Aaron's
Encyclopedia
Aaron's, Inc. is a lease-to-own retailer. The company focuses on leases and retail sales of furniture
, electronics, appliances, and computers. It is divided into three major divisions: sales and lease ownership; corporate furnishings; and manufacturing. The incorporation of manufacturing as well as retailing makes the company vertically integrated.
This includes the first company-owned Canadian store, opened on April 13, 2007 in Windsor, Ontario
.
In September 2008, Aaron's announced the sale of its Corporate Furnishings division to CORT Business Services, part of Berkshire Hathaway
. Aaron's Corporate Furnishings division, which operated 47 stores, had recorded revenues of approximately $99 million in 2007.
In May 2011, Aaron's and one of its franchisees was sued by a Wyoming couple for providing a rent-to-own (RTO) computer which, unknown to the couple, came pre-installed with spyware
that allowed Aaron's to "track keystrokes, take screenshots and even snap webcam pictures of renters"; it also came with support for a remote kill switch
. The suit is not challenging Aaron's right to bundle such software without informing them in advance.
In June 2011, a federal judge awarded an unprecedented $95 million to a former Aaron's employee who had sued the company due to sexual harassment
by her supervisor.
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
, electronics, appliances, and computers. It is divided into three major divisions: sales and lease ownership; corporate furnishings; and manufacturing. The incorporation of manufacturing as well as retailing makes the company vertically integrated.
Locations
, Aaron's, Inc. has 1723 locations, broken down as follows:- 1094 company-owned sales and lease ownership stores
- 11 Rimco stores
- Seven franchised Rimco stores
- 599 franchised SALO stores
- 12 Aaron's Office Furniture stores
This includes the first company-owned Canadian store, opened on April 13, 2007 in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
.
History
Aaron Rents, Inc. was founded by R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. in 1955.In September 2008, Aaron's announced the sale of its Corporate Furnishings division to CORT Business Services, part of Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that oversees and manages a number of subsidiary companies. The company averaged an annual growth in book value of 20.3% to its shareholders for the last 44 years,...
. Aaron's Corporate Furnishings division, which operated 47 stores, had recorded revenues of approximately $99 million in 2007.
In May 2011, Aaron's and one of its franchisees was sued by a Wyoming couple for providing a rent-to-own (RTO) computer which, unknown to the couple, came pre-installed with spyware
Spyware
Spyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's...
that allowed Aaron's to "track keystrokes, take screenshots and even snap webcam pictures of renters"; it also came with support for a remote kill switch
Kill switch
Kill switch, also called an e-stop, is a security measure used to shut off a device in an emergency situation in which it cannot be shut down in the usual manner...
. The suit is not challenging Aaron's right to bundle such software without informing them in advance.
In June 2011, a federal judge awarded an unprecedented $95 million to a former Aaron's employee who had sued the company due to sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
by her supervisor.
Sponsorships
- NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racing: Aaron's sponsors the No. 55 "Aaron's Dream Machine," driven by Mark MartinMark MartinMark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
and Michael WaltripMichael WaltripMichael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series. They also sponsor Ken Butler III, a decision that has been criticized because he is the son of Bill Butler, Jr, the Chief Operating Officer of Aarons. - National Hot Rod AssociationNational Hot Rod AssociationThe National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
NHRA Racing: Aaron's sponsors Don Schumacher racing in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing SeriesNHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing SeriesThe NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series is the top competition division of the NHRA. It consist of four classes, Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.-History:...
. They sponsor Funny Car driver Jack BeckmanJack BeckmanJack Beckman is a professional drag racer who currently drives a NHRA Fuel Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing. He is known in the drag racing community as "Fast Jack"....
and Top Fuel driver Antron Brown. - Aaron's Cycling Team - sponsors both elite men's and women's professional cycling teams that compete on the USA Cycling National Racing CalendarUSA Cycling National Racing CalendarThe USA Cycling National Racing Calendar is an annual competition of road bicycle racing events held in the United States and sponsored by USA Cycling. The NRC includes a men's and women's individual and team rankings based on points awarded at the events...
- Football Saturday in the South, a series of pre-season documentariesDocumentary filmDocumentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
that are syndicated by Raycom