Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - Nationwide's new web services boost independents' online presence

August 3, 2010

Since 2009 Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) has been growing its web services division. Now providing independent dealers increased online presence through a national directory service, email marketing program and customized website solutions. 

 

Today NMG introduced its brand new website offered through ayr1.com. ayr1.com, the world’s largest retail web solution provider, showcased their Classic and Pro websites that were offered exclusively to NMG dealers at last year’s PrimeTime! buying show and conference for appliance, electronics and furniture independent dealers. 
 
“Simply put, shoppers are now online,” said Frank Sandtner, Director of Member Services Operations for NMG. “The addition of the Advanced website option to the existing platform will give our members more options and an even stronger online presence to compete tougher with big box retailers.”
 
The new Advanced website has the most important features needed for search engine optimization to ensure more consumers find a dealer’s website. While the Classic website comes with an extremely low price tag that is attractive to the smaller independent dealer looking for a solid entry level web solution. 
 
The Pro website solution provides everything in a Classic and Advanced website and more. So the dealer gets the most comprehensive features available to keep a visitors attention longer. This includes very detailed product catalogs that allow consumers to easily research and pre-shop by product, size, color or price eliminating the need for searching outside of a dealer’s site. 
 
Additional features of ayr1.com’s website solutions include an advanced buyer inquiry program and content management system (CMS). CMS allows retailers to make numerous changes to their websites including simple uploads of television commercials and print ads. With the buyer inquiry program, retailers have the capability to assign inquiries to individual show room representatives and track these inquiries all the way through to the closing of the sale.
 
ayr1.com will be offering Nationwide dealers exclusive pricing at their upcoming PrimeTime! event on August 15-18 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center, just minutes from D.C. 
 
“Nationwide is just beginning to tap into digital marketing,” said Sandtner. “We understand that this will be the dominant marketing vehicle in the coming years and want to make sure our independent dealers are knowledgeable and prepared to do business in the new digital marketplace.”
 
For more information on Nationwide’s Web Services including BrandsDirect.com online directory, ayr1.com website solutions or email marketing, call 1-800-471-8952 or email webservices@Nationwidegroup.org
 
To learn more about the many benefits of Nationwide Marketing Group membership including affordable website solutions tailored to the independent dealer go to www.nationwidemarketinggroup.org or call 336/722-4681.
 
 

About APRO
The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations is the official voice of the rent-to-own industry and the most accurate and trustworthy source of rent-to-own news in the industry. Founded in 1980, APRO is the national, nonprofit trade association advocating and representing the rent-to-own industry before the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, courts, media and the public.

For more information, visit www.rtohq.org.




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July 24-26, Memphis, TN

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RTOHQ: The Magazine
RTOHQ: The Magazine is the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' award-winning rent-to-own industry magazine, and it's available here.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR DIGITAL RTOHQ: THE MAGAZINE

 

RTOHQ: The Magazine’s upgraded digital format

APRO's new, mobile-ready magazine is now available in addition to our print edition. The digital format provides the same informative content as our printed magazine, but also offers tools to make the reading experience more enriching. Access the table of contents page with one click or tap. Get additional information from advertisers by clicking on the links in their ads. The interface is easy to navigate and requires no special app—read our magazine on your computer, digital table or smartphone. Click here to access the digital version of RTOHQ: The Magazine March-April 2012.

 

 

A New Rent-to-Own Experience

by Neil Ferguson

Here’s the lowdown on APRO’s 2012 Convention and Trade Show, July 24-26 in Memphis. The RTO industry’s big event will offer many valuable experiences, including insights on how to turn your stores into “experiences”–the good kind for consumers

 

Who Is Your Competition?

by Bill Keese

In order to expand your customer base, you can learn a lot by observing your competitors. But first, you need to figure out just who they are. If you think your only competition is the rent-to-own store down the street, you’re not considering the bigger picture. APRO’s executive director offers a big-picture perspective.

 

A Review of Online Customer Complaints

by Ed Winn III

While rent-to-own companies have not cornered the market on negative reviews posted on consumer complaint websites, it’s no surprise that there are cyberspace beefs against RTO. APRO’s general counsel reviews some of them in search of a pattern and he considers appropriate response to online complaints.

 

Rent-to-Own Families, Part VIII

by Kristen Card

Our series of family-run rent-to-own businesses continues with profiles of the Homeiers in Kansas and two Texas-based sets of kindred colleagues, the Spangles and the Weisblatts.

 

 

Future issues of APRO's magazine will be available in this same new format. Click here to access past issues that are not yet archived in the new interface.

 

Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
1504 Robin Hood Trail
Austin, Texas 78703
800/204-2776, ext. 103
Fax 512/794-0097