Rent-to-own franchisor, ColorTyme, honored its top performers and recognized exceptional owner accomplishments yesterday at the 2012 National Convention. Mark and Tracy Childers received ColorTyme’s Franchisee of the Year Eagle Award, the highest honor bestowed by the chain.
“This is all I’ve ever done and all I ever plan to do,” said Childers. “I think this is one of the best times to be in the industry. It’s really positive. If you have one store, don’t sit on it. Open your second store. I feel great about our new president, Cathy, and her growth plan – nothing but positive. Let’s go out there and open more stores.”
The Childers own and operate six ColorTyme stores in the Pacific Northwest and have been with the chain since 1985. The Childers exemplify our hometown ColorTyme ideals by being an active part of their community, says Cathy Skula, ColorTyme CEO.
“The Childers are engaged with their customers, with ColorTyme and with APRO in the most proactive of ways,” said Skula. “This is what brings great success in this business, and I’m proud to give this award to Mark and Tracy Childers.”
New store awards, five-year anniversaries, “Big 5” members and the Top 10 franchisees were also announced. Dan Eichelberger and Pat Gartland received the New Franchisee of the Year award. Having just joined ColorTyme as franchisees in the Summer of 2010, the partners were no strangers to the business. The duo brought their passion for the rent-to-own business with them to the venture as well as a combined 32 years of experience gained through executive careers with Rent-A-Center.
“Our customers are told ‘no’ a lot, and we try hard to always make it happen and say yes. They go and tell their friends. It helps us grow the business, said Gartland in response to a question regarding the partners’ success. "Receiving the award was pretty exciting and unexpected.”
ColorTyme Vice President of Operations Albert Kohut introduced the company’s new field consultant, Travis John, who will add additional operational support for the franchisees at the store level. Keynote speaker, Nancy Friedman, then delighted the audience with a laughter-filled presentation on customer service. The convention was concluded with a panel discussion by rent-to-own industry experts and the President’s Forum, a question and answer session with ColorTyme’s new CEO Cathy Skula. A cocktail hour and Cajun dinner at the Embassy Suites capped the evening.
“What a positive experience,” said Skula. “I feel we are all going away recharged and recommitted. Together, we will make our collective vision of growth possible.”
About ColorTyme
ColorTyme, Inc., founded in 1979, is America’s oldest franchisor of independently owned-and-operated rent-to-own stores. ColorTyme franchisees operate 196 rent-to-own stores in 33 states, and the company’s custom-wheels-and-tires franchise brand, RimTyme, operates 19 stores in 10 states. ColorTyme is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and is an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of the largest RTO company in the world, Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII).