Rent-to-own News - APRO membership spikes ahead of convention

The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations Thursday, reported more rent-to-own dealers were hearing its message of unity, education and advocacy noting its current membership total ranks as one of the highest in the association's 28-year history.

As of August 2008, APRO has 371 dealer members representing over 5,900 storefronts, the highest membership total in over 10 years.

Association leaders note membership recruitment bloomed over the last two years with a 12.4 percent increase over July 2006.

The most recent membership total that exceeded the current one came in 1996 when APRO clocked 396 member dealers. That year's membership hike stood in the wake of IRS, congressional and media attacks and was prior to aggressive consolidation in the industry, leaders note.

While APRO's two year membership surge also has roots in recent political threats that have surfaced during that time, it is equally due to new approaches in recruiting and retaining members with innovative services and benefits that can't be found anywhere else, according to APRO President Larry Carrico who was elected in 2006.

While Democratic U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer first unveiled his anti-RTO sentiments in 2006, his threats to the industry took on new significance when his party took control of Congress in 2007. And while Schumer's industry killing legislation, and various state issues in between, may have brought new members into the APRO fold, Carrico says rent-to-own dealers stick around because they realize the inherent value of membership.

And communication is a big part of that.

"Our communications process is working and that was a conscious effort we made to get the information out," Carrico says. "The question is, is it worth a buck a day to have instant access to specialized legal counsel, news, marketing, public relations and advertising tools, to save tens of thousands of dollars at the annual buying show? Most would say yes."

APRO Membership Committee Chair Larry Goad.

Carrico notes the revamped RTOHQ Web site, news bureau, magazine and new e-communities networking forum are key benefits that will continue to gain members while retaining existing ones.

The impact of a united industry is one felt on Capitol Hill as well.

Over the past two years, the APRO Legislative Conference has put local rent-to-own dealers at the table with their respective members of Congress in some 700 meetings, where conference attendees urged understanding of the rent-to-own transaction and support of industry supported legislation now pending in both the House and Senate.

"The fact that we now have over a quarter of the U.S. Congress signed on as co-sponsors of our bill, that didn't happen by osmosis," Carrico says. "It's not how many people you send to D.C. that matters, it's the results you get. We've taken a very conscious and disciplined approach that takes years of cultivating relationships, making calls and understanding the timing."

Larry Goad of Zion's Television Showrooms, the current chair of APRO's membership committee, says even if legislative issues are of no concern, the opportunities APRO offers dealers to grow and improve their business are unparalleled and reason enough to sign up.

"Even if legislative issues are not on your radar screen, growing your business should be," Goad says. "E-communities is huge because you can post a question on there and you're going to get a response from someone from somewhere across the country often in minutes. It still amazes me about how much our industry shares with one another. We're stronger as a solid cohesive unit and these numbers show that message is resonating."

APRO's invigorated and unified membership will be on hand at the APRO 2008 Convention and Buying Show in St. Louis, Missouri next week where pre-show attendance totals have already surpassed final attendance totals for last year's show.

Some 450 rent-to-own dealers representing 111 companies will join 266 registered vendors for the convention and buying show August 11-14.

APRO board elections and the annual awards banquet will highlight four days of educational seminars, roundtable discussions, golfing, networking and buying at the APRO Convention and Buying Show -- the rent-to-own industry's event of the year.

mevans@rtohq.org