Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - NEW PODCAST: John Cleek Jr., president MRDA

February 19, 2009

John Cleek Jr., MRDA president and Aaron's franchisee. Listen to podcast.

John Cleek Jr., an Aaron's franchisee, is serving his third year as president of the Missouri Rental Dealers Association.

In this exclusive podcast, Cleek discusses his take on the MRDA board's recent decision to add "vendor" training to the association's highly successful Heartland of America Tradeshow.

Cleek also discusses the recent conversion of Cleek's Lease or Own to Aaron's -- one of several high profile independent operator Aaron's conversions over the past several years.

Cleek and his father, "Tiger", have a close relationship that underscores their partnership as business owners and Cleek reflects on that relationship and what his father has taught him about leadership.

"Being a leader is also about doing the right thing and thinking how your actions affect other people," Cleek said. "If you can make somebody else's life better, the end result is it's going to come back to you. It's all about being active in your business, but also being active with your family too. We don't always agree, but it's kind of silly how much we think alike. I just feel very blessed to be able to work with my father."

 

Listen to podcast.

mevans@rtohq.org

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

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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 November-December 2011.

 

Marketing Matters

This year marks the launch of a marketing campaign initiated by APRO to build the rent-to-own customer base. It will be a multi-year endeavor employing multiple strategies. In this and upcoming issues of our magazine, we will address the many facets of marketing that affect our industry.

 

Striving for an A with the BBB

by William E. Freeland

Consumers often refer to the Better Business Bureau's ratings to help them make rental and purchasing decisions. National Rent-to-Own's human resource manager outlines the steps every RTO company should pursue to help earn an A+ from the BBB.

 

Creating an Extraordinary Customer Experience

by Bill Keese

Apple does it. Southwest Airlines does it. Can the rent-to-own industry also garner a national reputation for exceptional service and, in the process, attract new customers?

 

BB and BBQ on Beale Street

Memphis' reputation for tremendous food, groundbreaking music and Southern charm is well deserved. It's not too early to start planning your trip there next July for APRO's 2012 Rent-to-Own Convention and Trade Show.

 

Card Talk

by Ed Winn III

Credit and debit card payments are on the rise in rent-to-own. So are the risks in keeping such transactions secure.

 

Rent-to-Own Families, Part VI

by Kristen Card

No, you're not seeing double, or are you? Our latest profiles of kindred colleagues include two sets of twins-the Botkins and the Kimbles. And in Kansas, a son and daughter help their dad keep business running Strong.

 

 

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
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800/204-2776, ext. 103
Fax 512/794-0097