The good news is that renting is a smart way to get the things you need no matter how the economy is doing. In fact, according to Trendhunter.tv, Rental Culture is #17 in the Top 20 Consumer Trends for 2010.

Renting has really taken off in the recession, but it is far from a new concept. Just look at ColorTyme – we’ve been in business for 30 years! While back then you might have rented a color TV set, today you can rent virtually anything: fine art, clothing, purses, jewelry, homes, and even cars. For name-brand appliances, furniture, electronics and other home furnishings, ColorTyme is the place to be! The rent-to-own option we offer gives you the affordability and flexibility to own the things you need without a credit check.

Let’s take a look at some other consumer trends from this year that made the list:

Listed as #18 is a trend known as “Peacocking”. Basically, consumers are accessorizing with bright clothing and cosmetics to create a vibrant look. This brings attention to their wardrobe without having to pay big bucks for a designer label.

“Prodependancy” comes in at #15. Couples today are more likely to move in together than in past generations because of the credit crunch. In addition, there’s been an increase in products like matching tattoos, co-ed fashion and shared home furnishings.

“Nostalgia Marketing” is #12 on the list. The poor economy has consumers looking to escape financial hardships and seek refuge in the fantasies of their childhood giving vintage toys and clothing a big comeback.

#6 on the list is “Greenpliances”. This refers to appliances that help protect the environment including smaller laundry machines and soap-less dishwashers.

“DIY Décor” is listed as #2. Do It Yourself projects like building furniture from scrap material or creating a work of art from garage items is affordable and more socially acceptable than ever.
And, the #1 consumer trend this year is “Next Besting”. This means that people have become more functional in their purchases and attribute success to practical spending rather than having lavish items. Instead of purchasing top-of-the-line merchandise and pricey brands, people are trying new products in the pursuit of the “next best” alternative.

To see the complete list of trends, go to http://www.trendhunter.com/tv/trends-in-2010-forecast.

1. Choose Furniture Carefully
In a smaller room, you don’t want to crowd the place with a lot of furniture. Consider using furniture that can do double duty. For example, you can use a small chest that also acts as a coffee table, or visit your hometown ColorTyme to find a sofa-bed for the room. Also, use pieces that are proportionate and don’t overpower the room. A love seat might work better than a full-size sofa, and you might also keep a couple of small wood chairs or barstools along the wall for when additional seating is needed. Extendable dining tables, folding tables and chairs are also great for clearing up some space when those pieces aren’t needed.

2. Lighting is Everything
Lighting can really open up a tight space. ColorTyme offers floor lamps that are space efficient and provide adequate light for a small room. An arc lamp with multiple arms is a good choice because it provides even more light than a single-bulb lamp, and the arms can be directed to areas of the room to make a “spotlight” effect. Wall sconces also are effective light sources and take up little to no space.

3. Think About Color
For the illusion of a larger room, use colors that are light rather than bright or dark (pastels, neutrals and white are all great color possibilities). Consider picking some furniture items for the room that are the same colors as the walls. This way, a bigger piece (like a large chest or armoire) will blend into the room and make it look wider.

4. Certain Accessories are Must-Haves
Whether it’s a dining, coffee or end table, a table made out of glass will keep the appearance of open space. Call your local ColorTyme store to see what glass tables are available to rent. You can also increase the appearance of the size of the room by adding mirrors. Mirrors will reflect light and color, opening up look of the room. Try mirror tiles or place a full length mirror on a wall and your room will appear be double its size!

5. Keep it Clean
It’s no surprise that clutter makes a room seem even smaller, so keep the space tidy and organized. It’s better to take something into the room when you need it and clear it out when it’s not in use than to stash it there permanently.

Whatever you need to update widen the feel of a small room in your home, ColorTyme gives you an affordable rent-to-own option. Remember, deliver and installation is included at no extra charge!

PLANO, Texas – March 5, 2010 – Thirty ColorTyme customers recently cashed in as names were drawn for the $30K Giveaway, and countless others won in-store prizes.
Held in celebration of the company’s 30th birthday, ColorTyme’s $30K Giveaway gave customers a chance to win $1,000 along with instant prizes in local stores. Rent-to-own customers registered for the grand-prize drawings Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 at their hometown ColorTyme store.
Out of 30 winners from 14 states across the U.S., four of them registered in Texas stores owned by TLH Enterprises. Vice President of South Texas Region for TLH Enterprises, Donald Salais, was very happy to see long-time customers win in Beeville, Corpus Christi, Rosenberg and Cuero.
“Many of our customers didn’t think they had a chance at winning, so it was refreshing to see the smiles on their faces when they did,” said Salais. “I think the Giveaway really encouraged our customers and showed how much we value their business.”

