★ PRESENTING SPONSORS ★

Premier Sponsor Assosiation of Professional Rental Organizations APRO elevates the rent-to-own industry through advocacy and education to better serve our members.

Vendor Sponsor Wow Brands Designed specifically for the rent to own industry with ecommerce and lead generation strategies.

Dealer Sponsor RNR Tire Express The best value on today’s top brand name tires and wheels.

A Word from the Host: Tariffs Are Hitting Our Showrooms. Here Is What Dealers Need to Know.

If you have priced a living room group lately, you already know something is going on. Since October, a 25 percent tariff has been sitting on imported upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities, and nearly every retailer in the country has passed that cost straight to the sales floor. Furniture inflation spiked to almost 10 percent last year before cooling off, and the scheduled jump to 30 percent has only been delayed, not canceled. It is now set for January 2027. That means every dealer reading this has about eighteen months to get their house in order. In this post I want to walk through what tariffs actually mean for your day to day, some practical ways to manage the rising costs, and why, believe it or not, this environment might be one of the best positioning opportunities the RTO industry has seen in years.

Latest Podcast Episode's

Legacy Of Service: The History Behind the Kirk Kaye Volunteer Award Some people leave a résumé. Others leave a wake of better days behind them. Cecilia Kaye joins the show to share the story of her late husband, Kirk Kaye, a rent-to-own leader remembered for putting people first long before it was a slogan. We trace his path from First American Rental in Atlanta to opening Gator Rents in Daytona Beach, and the leadership style that paired high expectations with real encouragement. Then we get to the heart of why FRDA honors him through the Kirk Kaye Volunteer Award, and how Cecilia and her children now choose each recipient based on character and the spirit of service. This one is a tribute worth your time. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to the full episode Watch the interview

You Know What to Do, So Why Aren't You Doing It? John Preston on Decision Paralysis Your brain is not broken, it's overloaded. John Preston joins the show to explain why so many entrepreneurs, GMs, and sales pros get stuck in a loop of planning, worrying, and second-guessing when they already know what to do next. He introduces "Clearing the Sleary," his upcoming business narrative built on a metaphor you won't forget: a clogged sink cannot flow until you stop adding more gunk. We get into a simple litmus test for information overload, why clarity systems beat willpower on high-stakes decisions, the real dollar cost of low-value tasks, and how to catch the inner voice before it spirals. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to the full episode Watch the interview

Special events of the last 2 weeks

Amazing time at RNR Tire Express Corporate office enjoying an mouth watering cookout (Will Jackson was the chef of the day), a great DX3 meeting inspired by Red, White and BOOM, and the absolutley amazing 250th birthday celebration of the U.S. of A.! Plus, the team members at RNR stacked backpaks with supplies for a back to school event for later this summer.

RTO Industry: Headline News

​Attorney General Schwalb Secures $4 Million from “Rent to Own” Company Acima for Engaging in Deceptive Lease Agreements​ Acima will pay $4 million and forgive debt for more than 10,000 DC customers to settle claims of deceptive lease practices. It's the latest reminder that transparency at the point of sale is what keeps our industry protected. News Source: Oagpress@dc.gov - July 9th, 2026

​Should Upbound Group’s Removal From Key Russell Indices Require Action From Upbound Group (UPBD) Investors?​ On June 27, Upbound Group was removed from multiple Russell indices, including the Russell 2000, a move that could shake up who owns the stock and how Wall Street sees it. With legal pressure on Acima still in play, this one is worth watching. News Source: Simply Wall St - July 10th, 2026

​Lyn Leach Retires from RTO After 44 Years of Leadership, Friendship, & Industry Service ​ Lyn Leach built Ace Rent-To-Own from a single Nebraska store in 1982 into a 24-location legacy, and now he's passing the torch to the next generation. His advice on how to leave the business is something every dealer should read. News Source: APRO / RTOHQ.org - July 7th, 2026

Franchise & Store-Level News

• ​RNR Tire Express: Lima, Ohio grand opening July 13; named to Franchise Business Review's 2026 Culture100 List
• ​Buddy's News: Former Farmington and Dexter, MO locations reopened as National TV Sales and Rental; Buddy's also appears in Retail Dive's running 2026 retail deals list

Upcoming RTO Industry Events

• July 16th-18th - 2026 Full-O-Pep Expo & Company Picnic​
• July 21st-22nd - 2026 VersiRent User Conference​
• July 26th-30th - 2026 Las Vegas Summer Market​
• August 9th-12th - 2026 AVB BrandSource Convention​
• August 10th-12th - 2026 Buddy’s Leadership Conference​
• August 23rd-26th - 2026 Nationwide PrimeTime – Fall​
• August 24th-27th - 2026 RTO World​

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RTO Legend: Mike Tissot on D... Mar 24 · The RTO Show "Let's talk... 60:53   ​