Aaron's Announces Hiring Plans; Lends 4,500 Hours, $200,000 to Orlando Charities

Mar 29, 2011
ANNUAL MANAGERS MEETING WRAPS UP WITH FOCUS ON GROWTH AND SERVICE

ATLANTA, March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a lease-to-own retailer specializing in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, last week closed their 2011 National Managers Meeting in Orlando. The three-day event focused on Aaron's goal of eclipsing the $3 billion mark in revenues from its Company-operated and franchised stores and included announcements on hiring and growth plans. More than 2,000 Aaron's associates in attendance also donated 4,500 hours and $200,000 in product and service to the Orlando community.

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Aaron's plans to create nearly 1,000 retail jobs in its stores across the U.S. and Canada this year. The Company has already added 50 employees this year and is on target to hire 500 more based on current store opening plans. Robin Loudermilk, Aaron's CEO and President, also estimates that an additional 75 franchised stores will open and subsequently bring approximately 400 new jobs.

"The nature of Aaron's lease ownership business is to help families who are facing economic challenges," said Loudermilk. "Aaron's is pleased to be in the position to improve the lives of our customers by bringing new jobs to the communities where they live. The Company is committed to strengthening the communities we serve, and we continually strive to find ways to help our customers, whether it be through new jobs or improvement projects."

For the third year in a row, meeting participants dedicated one afternoon to community outreach projects benefiting military service members, area children and the community. Associates prepared and shipped 2,000 Military Care Packages, assembled and delivered 6,600 "Hi-Five Kids Packs" for Second Harvest Food Bank, built 155 bikes and 48 bookcases to combine with 4,000 children's books for donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Orlando, and donated more than 500 pints of blood through the Florida Blood Centers. Additionally, the Company presented St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R), the nation's top children's cancer hospital, with a check for $81,200 from funds raised during an employee campaign.

Daily updates and photos from the 2011 Aaron's National Managers Meeting in Orlando are posted at http://www.Aarons.com/2011ManagersMeeting.

About Aaron's, Inc.

Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation's leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 1,800 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit www.aarons.com.

SOURCE Aaron's, Inc.