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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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Forty-four years ago, Mike Strong opened a rent-to-own store in Hutchinson, Kansas with a pickup, good credit, and a willingness to outwork the problem. Today, Mike’s Rent To Own has grown into 14 locations, and I got to sit down with Mike and his kids to hear the full family story, the rough edges included. We talk about the leap from an Army medic during the Vietnam era to corporate life at Chrysler, and why entrepreneurship felt like the only path where the future wasn’t capped by someone else’s plan.

Then we get into the real mechanics of building an RTO business that lasts: financing inventory when rates are brutal, doing deliveries after closing, and even the early days of running accounts on payment cards before rent-to-own software and modern systems changed everything. Mike shares the moment Curtis Mathis collapsed and how that forced a pivot into new vendors, furniture, appliances, and the constant question every RTO dealer faces, what do customers actually want right now? From VCRs and movie clubs to laptops, gaming systems, and Apple devices, the throughline is listening hard and finding a way to say yes.

We also dig into why small towns and rural markets can be a strength, not a limitation, and why relationship-based retail still wins. We talk community giving like Stuff The Trucks food drives, and the advocacy side through APRO, TRIB, and the Kansas Rental Dealers Association, including what it means to lead and give back in a misunderstood industry.

If you want more Legends conversations like this, subscribe, share this with another rent-to-own operator, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

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What if a $10-a-week TV could spark a company built on trust? We sit down with industry legend Gary to unpack how Showplace grew from a two-paragraph agreement on a legal pad to a respected rent-to-own brand known for clear buyouts, smart growth, and customer-first service. From early days of index cards and recipe boxes to Ideal, HiTouch, and VersaRent, Gary explains the systems and mindsets that kept operations nimble and transparent.

We explore the turning points that defined the path: adding appliances and furniture without overextending, learning from mentors who pushed better ideas, and doing the slow work of advocacy that helped lock fair practices into state law. When lenders blacklisted rent-to-own in the ’90s, Gary didn’t fold. He rallied the team, educated a local banker, and rebuilt a flexible credit line—proof that relationships can save a business when markets panic. Along the way, Showplace doubled down on what set it apart: every receipt lists the early purchase option, making ownership a feature, not a footnote. That simple promise became a magnet for loyal customers.

You’ll also hear the product stories few saw coming, like riding mowers and zero-turns thriving in rural markets, plus seasonal hold programs that convert churn into steady buyouts. The throughline is clear: lead with transparency, manage debt with humility, and build culture around long-term wins. Whether you’re new to RTO or scaling a regional brand, these lessons on cash discipline, software evolution, customer care, and advocacy will sharpen your playbook. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague who needs a refresh, and leave a quick review so more people can find stories that move the industry forward.

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A legend’s journey rarely starts with a grand plan. Trooper Earl just needed a job, stumbled into ColorTyme, and within two years was opening stores, learning fast, and confronting the realities of scale without modern systems. That sprint led to 16 locations, a gutsy bank-backed buyout, and a pivotal moment when financing partners pulled back. Instead of folding, he reset—and that’s where the real story begins.

We walk through how Premier Rental Purchase took shape around a simple, powerful idea: build a franchise for operators, not just investors. Trooper breaks down how he helps managers become owners with bank-ready projections, SBA 7(a) funding, and a clear picture of real costs—roughly $650K for a well-capitalized store, a 5–6K sq ft footprint, and rent targets aligned to projected revenue. He shares why reading financial statements beats watching a bank balance, how to spot trouble in trends, and what it takes to keep rent factors and labor in check.

The 2008 financial crisis tested everything. Premier exited side bets in wheels and cash services and doubled down on its core. That crucible led to Premier University—a rigorous, multi-year training build that standardized front-line execution, leadership practices, and warehouse management. Add a live national training center perched above a once-bankrupt Texas store and a corporate house where late-night conversations flip the switch from “know it” to “own it,” and you get a culture that changes businesses from the inside out.

We also explore Premier’s data backbone and mobile app strategy. By centralizing SQL-based data and syncing real-time inventory, pricing, loyalty, service, and delivery tracking, Premier meets customers where they are—on their phones—without losing the personal touch that anchors rent-to-own. Trooper’s candid on leadership transition, why he still mentors and funds deals, and how “JFO—just figure it out” became a way of life.

Curious how to go from operator to owner, survive a credit squeeze, and build a system that lasts? Hit play, then share your biggest takeaway. If this story resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it to someone who’s ready to build.

APRO
Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

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Paul Adamson from Clover joins Pete Shau to explain what “certified refurbished” really means—and why it matters for rent-to-own dealers. They break down how returned products move through the reverse supply chain, what Clover’s testing and grading process looks like, where the biggest savings typically show up, and how the new partnership with L2 is designed to simplify ordering and support. They also cover smart product categories to lean into (and a few to avoid), plus how dealer feedback can strengthen quality and reliability over time.

APRO
Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

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What does it take to go from a delivery truck to the corner office without losing the human touch that built the business? We sit down with Michael Bennett, CEO of Buddy’s Home Furnishings and three-time APRO president, to unpack the playbook he’s refined across Rent-A-Center, Rentway, and Aaron’s: start with people, sharpen systems, and win the last mile with speed and service.

Michael shares how a childhood of hustles and a stint in healthcare collections shaped his approach to empathy, accountability, and durable cash flow. He breaks down the Rent-A-Center and Renter’s Choice years—why simple, focused assortments and clear strategy scale—and explains how to blend entrepreneurial judgment with standardized process. We follow him into a rough region at Rentway, where bottom-quartile performance flipped by whiteboarding pain points, inviting frontline ideas, and proving that titles don’t fix stores—teams do.

From there, we dig into the Aaron’s franchise turnaround: immersive training, alignment to corporate purchasing and marketing, and the power of consistent execution to lift store averages past six figures. Michael is candid about setbacks, the Great Recession, and a forced year on the sidelines that clarified his north star: never justify and blame, write the hard truths down, and recruit ideas from every seat. Finally, we look ahead. He sees virtual rent-to-own and buy now pay later expanding awareness, while brick-and-mortar keeps its moat with white-glove delivery, rapid approvals, and human relationships. Expect consolidation, tighter household budgets, and a premium on technology that shortens the path from click to couch.

If you care about operational leadership, culture, and growth in rent-to-own, retail, or consumer finance, this conversation delivers hard-won tactics and clear direction. Subscribe, share with a teammate who owns the last mile, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so we can keep raising the bar.

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