RETAILOBSERVER.COM OCTOBER 2019
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competition challenging each other in games of pool, cornhole
and bowling.
Day two of RTO World 2019 opened with the RTO Education
Continental Breakfast sponsored by Color Ad, Crosley Corporation,
O'Rourke Sales Company, and Progressive Furniture Inc. Store
managers registered in the Small Batch Experience also got an
exclusive sneak peek of the trade show floor during breakfast. At the
Education General Session sponsored by High Touch Technologies
that morning, keynote speaker JD Smith, chief operations officer of
Aaron's Inc., spoke on how his experiences growing up shaped him
into who he is today. Smith mentioned several pivotal points from
childhood to adulthood, including when he met retired Dallas
Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach.
Following the Education General Session, attendees raced to the
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony held in front of the exhibit hall that opened
the doors to the RTO World Trade Show. This year's trade show
offered 53,000 square feet of products and services; a networking
lunch co-sponsored by Byrider Franchising and Climatic Corp.;
snacks and refreshments sponsored by Coaster, Symbol Mattress,
and Tempoe; an ice cream break sponsored by Ideal Software
Systems, Inc.; and a continental coffee talk breakfast sponsored by
Lane/United Furniture Industries, National Coverage/NCTV,
Relation Insurance and Sealy Mattress Company.
There were a few surprises during the trade show such as the
innovative 4,000-square-foot RTO Works rent-to-own store courtesy
of American Rental and the APRO member lounge. This year's
APRO Member Lounge was a beautiful 10 x 20 shed graciously
donated by Andrew Yoder from Russellville Rentals that was
auctioned off on the trade show floor for $4,500. That wasn't the
only event that raised money on the floor – Shots for Scholarships
raised $12,000 auctioning shots of whiskey at $1,000 a pop. With
the assistance of auctioneer Casey Pristou, APRO raised a total of
$16,500 to benefit the APRO Scholarship Fund.
Next, and with a continued focus on education, another group of
breakout sessions took place for the second day of the store
managers' Small Batch Experience on Wednesday afternoon. New
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