ColorTyme Continues to Soar

Transcription

1 Volume 5 issue 4 September 2009 the trade magazine for rent to own professionals The trade magazine for rent to own professionals ColorTyme Continues to Soar Interview With ColorTyme CEO Bob Bloom Special Section: F R A N C H I S E N A T I O N Top Companies Franchising In The RTO Sector Answers to the 19 Most Commonly Asked Questions About Franchising Introduction by the International Franchise Association RimTyme franchisee Paul Angeletta

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4 From the publisher How many times have you said, If I owned the company, I would do things differently? Now is the time to stop talking and start doing. Most of us have a secret business plan floating around in our heads. As we learn and grow, the plan is refined. The difference between an owner and an employee is the will to put that plan into action. I have interviewed the CEOs of every franchising company in this sector over the years as well as hundreds of managers. With rare exception, managers tell me that money is the primary roadblock to owning their own business. You may be surprised to learn that franchising companies disagree. They tell me that financing is one of the easiest hurdles to overcome. Finding dedicated, qualified people that are willing to take the leap is their biggest challenge. A franchise is not for everyone. But for those entrepreneurs who want to grow their business quickly and safely with financing support and a proven business model, a franchise can represent the opportunity of a lifetime. We hope this issue helps encourage the thousands of dedicated and qualified individuals to take the first step towards independence. AMERICA S GOT TALENT easyhome is searching for the best of the best - the best RTO operator in the US. The winner will receive a fully funded easyhome franchise store. See details on page 22. Roy Griffaw Publisher, RTO Magazine [email protected] We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. -Martin Luther King, Jr. 4 RTOonline.com

5 C o n t e n t s August/Sep Franchise Nation Introduction By: International Franchise Association RTO Magazine 4862 Newberry Ct. Jackson Mo., Circulation: 10,645 RTO Magazine is published bi-monthly by RTO Online Inc. Principle office: 4862 Newberry Ct. Jackson, MO All contents RTO Online, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Subscriptions are free to anyone directly involved in the rental purchase industry. For non-industry subscribers, the cost is $99 per year (6 issues). Make advertising inquiries to: RTO Online Sales and Marketing Dept [email protected] Publisher/Editor Roy Griffaw Sales and Marketing Steve Lenhart Featured Franchisors ColorTyme easyhome Premier Rental Purchase Premier Home Furnishings Premier Wheel Workz RimTyme U-Getcha Cash 11 Franchising Q & A The International Franchise Association presents answers to the 19 most commonly asked questions about franchising. 34 No Man is an Island RTO industry legal expert Woody Webb discusses legal issues involved with franchising. Page 6 10 Questions for ColorTyme CEO Bob Bloom COVER: The Eagle Award, ColorTyme s highest honor, is awarded to the company s franchisee of the year. The award dates back to Willie Talley, founder of ColorTyme. Photo Roy Griffaw/RTO Magazine 36 RTO Feature: Blurring the Lines Between Retail and Rent to Own By John Centofanti Retailers and Rent to Own Dealers Partner to Expand Both Markets. Photo Galleries 18 ColorTyme 26 easyhome 32 The Premier Companies

6 Bob Bloom, President and CEO, ColorTyme

7 10 questions for Bob Bloom 10 Questions President and CEO of ColorTyme ColorTyme was founded in 1979 and is America s oldest franchisor of independently owned-and-operated rent-to-own stores. The company has added 116 new stores and 51 new franchisees in the last five years. Today, ColorTyme franchisees operate 205 rent-to-own stores in 33 states, and the company s custom-wheelsand-tires franchise brand, RimTyme, operates 25 stores in 11 states. WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE RENT TO OWN INDUSTRY TODAY? At one end of the spectrum, low income consumers are struggling. At the same time there are new opportunities with consumers that have traditionally not accepted rent-to-own and who are seeing for the first time the value of a Credit Free Life. IS THE RENT TO OWN CUSTOMER BASE MORE OF A WINDOW WHERE THE BOTTOM AND TOP MOVE TOGETHER? Based on my experience - not on any research that has been done - I think the bottom drops out faster than the top comes in. At the same time, I believe the top will stay longer than they have in the past. The economic times have changed people s opinion of credit. As time goes by, they will embrace the rent-to-own transaction. HOW HAS THE ECONOMY AFFECTED RIM- TYME? RimTyme is probably affected less than ColorTyme. It s a younger and more affluent customer. Sales have remained very strong. The product stays on rent longer and it has a much higher early EPO (early pay out). WHAT ABOUT THE PAYDAY LOAN END OF YOUR BUSINESS? Where you have good laws, Payday loan is an excellent business to be in. Legislatively, it is probably at higher risk than any of our other businesses. YOU VE SAID THAT YOU BELIEVE POSITIVE RENT TO OWN LEGISLATION WILL PASS IN THE HOUSE THIS YEAR. HAS IT BEEN JUST A MATTER OF TIME? I think we re telling our story better than we have in the past. The flexibility of the rent-to-own transaction has never resonated more with the general public than it does today. Our customers have always known that there is economic value in our transaction. Now I think everyone is starting to see it - which is why we are seeing an increase in customers in the 50-75k income bracket. ARE FRANCHISEE DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGING AS WELL? We re starting to see more and more investors with relatively large portfolios coming into the industry. For the last 20 years, most of the people that have franchised have been long-term rent-to-own professionals. We re starting to see investors come to ColorTyme because they like the returns. And because of low occupancy rates, the interest in ColorTyme among commercial property landlords has increased. Why have an empty space when you can place a store there and get a good return? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FRANCHISEES AND OTHER INDEPENDENTS PARTNERING WITH RETAILERS? We re looking into it but I think it s fraught with danger. WHY? I believe the bigger opportunity is to attract that customer directly through marketing and not have to pay the retailer a substantial markup on inventory that we can buy at a better price than they can because of our relationship with Rent- A-Center. We re going to look at it, but we re going to go pretty slow on this. HOW DOES COLORTYME ALLOW FRANCHI- SEES TO EXPERIMENT WITH NEW CONCEPTS? The beauty of an entrepreneurial franchise business is that there are owners out there that have the intelligence and the spirit to embrace a new idea. One of the nice things about ColorTyme is we ve always helped franchisees embrace new ideas. That s why we re in the RimTyme business today. Five years ago one of our Franchisees, Jim Moore, said, this is a business that warrants a second look. We invested a million dollars with him and today we have 25 stores! WHY COLORTYME? Experience. We ve been here 30 years. We have a track record nobody else has, and our inventory financing is unique in the business. In addition, our partnership with Rent-A-Center presents us with tremendous opportunities including purchasing power. RTOonline.com 7

8 Stats Tell the Story Are you tracking the right numbers? By Ron Manyo, RTO Stats Return on Cost Percentage, PRR, APU the rent-to-own industry is full of statistics, but what do they really mean to your business bottom line? As independents face increasing competition, like even the new recent trend of kiosks in big-box retailers, it s more critical than ever for upper-level management to have access to key statistical data and understand the numbers that reflect the day-to-day operations of their businesses. Checking statistical comparisons on a consistent, daily basis quickly reveals aspects of the business which management otherwise may not have been aware assisting to make the best decisions towards the company s profitability. Successful rent-to-own dealers use operational statistics like an industry bible - they know everything about their company s customers, agreements on rent, deliveries, delinquencies, expenses, idle inventory, BOR, and more. They compare internal company statistics from year-to-year, month to month and store-to-store. Now allows companies to compare their company s numbers, to the stats of other rent-to-own businesses in their state or across the country or even to the rent-to-own industry as a whole - giving decision-makers the ability to pinpoint exactly where problems exist that need to be addressed. Below is a breakdown of the top statistics every management-level RTO dealer needs to know when comparing between companies and why: Deliveries: Without deliveries, you re out of business no matter how good your store looks or how much you spend on advertising. If your deliveries are much lower compared to other stores - you may need to consider additional, non-traditional yet often extremely effective, advertising opportunities like: fliers, door-hangers, cold-call telemarketing, setting inventory outside your store with balloons attached to attract the attention of potential customers. However, if your statistics reveal that your deliveries are increasing, but your income is not - it may be an indication that your sales staff is giving away too many free weeks or your marketing efforts are offering too many discounts. Pickups or Returns: Pickups are money. The more merchandise that is left in the field means more expensive merchandise that must be purchased to replenish your idle inventory on the showroom floor. If pickups at a given store are much lower comparatively - it could mean that the account managers at that location need to work more closely with customers to schedule pickups. Pay-Outs or Buy-Outs: Often the key to getting customers to pay in full, is to offer a buy-out incentive such as a discount on future rentals or an attractive certificate of ownership. Buyouts can be turned into another rental by offering a $100 discount on any new merchandise rented that day, or a $50 reduced discount for merchandise rented in the future. Whatever the method, advertising to attract new customers is always more expensive than retaining current customers. Charge-Offs: Whether lost, stolen, or returned in an un-rentable condition, charge-offs are very costly because you re not only losing the actual, physical merchandise itself, but also the rental income. Because charge-offs may be attributable to skip re-offenders and regional economical demographics, a regional comparison resulting in a high number of charge-offs for that area may indicate that account managers need to check applications and references more thoroughly, be on the lookout for red flags such as out-ofstate drivers licenses or the company may need to subscribe to one of several online skip-database services such as the DO NOT RENT list maintained by Return on Cost Percentage: If your Return on Cost is below that of the rent-to-own industry in general or that of other stores statewide - it could indicate that too much Free Time is being given upfront or on extensions. It may be necessary to monitor which staff members are giving Free Time and placing restrictions on the amount that can be offered. Other causes could be employees accepting too many partial payments or moving due dates which can usually be restricted in your operations software. When customers have loaners while their items are being serviced, you may want to continue to charge their regular rental rate there are unlimited considerations and solutions. Delivery Fees and Processing Fees: If the amount that you are charging customers for delivery and processing is out of the average, you could be either losing deliveries or not earning the income possible. Customers understand that delivery charges may increase depending on the cost of gasoline or staff time. Cash Sales: Dealers can generate new customers and additional profit by selling old merchandise at discount prices, rather than leaving it to gather dust in storage. Collections: Knowing how many customers are late and by how much, among other things, is an indicator of whether your staff is following up by calling their late list every day. The ability to compare these statistics and others across the industry has until now been unavailable to rent-to-own dealers. Launched in September 2009, however, the new website RTOStats. com allows subscribing dealers to access anonymous operational data updated weekly from companies in their state and nationwide. The site offers not only statistical data and bottom-line numbers such as new rental income, late fees, delivery fees and process fees, but also a national Do-Not-Rent List and marketing assistance. For more information visit or Ron Manyo at RTOonline.com

