Rent-to-own News - Royal named RTO Customer of the Year

Kimberly Royal, APRO's 2008 Customer of the Year, with longtime friend Greg Martin, regional manager with Countryside Rentals.

Kimberly Royal of Ironton, Ohio, isn't one who talks about herself easily.

She's much more comfortable shining the spotlight on those around her than acknowledging her own contribution to bettering the lives of others.

It is for both her humility and her deeds that Royal recently was named APRO's 2008 Customer of the year.

The honor carries with it a $1000 cash prize and industry-wide recognition as the customer that best exemplifies the spirit of rent-to-own through her inspiration to others and through her sacrifices for the betterment of her family and community.

Royal is a case manager at the Judge Dennis J. Boll Group and Shelter Home -- an "incarceration-to-home life" transition facility for local adolescents in the region -- where she has worked for the past 24 years. Known as "Miss Kimmy" by the boys and girls with whom she works, Royal regularly leverages her positive relationship with Countryside Rentals to fill gaps in her budget and make life a little more tolerable at the shelter.

"The things that are so important to me and the kids don't always fit into the budget of the state," Royal says. "Thankfully, when I call up Mike (Tissot) he never says no."

She's not talking luxury items here either. She's talking about the bare essentials: shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, soap. Through her coordination and effort, Royal secured a commitment from Countryside Rentals owner Mike Tissot to purchase these items each year. Through her efforts, Countryside Rentals also donated a number of sewing machines and steam irons to Royal's life skills class at the shelter.

Royal began her relationship with rent-to-own around 30 years ago when she was forced into the role of single mother tasked with raising a four-year-old and an infant when her husband left town after taking all the furniture and destroying the refrigerator. She lived out of a cooler for many months, refilling it with ice daily, before she chalked up the courage to enter her first rental store where she was treated with respect and offered an affordable solution to meet her needs.

She's been a regular customer of Countryside Rentals for the past six years where she followed regional manager Greg Martin from Universal TV to Rent-A-Center to Countryside.

"She's been a customer of mine for over 20 years," Martin says, "She calls me 'brother' and I call her 'sister' because we just have that kind of relationship. She's not only a great customer; she's a great friend and a positive person to be around. What can I say, she's become part of us."

Today, Royal doesn't hesitate to let people know all the furniture, appliances and electronics she has in her home are from rental stores. She currently has a flat screen TV, living room and bedroom set, and a washer and dryer on rent from the Ironton Countryside store.

"This is an honor, I'm blessed," Royal says. "Rent-to-Own allows me to have the things I could not normally have any other way, and I'm grateful for it."

Besides her professional work as a public servant, and active membership in her church, Royal also independently supports a holiday charity in her community. It's a way to to share her gratitude and return the goodwill she was granted fifteen years ago.

It was then a local church learned that Royal did not have enough food for her family at Christmas. The church gave her $100 worth of grocery items; It was a gesture she would never forget.

"All we had was a pack of hot dogs in the fridge," Royal says. "We were truly blessed. Now it's my turn to give back.'

Since that time, Royal has set aside money from her own paycheck to provide for under privileged families during the holidays. Today she has recruited the support of four other families in the community who all contribute to a fund that makes Thanksgiving and Christmas meals happen for over 10 Lawrence County families each year.

APRO proudly recognizes Kimberly Royal as the 2008 Customer of the Year!

Royal, will be recognized at the APRO 2008 Convention Awards Banquet August 13 along with Penny Wyatt, APRO's 2008 Scholarship recipient, and soon-to-be announced employee of the year.

mevans@rtohq.org