Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - First Maryland Premier Rental-Purchase Opens

January 31, 2012

Premier Dealer Tim Strachan

Tim Strachan has come full circle in the Rent to Own industry over the past twenty two years.

In 1990 Tim went to work for a Rent-To-Own company that, at the time, was owned by The Premier Companies’ President and CEO Trooper Earle. The store was located in LaVale, Maryland which is located outside of Cumberland, Maryland. From 2000-2006, Tim was a store manager for Rent Way. His Regional Manager was Shawn Newman, and their relationship continued after the sale of Rent Way.

After researching for the right franchise opportunity, Shawn decided to become a Premier Rental-Purchase franchisee in 2007. He partnered with Dave Bauer and they opened their store in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

“Premier’s lower royalty fee, along with some flexibility on running our business, was a big attraction for me,” said Shawn. “If you’re the independent, take charge entrepreneur, then Premier provides a great environment.”

With the goal of having multiple stores in mind, Shawn then began his partnership with Tim to open his second Premier Rental-Purchase and Maryland’s first. This new store is located in the same shopping plaza where Tim worked in the 1990’s! The Grand Opening was held January 28th with refreshments, balloons, 50” HDTV drawing and a live radio remote broadcast for many old and new customers.

“I’m excited about being in my own store and growing it as quick as possible. My customer service skills and the relationships I’ve built in the community are helping us grow our customer base,” said Tim.

The RTO veterans hope to find another Premier Rental-Purchase location this year.

The national office of The Premier Companies is located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Premier Brands consist of Premier Rental-Purchase, Premier Home Furnishings, Premier Wheel Workz, Premier Auto by Rent. All Premier stores are independently owned and operated. Visit Premier’s website at www.thepremiercompanies.net or call 800/2-Premier and ask for Trooper Earle.

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.

2012 APRO Convention and Trade Show

July 24-26, Memphis, TN

Attendee Information

Exhibitor Information

Thank you APRO 2012 Sponsors

Watch RTOHQ Rent to Own videos on YouTube!

Featured APRO Photo:
From the Dave Egan Legislative Conference 2007 Album
Brad Denison & Trooper Earle
View All RTO Photos
in the RTOHQ.org gallery

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