|
07-08-08
Payday Lender EZCORP Sees Stimulus Check Effect
"Lower than
expected bad-loans were influenced to some degree by the economic stimulus
checks received by our customers during May and June." - Joe Rotunda, President and Chief Executive Officer, EZCORP...more
07-08-08
Now Bedding; Sealy Reports Domestic Sales Off 16%
"We expect our
second-half performance to be challenging as industry trends
weakened further in June and retail traffic remains soft." - Larry Rogers, Interim CEO, Sealy...more
07-08-08
Stanley Furniture CEO, "Worst since 80s"; Company to Close NC Plant
"Historically low levels of consumer confidence, housing
activity and personal disposable income has led to an
industry-wide weakness in consumer demand for residential
furniture not seen since the early '80s" - Jeffrey R. Scheffer, CEO, Stanley Furniture...more
07-08-08
Economy Hammers Jennifer Convertibles Revenue; Losses Climb
"Sales have been
dramatically impacted by the downturn in the economy and the
housing market which has hit the furniture industry particularly
hard." - Harley J. Greenfield, CEO, Jennifer Convertibles...more
 07-08-08
Premier Home Furnishings; Rent to Own Franchise Week 2008
At first it seems counterintuitive to an experienced retailer or an RTO veteran
to form such a marriage. Both have different approaches to customer service,
merchandising and financing. But what Premier Home Furnishing dealers are
learning is that retail and leasing aren't mutually exclusive...more
07-08-08
Rent-A-Center Webcast Set For
July 29
Rent-A-Center will broadcast its quarterly earnings conference call on Tuesday,
July 29, 2008 at 10:45 AM ET...more
 07-08-08
Almo St. Louis Expo to Feature Samsung
"We're upping the
ante again with new manufacturers, new trainings, a larger show
floor and the Panasonic Living in HD exhibit." - Warren Chaiken, President & CEO of Almo...more
07-08-08
Marketing TVs as a Music Platform
The reasons rent-to-own consumers
have for upgrading to the latest TV technology now includes
listening to music...more
07-08-08
Congressional Approval
Rating at All-Time Low
A survey of 1,000 likely voters reveals only 9% give Congress good or excellent
ratings. The data, released today by Rasmussen, also reveals most voters (52%)
say Congress is doing a poor job, which ties the record high...more
 07-08-08
Rent-A-Center VP York Climbs Mountain for Store Manager
Would Your
Boss Climb a Mountain For You? Rent-A-Center Senior Jim York
Makes a Promised 13-mile Trek up Pikes Peak to Reward Store
Manager for Reaching Growth Goals...more
07-08-08
Foray Into Rental Market a Success for BriteLite
"It seems
perfectly suited to RTO and will offer dealers some very
interesting and profitable options." -
Arash Shamoeil, President of Sales, BriteLite...more
07-08-08
Employment Trends Index Declines; More and Steeper Job Losses
The decline
in payroll numbers somewhat understates the weakness of the
labor market. In addition to the jobs that were lost, the number
of people who were working part-time but wanted a full-time job
rose by 750,000 in the last six months...more
07-08-08
Cash America to Exceed Q2 Earnings Estimates
The Company's updated expectation for the second quarter of 2008 is now between
62 cents and 64 cents per share, up over 44%...more
07-08-08
ETTSI Launches Rent-to-Own Dealer Training Program
Some of the subjects to be covered include: lead generation,
increasing AOR, idle inventory reduction, PIF and sales closing...more
07-08-08
Dealers Prep For Vegas Furniture Market
This month's Summer Las Vegas
Furniture Market will be the first time all exhibits, showrooms,
social events and seminars will be on one central campus. The
market runs July 28 – August 1...more
07-08-08
Olevia LCD Maker Syntax-Brillian Files Chapter 11
The Chapter
11 filing includes all of Syntax-Brillian's subsidiaries with
the exception of Vivitar...more
 07-04-08
Wogan Badcock Nominated to Furniture
Hall of Fame
Wogan Stanhope Badcock, Jr.
(1932-1996), former president of W.S. Badcock Corporation, has
been nominated to the American Furniture Hall of Fame.
