Kraig Fussell offers rent to own custom wheels as well as a variety of lawn tractors in his Alexandria, LA ColorTyme.

First time ColorTyme franchisee Kraig Fussell stayed close to his roots when he opened his first ColorTyme store in Alexandria. In fact, he opened his store in the same shopping center that he’s worked in for the last seven years, remaining nearby many of the customers he’s come to know as friends.

“It was a simple decision to make,” Fussell said. “When I decided to open my own business, I wanted to combine a hometown feel with the advantages of an industry leader for the customers and community that I’ve been working with so many years.”

Pat Sumner, ColorTyme’s Director of Franchise Development, at the company's 2006 Winter Operations Meeting in Dallas, Texas.

Fussell’s first ColorTyme store opened last fall in western Alexandria, LA. Though it is his first experience with business ownership, Fussell is familiar with the rent-to-own industry. He first started working in rent-own in 1998, and by 2005, was ready to go into business for himself. Fussell researched his options in rent-to-own, calling ColorTyme’s Director of Franchise Development Pat Sumner in April. By June, Fussell’s franchise agreement was signed and he was on his way to opening his own ColorTyme store.

“ColorTyme has excellent support programs to offer franchisees, such as financial backing for inventory financing and group buying,” Fussell says. “But their franchising system gives me the opportunity to run my store with a touch of southern hospitality: remembering our customers’ birthdays, flexible payment options and custom ordering. Plus, our customers see the owner in the store everyday, there is no boss to go through.”

ColorTyme, Inc. is the oldest franchised rent-to-own or rental purchase company in the United States with nearly 300 stores.