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The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Pete Shau
113 episodes
2 days ago
Send us a text Want 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...
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Send us a text Want 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...
Show more...
Careers
Education,
Business,
How To
Episodes (20/113)
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Behind the Scenes of RTO Video Magic with EssToo Creative
Send us a text Want 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...
Show more...
2 days ago
59 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Legend: John Blair former Director of TRIB
Send us a text A legend in rent-to-own doesn’t happen by accident. John Blair takes us from a teenage crossroads to the Marines to the front lines of building TRIB into a credible, member-led powerhouse. His story is packed with hard-won tactics and clear principles: keep it simple, reward commitment, and use unity as leverage. We dive into the early days—17 members, tiny shows, skeptical vendors—and how committees, transparent programs, and consistent follow-through built trust that lasted. ...
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1 week ago
51 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Legend: Wayland Russell of Eagle Rental Purchase
Send us a text A 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, ...
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2 weeks ago
53 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Legend: Dennis Shields of the TRIB Group
Send us a text A 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 u...
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3 weeks ago
53 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Ace Rent to Own COO Ben Leach on Black Friday Sales and family
Send us a text What happens when a second-generation leader takes the mic and the wheel? We sit with Ace Rent to Own COO Ben Leach to unpack how a family legacy becomes a modern operating system built on people, service, and smart use of technology. Ben shares how growing up in the stores, spending a decade in software and high-growth environments, and returning with fresh eyes shaped his approach: empower employees, obsess over client outcomes, and let data quietly guide the path. We dig in...
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4 weeks ago
1 hour 1 minute

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Legend: Dan Fisher of Majik Rent to Own
Send us a text A family video store with 400 movies. A heavy VCR lugged home for the weekend. An $800 camcorder bought on a personal credit card so a loyal customer wouldn’t be let down. That’s where Dan Fisher’s rent-to-own story begins—and how a small experiment grew into a durable, customer-first brand with a culture people talk about. We walk through the inflection points that define real growth: discovering APRO after years of improvising, moving from Sam’s Club buys to vendor partnersh...
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1 month ago
45 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Legend: Shannon and Cynthia Baber-Strunk
Send us a text A customer says, “I’ll never own the laundromat,” and everything changes. That moment turned rent-to-own from a product on a shelf into a service with purpose for Shannon and Cynthia Baber Strunk—two industry legends who built, defended, and evolved RTO over four decades. We trace their path from Firestone showrooms to 50 stores, the hard lessons of a tire-and-wheel experiment, and the surprise breakthrough of early cell phones, starting with bag phones in the 90s. We open up ...
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1 month ago
48 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Legend: Kathy Windsor of Nation TV Sales & Rental
Send us a text A 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 ...
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1 month ago
51 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Legend: Lyn Leach of Ace Rent to Own
Send us a text A flip chart, a promise to a father, and a tiny Omaha storefront lit the fuse for a 24-store rent-to-own legacy grounded in dignity and service. We sit down with industry legend Lyn Leach to unpack how a consumer-first mindset—friendly collections, honest agreements, and real return options—can turn a risky startup into a reliable community anchor. From vacuum tubes and rooftop antennas to Atari consoles, VCRs, and modern gaming rigs, this story tracks how products evolved whil...
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1 month ago
57 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Show Your Face, Adjust Your Sound, And Watch Store Traffic Climb
Send us a text Ready 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...
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2 months ago
48 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
The Big Beautiful Bill: Discussing RTO’s Finance and taxes with RG Co. CPA's
Send us a text What if your business is worth less (or more) than you think—because buyers don’t pay for sentiment, they pay for cash flow? We sit down with CPA Mike Helton and senior tax manager Alicia Holloway from RG & Co. to decode the “big, beautiful bill,” revive your understanding of EBITDA and multiples, and lay out a simple, disciplined operating system for a cash‑intensive RTO model. We get practical fast. You’ll hear why 100% bonus depreciation (effective January 19, 2025) can...
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2 months ago
1 hour 42 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
What a Quiet Salesperson Teaches Us About RTO’s Future
Send us a text A shy new hire walks into rent-to-own, gets labeled “the mute girl,” and ends up becoming a trusted salesperson customers ask for by name. That arc—uneasy beginnings to confident service—is the heartbeat of our conversation with Angelica Felix Damas, and it’s a powerful look at how mentorship, product fluency, and creativity can rewrite what sales success looks like in RTO. We get honest about hiring myths and generational habits. Do you really need extroverts to sell? Angelic...
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2 months ago
47 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
From Cleats to Clipboards: Building Effective Leaders in Rent-to-Own
Send us a text When 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 beca...
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2 months ago
1 hour 14 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
"Grow your business in 40 flushes!" with book author John Preston
Send us a text What 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 r...
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3 months ago
54 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
What if your POS system actually made your business better?
Send us a text What 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 you...
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3 months ago
1 hour 11 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
"Hello Omaha!" with APRO CEO Charles Smitherman, PhD, JD, MSt, CAE
Send us a text When 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 educat...
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3 months ago
36 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Franchise Success: The Inside Scoop with Mitchell Lee
Send us a text What does it really take to succeed in the rent-to-own franchise world? Mitchell Lee, Senior Director of Franchise Sales at Buddy's Home Furnishings, pulls back the curtain on this profitable but often misunderstood business model. The conversation begins with a candid look at current market conditions. "When you see trends in real estate, you typically see trends with franchising too," Mitchell explains, noting how the industry cycle follows a 2-3 year pattern from boom to va...
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3 months ago
53 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
RTO World 2025 Recorded Live from Omaha!
Send us a text Step 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 ...
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4 months ago
58 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Creating Value-Driven Experiences with RNR CEO Adam Sutton
Send us a text What does it take to grow from a single tire store to a nationwide franchise with over 200 locations? For Adam Sutton, CEO of RNR Tire Express, the secret isn't complicated – it's about creating exceptional experiences for the people who matter most. After returning to his family's business in 2017, Sutton brought fresh perspectives from his background in digital marketing and event technology. Rather than simply continuing what his father Larry Sutton (known as "The Reverend ...
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5 months ago
1 hour 16 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Tomorrow's Technology for Today's Industry w/ Atlog.AI
Send us a text The rent-to-own industry stands at a technological crossroads, and Atlog is blazing the trail with AI solutions custom-built for RTO businesses. In this revealing conversation, Shaun Karakkattu, Chief Operating Officer of Atlog, shares how their team is revolutionizing how rental dealers connect with customers through remarkably human-like AI voice agents. Shaun explains how Atlog was born from recognizing a critical gap in the rent-to-own space – the challenge of consistently...
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5 months ago
59 minutes

The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Send us a text Want 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...