The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) represents the leaders and innovators of the rent-to-own industry in America and across the world

Through APRO, the rent-to-own industry’s trade association, and the American spirit of entrepreneurialism, the rent-to-own industry has spent the past thirty years modernizing its business and industry into a nearly $7 billion industry serving three million customers every year. Most Americans do not realize that the rent-to-own industry was created out of capitalistic thin air then catapulted into the economy in a short period of time creating a controversial, competitive and necessary industry for American consumers and the American economy.

Those controversial days of rent-to-own, though, are numbered. And, the APRO member rent-to-own companies are the ones to thank as they are leading the rent-to-own industry into the 21st century. Rent-to-own industry innovators that span the corporate leaders of Rent-A-Center and Aaron’s to the hundreds of independent and successful rent-to-own owners in everyday America, have conquered every obstacle posed before the industry to become today and tomorrow’s consumer option in the market. 

There are two fundamental forces at work modernizing the rent-to-own industry. First one is the fierce competition amongst the industry that is raising customer service, improving business practices and lowering prices as each rent-to-own company tries harder to be better than their competitor. Ironically the second is that these fierce competitors are proud members of one family – the rent-to-own family where through APRO, rent-to-own leaders share their success stories to help build a better business for a better industry.

To exemplify both these dynamics, look at the introduction of Moneris into the rent-to-own industry through APRO. Electronic payments are quickly becoming industry standard in the market and Moneris is helping rent-to-own dealers enter this new technology with ease and savings. Moneris has already helped individual rent-to-own dealers save tens of thousands of dollars in debit card transaction fees that gives those rent-to-own operators a better market advantage than their competitors.

Yet at the same time, Moneris has joined the APRO family helping APRO promote rent-to-own’s value in the market and to the public. This website is a perfect example of the integrated branding and marketing business to business can implement that creates not twice the return but an exponential return. The future of business is a win-win-win situation. Rent-to-own is doing it with its customers, vendors and APRO while Moneris is doing so with its partnership with APRO, APRO members and the rent-to-own industry. While each individual company benefits, the industry as a whole benefits that, in return, helps the individual company – a win-win-win situation.

Business innovation has cemented the future of the rent-to-own industry. Technological innovation has cemented Moneris' future in the market. Combine the two and you begin to take a new look at business, at commerce and, in this instance, at rent-to-own.