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This Legend Series episode of The RTO Show features John Cleek Jr. of Cleek's RTO, reflecting on the life, leadership, and lasting industry impact of his father, John “Tiger” Cleek.

From the early days of a family appliance business to decades of service through state and national associations, this conversation highlights what it means to lead with conviction, integrity, and heart. John shares how his father’s commitment to community, advocacy, and people-first leadership helped shape not only Cleek's RTO, but the rent-to-own industry as a whole.

This episode is a powerful reminder that true leadership isn’t measured by store count or titles—but by the lives you touch, the standards you set, and the legacy you leave behind.

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In this episode of The RTO Show, Pete Shau sits down with Kevin Silvers to trace a career built on relationships, adaptability, and a genuine love for people. Kevin shares stories from his early days around golf legends like Arnold Palmer and Michael Jordan, his transition into the jewelry business, his deep involvement in rent-to-own, and the path that led to King of Promotions. Along the way, he talks about training, leadership, vendor longevity, and why knowing people matters more than making the pitch. This is a conversation about staying curious, showing up, and building a reputation that lasts.

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A rent-to-own business doesn’t last 40 years by accident and it definitely doesn’t start with perfect funding. I’m joined by Mike Tissett to tell the story behind Daryl Tissett’s legacy, from a small-town Ohio beginning to a blueprint that helped shape the rent-to-own industry and a company built on trust, service, and steady growth. If you’ve ever wondered what really creates long-term customers in RTO, this conversation gets specific fast.

We talk through the real mechanics: early financing challenges, why collections discipline matters when cash is tight, and why Daryl’s “months to recover” metric still influences how Mike thinks about inventory, pricing, and reinvestment. We also dig into leadership principles that scale, especially the idea that the best decisions happen close to the customer. Empowerment at the store level, strong training, and clear standards beat motivational posters every time.

From there, we zoom out to strategy and innovation: why small towns and county seats can be the perfect fit for rent-to-own, how free delivery and setup create loyalty, and why trying new products early (furniture, computers, gaming) can separate leaders from followers. Mike also shares how technology, CRM, online leads, and even AI are becoming practical tools for modern rent-to-own retail without losing the relationship-based foundation that makes the model work.

We close with Daryl’s industry impact through APRO, TRIB, Ohio advocacy, and the Midwest Expo, plus a powerful reminder that legacy is people, not trophies. Subscribe for more Legends stories, share this with someone building a customer-first business, and leave a review with the one principle you’re taking into next week.

APRO
Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

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