As part of the Giveaway event, ColorTyme also provided customers with a winning serial number that matched various prizes. Many customers automatically received big savings off a new rental or walked away with one of the store’s newest appliances, furniture, computers or electronics such as a name-brand TV.

“Our $30K Giveaway was a way for us to give back to our customers and thank them for all of their support over the years,” said ColorTyme Director of Marketing, Amy Woods. “Our customers are like family, so it was important that everyone who visited ColorTyme during the promotion came out a winner.”

Winners
Dorothy McKown – Opp, AL
Teri Pike – Woodland, AL
Lidia Abaloyan – San Diego, CA
Neille Logan-Underwood – San Diego, CA
Judith Ann Archer – Temecula, CA
Frank Welcome – Panama City, FL
Robert Higginbotham – Middleburg, FL
Christopher Cooper – Jacksonville, FL
Sacoya Proctor – Hephzibah, GA
Micky Jimison – Fairfield, ID
Danny Shannon – Hutchinson, KS
Carlos Heredia Liudres – Garden City, KS
Lee Jones – Oxford, KS
James Kelley – Lexington, KY
Lee Lyons – Raceland, LA
Susie Moore – Baltimore, MD
Denise Fletcher – Landover Hills, MD
David Rogers – Waterville, ME
Shaun Bennett – South Paris, ME
Sheila Hobbs – La Grange, NC
Beatrice Bennett – Roanoke Rapids, NC
Paula Ramos – Beeville, TX
Abram Mendoza – Corpus Christi, TX
Jackie Hahn – Cuero, TX
Bobby King Jr. – Richmond, TX
Katrina Trimiew – Richmond, VA
Carlton Davis – Norfolk, VA
Nikkia Clayton – Fredericksburg, VA
James Howard – Richmond, VA
Dennis Francis – Aberdeen, WA

However, Curtis Mathes wasn’t looking to compromise the quality of his product to meet ideal selling prices. When Curtis Mathes began manufacturing televisions he had one major goal in mind; to have the most well-built, reliable and expensive television on the market. He did. And, they were. The televisions were so well built that each set had a four year warranty, which was unheard of at the time – and today for that matter. But, if consumers wanted the best they were going to have to pay for it.

So, by the end of the 1970s Curtis Mathes had perhaps the finest color television set in the world, but because of its price tag most Americans couldn’t afford to purchase it. That’s when Willie Talley stepped in and partnered with Curtis Mathes. Willie had an ingenious concept, “ColorTyme.” Willie believed at the time that it was “tyme” for all households to have “color” television…hence ColorTyme. While he didn’t expect the name to become so quickly dated, it has stuck over the years.

Willie’s idea materialized in Athens, Texas in 1979, where the first ColorTyme rent-to-own store opened. With the store’s opening came the opportunity for every average American family to purchase the finest color television available. Curtis Mathes didn’t have to sacrifice quality, and any American household could now afford to move from the era of black and white into the time of color.

Today, ColorTyme is the nation’s oldest franchisor of independently owned and operated rent-to-own stores and offers not just TVs and electronics, but also appliances, computers and furniture. Thanks to the most expensive television set in America.

Top Five Valentine’s Gifts for Men

Okay ladies; let’s first get into the male psyche. What do males love? They love electronics, gadgets and games, big screen TVs, their automobiles and comfort. Easy!
1. An LED flat screen TV tops the ColorTyme list. Why? It is only the latest and greatest technology in flat screen TVs. Your beau will be blown away by the picture quality of an LED screen, and it is the thinnest screen yet.
2. If you already have the nice flat screen TV, comfort is the next priority. Motion furniture is hot right now so a really nice comfy recliner is just the ticket for the man in your life. Or, if you want to be a bit more romantic, go with the recliner sofa.
3. A state-of-the-art DVD Home Theater System is an excellent gift for the man who would appreciate relaxing in the comfort of his own home with the superior sights and surround-sound provided by Dolby technology. There will be no mistaking his happiness with this gift as you will hear his and his friends’ shouts of victory during every game day.
4. If your guy really loves his automobile, you can light up his eyes and make his mouth drop open on Valentine’s Day with custom wheels from RimTyme. Ladies, you know how we love jewelry? Well, this is the bling that males go for. RimTyme has custom wheels for his automobile that will make it shine above all others in its class.
5. Last but not least, if your guy has been looking to upgrade his video game equipment, ColorTyme is the place to do that. Video games are a great way to relax at home and blow off some steam. Many men find the games a good way to get their minds off work and relax into some quality time at home in the evenings.

