52-Year Old Cleek's Lease or Own chain switches to Aaron's Sales & Lease
Ownership
ATLANTA, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aaron Rents, Inc. (NYSE: RNT),
the nation's leader in the sales and lease ownership, specialty retailing and
rental of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics and home
appliances and accessories, today announced Tiger John Cleek, President of
APRO (Association of Progressive Rental Organizations), and owner of Cleek's
Lease or Own, has become an Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership franchisee.
Cleek's is a well-regarded rental chain conducting business for more than
52 years throughout Central Missouri, and owner Tiger John Cleek has been a
staunch supporter of the rental industry.
"Tiger Cleek is an institution in the rent to own industry. He is well
respected and well known as a solid operator and someone who has taken a
proactive approach to help form state RTO trade associations. We are extremely
pleased that Tiger has joined the Aaron's family," stated R. Charles
Loudermilk, Sr., Chairman of the Board of Aaron Rents, Inc.
According to Tiger John Cleek, there were several reasons why the switch
to Aaron's made good business sense for him and for his customers.
"Over the years, we always found Aaron's to be our toughest competitor.
Frankly, in any market we shared with an Aaron's store, we had trouble
growing. Robert Briley and Kelly Sayre, former independent dealers who had
become Aaron's franchisees, helped us understand why. Todd Evans at Aaron's
was very informative. Robert invited my son and me to spend a few days at his
store in Abilene, TX and encouraged us to talk not just to him but also to his
product technicians, customer account managers and other store employees about
Aaron's and their conversion experience. Needless to say, we realized Aaron's
has a better system. The low price guarantee is strong because they simply buy
more efficiently than we can as an independent dealer. Aaron's has better
training, a better advertising program, better marketing strategy and a flow
system that really works. Converting a 52-year old brand bearing my family
name has been a tough decision but my family realizes this change is best for
the future and for our employees and our customers," said Cleek.
According to Todd Evans, Vice President of Franchising at Aaron's, Cleek's
attitude will make the transition smooth.
"Tiger is obviously a smart businessman who is not afraid of change. He
has embraced the ways in which Aaron's can help him improve his business
proposition and he represents the type of active, involved franchisee that
fits well into the Aaron's system. We are thrilled at the opportunity to
bring the Aaron's program to even more customers throughout Central Missouri,"
said Evans.
Aaron Rents, Inc., based in Atlanta, currently has more than 1,540
Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada for the rental
and sale of residential and office furniture, accessories, consumer
electronics and household appliances. The Company also manufactures furniture,
and bedding at 12 facilities in five states.
Contact:
Mark Rudnick, Vice President of Marketing
Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership
678-402-3470
Mark.rudnick@aaronrents.com