Shows
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"The RTO Revolution and the Future of AdvocacySend a textWhat happens when an industry’s past isn’t properly recorded online? It gets rewritten by shallow links, old studies, and algorithms that don’t know better. We sat down with APRO CEO Charles Smitherman and WoW Brands CEO/CTO Ryan Krass to share why we built a definitive, 400-page history of rent-to-own—and why publishing it widely is essential for policy makers, journalists, customers, and the AI systems shaping tomorrow’s answers.We trace RTO’s lineage from Victorian hire purchase and the Singer sewing machine to modern living rooms and checkout flo...
2026-02-2358 minThe RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Wake for Warriors: Healing Veterans Through Water and BrotherhoodSend a textIn this special episode of The RTO Show, Pete Shau welcomes Ray Muncy of Buddies Home Furnishings and Dave Deep, founder of Wake for Warriors. Together, they explore how a shared love of water and community turned into a nationwide movement supporting veterans through adaptive water sports. Hear inspiring stories, learn about Wake for Warriors' life-changing events, and find out how business leaders and volunteers can get involved.Support the showwww.TheRTOshowPodcast.com For swag and information Pete@thertoshowpodcast.com Facebook...
2026-01-191h 04The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"RTO Legend: Larry Sutton of RNR Tire ExpressSend a textA nickname born from a Southern Baptist speaking style and a talent for rallying a room might sound like a fun story, but “The Reverend of RTO” is really about substance: value, trust, and relentless follow-through. Larry Sutton joins us to chart an uncommon path from family retail roots to building Champion on a 50-50 handshake, navigating funding shocks when Berg-Warner exited the space, and ultimately selling at a premium before discovering that retirement by golf isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.What pulled him back was the same customer...
2025-12-301h 04The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Behind the Scenes of RTO Video Magic with EssToo CreativeSend a textWant customers to stop scrolling and start walking into your store? We sat down with Stephen Stough of EssToo Creative, a veteran-turned-creative director who blends military-grade problem solving with story-led marketing that actually moves the needle for rent-to-own. From the origin of EssToo to the infamous “two guys in a bed” hook, we break down what makes a promo memorable, how to match concepts to real store talent, and why commitment on camera beats fancy gear every time.Stephen shares a battle-tested framework for making videos on any budget. Audio is king, ligh...
2025-12-2358 minThe RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"RTO Legend: Wayland Russell of Eagle Rental PurchaseSend a textA small team launched six stores in a month, refused bargain-bin products, and built a public company that outperformed the category—by betting everything on culture, quality, and customer dignity. Pete sits down with industry legend Wayland Russell to unpack how Rainbow Rentals rewired supply chains, pioneered bundled PCs with Dell, and turned account management into a customer success engine long before that term existed.We get into the hard decisions behind “more, better, different”: walking High Point for years until a manufacturer agreed to weekly, multi-location delivery; insisting on midline-and-up TVs and ap...
2025-12-0953 minThe RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"RTO Legend: Dennis Shields of the TRIB GroupSend a textA handful of dealers pooled their leverage in 1983 and changed rent-to-own forever. That spark became TRIB, a buying group that now unites 198 member companies and negotiates real-world programs with the brands that power our showrooms. We sit down with executive director Dennis Shields to explore how the group won better warranties, moved policy start dates to first rental, and built distributor partnerships that keep product flowing when direct channels won’t.Dennis walks us through the shifts that matter: why appliance warranties became a defining battleground, how TVs evolved from fragile tubes to...
2025-12-0253 minThe RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"RTO Legend: Kathy Windsor of Nation TV Sales & RentalSend a textA family credit line, a few sturdy appliances, and a belief that people deserve dignity—that’s where our conversation with Kathy Windsor begins. From Texas beginnings to a Missouri legacy, we trace how National TV Sales and Rental grew on discipline, low collections, and vendor trust rather than bank debt or shortcuts.Kathy takes us inside the early days of rent-to-own when financing was scarce and selection was thin—three living room SKUs, coil stoves, and refrigerators you could count on. Then came the VCR boom, a moment that reshaped demand and ta...
2025-11-1151 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Show Your Face, Adjust Your Sound, And Watch Store Traffic ClimbSend a textReady to turn views into visits? We sat down with Jeraud Norman of Jeraud Marketing to get brutally practical about what actually drives people into a rent‑to‑own store: short videos with real humans, clear invitations to try products in person, and simple tracking that proves ROI without fancy software. If you’ve been posting product photos and praying for reach, this conversation shows how to swap static for story and clicks for customers.We start with the basics most teams skip: fix your audio with a cheap mic, add captions for si...
2025-10-2046 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"From Cleats to Clipboards: Building Effective LeadersSend a textWhen high-performing employees become leaders without proper training, everyone suffers – the promoted employee, their team, and ultimately the customer experience. Will Jackson, Team Development Director at RNR Tire Express, knows this reality firsthand, having made the painful transition from what he describes as a "toxic" leader to someone dedicated to helping others avoid the same pitfalls.In this candid conversation, Will reveals how his personal leadership failures became the foundation for RNR's innovative "Cleats to Clipboards" leadership development program. The metaphor perfectly captures the essential mindset shift required when moving from star pl...
