Aarons 1999 Annual Report Download - page 7

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The Aaron’s Rental Purchase division gives back
to the communities served by its stores through
the Aaron Community Outreach Program
(ACORP), which provides funds for charitable
causes. Stores that qualify by meeting perform-
ance goals receive $500 each month to be given
to local charities by associates at the store.
“Giving back through ACORP is but a small
way we can say thank you to each community,
to show our sense of community pride,” said
Ken Butler, President of the Aaron’s Rental
Purchase division. “It is the right thing to
do for our own business and the people who
support us every day.”
During 1999 Aaron’s people gave to a wide
range of causes including children’s hospitals, a
homeless family, a homeless center, youth pro-
grams and shelters, classroom computers, vic-
tims of domestic and child abuse, cancer and
cerebral palsy research, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts
and Little League teams.
ACORP gives in other ways. In 1999 the
outreach became a partner with Habitat for
Humanity International, and volunteers from
the Aaron’s Rental Purchase division helped in
the Easter Morning Build ’99 in Americus,
Georgia. In November teams of Aaron’s
Rental Purchase volunteers built two Habitat
houses simultaneously in Houston, Texas and
Tampa, Florida. In each city 75 Aaron’s associ-
ates volunteered for the house-building projects.
One of the Aaron’s volunteers, Mike McNeil
of Auburndale, Fla., spoke for all who had a
part: “It was all worth it when I saw the smiles
on the family’s faces the first time they opened
the door on their finished home.”
Unique strengths are combined in the Aaron
Rents concept, unmatched in the markets the
Company serves.
Consistency — For 45 years the Company
has delivered high quality products and services,
and for eight consecutive years it has built
value for shareholders with record revenues
and earnings.
Profitability — Year after year the bottom
line has grown at a strong rate—with a 5-year
compounded annual growth rate of 19% in
net earnings.
Integrity — Since its founding, Aaron Rents
has been known for its integrity and ethical
business practices, beginning with first-rate
products and services, full disclosure of terms
and respect for the customer.
Synergy — The Company’s business units
afford a strong synergy with the rental purchase
division providing the opportunity for rapid
growth and the rent-to-rent division generating
cash flow for expansion, while the manufacturing
division complements both of these divisions.
Creativity — Aaron Rents led the way as
a pioneer in the rent-to-rent industry by seizing
the opportunity to create and serve a new
market, and in recent years by developing its
highly successful rental purchase concept and
franchising program.
Efficiency — The Company’s manufacturing
division, MacTavish Furniture Industries,
and Aaron’s own distribution system create
efficiencies and cost advantages from vertical
integration and total control over product
design, quality and inventory. The result is
high quality, lower prices and prompt
delivery of merchandise to customers.
The Aaron Rents Concept
Aaron’s Rental Purchase
Gives Back To Its
Communities