 This is because a
rent-to-own business out of Missouri has now
officially bought the business from the previous owner, Henry Baird
of Springfield. On Monday afternoon, the store was quite busy
with representatives from the new owner company on hand to assist
longtime manager Roger Matson in transitioning to his new role as
manager of National Rent-to-Own.
According to district manager Dave Stephens, who was on hand in
the afternoon, manager trainees from Peoria and Springfield will
work with Matson to make the transition smooth.
Stephens said customers aren't going to see a huge number of
changes in the business. On Tuesday morning, banners will go
up with the new store name, and eventually the Action Rentals sign
will come down and a new, permanent National Rent-to-Own sign will
go up.
On Sept. 26, the store hours will change to 9:30 to 6 Monday
through Thursday, 9:30 to 7 on Fridays, and Saturday hours will be
9:30 to 5.
The store will still offer the same service, and customers will
still deal with the same staff they have known.
Monday afternoon, National Rent-to-Own owner Dan Cole said he was
very excited to have acquired a store in Lincoln. The chain owns 36
other stores in Missouri and Illinois. Cole said he had long wanted
to have a store in Lincoln, so when his friend and Action Rentals
owner Baird called and offered him the opportunity to buy his
business, Cole was more than happy to do so.
"I am really excited," Cole said. "This is a wonderful
opportunity, and we're looking forward to serving Lincoln and the
surrounding community." He also said he wanted to assure the public
that the business will maintain that same "hometown feel" and will
continue to offer the same excellent customer service as in the
past.
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Matson, who has been the manager of the business since its
inception over 25 years ago, said he, too, was excited and relieved
to have a company and people he knew well coming in as the new
owners.
"We are now part of a new network, made up of old friends," he
said.
He went on to say: "I am so glad that National has decided to
take a chance on our store. After 26 1/2 years, this business
is close to me. I built it from the ground up, and I am relieved
that we have a future in Lincoln with a top-rate retail store."
Matson also added: "Our customers are our family here and they
will continue to be so with National."
Stephens said National Rent-to-Own is a good fit for Lincoln
because it is a relatively small company. "We're not a big chain
like some. Lincoln is our 37th store, and that is still small enough
to understand the hometown concept," he said.
Matson said that since learning that Baird planned to sell Action
Rentals, he's hoped and prayed that the company would go to someone
like National, and now he feels his prayers have been answered. He's
very much looking forward to being a part of the team and is
confident that his customers will benefit from it as well.
[By NILA SMITH]
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