John and Mark Martin, the father and son team of JJ Rents LLC, plan to celebrate the re-opening of ColorTyme in Clewiston during the month of September - a market once dominated in the mid 1990’s by ColorTyme and former franchisee Mike Kent Sr

Dawn and Mark Martin (above); Marian and John Martin (below) at the 2005 ColorTyme Summer Convention in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (see photo galleries).

Lehigh Acres, Fla.-based JJ Rents LLC announced its acquisition of Rent-A-Center’s Clewiston, Fla. location. ColorTyme franchisees John Martin and John “Mark” Martin, the father and son team of JJ Rents LLC, plan to celebrate the re-opening of ColorTyme in Clewiston during the month of September - a market once dominated in the mid 1990’s by ColorTyme and former franchisee Mike Kent Sr.

The new ColorTyme location at 884 Sugarland Highway is the Martins’ third ColorTyme store, all in Southwest Florida. A fourth is under construction. Mark Martin, a rent-to-own industry veteran, convinced his father, John, to join him as a ColorTyme franchisee after his long career in manufacturing. The father-son duo founded their franchise in 2001 and opened their first ColorTyme store in 2002 in Lehigh Acres, Fla.

After launching their first ColorTyme store, the Martins branched out to LaBelle and now Clewiston, with a fourth location set to open this fall in Cape Coral.

“We were familiar with the area, this is home for us,” Mark said. “We saw it as an opportunity to take an existing store and do great things and were able to do just that thanks in part to the financing package ColorTyme, Inc. provides to proven operators like myself.”

Part of a 5.9 billion dollar rent-to-own industry, the Martins distinguish their stores from competitors by treating customers like family.

“We are very proud to be a part of this growing community and intend to offer rent-to-own options in a friendly, fun environment,” said Mark. “Southwest Florida was home to our first store and we’re excited to expand our business to customers in the area who have made our store such a success.”

ColorTyme, Inc. is the oldest franchised rent-to-own or rental purchase company in the United States with more than 270 stores. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, ColorTyme offers customers the opportunity to own the things they want and need in a way they can afford, just as founder Willie Talley envisioned ColorTyme 25 years ago. The company got its start when Talley began selling Curtis Mathes color televisions and realized many of his customers couldn’t afford to buy a new TV in one payment. A new brand and concept was born. 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 rent-to-own professionals. For more information see www.colortyme.com