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10 RTO Magazine Franchise Edition Franchise Nation 2009 ColorTyme RimTyme easyhome Premier Rental Purchase Premier Home Furnishings Premier Wheel Workz U-Getcha Cash International Franchise Association Presents: Answers To The 19 Most Commonly Asked Questions About Franchising For more information visit By: International Franchise Association The mutually beneficial relationship that exists between franchisors and franchisees makes franchising unique in the world of business. It provides entrepreneurs with an affordable means of accelerating expansion and achieving development goals more quickly than might otherwise be the case, and with far less risk. Similarly, franchisees have a head start because of the support provided by the franchise system. Franchising means being in business for yourself but not by yourself. Whether it s accounting and financing, advertising and public relations, personnel management, purchasing, or inventory control, franchisors are there to provide hands on, one-toone assistance. While franchising does provide opportunities, it does not create miracles. Franchisees combine knowledge and resources with entrepreneurial drive and spirit to form a business relationship unique to franchising. Franchising is a field of expanding economic opportunity in which each and every person can play a part based on talent, initiative, and dedication.

11 FAQ s of Franchising 1. WHAT IS FRANCHISING? Franchising is a method of distributing products or services. At least two levels of people are involved in a franchise system: (1) the franchisor, who lends his trademark or trade name and a business system; and (2) the franchisee, who pays a royalty and often an initial fee for the right to do business under the franchisor s name and system. Technically, the contract binding the two parties is the franchise, but that term is often used to mean the actual business that the franchisee operates. 2. HOW DOES A FRANCHISED CHAIN START? Imagine a store owned by an individual with a particular concept. If the business is successful, the owner may develop a second or third store and hire employees for the day-to-day operations. At that point, if the entrepreneur still wants to expand but prefers not to operate additional stores himself or herself, he or she may decide to franchise the store name and business system to an independent business person known as a franchisee. In return, the entrepreneur may ask for an initial fee and/or a continuing royalty payment based on a percentage of that franchisee s sales. The business is now franchised. 3.WHEN I VISIT A STORE IN MY AREA, FOR EXAMPLE, A WELL-KNOWN FAST FOOD RES- TAURANT, HOW CAN I TELL WHETHER THAT RESTAURANT IS OPERATED BY THE FRANCHI- SOR OR A FRANCHISEE? It s difficult to tell just by visiting the restaurant. However, if it is a franchise, there should be some signage in the restaurant which indicates that the restaurant is independently owned and operated. Many companies have stores that are operated by franchisees but also have stores that are company owned and operated. So it s entirely possible that of two stores with the same name, one may be operated by a franchisee and the other operated by the company. In either case, the products, services, and quality should be the same. 4. HOW WIDESPREAD IS FRANCHISING? The answer may surprise you. By 2001, there were 767,483 business establishments in all domestic franchise systems (either owned by franchisors and franchisees), which employed almost 10 million people, with direct output close to $625 billion, and a payroll of $230 billion. These establishments account for significant percentage of all establishments in many important lines of business: 56.3% in quick service restaurants, 18.2% in lodging, 14.2% in retail food, and 13.1% in table/full service restaurants. 5.WHAT IS BUSINESS FORMAT FRANCHIS- ING? In business format franchising, the franchisor prescribes for the franchisee a complete plan, or format, for managing and operating the establishment. The plan provides step-by-step procedures for major aspects of the business and, anticipating most management problems, provides a complete matrix for management decisions confronted by the franchisees. The major advantage of buying a business format franchise is that the system, the means for distributing goods and or services, has been developed, tested, and associated with the trademark. As a result, rapid expansion of a successful retail concept can occur more quickly than through company-owned expansion.* Sales by business format franchisors continued to increase steadily throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century. In 2001, comparing business format franchising to product distribution franchising, business format franchising had about 4.3 times as many establishments, employed 4 times as many workers, generated 2.5 times the payroll, and produced nearly 3 times as much output. *Dave Thomas and Michael Seid, Franchising for Dummies 13 (IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. 2000). 6. WHAT ARE THE MAJOR GROWTH INDUS- TRIES IN BUSINESS FORMAT FRANCHISING? As the economy becomes more service and technology oriented, as more women enter the work force, and as a larger percentage of the population grows older, growth areas in franchising are responding to these changes. The industry categories in franchising that are expected to continue to experience rapid growth for the start of the new century are service-related fields such as home repair and remodeling, carpet cleaning, household furnishings, and various other maintenance and cleaning services; business support services including accounting, mail processing, advertising services, package wrapping and shipping, personnel and temporary help services, and printing and copying services; automotive repairs and services such as quick-lube and tune-up; and other areas such as environmental services, hair salons, health aids and services, computers, clothing, children s services, educational products and services, and telecommunications services. While it is important to consider industry growth before investing in a franchise, it is more important to analyze an individual franchise company s track record, keeping in mind that quick growth does not always spell success. A franchise organization that grows too quickly might not have a service team in place to support all of the units properly. Overall, long range trends indicate a steady, solid growth in business format franchising. Some will fall by the wayside, as is natural with any business, but others may well be the household name franchise success stories of tomorrow. 7. SPECIFICALLY, WHAT KINDS OF BUSINESSES LEND THEMSELVES TO FRANCHISING? Virtually every business form you can imagine. The International Franchise Association now lists more than 75 different categories to describe its members. Typically, you would think of fast food and restaurants first when thinking of franchising, but franchising covers the spectrum from almost A to Z, from advertising/direct mail to construction to dating services to home inspection to security systems to video sales and rentals. Printing and copying services, maid services, computer services, cleaners, lawn care services, real estate, hotels and motels, and travel agencies are excellent examples of successfully applying franchising to established industries. 8. ARE THE LOOK-ALIKE CHARACTERISTICS OF FRANCHISES A DISADVANTAGE? DON T CONSUMERS WANT VARIETY? The increasingly mobile American consumer has come to depend on and appreciate the consistent quality of franchised products and services. Today, no matter where they go, people expect and want the same quality, which is why consumers so often RTOonline.com 11

12 stop at franchised establishments. The ability to easily recognize a franchised store, restaurant or hotel from the outside guarantees there will be no surprises or disappointments on the inside. Quite simply, the public knows what to expect and likes it that way. 9. WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A FRANCHISE? are: Among the points which IFA recommends for investigation a. the type of experience required in the franchised business; b. a complete understanding of the business; c. the hours and personal commitment necessary to run the business; d. who the franchisor is, what its track record has been, and the business experience of its officers and directors; e. how other franchisees in the same system are doing; f. how much it s going to cost to get into the franchise; g. how much you re going to pay for the continuing right to operate the business; h. if there are any products or services you must buy from the franchisor and how and by whom they are supplied; i. the terms and conditions under which the franchise relationship can be terminated or renewed, and how many franchisees have left the system during the past few years; j. the financial condition of the franchisor and its system. Both the Federal Trade Commission ( and IFA ( ) have many helpful publications and resources. Equally important, IFA recommends that you engage an attorney to examine the contract. It is important to work with an attorney who understands franchising, especially the antitrust laws, the trademark laws, the Federal Trade Commission Franchise Rule, and applicable state laws. It is also recommended that you ask a competent accountant to examine your anticipated expenses, your financing needs, and your prospects for achieving your desired level of profitability before you sign any agreement. 10. WHAT IS THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMIS- SION FRANCHISE RULE? 12 RTOonline.com FREE DEMO It is a federal regulation which requires franchisors to prepare an extensive disclosure document and to give a copy to any prospective franchise purchaser before he or she buys a franchise. The disclosure document typically used to comply with the Rule is called a Uniform Franchise Offering Circular, or UFOC. Within the UFOC are many different categories of information about the franchise, including some of the information described in the response to Question 9 above. Required fees, basic investment, bankruptcy and litigation history of the company, how long the franchise will be in effect, a financial statement of the franchisor, earnings claims (if the company makes them) all are presented in this disclosure document. IFA recommends that both your attorney and your accountant review the UFOC and your franchise agreement. For further information from the FTC, or to order a free publication from the FTC entitled Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise, call (202) HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT THE INFORMA- TION PROVIDED IN THE DISCLOSURE DOCU- MENT IS TRUTHFUL AND ACCURATE? Even though inaccuracy and misrepresentation carry civil and sometimes severe criminal penalties, there is no way to be absolutely sure. The disclosure document makes fraud and deception less likely. However, because the franchisor has -- under penalty of law -- answered in written (or electronic) form a variety of very important questions you can use to judge the offer, IFA recommends that you carefully consider the information provided and evaluate the materials, including the history and reputation of the company and its officers, with the assistance of your lawyer and accountant. Also, be absolutely sure you talk to a substantial number of others who have already obtained franchises from the company you re considering, and ask them to verify any information you question. Learn if they are satisfied customers of the franchisor. 12. ARE THERE ANY OTHER LAWS WHICH PRO- TECT ME? Fourteen states require franchise companies to file or register their franchise offerings with a state agency: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. These states, plus Oregon, also have disclosure regulations similar to those of the Federal Trade Commission. By means of so-called business opportunity laws, certain other states regulate the offer and sale of a business opportunity which may include the offering of a franchise under the state s definition of a business opportunity. 13. IF I WANT TO BUY A FRANCHISE, WHAT SHOULD I DO TO GET STARTED? 100% WINDOWS Software for RTO, Retail & Cash Advance Purchase as low as $899 Lease only $75 per month! FULL-FUNCTIONALITY NEW ADVANCED FEATURES New WEB@PAY! 100% Windows Vista / XP Compatible Rent-to-Own / Rent-to-Rent / Retail Installment Financing / Cash Advance POS / Inventory Management / On-Screen Collections Network / Home Office Versions Data Conversions from other programs The first thing to do is to identify companies offering franchises. IFA s Franchise Opportunities Guide gives a comprehensive list of franchise companies in more than 75 kinds of businesses. The Guide, which costs $25.00 (including shipping and handling), is available by mailing a request and check or money order to IFA Pub- Accept Online Rental Payments! (800) Integrated ACH Payments Integrated Credit Card Processing Remote Payments For Other Stores Customizeable Laser Agreements Automated Outgoing Collection Calls Integrated Delivery Scheduler View Company-wide Inventory