2025-09-291h 13
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own""Grow your business in 40 flushes!" with book author John PrestonSend a textWhat separates successful business owners from those who struggle despite their technical expertise? John Preston tackles this question head-on in this eye-opening conversation with Pete Chow on the RTO Show, introducing his unconventional business guide "40 Flushes to Grow Your Business."Preston shares a fundamental truth that many entrepreneurs aren't ready to hear: your skill level has surprisingly little correlation with business success. "A bad plumber who knows how to run a business is going to be much more successful than a great plumber who doesn't," he explains, challenging listeners to shift their...
2025-09-2253 minThe RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"What if your POS system actually made your business better?Send a textWhat happens when a data analytics expert decides the rent-to-own industry deserves better software? You get Revo POS—a ground-breaking point-of-sale system that's completely reimagining how RTO businesses operate.From the moment you experience Revo's interface, you know it's different. While traditional RTO software cobbles together multiple disconnected systems, Revo seamlessly integrates everything: inventory management, customer data, quoting, digital agreements, even your phone system. The result? A streamlined operation where your team never needs calculators, paper forms disappear, and pre-leased inventory turns 30% faster.Enos Barger, Revo partner and 30-year RTO ve...
2025-09-151h 10
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own""Hello Omaha!" with APRO CEO Charles Smitherman, PhD, JD, MSt, CAESend a textWhen Charles Smitherman accidentally booked the wrong hotel for a Nebraska meeting, he stumbled upon what would become one of the most celebrated RTO World venues in recent memory. Omaha surprised everyone with its vibrant downtown, beautiful riverfront, and perfect convention facilities—proving that sometimes the best discoveries happen by chance.This year's event brought together over 700 industry professionals and 100 vendors for what many described as the strongest educational lineup ever assembled. From standing-room-only sessions with industry veterans like Mike Tissot to fresh perspectives from outside speakers including former Nebraska football player Aa...
2025-09-0835 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"RTO World 2025 Recorded Live from Omaha!Send a textStep into the heart of the rent-to-own industry as we broadcast live from RTO World 2025, surrounded by the energy and innovation of the biggest gathering in the sector. This episode brings together key industry leaders to discuss the transformative forces reshaping how rent-to-own businesses operate, advocate, and market themselves.Michael Wall, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at Aaron's, shares how their recent acquisition by IQ Ventures has freed the company to focus on long-term growth rather than quarterly earnings. He explains how Aaron's modernized store design creates a more dignified shopping experience...
2025-08-2557 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Stop Letting Customers Walk Away: Rental Conversion SecretsSend a textWhy do some rent-to-own stores convert 30% of their customers to new agreements while others struggle to break 20%? The answer lies not in last-minute sales tactics but in the entire customer experience journey. In this eye-opening conversation, Pete Shau and Jason Winters dive deep into the real factors that determine whether customers stick around after completing their agreements.The modern rental customer has more options than ever before. With just a few taps on their phone, they can find comparable merchandise from countless competitors. What makes them choose to continue doing business with...
2025-06-301h 02
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Are You Still Selling Like It's 2019? Fix it!Send a textPost-pandemic realities have forever altered the customer journey in rent-to-own, demanding fresh approaches from industry veterans and newcomers alike. Pete Shau and Jason Winters unpack this transformation with refreshing candor, highlighting how the traditional in-store sales model has been overwhelmed by digital-first shopping habits.Most striking is their revelation about traffic patterns: "We're not 70-30 anymore. We're 80-20 or even 85-15," with online interactions dominating customer engagement. This shift requires sales professionals to develop entirely new skillsets for closing deals through text messages, emails, and automated systems rather than face-to-face conversations.
2025-06-231h 02
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Stop Chasing Ghosts: How to Bring Fresh Blood to Your RTO StoreSend a textFinding new customers remains one of the biggest challenges for Rent-to-Own businesses. While many stores focus on reactivating inactive customers or working through paid-out lists, there's a powerful channel that's often overlooked: Facebook marketing. Marketing expert Jeraud Norman joins host Pete Shau to reveal how Facebook's "interruption-based" marketing creates opportunities that Google's "intent-based" approach simply can't match. Instead of waiting for customers to search for your products, Facebook allows you to appear regularly in their feeds, creating awareness and staying top-of-mind for when they need your services. "Facebook is basically like...
2025-05-2650 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Building a Legacy: How Showplace Rent-to-Own Stood the Test of TimeSend a textWhat does it take to build a sustainable rental business that thrives for over four decades? Gary Ferman, who recently stepped back after 44 years at the helm of Showplace Rent-to-Own, shares the wisdom earned from growing a single location into a 15-store operation across multiple states.Gary's journey began in 1982 during economic hardship with interest rates at 18.5%. With remarkable candor, he reveals how determination and financial discipline propelled him forward despite challenging circumstances. "My wife drove a 1964 Mercury Comet station wagon in the 80s for nine years with no air conditioning, no...
