Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - Life long retailer turned rent to own advocate dies

March 7, 2011

Eugene "Gene" Leach.

Eugene (Gene) Leach, 80, father of TRIB Group President and past APRO President Lyn Leach, died in the early morning hours of Feb. 19 after a long battle with cancer.

After graduating from the University of Nebraska, he founded Ace Furniture & TV Inc., and later Lincoln Center Furniture, Lincoln, Nebraska. It was at his urging that his son Lyn Leach diverted from his planned career track at Hallmark Cards to check out the potential of a fledgling industry called "rent to own" on the early 1980's.

"Dad talked me out of it and into attending APRO's second ever convention in New Orleans," Lyn Leach said. "That's were I met the industry players who really took me under their wing and mentored me. People like Barry Gambini and the Happes."

Later, the senior Leach provided financial backing, moral support and encouragement for Lyn to open his first several Ace Rent to Own stores in Nebraska. Ace now claims 16 locations. Gene continued to be involve in retail until 1995, when he closed his store and retired. He was known by friends as being a great dancer.

"I would have never gotten into this industry if it was not for him (Gene). Period. End of story."

Gene is survived by, Karyl, his wife; sons and daughters-in-law, Lyn and Natalie Leach, Jeff and Jeri Leach, Todd and Bridget Weeks; grandchildren, Mindy and Ben Leach, Brittany and Jacob Leach, Ann and Jason Weeks.

Gene Leach's memorial service was held Saturday, March 5 at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home.

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 TRIB Group 2010 Annual Convention and Buy Fair, March 28-March 31 Album
TRIB Group 2010 Annual Convention and Buy Fair, March 28-March 31
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