Aarons 1999 Annual Report Download - page 10

“What attracted me
was the 12-month ownership
plan and overall price — and
I felt better about myself.”
Kevin LaPierre and David Edwards are partners in Bluesky
Investments, Inc., which has Aaron’s
Rental Purchase franchises in
Massachusetts and Connecticut.
They opened their first store in
February 1998 in Springfield,
Massachusetts and now have
three stores in operation.
“Our stores far surpassed what we
expected,” LaPierre said. “We have
the highest volume store in Aaron’s,
$200,000 plus a month, in Springfield,
and our Hartford, Connecticut store
was named Store of the Year.”
The franchise owners plan to open
four more stores in the next year
with a goal of 10 to 15 stores in
their territory.
Allan Wee started with Aaron’s Rental Purchase as a customer
accounts manager in 1995 after 10
years with a company in the conven-
tional rent-to-own business. He
became manager of the Aaron’s store
in Irving, Texas within a few months
after joining the Company.
What appeals to Wee is the Aaron’s
program allowing customers to own
merchandise in only 12 months.
“Other places it’s 18 months, 24
months to 36 months,” he said.
“It just stands to reason when you do
the math. There’s a 30 percent to 50
percent price difference in favor of the
customer at Aaron’s,” Wee added.
Wee’s store in Irving has gone from
$60,000 to $120,000 in monthly
revenues. Moving from a 3,000
square-foot store to a free-standing
store with 8,000 square feet was a
major factor in the growth.
“Our stores far
surpassed what
we expected.
Phenomenal monthly
store revenues are
well above what we expected.”
LaPierre credits the success to the
quality of his people and the Aaron’s
concept. “It’s a better mousetrap,” he
said. “It’s a very good system.”
— Franchise Owners, David Edwards
and Kevin LaPierre
— Allan Wee, Store Manager,
Irving, Texas