2025-05-1949 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"LegCon 2025: How APRO Advocates for the RTO Industry in WashingtonSend a textHave you ever wondered who's looking out for the rent-to-own industry in Washington DC? In this eye-opening conversation, host Pete Shau sits down with APRO CEO Charles Smitherman to pull back the curtain on LegCon, the annual legislative conference that forms the front line defense for the $12 billion rent-to-own industry. Charles shares how this 31-year tradition continues to evolve, with attendance growing to 88 participants this year as industry professionals converge on Capitol Hill to educate lawmakers about the unique nature of rent-to-own transactions. You'll discover the meticulous planning that goes into organizing ef...
2025-05-0553 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"40 Years of Fighting for an Industry: Ed Winn's RTO LegacySend a textEd Wynn, the legendary legal architect behind rent-to-own's regulatory framework, shares his extraordinary four-decade journey protecting an industry that many lawmakers never fully understood. Fresh into retirement after serving as APRO's legal counsel since its inception, Wynn offers unprecedented insights into how a collection of rental dealers transformed into a sophisticated national organization.The conversation reveals fascinating origin stories, including how APRO literally began in Wynn's law office with just one secretary. We explore the delicate dance of state-level legislation where, in exchange for accepting regulation and disclosure requirements, the industry secured...
2025-04-2236 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Legend: Ken Butler on RTO's triumphs and tribulationsSend a textThe journey from a small-time rental operation to transforming an entire industry doesn't happen by accident. Ken Butler, with nearly five decades of experience in rent-to-own, pulls back the curtain on how he helped grow Aaron's from a modest 12-store operation to over 2,000 locations nationwide.Ken reveals the revolutionary thinking that changed how the entire industry operates. Moving from weekly to monthly payments, extending ownership timelines, creating distribution centers, and manufacturing their own furniture through Woodhaven – these weren't just business decisions, they were industry-altering innovations. Perhaps most fascinating is how Ken transformed th...
2025-03-312h 09
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"From Basic to Beautiful: Heath Perkins on Elevating RTO with Quality RugsSend a textEnjoy the world of quality rugs in the rent-to-own industry as Heath Perkins of Daylan Rug Company shares the remarkable journey of bringing fashion-forward floor coverings to a market once dominated by afterthought accessories.When Daylan first approached the rent-to-own sector over a decade ago, they encountered a surprising reality: most stores were content with basic, low-quality rugs that did little to enhance their showrooms. "Fashion was not even in the conversation," Heath recalls, describing how some dealers would simply request "12 rugs" without any concern for style, color, or quality. What followed...
2025-03-1723 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"The Evolution of Ashley Furniture in Rent-To-Own with Mike KaysSend a textThis episode offers a fascinating exploration into the workings of the rent-to-own sector, featuring a conversation with Michael Kays, the Vice President of Rental Operations at Ashley Furniture. As a leading name in the industry for over 75 years, Ashley has enabled countless families to turn houses into homes, emphasizing not just consumer transactions but building lasting relationships. Michael discusses the importance of gratitude and giving during the holiday season, illustrating that this ethos extends beyond mere transactions and is foundational to the company's culture.Listeners will gain valuable insights into the innovative...
2025-03-101h 09
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Part 4: “Growing your store with AI Marketing today!”Send a textMaster the power of AI marketing strategies and transform your approach to connecting with local communities. Join me, Pete SHau, and my esteemed guest, Daniel Hajduk from Vox Populi, as we navigate the exciting intersection of AI and local business marketing, with a focus on the rent-to-own industry. Together, we promise to unravel how AI can break through traditional marketing barriers, allowing businesses to customize their campaigns in line with local events and unique community needs. We illuminate the path to creating vibrant, community-centric marketing strategies that foster growth and deeper customer connections.
2025-02-2542 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Part 6: Running your store smarter with the help of AISend a textMastering inventory management and optimizing your business operations with the power of AI. Join us as we engage with Daniel Hajduk from Vox Pop uli, who shares his hands-on experience in transforming apparel inventory management using AI. Learn how AI analyzes order patterns, anticipates trends, and optimizes stock levels to streamline processes and boost profitability. By harnessing historical data, businesses can predict seasonal demands and ensure they are prepared for any market shift, enhancing operational efficiency in the process.Discover how structured planning and effective training play a vital role in maximizing...
2025-02-2450 min
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"Part 5: " Understanding and serving your customers better with AI"Send a textRevolutionize your customer growth strategy with AI and make your rent-to-own business stand out in a crowded market. Join me, Pete Shau, and special guest Daniel Hajduk from Vox-Pop-uli as we uncover how AI can transform traditional customer service approaches that often fall flat with repetitive patterns and high costs. We dive into the power of community-based activities and discuss how local events and industry trends can be leveraged for personalized campaigns. By engaging with local chambers of commerce and tapping into regional nuances like Atlanta’s booming movie industry, you can craft marketing ef...
2025-02-1751 min