Top Five Valentine’s Gifts for Women

This year if you really want to wow the lady in your life, don’t go with the traditional flowers, chocolates or jewelry. Let her know that building a home and a life with her is your priority. Women love a beautiful home and joining her in that quest is a great way to show your love. Thus, here are ColorTymes top five Valentine’s gifts for women this year.

1. The trend in dining today is casual and everyone likes to congregate around a kitchen counter or bar. Furniture manufacturers noticed this and have started a raging trend that works beautifully for today’s lifestyle – the counter-height dining table and chairs. It’s hip and gorgeous and a great way to say happy Valentine’s Day this year.
2. If you and your girl are in desperate need of a new washer and dryer. You’ve been schlepping back and forth to the Laundromat or your old units are about to bite the dust. This is a great time to go for it, as the manufacturers now offer a range of bold colors to choose from. And, you can rent-to-own these items for as little as $20 a week! What would say ‘I love you’ more than a brand new red washer and dryer with a big white bow this Valentine’s Day.
3. Just as motion furniture made our top five list for men, it also joins our top five for women. There is always a piece of furniture that is old and tired in a female’s eyes — one she would really love to see go out the back door. Find out which one it is and surprise her with a trip to ColorTyme to pick out its replacement. The new trend is recliners that swivel, adjust, recline — and sofas have joined into the trend as well. It’s a great gift for cozy time together and the styles and colors range to fit every woman’s taste.
4. Everyone loves laptops; no one likes to be tied to a desk – even when they are surfing for fun. ColorTyme has laptops to fit every need and budget. Some even come with Web cams! Her eyes will pop when she unwraps a beautiful high tech laptop!
5. Our last choice is not for everyone, but is fabulous for women who love to cook. An updated cook-top can inspire a gourmet cook. ColorTyme even delivers and installs for free, so you can time this for maximum surprise and wow factor. Don’t forget a big bow on top!

For larger ticket items like washers, dryers, flat screen TVs and home entertainment equipment, rent-to-own and layaway are both options that don’t require a large cash outlay up front. But, that is where the similarities stop. There are key differences between the two. First, with rent-to-own, you can take the item home the same day without any credit. With layaway, you may or may not need credit, but will definitely not be able to take the item home that day. With the holidays around the corner, this takes some of the fun out of putting money down on a gift.

Also, most layaway programs aren’t as flexible as rent-to-own. For instance, with most layaway programs there is typically a $5 non-refundable service fee on all contracts and a cancellation fee of around $10. Both the service fee and cancellation fee are usually collected up front and are not refunded if the merchandise is returned to stock due to missed payments. With most retailers, layaway merchandise will be returned to stock seven days after a missed payment.

Conversely, rent-to-own is much more flexible. Let’s take your local Hometown ColorTyme for example. If you’re looking for furniture, electronics, computers and/or appliances, ColorTyme will have it in stock and you can take it home the same day in most cases. With ColorTyme no credit is needed, and there are flexible low payment options, early purchase options and, of course, you can make an outright purchase the same day. ColorTyme also offers home delivery (same day option is available) and service repairs, if needed, at no extra cost. A full service loaner program is also included with every agreement to all customers. With layaway plans through retailers, once you finally get your product home, if it breaks you have to deal with the warranty plan, connected either to the brand name or the retailer. Many of these warranty plans must be purchased separately.

With ColorTyme, there are short and longer term rent-to-own plans available and professionals install, demonstrate and deliver everything at no additional cost. There are no penalties for returning merchandise and your investment doesn’t go away after you return the product. When you are ready, ColorTyme will set you up again with your product or a comparable product to the one you returned.

Although a layaway plan might seem like a good idea, it doesn’t compare to the flexibility or speed of delivery that ColorTyme rent-to-own plans offer. If you’re looking to bring home and enjoy a product right away, there is no comparison.

ColorTyme offers brand new, brand name appliances and electronics to our customers, just like standard retail stores, but that’s where the similarities end.