13 lications, P.O. Box 1020, Sewickley, PA Orders may also be placed by calling , or visiting IFA s online bookstore at where you can find other relevant sources to assist in your decision to buy a franchise. The Guide is also available online at the IFA website You should contact the companies directly, and shop wisely. Shopping wisely requires that you determine how much you can afford to invest and where to obtain financing. Careful investigation prior to purchasing a franchise also necessitates understanding the UFOC. You need to examine what the franchise relationship entails. For instance, you need to inquire into the training and support provided, assistance in finding and developing a location, and the sources of inventory and supplies. You should research the companies growth and prospects for future growth. You should also seek advice from professionals and business people you respect. By shopping wisely, you can make an informed decision on whether to purchase the franchise. 14. WHAT KIND OF INVESTMENT IS NECESSARY TO BUY A FRANCHISE? Investment requirements differ tremendously. It all depends on the industry and the type of business. Total start-up costs can range from $20,000 or less, to over $1,000,000, depending on the franchise selected, and whether it is necessary to own or lease real estate to operate the business. Moreover, the initial franchise fee for most franchisors is between $10,000 and $30,000. Seventy percent of franchisors charge an inital franchise fee of $40,000 or less. The average investment, excluding real estate costs, is between $350,000 -$400,000. You must discuss the inital fees and opening costs with individual companies, although IFA s Franchise Opportunities Guide can supply general information. 15. WOULD I MAKE A SUCCESSFUL FRANCHI- SEE? A successful franchisee should be suited to the industry of which he or she is a part, suited to the particular franchise company, and suited to the franchise system generally. Important questions to ask yourself include: Am I suited to the industry physically and by experience, education, learning capacity, temperament and financial ability? What type of work is most appealing to me; for example, do I enjoy working with food, mechanical things, people, real estate, books and recordings, sporting goods, etc.? Am I prepared to work hard and take financial risks? Do my advisors, family, and friends think I am adaptable and trainable? How do I react to controls? Am I a loner - resenting authority and restraints, or can I accept guidance and direction happily? If I prefer to act as a passive investor in the franchise, will the company accept this? How do I personally feel about the company s image and products and services? The right answers to these types of questions help determine your potential success as a franchisee. 16. HOW CAN I BE SURE I WON T LOSE MONEY? No one can be 100 percent sure. Although the majority of franchisees are satisfied, successful business people, some do suffer financial losses. That s why you must be particularly wary of any company which guarantees profit or certain success. If you hear a claim about a company that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Investigation of all earnings claims made by a franchisor is especially important. But, regardless of earnings claims, you must recognize that your success can come only through hard work. Success or failure ultimately depends on you. 17. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DRAWBACKS OF OWNING A FRANCHISE? In exchange for the security, training, and marketing power of the franchise trademark, you must be able and willing to give up some of your independence. If you are a person who likes to make most decisions on your own or to chart the course of your business alone, a franchise may not be right for you. As a franchise owner, you must comply with the various controls and procedures established by the franchisor. Then, too, all successful businesses require a lot of dedication and plain, hard work. You must be prepared to make that commitment. 18. WHY SHOULD I BE CONCERNED WHETHER A COMPANY IS A MEMBER OF THE INTERNA- TIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION? Companies that belong to IFA must meet certain membership requirements. They must have a satisfactory financial condition and comply with all applicable franchise laws. In addition, all members must agree to abide by the Code of Ethics. IFA members are kept abreast of every change in franchising laws. IFA provides continuing educational programs for members on how to conduct their businesses. They receive the latest information about topics such as improving relationships with franchisees, use of technology, public relations, marketing, advertising, field operations, networking and things a company with an eye to the future must know and implement to compete in the marketplace. IFA members are committed to the future... to learning... to succeeding. 19. ARE THERE ANY CURRENT TRENDS IN FRANCHISING? Minorities and Women in Franchising Increasing numbers of minorities and women are discovering that franchising can be a good opportunity for everybody. While franchising is not a panacea, it provides a means for mitigating the traditional obstacles that otherwise competent and capable small investors, particularly women and minorities, face: lack of business experience and capital. Franchisors provide managerial training and assistance on an on-going basis and, in some cases, arrange for property leases, provide equipment financing and saleleaseback programs, and assist franchisees in obtaining financing. IFA s Minorities in Franchising Committee and the IFA Educational Foundation s Diversity Institute provides research, education, and outreach programs to expand the opportunities for minorities in franchising. IFA s Women s Franchise Committee (WFC) is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging women in franchising by creating a network of business professionals dedicated to strengthening the success of women in franchising. The WFC has created a number of programs and resources in order to achieve this goal, ranging from how to guides and conferences to local networking chapters. Since its inception in 1960, the International Franchise Association has represented and protected the interests of the franchise community as well as the American entrepreneurial spirit. A membership organization of franchisors, franchisees and suppliers, we are dedicated to providing our members with the best franchise information. Visit for more information RTOonline.com 13

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16 RTO Magazine Franchise Edition ColorTyme Focuses on New Growth: 114 New Stores, 50 New Franchisees in Five Years By Bob Bloom Throughout the past five years, ColorTyme has steadily grown its new franchise base. Although it s become increasingly difficult for many entrepreneurs to find the financing they need to pursue their dreams of owning a business, ColorTyme continues to match franchisees with a financing program that fits and works. This process is centered on working closely with franchisees and offering strong financial incentives, such as working capital loans combined with 100 percent inventory financing. Today, it s small business owners who have become beacons for their communities. They are once again the cornerstone for U.S. economic development. Without a doubt, the passion required to be a small business owner can spread fast and cultivate a strong following. Their relentless support for their hometown neighborhoods influences others to pursue small business ventures as well. People naturally follow success. And that s what ColorTyme cultivates and supports: successful franchise owners. ColorTyme recognizes the difference that small business owners make: It s their ingenuity and personal drive that fosters a healthy business. And that s why ColorTyme approaches franchisee relationships with a keen focus on success and steady growth. Over the past five years, the company has added 114 stores and 50 franchise owners to its system. It s that kind of growth that has sustained ColorTyme s business for the past 30 years. Once the franchisee opens their first store, they share a common bond with 90 other ColorTyme owners. The support from other franchisees is an advantage that is unsurpassed in the rentto-own industry. ColorTyme s franchise owners are friendly and willing to help newcomers thrive. But the support doesn t stop there. ColorTyme has some of the best training in the industry. Its ColorTyme University program is top-notch and offers three courses: CTU for owners, CTU for store managers and CTU for regional directors. This follows 20 comprehensive online training courses, exclusive to ColorTyme. ColorTyme helps independent business owners integrate into a system and follow a plan to profitability. That plan is further buoyed by the company s efforts to offer new store opening support and its latest new store design. As its franchise system grows, the company remains faithful to its mission: Focused on the franchisee and upholding a brand with a successful track-record. That s the ColorTyme difference. Here s what some franchise owners have to say about their ColorTyme experience: ColorTyme has provided me with a great plan for store growth. In addition, I didn t have to deal with the banks. I worked directly with ColorTyme on my financing. Plus, the field support makes it all an easy step-by-step process to get a store open and running. Freedom and independence is what ColorTyme provides to all its franchise owners. They let you carry the products you want and set the pricing that fits your store. You can also provide input on how your store should look. At other franchise companies, it s all cookie-cutter. ColorTyme lets you be a little entrepreneurial. Other companies may mandate your store opening process and day-to-day business. ColorTyme gives you all the tools necessary to be successful. --Shawn DiLeo, multi-unit franchise owner in Kentucky My store has grown faster than I had anticipated especially compared to my original business plan. It s been a big benefit having a lot of other franchise owners to talk with. The support I received not only from other franchisees but also from ColorTyme s franchise consultant, Ted Schlaack, was invaluable. If I owned a different rent-to-own branded store, I would eventually become frustrated with somebody telling me which products to buy and how to run my business. ColorTyme doesn t do that and it makes all the difference. --Steve Dwyer, franchise owner in Connecticut By providing comprehensive franchise finance packages and being listed on the SBA s Franchise Registry, ColorTyme is prepared for any challenge. Once the proper financing is in place, the company can provide assistance with site selection and lease negotiation. This is crucial for many first-time franchise owners who are searching for the perfect store location. ColorTyme also offers marketing, purchasing, legal and public relations support; inventory management; and low inventory costs. Through ColorTyme.com, the company offers owners a customized Web site for their store. This can be updated with new product offerings and specials for customers all controlled by the franchisee. With the support of loyal vendors, ColorTyme offers its owners a one stop shop for product purchasing all the top name brands, latest models, direct from the manufacturer. Instead of establishing credit with several vendors, each franchisee works with a single purchasing representative assigned specifically for them. The ColorTyme brand and business is built on a solid foundation. For 30 years, it has helped define the rent-to-own industry s current successes. And it s that reputation that remains paramount to the company s growth and accomplishments. ColorTyme will definitely be around for another 30 years. 16 RTOonline.com