Badcock launched its Rent-to-Own division, Home Now, in 2004 to re-capture a segment of the market lost during Badcock's "re-imaging" (Badcock & More)
as a more upscale retailer...more
07-04-08
Drumbeat
of Bad News Continues to Drive Consumer Sentiment Down
"Consumers
are being ground down by the cumulative effects of high gasoline
and food prices, a falling stock market, weakening housing
values and a shaky job market." - T.J. Marta, Economic and Fixed Income Strategist, RBC Capital
Markets...more
07-04-08
SEMA Elects New Board
Five new members were elected to
the 2008-09 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Board
of Directors. SEMA represents the automotive specialty and
performance parts industry that includes custom wheels - a
popular rent-to-own category...more
07-04-08
West Pointer Named President and COO of Cash America Retail Services Division
Weese
attended the United States Military Academy at West Point where
he received a bachelor's degree in economics...more
 07-03-088
High Touch Hosts Special Olympics Tourney
Special Olympics Kansas touches the lives of nearly 6,000
athletes who train and compete year-round in 22 sports. The
Special Olympics Athlete Oath: "Let me win, but if I cannot win,
let me be brave in the attempt."...more
07-03-08
New Age Electronics Expands Sharp Distribution to California, Florida
New Age Electronics announced has expanded its existing distribution agreement
with Sharp Electronics Corporation...more
 07-02-08
"Pump It Up" Gasoline Promo Added to ETTSI Premiums Catalog
By building
in added value, ETTSI provides RTO dealers the opportunity to present
customers with bonus gift items like gasoline, MP3 players,
exotic travel, and other attractive premiums for the same, and
in many cases lower, cost of old fashion "chachka" items...more
07-02-08
California Check Cashing Stores Launch Financial
Literacy Program
California Check Cashing course leaders have presented the program to high
school economics and American government classes in San Jose, Sacramento and
East Bay...more
07-02-08
Legal Duties of Nonprofit Board Members
The rift among rental dealers stemming from the
Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' (APRO's)
decision to merge tradeshows with TRIB/AVB appears to be widening. Many
rent-to-own dealers are questioning a decision that they fear limits
participation in Association activities by one group -
RentDirect members - while
giving an apparent advantage to another - TRIB members...more
 07-01-08
Son, Grandson of RTO Dealers Becomes U.S. Marine
Nineteen-year old Justin R. Miller,
PFC USMC recently visited home for a large celebration upon
completion of his 13-week Marine Corps Boot Camp training...more
 06-30-08
RTO FRANCHISE WEEK PROFILE
Premier Rent
'N Ride Offers Unique Combination of RTO, Automotive and Franchising
Premier Rent 'N Ride can help you avoid these scenarios through
our aggressive lease/purchase franchise system, tailor-made to
support your business, whether you are starting up or whether
you have been in business since the Model T...more
 06-30-08
Vadnais and Carusone Open Premier in Central
Square, New York
Rick Vadnais opened his second Premier Rental-Purchase store in Central Square,
New York this spring after two and a half years of big success with Premier in
Syracuse...more
 06-30-08
Vicky Hale Leaves Texas Association of Rental Agencies
Vicky Hale will step down as
Executive Director of the Texas Association of Rental Agencies
(TARA) effective today. Hale has served TARA since August 2005
when she replaced the retiring Lynn Clark...more
06-30-08
Association Honors Furniture Retailer of the Year
The Southeastern Home Furnishings
Association (SEHFA) recently honored its top retailer and
manufacturer's representative at its Annual Convention in
Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, Destin, Florida...more
 06-26-08
E-Complish Host Pay Finds Niche in RTO Market
With the increased use of Internet by rental customers,
E-Complish
offers its Host Pay services to RTO dealers to help them reduce
no pays and late pays and ultimately decrease truck rolls...more
06-26-08
Dell Adds Blu-ray Player to New Studio Brand
The first Dell Studio products are the Dell Studio 15 and Dell Studio 17. These
laptops combine striking visual color elements and personalization options...more
 06-26-08
Rent-A-Center Brightens Cleveland High School
The company is donating a Whirlpool Cabrio washer and dryer
combination after learning that coaches were taking uniforms
home to personally wash them since the school had been doing
without on-site capabilities...more
 06-26-08
RTO Online Names Industry Veteran Michele Vance Editor
Ms. Vance brings an extensive rental and communications background to the
position at RTO Online, including seven years as Vice President of Marketing for
RentWay, Inc. and five years as a public relations and communications consultant
to Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership...more
|