ColorTyme’s rent to own agreements surpass standard retailers’ terms and conditions by providing unparalleled customer service and flexible rent to own payment options, with absolutely no obligations to buy the sofa, television, or washer dryer set they’ve been renting.

Our home furnishings rental agreement policies add value for our customers that they simply can’t find anywhere else in the retail marketplace.

Zero Obligation

ColorTyme rent to own customers are never obliged to make the next payment scheduled in their rental agreement. There is no other industry in the world that provides customers this level of flexibility. Each month, our customers have the option of continuing payments or returning the product, without financial penalty or damage to their credit history.

Flexible Payments

ColorTyme customers have incredible flexibility in making their payments, something our competitors in the retail industry simply do not offer. Whether you want to make weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly payments, the choice is always yours. We also offer an early-purchase option on every rent to own contract, which significantly reduces the price our rent to own customers pay.

Your Investment Does Not Go Away After Returns

We understand that life happens.  It happens to all of us.  That’s why if for any reason a customer needs to return a product during the rent to own payment cycle, their investment in that product will be held at ColorTyme until they get back on their feet.   When they are ready,  a ColorTyme customer can rent the same or similar product from the same ColorTyme store and just pick up right where they left off with their payments.  The original investment never goes away.  Renting to own is that easy with no risks involved.

Unparalleled Customer Service

If a customer purchases products from a traditional retailer, and those products break after the warranty has expired, the customer is responsible for all repairs – even if the customer is still making credit card payments on the damaged merchandise.

On the other hand, ColorTyme rent to own customers are protected. Regardless of the manufacturer’s warranty on a product, we provide repair service and loaners while your product is being repaired at no extra cost on every product covered by an active rental agreement. ColorTyme customers can enjoy a stress-free shopping and ownership experience knowing they will never be stuck with broken or unusable merchandise while making payments.

When you consider the benefits rent-to-own retailers like ColorTyme offer, it’s easy to see why comparing our prices to standard retailers only tells part of the story. The price customers pay for rent to own merchandise may be higher than traditional retailers, but the value of flexible payments, unparalleled service, and zero obligation to keep the merchandise makes up for the difference.

To learn more about ColorTyme’s rent to own products and policies, visit ColorTyme.com and explore the best value for customers in the retail industry.

Source:  www.rtohq.org

Our flexible, rent to own plans include customizable payment options, great quality appliance rentals, rental electronics, and reliable service agreements that cover each item you rent to own from ColorTyme. However, our commitment to superior customer service doesn’t stop there.

Every chance we get, ColorTyme takes “treating you like family” one step further and lends a hand to our neighbors. Here are just a few examples of how ColorTyme touches the lives of individuals and families in the communities we serve:

• When the town of Malakoff, Texas was hit by Hurricane Ike in September 2008, Hometown ColorTyme store in Mabank, TX came to the rescue. The store’s manager and staff donated a wide-screen TV rental to the local evacuee center so victims of the storm could stay entertained and up to date with the storm’s progress.
• The Boys and Girls Club of Charlottesville, VA asked the community for contributions to their new clubhouse in November 2008. The Hometown ColorTyme store pitched in by providing brand new TVs, PlayStations, and Xboxes from their rent to own inventory for students in the after-school program. Read the full article here.
  
• For the last five years, the Hometown ColorTyme store in Waipahu, HI has served a traditional, Thanksgiving dinner. Anyone who came by the rent to own store was welcomed with open arms and fed until their heart was content. Their Thanksgiving outreach program ensures the holiday is complete for many families and elderly residents in the neighborhood. Read the full article here.
  
• In April, a Hometown ColorTyme customer’s family was battling their son’s heart disease in Hanover, PA.  The local ColorTyme store’s manager and staff came to the rescue by organizing and collecting donations to help defray costs of the boy’s medical treatment. Read the full article here.

These touching stories only scratch the surface of the great work each HomeTown ColorTyme rent to own store performs in service to the customers and neighbors in their communities. Our commitment to active participation in your community is just one way we ensure every customer feels like family.

Treating people fairly is at the core of the way we do business at ColorTyme. We believe that doing business with people who truly care about your family and neighborhood makes all the difference in the world to our valued customers. We take our responsibility to be active participants seriously and hope you never regard us as a faceless corporate entity.

To learn more about ColorTyme’s rent to own policies and the products available for rent in our stores, visit ColorTyme.com today.