17 RimTyme: Created by a franchise owner for franchise owners By Tim Hogan Some of the greatest products and advertising initiatives have been created by franchise owners. McDonald s Big Mac hamburger was created by Jim Delligatti, one of the company s first franchisees. Little Caesar s famous advertising Pizza! Pizza! catchphrase was the result of franchisee ingenuity. The same applies to RimTyme. ColorTyme Franchise Owner Jim Moore decided to offer custom wheels and tires. Later, he opened several ColorTyme Custom Wheels stores. Evolving from Jim s inventiveness, the RimTyme franchise business was born. RimTyme s culture, values and franchise structure evolved directly from the ColorTyme organization. But, custom wheels and tires invite a different, more unique customer to the showroom floor. And that s the RimTyme difference: it combines all the benefits of the rent-to-own transaction with the excitement of tricked-out cars and trucks. However, the RimTyme franchise experience isn t all about a store full of shiny new rims and unique tire brands; it s also about how the company can help new franchisees get the proper financing they need to open their store. Leveraging its relationship with ColorTyme, new owners receive the same financial incentives, including working capital loans combined with 100 percent inventory financing. RimTyme is also listed on the SBA s Franchise Registry a key development to support incoming franchisees. Plus, RimTyme offers extensive and personalized training programs and new store opening support. The company also provides each store with a personalized Web site with customizable deals and specials that s controlled by the franchisee. The franchisee is also in control of their purchasing. Gone are the days of having to establish credit with multiple product companies. Franchise owners work with one RimTyme purchasing representative who works with multiple manufacturers to obtain products for the store. Custom wheels and tires is an exciting business. It tempts a loyal following from auto enthusiasts looking to add eye-candy to their vehicles. The RimTyme brand matches well with this demographic. By offering some of the more popular wheel and tire brands KMC Wheels, XD Series, Sumitomo, Pirelli RimTyme is prepared for any customer who desires to amplify their ride. What separates RimTyme from its competition is better economics and brand stability. The company truly believes in the spirit of people helping people. This means that RimTyme cares about who its franchise owners are and what they can do for their communities. RimTyme franchisees are big supporters of the people who walk through their doors. They know their customers and their customers know them it s a simple hometown approach. For the franchise owner, RimTyme is an opportunity with all the right components: strong financing options, buying power, skilled training programs, simplified operations, real estate and legal support, and customized orders for customers. By offering all this, the RimTyme brand is helping shape the overall custom wheels and tires rent-to-own business. As more and more franchise owners join the system, the brand is evolving and becoming more refined. Similar to ColorTyme, the RimTyme franchise ownership opportunity is a formula that works; the company offers entrepreneurial independence, strong brand support, and a growth plan that aims for success and profitability. And RimTyme is growing because of it. With 13 franchise locations and 11 corporate-owned stores, RimTyme is a brand with a clear future. Of course, let the RimTyme franchise owners provide their point of view: The RimTyme brand allows traditional rent-to-own professionals to apply a proven business model to new and exciting products and services. More importantly, it opens up a new customer base to the rent-to-own ownership option and a new distribution channel to wheel and tire vendors. Customers now have access to a product that they ve never truly had access to before. We ve almost eliminated all the economic barriers to obtain this kind of product. Previous to RimTyme, the traditional wheel and tire company sold to a few stores in the area. With RimTyme, they re selling to the rent-to-own industry and they re moving more product. Hopefully, if you do it correctly, you re introducing a new customer base to the rent-to-own option. --Eric Malone, multi-unit franchise owner in North Carolina I owned an independent rent-to-own wheel and tire store. We joined the RimTyme program, which allowed us to talk to other franchisees and the folks that run the organization. It caused us to reevaluate our business. It made a big difference and we re still making improvements after switching to RimTyme. The primary reason I joined up with the RimTyme franchise is for the financing and banking programs. And business has been good. Of course, lately, everybody has had their apprehensions with the economy. But, we ve had a very good increase in business, 2009 over 2008, on the rental side. And, we do great retail business as well. We felt that if we were going to grow, we needed to be part of a national franchise chain. RimTyme was that perfect opportunity. And this business is exciting to me. Dealing with cars and old cars is a lot of fun. It was a natural fit. --David Deignan, multi-unit franchise owner in Georgia It s an explosive industry that reminds me of the RTO industry in the early 80s, very exciting. Your customers want to drive in and drive out today with rims on their car, something we are able to do with RimTyme s financing programs. --Jim Moore, multi-unit franchise owner in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee RTOonline.com 17

18 ColorTyme 2009 Summer Meeting - Jackson Hole Photos copyright RTO Online, Inc. Contact [email protected] to arrange coverage of your company event. The Snake River Lodge in Jackson Hole, WY. played host to ColorTyme s 2009 Summer Meeting. Franchisees from around the United States spent several days working with members of the ColorTyme corporate staff, collaborating with fellow franchisees and attending vendor buying presentations. I enjoy getting together with the other franchisees and talking about best business practices what s working for them and what s not working for them, said Ray Bird, a ColorTyme franchise owner based in Rhode Island and member of the ColorTyme Franchise Advisory Council. Some of my best promotions, and some of the best months I ve ever had, were a direct result of conversations I ve had with other franchisees at this meeting. Members of the FAC convened to discuss current industry trends and business strategies. Each elected member of the council attends the meeting as the spokesperson for a group of ColorTyme franchisees. The FAC meets to talk about the best ways to help our fellow franchisees and air any issues that need to be addressed, said Bird. The FAC has a tremendous impact and influence. In the past three to five years, many things the FAC has implemented have shown some very positive results. The Summer Meeting kicked off with a Western get-together at the Mangy Moose Restaurant & Saloon. I look forward to spending time with the lifeblood of this company our franchise owners, said Bob Bloom, president and CEO of ColorTyme. Interesting times with interesting opportunities - That s how Bloom described the current state of the rent-toown industry in an interview with RTO Magazine in June. ColorTyme, Inc., founded in 1979, is America s oldest franchisor of independently owned-and-operated rent-to-own stores. Mark Shaw, ColorTyme store manager from Waipahu, Hawaii, in full cowboy mode at the Mangy Moose Saloon in Jackson Hole. Shaw, whose store is consistently the top perfomer in the company, works for franchisee Gary Hughes.

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21 The Profit Puzzle? To make a profit today you have to do everything right. Buy right. Sell right. Train right. Display right. Promote right. And the list goes on. Come up short in any area and your profits can fall apart. If you need help putting the right pieces together for maximum profits...turn to RentDirect! Group Negotiated Pricing Gain $12 billion in buying power and move ahead of your competition Warehouse Direct Nationwide Utilize 40 warehouses from coast-to-coast and reduce freight costs More Brand Name Products No other buying group can match our vast selection of top brands and products Custom In-Store Video Programming You decide what content appears on your store s television screens. Free Advertising & Marketing Support Drive traffic with an array of ready-to use print ads and TV spots Web-Based Communication System Keep in touch with leading edge communication tools 24/7 Store Fixtures and Sign Displays Custom, high quality store fixtures designed for quick and easy installation PrimeTime! Member Conferences Be a part of the largest buying show and conference in the RTO industry For more information, contact James MacAlpine or [email protected] or visit

22 RTO Magazine Franchise Edition E X C L U S I V E LY F O R E X P E R I E N C E D U. S. R T O O P E R AT O R S LT IMATEIM L ULTIMATE ULT EASYHOME S FRANCH FRANCHISE ANCHISE OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY Be a contender! Visit to throw your name in the ring. *See Description of Opportunity in Rules & Details.

