Values & History
Our Values
Our History
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1960
Ernie Talley, owner of a retail company in Wichita, Kansas, saw hardworking customers who couldn't purchase goods for their families either because they didn't have the cash, or because they were turned down for credit. This gave him an idea to rent used merchandise with an option to own.
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1960
Ernie Talley opened the first rent-to-own store, Mr. T's TV Rental in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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1973
Thomas Devlin, a former employee of Mr. T's TV Rental, and W. Frank Barton founded the Rent-A-Center brand in Wichita, Kansas.
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1986
Mark Speese, a former employee of Rent-A-Center, started Vista Rent-To-Own with two partners, operating stores primarily in Puerto Rico and New Jersey.
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1989
Ernie Talley acquired a controlling interest in Vista Rent-To-Own.
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1993
Vista Rent-To-Own changed its name to Renters Choice, Inc.
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1995
Renters Choice went public on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol "RCII."
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1996
Renters Choice acquired ColorTyme, a franchisor of rent-to-own stores.
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1998
Renters Choice acquired Thorn Americas, Inc., which operated under the name "Rent-A-Center" and began operating all its stores under the Rent-A-Center brand name.
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2002
Rent-A-Center transferred all Wisconsin store operations to a newly founded subsidiary, Get It Now!, which generates installment credit sales through a retail transaction.
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2004
Rent-A-Center acquired Rainbow Rentals, Inc. and Rent Rite, Inc.
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2005
The first Acceptance Now kiosk opened in an Ashley Furniture HomeStore in Orlando, Florida.
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2006
Rent-A-Center acquired RentWay.
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2008
The first Home Choice store opened in Rockford, Illinois.
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2010
Rent-A-Center enters Mexico with a store opening in Reynosa.
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2013
Rent-A-Center Franchising International, Inc. was formed.
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2018
Mitch Fadel became Chief Executive Officer of Rent-A-Center.
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