Rent-to-own News - Smiles abound at Expo's first annual 'RTO Olympics'

Teresa Myer, manager of a Rent2Own in Grayson, Kentucky, lassos a mechanical calf on her first try. See all Expo photos here.

More than 100 dealers from multiple states turned out Tuesday for the opening of the eighth annual Midwest RTO Training Expo -- the annual event of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association (ORDA) -- in Wilmington, Ohio where employees and managers will receive key product specific training they can put to use immediately on the show floor.

The event kicked off with a bit of fun with the first annual 'RTO Olympics' where dealers and vendors -- some 57 vendors representing 28 companies are here -- chipped in $1 to participate in seven events ranging from calf roping to golf ball chipping to a timed cash-grab.

All proceeds going to benefit Supplemental Assistance for the Handicapped which organizes a volunteer run summer camp for children with disabilities in a 10-county area.

"The vendors are here because they know this is a great show that's been around for a long time," said ORDA President Mike Tissot. "Dealers come here and they will see how great some of these products are and if they aren't carrying them, they will after this show. This is a training show and the managers who are here, if they listen they are going to get some very valuable information they can take back to their stores."

Unlike most rent-to-own events, the Expo focuses on training front-line employees to better understand the products and services they offer to their customers.

This year vendor trainers include: Expert Warehouse; Whirlpool; DSI; Simmons; DBD; O'Rourke Sales Company.

"The biggest draw for us is to be able to bring our managers here and get them exposed on a one on one basis to the people behind the products we carry and to get them up to speed on the top selling points of those products," said Randy Lewis, co-owner of Eagle Rental Purchase, a three-store Ohio company. Lewis brought five employees to the Expo. "This show is really very important to us each year."

Trainings begin tomorrow and each rental company will rotate in shifts between the exhibit hall and the training rooms.

"To the store managers, this is their APRO, this is their TRIB," said UHR Rents Owner Ernie Lewallen who brought seven employees to the Expo. "We knew since the beginning there was real value in regional events and this was the first to really focus on training and building a regional presence as a major annual event."

See 2011 Midwest Expo photo gallery here.

Expo organizers would like to thank the following sponsors for their continued support.

Entertainment Sponsor ($250)
Restonic
RES Accessories
Coaster Company of America
Nuvia Sales Group(representing ORECK & American Comfort)

Kickoff Mixer Sponsor ($500)
Whirlpool
Florida State Games
You Name It! Custom Promotional Printing

Breakfast Sponsor ($1,000)
RentDirect Nationwide

Show Break Sponsor ($1,000)
TRIB