APRO Member and past MRDA president John Cleek Jr. and his wife Heather welcomed their first grandchild, Rhett Clifton Cleek, at 2:30 PM on March 30, with the new bundle of joy weighing in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. Congratulations to the proud grandparents and their son Johnny and daughter-in-law Renee! Great-grandparents, former APRO president “Tiger” John Cleek Sr. and his wife Ann, also get bragging rights on this special occasion!

 

Welcome to the world, Rhett Clifton Cleek!

The Department of Labor reported this week that a record 6.65 million people filed for unemployment from March 22 to March 28. It was the largest single-week increase in unemployment claims in American history, and that number is expected to rise even higher in coming weeks. U.S. employers reported cutting 701,000 jobs in March, while the nation's unemployment rate rose to 4.4% from 3.5% in February.These statistics begin to paint the picture of a new reality in the rent-to-own world, one in which dealers increasingly will need to work with customers while they navigate through job loss and unemployment.  
 
With this in mind, we are highlighting some membership programs that can help RTO dealers and customers during these uncertain times.

Ashley Furniture Senior Vice President of Business Development Kerry Lebensburger is an industry icon and best known for his wise words and the directness he uses in delivering them.

 

This week, the industry veteran gave us all some things to think about in our marketing in the midst of a pandemic. Read Lebensburger’s tips and put to practice what you can.

APRO will host additional Industry Support Calls to assist dealer members in the next two weeks. APRO members can join to discuss what’s happening in their area and in their businesses. In addition, we will have guests providing information on relevant resources and executive order updates as they happen.

 

To limit the size of the call groups to a manageable size, we will offer a call for dealers with 10 or fewer stores, and one for dealers with more than 10 stores.

 

To participate, email us at info@rtohq.org and you will receive a link to join in the virtual meeting. If there is a certain topic you want to discuss with other dealers or an expert you wish to hear from, please let us know in your email. Space will be limited.

 

Showcase your hottest products and newest technologies at RTO World 2020, August 17-19 in Tampa, Florida. Don't miss the opportunity to exhibit at the industry's biggest event that brings hundreds of key players and industry leaders together.
 
We have extended discounted rates through April 15 – reserve your space today and save hundreds of dollars.