After 16 years as
ColorTyme
Franchisees, the Pannell family of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.,
is opening its first Alabama store in Opp. The ColorTyme
store, at 412 Main Street in Delta Plaza near the
intersection of Main Street and West Stewart Avenue, opens
in mid March with a grand opening on Friday, April 1, 2005.
The Pannells chose Opp as the home of their newest ColorTyme
because of its rural characteristics and community
atmosphere.
The Pannell
family originally ventured into the rent-to-own industry
with ColorTyme because of the company’s financing options,
variety of products and marketing support. With Frank
Pannell as President, his wife, Georgia, as Treasurer and
their son Richard as Vice President of EBRO International,
Inc, the Pannells opened their first store in 1989 in
DeFuniak Springs, Florida.
“Being a
ColorTyme franchisee allows us to be a better neighbor to
our customers,” said Richard Pannell. “We communicate with
fellow franchisees and share ideas to find new solutions and
ideas to offer our customers the best service.”
The Opp
ColorTyme store will allow customers to rent and own high
quality furniture, computers, digital electronics and home
appliances without requiring a credit check, contract or
incurring debt. Because many customers often need a new
appliance in an emergency, most pieces are delivered on the
same day and fixed or replaced immediately as well. After
customers have paid for their merchandise in full, a four
year extended service protection plan covers the costs of
parts, labor and even replacement for each piece.
 ColorTyme
customers will also be able to take advantage of payday
loans at the Opp ColorTyme store |
ColorTyme
customers will also be able to take advantage of payday
loans at the Opp ColorTyme store. The service will help
customers in particular who may have checking accounts but
no savings or credit cards to get cash between pay periods.
With payday loans, customers can write a check for the
amount they need to borrow, plus a small fee, and receive
cash in return while the check isn’t deposited until a later
date. Customers avoid bank overdraft fees, bounced check
fees, late payment penalties and pawn loans, making payday
loans an economic and convenient short term solution for
ColorTyme customers.
“We’re a
family-owned business and we treat our customers like
they’re family too,” Richard Pannell said. “We offer our
customers great merchandise, a clean environment and a well
trained staff that’s honest and friendly,” he continued.
“We want to be more than just salespeople; we want to be a
neighbor in the community and our customers’ friend.”
Since
opening their first store in Florida, the Pannells have
opened five other stores: three in Florida in Fort Walton
Beach, Milton and Panama City; and two in Mississippi in
Gulfport and Pascagoula. The new store in Opp will be the
Pannells’ first store in Alabama with plans to open another
location in Alabama in the next six months.
ColorTyme,
Inc. is the oldest franchised rent-to-own or rental purchase
company in the United States with nearly 300 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 former rent-to-own
professionals who seek to own their own business. For more information:
www.colortyme.com