23 LT IMATEIM L ULTIMATE ULT EASYHOME S FRANCH FRANCHISE ANCHISE OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY if you think you re a champion prove it! Here is your chance to be your own boss and to own your own franchise store. And not just any store. You could win the opportunity to own and operate an easyhome franchise with NO INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE and a FULL INITIAL FINANCING PACKAGE from easyhome US Ltd. Up to two applicants who are experienced U.S. RTO operators and deemed top performers by easyhome will be offered their own easyhome single-store franchise with NO FRANCHISE FEE and FULL INITIAL FINANCING by easyhome US Ltd. For each of up to 3 runners up, easyhome US Ltd. will waive half the initial franchise fee and provide up to $450, in initial debt fi nancing from easyhome towards acquiring their own easyhome franchise.

24 RTO Magazine Franchise Edition easyhome is a proven success with over 230 stores in Canada and the US. easyhome is Canada s largest merchandise leasing company and third largest in North America. Our entry into the U.S. is being led by Bud Gates, former CEO of the world s largest rent-to-own company and CEO of easygates, LLC, our Master Franchisor in the US. As our licensee and master franchisor, Bud heads up our franchising efforts in the U.S. in the states that do not border Canada. As a well-respected leader in the rent-to-own industry, Bud understands the merchandise leasing market like no one else. Bud s proven track record of success makes him the ideal candidate to lead our franchise efforts in his licensed territories. Additionally, easyhome is strategically positioned to redefi ne the category. With an advanced showroom shopping experience and merchandise presentation, easyhome also attracts traditional retail customers who are experiencing credit challenges. easyhome s highly appealing pricing and payment structure will attract Rent to Own (RTO) customers who value the pride of ownership through leasing while still enjoying the fl exibility of no commitment to debt. At easyhome, we offer customers a new way to buy. Our merchandise leasing method is a compelling business model that is distinctive, offering consumers the opportunity to rent, lease or purchase furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. We are the industry leader on return on investment. It s now the time to join the easyhome team. We are confi dent that the easyhome model will revolutionize the leasing market. It will be the way people shop in the future. Let us help you take advantage of this chance-of-alifetime opportunity. Bud Gates Master Franchisor David Ingram President CEO easyhomefranchising.com

25 LT IMATEIM L ULTIMATE ULT EASYHOME S FRANCH FRANCHISE ANCHISE OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY Rules & details Enter now, between September 21st & October 31, 2009 Who is eligible: 1. Currently a U.S. RTO Operator 2. One (1) year of experience 3. A proven high performer 4. US resident with valid passport (needed for travel to Canada) 5. Willing to live in a mutually agreed market Here s how to enter: 1. Visit easyhomefranchising.com 2. Print or complete the entry form online 3. Submit the form via online or by mail 4. Upload video to easyhome s secure FTP site For more information and to enter online visit All submissions or inquiries will be held in the strictest of confidence, though successful applicants will be announced (see below). Description of Opportunity: easyhome US Ltd. or easygates, LLC proposes to enter into up to fi ve (5) single store Franchise Agreements with successful applicants in mutually agreed upon markets in the United States. For up to two qualifi ed applicants: Thousand Dollar ($30, USD) initial franchise fee payable under our standard Franchise Agreement. for a single, turn-key store, including, inventory and a complete store build-out to easyhome US Ltd. specifi cations. the franchisee vehicle lease. working capital purposes for the fi rst twelve (12) months. of three (3) years at prime +3%. be for the term of the real estate sublease at prime + 3%. the fi rst 90 days after the store is opened and will be amortized over the above periods after that. Penalty-free early pay off will be included in the terms. fi nancing to each of these applicants. In addition, for up to three additional qualifi ed applicants: Thirty Thousand Dollar ($30, USD) initial franchise fee payable under our standard Franchise Agreement by 50%. a single easyhome store, including store build-out to easyhome US Ltd. specifi cations but not including inventory fi nancing. to the franchisee. vehicle lease. working capital purposes for the fi rst twelve (12) months. years at prime +3%. be for the term of the real estate sublease at prime + 3%. the fi rst 90 days after the store is opened and will be amortized over the above periods after that. Penalty-free early pay off will be included in the terms. fi nancing to each of these applicants. Signing an easyhome US Ltd or an easygates, LLC Franchise Agreement is a requirement of this opportunity (and includes personal guaranties). All applicants will be expected to obtain alternative fi nancing to replace the initial fi nancing that we provide within 2 years. A franchise is a complex arrangement and involves risk. Please see the Disclaimers below. easyhomefranchising.com Rules and Regulations Summary (The complete rules and regulations for this competition are available online at easyhomefranchising.com) 1. This competition is sponsored by easyhome US Ltd. The competition starts at 12:00:00am ET on September 21, All entries which must include your resume, information form and video questionnaire must be fi led electronically and/or mailed no later than 11:59:59pm ET on October 31, 2009 or must be Postmarked no later than October 31, 2009, and received by easyhome US Ltd. no later than November 9, All applications must be submitted in the name of an individual applicant. There are several levels to this competition, described below. 2. Our judges are senior executives of easyhome US Ltd and its US master franchisor. They will evaluate your resume, information form and video questionnaire for experience, personal achievement, professional achievement, education and other objective criteria (for complete description of judging criteria, go to easyhomefranchising.com) and select up to 20 applicants to receive confi dential franchise disclosure documents and a business plan template (Nov. 16). These applicants will be asked to submit a business plan using our template (estimated 3-5 hours to complete) (due Nov. 30); using the judging criteria, the judges will select 10 applicants (Dec. 11) and notify them by phone or (Dec. 14). 3. These 10 applicants will be interviewed by phone (Dec. 21), then attend an in-person interview in Canada (Jan , 2010). NOTE: For the 2-day Canada visit A VALID U.S. PASSPORT IS REQUIRED; easyhome pays round trip fl ight to Toronto and one-night hotel stay, applicants pay their other expenses. Our judges will evaluate these 10 applicants on the basis of their interviews and other judging criteria (detailed at easyhomefranchising.com), and select and notify the two top applicants and three runners up (Jan. 18, 2010), who will be publicly announced shortly thereafter. 4. easyhome US Ltd. respects the individual commitments and obligations that the applicants may hold with their current employers, and will work to assist in avoiding any confl ict of interest or non-compete and non-disclosure agreements. However, if you become a franchisee, you authorize easyhome US Ltd. to use your name and other information contained in your entry materials on the Internet and elsewhere, including in publicity materials (unless prohibited by law). 5. This is not a contest of chance or sweepstakes. We are seeking qualifi ed applicants to become easyhome franchisees. easyhome US Ltd. will select applicants for this opportunity based on our assessment of their ability to become successful franchisees and to meet their fi nancial and other obligations under our franchise agreement. The risk of operating a business will be borne by the franchisee under the terms and conditions of the Franchise Agreement. 6. A copy of easyhome US Ltd. s or easygates, LLC s current Franchise Disclosure Document & Franchise Agreement will be furnished to each qualified prospective applicant. Applications will be considered beginning 14 days after delivery to them of the FDD. By applying, each applicant agrees to maintain the confi dentiality of the FDD and Franchise Agreement. The opportunities are conditioned on the successful applicants completing our franchise application process and entering into easyhome US Ltd. s or easygates, LLC s standard Franchise Agreement. If an applicant for any reason does not execute and deliver a standard Franchise Agreement then no part of any opportunity will be offered to that applicant. easyhome US Ltd. easyhome US Ltd. assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen, destroyed or otherwise unreadable applications due to any failure or technical malfunction or any other reason. DISCLAIMERS This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. This advertisement and the information contained herein is for information purposes only, and is neither an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to purchase, an easyhome franchise. Any such offer or solicitation that may be made will be pursuant to an offering prospectus or circular and only after the prospectus or circular has been fi led with the state in which the offer is made. Any offer to sell an easyhome franchise will be made only to individuals who have completed an application and have been qualifi ed to receive a Franchise Disclosure Document. For those individuals who apply and who qualify, an offer to sell the franchise will only be made in conjunction with the delivery of a Franchise Disclosure Document. There are approximately 15 states in the USA that regulate the offer and sale of franchises. The states are California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are a resident of one of these states, or intend to operate an easyhome franchise there, then we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction. Currently, we are registered or have registration applications pending in certain of these states. In the state of New York, an offering of a franchise can only be made by a prospectus that has been previously fi led and registered with the department of law of the State of New York. The application for registration of an offering prospectus or the acceptance and fi ling thereof by the department of law as required by the New York law does not constitute approval of the offering or the sale of such franchise by the department of law or the attorney general of New York. This opportunity to apply for an easyhome franchise is void where prohibited by law and is subject to all federal, state and municipal laws and regulations of the United States. The past performance of our corporate parent and certain of its stores does not guarantee any result for franchisees and is not an earnings claim. In this notice, we refer to certain historical fi nancial information about our corporate parent, easyhome Ltd. and certain of its stores. This information is provided to acquaint you with certain aspects of the business method licensed to us by easyhome Ltd. and is not intended as an earnings claim of easyhome U.S. Ltd. easyhome Ltd. operates only in Canada and not in the United States, and primarily operates company-owned, not franchised, stores. For these reasons and because of other risks and uncertainties, such as the ability and experience of franchisees, competition, and general business and economic conditions, we cannot give any assurance as to the revenue or earnings that will be achieved by any franchisee. *****easyhome US Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary and licensee of easyhome Ltd s trademark and proprietary business methods.

26 easyhome 2009 National Managers Meeting - Toronto Photos copyright RTO Online, Inc. Contact [email protected] to arrange coverage of your company event. easyhome, Canada s largest rentalpurchase company, now franchising in the US, recently held it s 2009 National Conference in Toronto. Hundreds of managers and executives participated in the easyhome Olympics on Centre Island. Teams competed in events from rock climbing to tug-of-war. Region 4 took the gold. The theme of this year s conference was The Big-Time. As the dominant leasing company in Canada, one could argue that the company has already arrived. But easyhome leadership says the company has barely scratched the surface of its potential for growth. Dave Maries, Senior VP Operations and Merchandising for easyhome, says the company s growth depends on focusing on the Big 3 - People, Customers and Values. The big three take every one of you here today to The Big Time. easyhome is streamlining its systems to put the right tools in the hands of frontline troops. The company has embarked on a push to utilize technology to ease administrative burdens at the store level, allowing team members to focus more time on customers. President David Ingram says that easyhome s secret sauce is its ability to build relationships. Our ability to build relationships is like no other business out there, he said. easyhome CEO David Ingram on stage at the company s 2009 Managers Meeting in Toronto.

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28 RTO Magazine Franchise Edition A d v e r t i s e m e n t Premier: One of the Fastest Growing Young Franchisors in America Here s Why. By Trooper Earle, President/CEO, The Premier Companies Trooper Earle The Premier Companies recently was ranked the fifth Fastest Growing Young Franchisor in America by FRANdata, the franchise industry s source for objective information and analysis. FA S T E S T G ROW I N G While our growth over the last few years has exceeded our expectations, we were surprised to see it relative to other franchising organizations through this ranking and especially interested to learn that we are the only company on this list to come from the rental-purchase industry. We met an aggressive early goal to grow from 4 to 40 stores in 4 years. And we shot past that well before those four years were over. Building the 82 franchises that we now have in just five years has been an exciting accomplishment. This ranking truly is a big feather in our cap and the result of a team effort of Premier staff combined with the partnerships with our dealers to establish something unique in the franchising industry. We have a proven strategy that is very different from other franchisors. We strongly support the entrepreneurial spirit that triggers potential dealers to launch their businesses. We help them design an effective business plan and get the financing they need. We provide support in training, marketing, accounting, legal, real estate, human resources and vendor relations. Our comprehensive program has made it possible for Premier dealers to realize their dream of self-employment. And because of our flexibility, dealers are allowed to chart their own course to success with on-going assistance from us. But we support, not dictate, their everyday activities. That unique philosophy, combined with a positive track record that appeals to lending institutions, makes The Premier Companies very attractive to prospective dealers and, to me, is the reason for our growth. I founded Premier in 2004 when I saw the potential in helping entrepreneurs, with experience in the rent-to-own industry, transition from being operator to owner. Getting qualified and committed dealers open and running became our strong suit. And then as we grew, we began to expand our focus and strengthen our infrastructure to support dealer growth whether as single or multi-store owners. Over the past year in particular, we have added increased value to the Premier franchise agreement in the form of cutting edge human resources that now include a paperless system for record keeping and training, an expanded and extensive marketing program that recently has added dealer websites featuring real-time inventory, and in-field employee training. I ve enjoyed watching the Premier family grow to include other brands: Premier Home Furnishings, Premier Wheel Workz, Premier Auto by Rent and Premier UGethca Cash Services. These have been natural progressions to reach our market base in new ways that support their needs and bring increased value and opportunity to Premier franchisees. As always, I welcome the chance to talk to potential Premier business owners about how one of our brands might fit their entrepreneurial dreams. I am eager to share what steps are involved in becoming part of our Premier family. Our comprehensive program has made it possible for Premier dealers to realize their dream of self-employment.

29 A d v e r t i s e m e n t What some of our newest dealers are saying: Former Market Manager Opens Premier Store in Jacksonville, Fla. Mike Zagar opened his Premier Rental-Purchase store in Jacksonville, Fla., armed with 14 years of industry experience. I had heard a lot of good things about Premier, he said. I liked the independence Mike Zagar they give their dealers. They don t lock anyone into a certain set of procedures or demand that they run their business in a particular way. Each dealer has his own style the style in which they are trained and therefore are comfortable with. At the same time, Zagar liked that Premier provides all the support without the restrictions he ran into in his research of other companies. Since opening, he has discovered how much he likes having Premier s human resources and marketing services available. Premier s Human Resources handles payroll for me. That takes a lot off my plate because I don t have to do much. I submit the hours and they do everything else. It also helps to have a dealer-run board providing advertising and marketing materials. I leave the creativity to them and am using their quarterly marketing campaign rather than having to think one up on my own. He added, Premier made it very easy to go into business. I was able to focus on opening, renting and collecting right away. RTO Veterans Bring Choices and Customer Care to Kearney After 22 years of combined service to the Central Nebraska rental market, Mike Shuler and Heath Peters opened their Premier store in Kearney, Ne. I knew a lot about the business, said Peters, but I didn t know how to Mike Shuler and Heath Peters start a business. I was scared to start out on my own. Mike was thinking the same thing and approached me to see if I was interested. I had read about Premier Rental-Purchase in RTO Magazine and they seemed like a place to start for the support we needed. I also read success stories about Premier franchisees and watched every podcast I could get my hands on from the RTO website. I made the decision after speaking with Trooper that this was my calling to be an entrepreneur. Trooper explained all of the benefits provided by Premier such as the human resource services, legal counsel, accounting support, and the lending assistance that is available. I spoke to numerous Premier dealers who had walked down the road with Trooper, and I was convinced. The common statement throughout was you will love being on your own. It s indescribable compared to working for a big corporation. So we signed on. Shuler said. Here I had been doing rental-purchase for 20 years, and I finally broke off on my own. I have a great partner to go forward with, and it clearly has been the right decision. I enjoy getting up every day and being able to have a positive impact on the lives of others around me. I love the industry and most importantly I love seeing people grow. I have the opportunity to impact the lives of many around me on a daily basis, both customers and employees, and there is no greater experience. Twenty-five Year Industry Vet Opens Premier Franchise in Murfreesboro, Tn. Tom Opial opened his Premier Rental Purchase store in Murfreesboro, Tenn. as a 25- year RTO industry Tom and Martie Opial veteran. He watched a number of his colleagues go into business for themselves even some of his former store managers from Rainbow Rentals days. Seeing this, Tom decided he too wanted the challenge of being independent and controlling his own destiny. His friends all had good things to say about Premier and the franchising process, so Tom made the bold move to own his own Premier store. It should have been easier, but Opial saw firsthand how tough it was to get money during the country s financial crisis. He is the first to agree that persistence wins. I never gave up. My wife Martie and I wanted to own our own business, and we kept plodding on despite the lack of institutions out there giving money. It s starting to open back up, and we are on our way. Premier lets you do your thing. They have their system in place and give you the support you need. Some dealers need a lot. But if you don t, they don t bother you. I came into this with lots of experience; I had a foundation on the front side and Martie had been involved on the corporate level of RTO. So Premier was perfect for our style. The national office of Premier Rental- Purchase is located in Williamsburg, VA. All Premier stores are independently owned and operated. Visit Premier s website at or call (800) 2Premier and ask for Trooper Earle.

30 RTO Magazine Franchise Edition PREMIER UGetcha Cash When traditional banks left the small loan market years ago, they left working families in need of cash with limited options for meeting sudden needs. Particularly hurt were those in financial crunches who certainly could not afford to bounce a check with overdraft charges at banks soaring. This sparked rapid growth in the payday loan industry and a renewed interest and support in recent months by lending institutions, clear evidence that consumers both want and utilize this service and are getting the response they deserve. Responding to this consumer demand and recognizing at the same time that its rental-purchase dealers were in a key position to expand their operations and cross market, The Premier Companies launched its UGetcha Cash (UGC). UGC represents a logical step for the RTO professional to increase revenue and customer traffic within existing or new RTO stores. And, it is a proven concept. Premier owner/operators have begun to successfully combine payday lending and related services inside their stores and offer their customer base the convenience of one-stop shopping. They are allowing their consumer to effectively respond to short term financial needs, cash checks and pay a number of bills while capitalizing on increased sales opportunities driven by additional new customers. They have proven that Rent-to-Own can and will continue to evolve, and payday loans with or without other money service products are going to be the new look within the industry. A Variety of Resources and Services One of the five Premier Companies brands, UGetcha Cash is in a position to benefit from the many years of successful franchising within the Premier family. This unique position allows us the opportunity to offer small business owners and operators availability and access to resources and services such as human resources (including payroll, health insurance and benefits programs), real estate expertise, marketing services, computer software support, accounting, and legal advise. UGC is committed to assisting RTO operators and companies outside the Premier family in implementing a training program that stresses the importance of cross selling from one product and company to another, taking full advantage of new and existing customer traffic within the store. For more information, contact Tom Wurm (757) , [email protected], or visit Like RTO, the Payday Loan industry has experienced some negative regional scrutiny and press from well meaning individuals, presenting their personal values and beliefs as the much needed medicine for our national economic problems. Yet three major banks now have launched similar products, recognizing the legitimate need of ordinary citizens for quick, accessible short term loans to meet unexpected financial bills of one sort or another. The entrance of these traditional and previously inflexible lenders into our industry speaks volumes about the legitimacy and need for a short term loan product offering. Clearly, these banks have embraced the logic of increasing traffic and new shoppers into their existing core business by offering this product, and so can you. Tom Wurm, VP Operations, UGetcha Cash We wanted another avenue to build additional traffic and add a new potential revenue source. We thought UGetcha Cash was a perfect fit for us. We opened our location within a Premier Rental store in San Antonio, Texas in Brian Clussman January Premier helped us partner with someone here in Texas that had appropriate software and the lenders that we needed to be able to operate as a Credit Services Organization (CSO). While it has been challenging to run different operations within the same walls, it also is rewarding. We are helping customers with short term loans and are continuing to build our customer and revenue base. We are moving forward in both businesses and feel that they add value to one another. Overall, it has had a positive impact on us as an organization. Brian Clussman, San Antonio Joshua Goss and I opened our UGetcha business last November at our Premier Bradenton, Fla. store because we saw an opportunity for a new income stream. We saw our current customers going elsewhere for cash services, and there was no reason they couldn t have their needs met right here in our store. It has turned out to meet an increasing need, especially with the way the economy is right now. Premier was very helpful in getting us set up and in providing ongoing training and consultation on our books and marketing. This was a great business decision and is going well. Ruben Flores, Bradenton Ruben Flores and Joshua Goss

