the room and also to the mission of the buying group.

“Nationwide is giving you the tools to compete and win against people who don’t have the local connection to the place where you live.”

Elected to the Ohio State Senate at the age of 26 and to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 at the age of 30, John Kasich played major roles in a variety of groundbreaking achievements during his 18 years in Congress. As Chairman of the House Budget Committee, John Kasich was the chief architect of the plan that balanced the federal budget for the first time since man first walked on the moon and provided for the largest government surplus our country has ever seen.

When asked what advice he has for rental dealers who are trying to explain to their Congressmen the importance of federal legislation to protect both consumers and dealers, Kasich admitted it can be a challenge to reach the influencers in Washington.

“You have got to get together and spend the time to get to know these (lawmakers). You have to explain your situation and your position and sometimes you have to do it repeatedly until you get your message across.”

Nationwide Marketing Group President Ed Kelly speaking at Sunday's Nationwide PrimeTime! General Session.

Kasich serves as a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers’ Investment Banking Division. John also serves as host of Heartland with John Kasich, which airs on the Fox News Channel every Saturday night. He also substitutes as the host for The O'Reilly Factor and is a contributor to other Fox News shows.

Additionally, John is the author of the New York Times best seller, Courage is Contagious, and most recently, Stand for Something.

Also speaking before tonight’s standing-room-only crowd was Nationwide Marketing Group President Ed Kelly.

“Never before has the future looked brighter for the independent dealer. The television industry alone is doing a 360-degree turn with the demise of analog signals. It’s the equivalent of going from a horse and buggy to the automobile. That’s why this meeting’s theme – Your Future is Here – could not be more appropriate.”

Executive Vice President Robert Weisner spoke to the group and addressed why this twice-a-year meeting and buying show is such a draw to the more than 1,000 vendor representatives in attendance.

Earlier, RentDirect officials wrapped the Member 2 Member Summit with a slate of vendor presentations tailored for RTO dealers. More than a dozen different vendors made presentations to RentDirect members about the benefits their products and services provide.

Michael Garner of SEADRA (Southeast Automobile Dealers Rental Association) spoke about the concept of rent-to-own automobiles as a new business proposition for rental dealers.

Among the featured vendors was first-time RentDirect attendee Michael Garner of SEADRA (Southeast Automobile Dealers Rental Association). Garner spoke about the concept of rent-to-own automobiles as a new business proposition for rental dealers. Garner presented scenarios that demonstrated how renting just 20 cars per month can result in more than $1 million in gross profit the first year. SEADRA is the first rent-to-own automobile system with complete inventory financing available for rental dealers. According to Garner, more than $300 million in financing has been approved for SEADRA to market their rent-to-own automobile system to rental dealers. Research shows that 8 out of 10 people who walk on a car lot to purchase a vehicle can’t get credit from a traditional dealership. Garner plans to market the SEADRA concept aggressively to RentDirect members during the two-day PrimeTime! buying show.

Video Podcasts

Dennis Willich

Tony Craig

Mike Novembrino

Other vendors unveiled show specials such as Textron Financial’s Duane Knavel who announced that his company would double the existing credit line for dealers in good standing up to $250,000.

Patrick Maloney of Electrolux Major Appliances announced additional price reductions for RentDirect members including a trailing 5% monthly credit to be taken off the already rock-bottom exclusive pricing offered to participating dealers.

Mike Bertolani of SED International discussed his company’s ability to customize PC’s and notebooks for rental dealers so they can get a product that is unique to their company and perfect for their customer needs. According to Bertolani, “SED will do what it takes to make you profitable.”

Two companies presented options for rental dealers to enter the growing lawn care equipment business, with Corley Heiserman from Poulan and Dan Birch of MTD providing strong cases for adding what Birch called “appliances for your yard and garage” to traditional rental stores.

RTO Online will provide pod cast interviews with key rental dealers and vendors from the 270,000 square foot RentDirect-Nationwide tradeshow underway at the Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas.