I liked Jim’s concept of blending the best of RTO with the best of retail in one operation. I felt that his vision and what he was doing in his home furnishings business matched my vision and what I wanted to do. It inspired me to start my business.
John Eibl, Premier Home Furnishings Franchisee

John and Jodi Eibl, Premier Home Furnishings Franchisees.

photo © RTO Online Premier recently held its annual convention in Miami Florida. RTO Online was there. See a complete photo gallery here. Listen to nine podcasts interviews with Premier Franchisees here.

John Eibl lists just some of the reasons he likes being in business for himself: improving the customer shopping experience, spending more time with his wife who has become his business partner, making his own business decisions and fulfilling his vision for how a business should look and run. Opening his Premier Home Furnishings store has been a huge event for him, and apparently for Rockford, Ill. customers who have made his first weeks in business a success.

John has done it all in RTO, beginning 20 years ago as a summer delivery driver for a major RTO company in Milwaukee. He worked his way up quickly, seeing the potential of earning good money in this industry. From account manager to assistant manager, store manager then district manager, he became market manager with as many as 13 stores and finally a regional director with 48 stores.

He watched with some measure of envy as a friend in the industry opened a business a decade ago, but John wasn’t ready himself with a young family and related responsibilities. He started to get the bug again two years ago when another colleague, Jim Schebler, opened the first Premier Home Furnishing store and launched a new division in retail for Premier Rental-Purchase.

“I liked Jim’s concept of blending the best of RTO with the best of retail in one operation. I felt that his vision and what he was doing in his home furnishings business matched my vision and what I wanted to do. It inspired me to start my business.”

John acknowledges the differences between straight rental purchase and retail and feels it all comes down to approach. “I knew going from a strict RTO operation into more of a retail environment that also offered a lease option would be different and new. I felt I could operate in both worlds and that it is actually a good mix for people to shop in. Customers don’t know what they can get with Premier. They can get retail or lease options to purchase when they walk in here. I find out what they want and what will fit there budget and needs. It’s an educational process. We have different options for people to buy product. It’s whatever fits them. We tell them this. And they say, “Really? You’ll do that?!”

John didn’t just stick his toe in to test the waters, however. In January he opened the biggest home furnishings store around, with 15,000 square feet. And he couldn’t be more pleased with the positive responses from customers.

“It’s been very electric with people coming in to see what it looks like, what we’re carrying, the quality of merchandise. They have been really positive, both retail and leasing customers.”

Start-up went smoothly for John. “Premier as an organization was extremely helpful with such things as preparing the business plan. They were very responsive to all start-up questions and needs and helpful with getting start-up supplies, computers, software and getting us started on the new software program.”

Click image to hear RTO Online's exclusive interview with Jim Shebler, President, Premier Home Furnishings, a Premier Group company.

Click to PLAY

John has also found Premier’s human resource, including payroll services, invaluable. He also enjoys having the buying power and nationwide contact with all Premier vendors. “It would have taken longer without the franchise to contact all the vendors,” he says.

John feels business ownership has made his life easier. “There are stressful things with running a place, but you know you can conquer it. You are making the decisions and having fun with it.”

Aside from wanting to ensure financial security for his family, John is driven by wanting to help those who work for him. “I want to create a fun environment for them. People want to enjoy going to work. That’s always in the back of my mind. If people are happier, it’s better for the customers. People who work here believe in what we’re doing.”

John certainly does. And so does his wife and partner, Jodi, who will focus on accounting and merchandising. “Here I’ve been spending all these hours away from my wife for 20 years,” says John. “Now we’re spending time together working side by side.”

John is on his way to a dream of becoming a multi-unit operator. His experience has prepared him, and he has Premier resources to support his endeavors. “The sky is the limit,” he says. “We’ll continue to make our little niche in the world here and continue to grow.”

The national office of Premier Home Furnishings is located in Williamsburg, Virginia. All Premier stores are independently owned and operated. Visit Premier’s website at www.premierhomefurnishings.net or call (800) 2-Premier and ask for Jim Schebler.