31 A d v e r t i s e m e n t In 2008, The Premier Companies, a rental-purchase franchising organization, joined with Wheel Workz, a leader in wheel retail and leasing, to form Premier Wheel Workz. This joint venture offers franchise opportunities to experienced wheel and tire dealers and rental-purchase veterans. Trooper Earle - CEO/president of Premier, Tommy Crenshaw Founder of Wheel Workz and president of the new venture along with Dale Ingram who is vicepresident of operations, brought together industry knowledge and franchising expertise to create an organization that provides dealers with unique advantages and a formula for success. These include systematic training in the operation of a wheels and tires store, training for those new to lease-purchase, business plan development and access to financing support along with ongoing programs for marketing, human resources, accounting and other services that free up a franchisee to run his or her business. Trooper Earle President/CEO, The Premier Companies What dealers are saying: Tom Gould Greensboro, N.C. You bend em, we mend em is the new saying at some Premier Wheel Workz stores, where customers not only can buy or lease wheels and tires, but they also can come in to repair their bent rims. Tom Gould feels he now can take care of every customer s needs and build a natural income stream. The national office of Premier Wheel Workz is located in Williamsburg, Va. For more information, contact Dale Ingram at , [email protected] or visit Pam Hulsey, Horn Lake, Miss. Tom Gould opened his Premier store in Greensboro, N.C. in Gould came out of the rental-purchase industry to sign on with Premier as one of its first wheel and tire dealers. To this 17-year veteran of the RTO industry and former manager for Rent- A-Center, wheels and tires were an interest, but he is quick to admit he was not seasoned in anything but rental-purchase. Confident that he would have the training and support he needed with Premier, he took the leap, opened his franchise and has achieved success. Premier Wheel Workz is a different player in the wheel and tire leasing industry because of the time that Tommy Crenshaw and Dale Ingram have in the industry. Their combined 40 years of experience in custom wheel and tires is priceless, plus they are willing to pass it along through some very in-depth training to someone like me who was not seasoned in the industry. That is just the wheel and tire side. Add to that Premier s expertise in franchising the ways they help a dealer set up his business and support his decision to be an entrepreneur and run things his way. In short, they are different because of their ability to teach and offer training combined with some very cutting-edge franchising services. Pam Hulsey, owner of E-Z Rentals in Horn Lake, Miss., joined the Premier Wheel Workz family in December 2009 as a cobrand dealer. She was looking forward not only to expanding to existing customers but also to welcoming a new and different clientele to her store. And she is very pleased with the results. The Premier Wheel Workz operation is displayed on one side and furniture and appliances on the other. Business has blended much better than I thought it might. We have wheel and tire customers who come in and are surprised to find we also offer furniture and appliances, and vice versa. We also attract a clientele that has never been in a rent to own store looking at both wheels and furniture. I particularly enjoy watching couples come in. No matter what they thought they were coming in for, they end up splitting at the door, each to check out what they are interested in. Premier s help with the integration was great. All I had to do was ask if I needed anything. The training was very extensive and helpful, especially since we knew very little about wheels and tires. I am blessed with employees who have been willing to jump in and learn. We are very excited about the opportunities ahead! Tommy Crenshaw President, Premier Wheel Workz Dale Ingram VP Operations

32 The Premier Companies 2009 Dealer Retreat - Atlanta Photos copyright RTO Online, Inc. Contact [email protected] to arrange coverage of your company event. The Premier Companies 2009 Dealer Retreat was held in Atlanta, Georgia. The Retreat kicked-off with attendees heading to Turner Field to watch the Atlanta Braves take on the New York Yankees. Jim Upchurch, VP of franchise support, and Premier Rental Purchase franchisee Chad Moody were chosen to step onto Turner Field with Braves pitcher Tim Hudson in a golf shoot-out from home plate before the game. Premier franchisees operate 78 locations in 24 states under 5 brands and was recently named the 5th fastest growing young franchise in the U.S. One of the most anticipated events of the retreat was an address by Wayland Russell, founder and former CEO of Rainbow Rentals. Russell focused on the entrepreneurial spirit and explained how Rainbow s mantra More, Better, Different continually challenged those within the organization to take Rainbow s performance off the charts and change the industry. Trooper Earle, CEO of The Premier Companies, said Russell was, an inspiration to a number of current Premier dealers. Premier conducted a series of expert workshops where franchisees learned winning strategies, shared marketing ideas and developed plans for the coming year. Workshops included: - Are you ready to open a second store? - Effectively Manage Your Money - How to Manage Your Business Effectively by Understanding Your Financial Statements - Talent Management - Battling the Rising Cost of Health Care - Marketing on a Tight Budget - Membership Programs: Add Revenue and Improve the Customer Experience - Increase Your Revenue with Co-branding - Lease/Rent-to-Own Used Cars - Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines! - How to Purchase and Keep CFOI Strong! - Intentional Customer Satisfaction - Marketing: Tricks of the Trade; Tools from Premier - Special Open Forum: Human Resources Hidden Costs - Special Session - Thinking Outside the Book L-R Chad Moody, Premier Rental Purchase franchisee; Jim Upchurch, The Premier Companies VP franchise support; and Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson. Moody, Upchurch and Hudson hit golf balls from homeplate into center field before the game.

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34 RTO Magazine Franchise Edition No Man is an Island A few years ago I reminded my franchisee community client that no man is an island, that actions and competitive battles have the potential for far reaching and adverse consequences. By Woody Webb After almost 27 years of involvement with the rental-purchase industry in general and the franchise community in particular, I think I have seen, or heard, just about everything. Some situations and cases have caused me to want to get an adult drink and other situations and cases have caused me to need an adult drink. Periodically and, in fact, recently, internecine warfare breaks out between or among certain factions or competitors in the rental-purchase industry. Most of the time, I suspect, all the disparate elements of the industry attempt to get along for the common good or to ward off the common enemies. However, occasionally I am reminded of that old Clarence Darrow quote that I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure. In these economically stressed times, where in some areas of the county the most highly paid job is jury duty, competition can be cutthroat and damn near nasty. A few years ago I reminded my franchisee community client that no man is an island, that actions and competitive battles have the potential for far reaching and adverse consequences. I will summarize the information that I imparted to my franchisees but will also note that all of us in the rental-purchase industry (including those who rent to own rims and tires, designer handbags, bikes, etc. as well as those who offer financial services) are really franchisees. The franchisor is the industry and we are all in this business together and we are all, in the end, responsible for each other. Courts throughout the country have generally been reluctant to hold franchisors liable for the acts or omissions of their franchisees. Basically this is because the franchisees both in fact and by contract (i.e., the Franchise Agreement) are not agents of the franchisors but rather are independent contractors. However, there are Court decisions in which a franchisor has been held vicariously liable for injuries sustained by patrons on the franchisee s premises as well as for actions of employees of the franchisee. For example, Dominos Pizza was ruled vicariously responsible for an accident caused by the franchisee s pizza delivery driver who was simply attempting to deliver in 30 minutes or less as promised in the national advertising promotion. In another case Holiday Inns, Inc. the motel franchisor, was held vicariously liable for injuries sustained by a customer who was assaulted and robbed at the franchisee s hotel. Similarly, an Illinois Court declared Travelodge International, Inc., a California franchisor, liable for the injury to a franchisee guest who fell from a second floor window in an attempt to elude an intruder into his room. Just defending an action brought against the franchisor is typically expensive and time consuming even if the case is ultimately dismissed. In 1995 two minors who were employed by a Subway franchisee claimed that they had been sexually harassed, and, in fact, molested over a period of eleven months by the restaurant manager, claims which the manager admitted and for which he was sentenced to prison. The minors admitted that they had had no contact whatsoever with the franchisor, that they had not been interviewed for employment by nor entered into any contracts with the franchisor and that their paychecks came from the franchisee. Despite these admissions, the minors sued the Subway franchisor for intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of fiduciary duty, vicarious liability, negligent supervision and loss of consortium. While the Court eventually dismissed the case against the franchisor, the cost of defense was no doubt considerable. More importantly perhaps from the perspective of the Subway franchisor and its franchise system was the highly negative publicity surrounding the claims and its damaging effect on the Subway brand. Not only was the franchisor s good name sullied by the lawsuit but so too were the business operations of all the other Subway franchisees. All of the above is by way of saying that what occurs within or even outside of a franchisee s independently owned and operated store or hotel or pizza parlor may well have severely negative consequences within that business and even beyond that business. Hence, although some things are clearly beyond even the most diligent franchisee s control, being a good, conscientious, hands-on caretaker of your operations not only will reflect well on your business but will also help the entire franchise system as well. By extension, the principles enunciated above relative to franchisor-franchisee systems are also applicable across the board to all of us in the rental-purchase industry, particularly at this period in time, when we are likely to become political targets. Be careful, be mindful and beware! Woody Webb of The Edmisten & Webb Law Firm in Raleigh, North Carolina has been an attorney associated with the rent-to-own industry for over twenty three (23) years principally on behalf of ColorTyme, Inc. and its franchisees. A former member of the North Carolina Attorney General s Office and a United States Attorney in the Eastern District of North Carolina, he concentrates his practice in the federal courts. Woody has been a Guest Commentator for Court TV since Woody has most recently been commentating for Court TV on the Duke lacrosse alleged rape case. 34 RTOonline.com

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36 RTO Magazine Franchise Edition Blurring the Line between Retail and RTO Retailers and Rent to Own Dealers Partner to Expand Both Markets A unique idea is turning into mainstream business. By John Centofanti Without fanfare, the RTO (Rent-to-Own) industry has deepened its ties to the retail world. In the past several years, many Rent-to-Own companies have partnered with retailers to get merchandise into the hands and homes of more consumers. Since its inception, Rent-to-Own has been culturally and economically separated from retail, both in the minds of consumers and Rent-to-Own dealers. Rent-to-Own customers typically had poor credit or no credit. With few options, many customers believed they had no other way to get the products they needed other than to rent them. Rent-to-Own companies proactively located their stores in low-income or middle-to-low income neighborhoods. This was a social and economic demographic that depended on Rent-to-Own to survive. Rent-to-Own companies partnering with national or regional retailers is a fairly young but growing trend. Yet it now takes the RTO and retail relationship to a deeper and more profitable level. Some companies have discovered a largely untapped market of consumers who prefer shopping at traditional retailers for furniture, appliances, computers and electronics, yet who need the alternative financing RTO offers. One such business is TRS Home Furnishings, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based company with 120 locations in 21 states. The relationship between TRS and a retailer includes a TRS kiosk or offices located inside the retail store. When retail customers are not approved for credit, TRS staff presents them with Rent-to-Own financing options. The TRS business model is that it positions itself as the retailer s largest customer. TRS buys the furniture off the floor at retail price, and then rents the product to the customers. TRS requires its customers to pay 15% of the total retail purchase price upfront before delivery of the merchandise. Monthly payments are the only option a customer has for fulfilling a rental agreement. The product is delivered by the retail store, but the Rent-to- Own agreement is managed and enforced by TRS. The furniture retailer enjoys more sales from customers who didn t qualify for traditional financing, and TRS operates without the expense of a building or delivery vehicles. While offering mostly furniture, TRS also offers appliances and electronics, depending on the retail partner. TRS historically has approved 98% of all customers who were turned down for financing. Additionally, the company shares a scenario in their marketing materials that claims an average furniture retail store can recover over $1 million in lost sales. Consider a retail furniture store with an annual retail volume of $15 million. Potentially, the store loses $1.5 million in sales due to customers not approved for credit. Because of the 98% approval TRS offers, the retail store can gain back over a million dollars annually. TRS targets retail partners with annual revenue ranging from $8 million to over $200 million. They are located within large chains such as Ashley Furniture Homestores and Rooms To Go, one of the nation s largest independent furniture retailers with 150 locations. TRS kiosks are also located in numerous regional chains. It s possible some customers have left your Rent-to-Own store and shopped at Ashley Furniture Homestores, only to have their agreement managed by TRS. However, TRS is not the only company to seize this opportunity. Other RTO organizations are popping up in a variety of retail spaces. Flexi Compras is a company operating in over 40 cities in Texas, within such big box retailers as Best Buy and Lowes, as well as HEB and Fiesta grocery stores. Not surprisingly, Rent-A-Center is also part of the action. They now operate RAC Acceptance in some Ashley Furniture Home Stores. A job posting for RAC Acceptance states on the Rent-A-Center website, Working with high end furniture retailers, we help to convert furniture contracts into rent-to-own agreements. Rent-A-Center s VP of Public Affairs, Xavier Dominicis, acknowledged they are new to this type of relationship and are only located in a handful of stores. Further, he shared this arrangement is not central to the mission of Rent-A-Center, but does allow the company to reach more consumers who are searching for flexibility and control. Dominicis did not indicate whether Rent-A-Center would pursue this opportunity more aggressively in the future. continued on page RTOonline.com

37 We ve got you covered large distribution centers for quick shipping & fast delivery Largest selection of computer & laptop brands in the industry Infinite selection of CE products from large panels to small appliances Long term product management & forecasting for seasonal planning Customized 24 hour account access: Call (866) MSI Wind Laptop 18.5 LCD SKU# MSI-WINDTOPAE19005 Panasonic 50 TV SKU# PNC-TCP50X1 Kodak Video Camera ZI6 SKU#: KDK Asus EEE PC 1000HE 10 LCD SKU# ASU-EEEPC1000HE160GB New Age Electronics is a division of SYNNEX Corporation. Copyright 2009 SYNNEX Corporation. All rights reserved. SYNNEX, the SYNNEX Logo, New Age Electronics, the New Age Electronics Logo, and all other SYNNEX company, product and services names and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of SYNNEX Corporation. SYNNEX and the SYNNEX Logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Other names and marks are the property of their respective owners. RTOonline.com 37

38 While some RTO companies have only focused their efforts on increasing traffic to their stores, companies like TRS have found a niche market with little or no competition. A unique idea is turning into mainstream business. Along with this trend, many Rent-to-Own companies have become increasingly retail focused. Some companies include rentalpurchase in their store names, while many push cash sales to move merchandise faster. Certainly Aaron s gets credit for bridging some of the gap between retail and RTO. This is due to its effective marketing of lease-purchase as a convenient option rather than because it s the only option for low-income customers. Arrangements like the kind TRS has with retailers appeal to both retailers and RTO companies. The retailer not only offers the large, well-branded showrooms with costly displays, but delivers the foot traffic as well. An RTO store may not see in a week the traffic a retail store sees in one day. The opportunity to reach a large market outside of an RTO store with little capital investment seems to make more sense than ever. It appears in most of these RTO-retail arrangements, the retailer provides the new products and the delivery, while the RTO company manages the financial end, including collections, enforcing the agreements, and merchandise pick up. What happens to picked up merchandise? In most cases, the used product is returned to the nearest RTO location, not back to the retail store. Displaying all new merchandise is one reason you d never realize that a retailer is offering RTO financing. Most importantly, this model seems to appeal to a large segment of consumers as well. Customers who may never step foot in an RTO 4R_HP_9-09_FINAL:Layout store, or want an RTO vehicle 1 9/15/09 in their driveway, 4:17 PM get the Page best 1of both worlds. They get the entire retail experience and the RTO financing without the stigma sometimes associated with rent to own. In this economy, this consumer segment may be growing. Nobody hesitates to tell friends they just leased a new vehicle. However, many people would be embarrassed to reveal they rented their sofa, TV, or worse, their bedroom set. To be clear, Rent-to-Own is really just a marketing term, not a legal term. Legally, customers are leasing the product, just as you might lease a car or an apartment. Who is responsible for the Rent-to-Own stigma? The RTO industry must take responsibility for its past. Today the overwhelming majority of Rent-to-Own dealers treats their customers with respect and delivers great service. Yet, the industry can t deny some practices of the past affect it today. With a reputation of disrespecting customers, who in the industry hasn t heard stories of illegal collection practices, unprofessional behavior, or even assault? You ve probably seen Redbox DVD kiosk outside your local grocery store. After all, there are 15,000 of them nationally. Redbox recently announced on its website the rental of their 500 millionth DVD. Who needs a video rental store? While it s a slightly different industry, there s a trend you can t ignore. The way consumers shop is changing. If the RTO-retail trend continues, business as you now know it may end. Will buying groups and trade associations be necessary any longer? Whether you own a single store or are part of a large national chain, this business model deserves your attention. How can your company get a slice of the retail pie? Is it possible for a single store owner to partner with a local furniture or electronics store? The rentto-own industry has always found new ways to get merchandise in the hands of the consumer. Maybe it s time to for the RTO industry as a whole to innovate again and profit more than ever. Giant WindBlade Pole Banners Stand 16 Tall Custom WindBlade Banners Ship in 48 hours! Ordering custom WindBlades is quick and easy! Call with your message and colors we ll design a 2-sided WindBlade banner and ship in 48 hours or less. Custom WindBlades: only $179 ea. *Requires telescoping pole kit $69 each New WindBlade pole banners with RTO-specific messages demand attention in front of your store! Easy 5-minute installation 2.5ft x 11.5ft vertical banner slides on new, fiberglass telescoping 16ft pole and sticks in the ground by the side of the road. Premium, bow-head design always stays open. Vibrant dye-penetration, 4-color printing for 2-sided viewing. Super-strong, knitted-polyester parachute cloth material with double-sewn, lock-stitched hems for long outdoor life. STOCK WINDBLADES SHOWN only $129 each! View more stock WindBlades at Requires new telescoping Pole Kit $69 Super-strong fiberglass pole! Telescopes up to 16 ft! Rated for up to 75 MPH winds! 1 year warranty! Call for more information on other Colortyme Windblades. 38 RTOonline.com #WB-RTO #WB-LWR #WB-QBN #WB-LMR #WB-LEASE #WB-FREE #WB-NCC To order call

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