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Legend: Shannon and Cynthia Baber-Strunk
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A customer says, “I’ll never own the laundromat,” and everything changes. That moment turned rent-to-own from a product on a shelf into a service with purpose for Shannon and Cynthia Baber Strunk—two industry legends who built, defended, and evolved RTO over four decades. We trace their path from Firestone showrooms to 50 stores, the hard lessons of a tire-and-wheel experiment, and the surprise breakthrough of early cell phones, starting with bag phones in the 90s.
We open up about the years when regulation threatened the model and how advocacy became the strategy. Shannon and Cynthia helped shape state laws, led within APRO, and visited Washington more than twenty times to educate lawmakers on how the RTO transaction actually works and why constituents choose it. You’ll hear candid insights on the state-vs-federal balance, why complacency is dangerous, and what message resonates in today’s DC: clear explanation over alarm, customer outcomes over abstractions.
Behind the scenes, technology was the quiet multiplier. Moving from posting cards to modern software transformed reporting, policy decisions, and forecasting. That data discipline now powers their RNR Tire Express focus, where six-month same-as-cash and purchase options require both operational savvy and regulatory awareness. They also share the blueprint for succession done right: start your next leaders at the bottom, insist on real accountability, and set bold forecasts you actually believe your people can hit.
If you care about rent-to-own growth, small-market strategy, industry advocacy, or succession planning, this story is a masterclass in building something durable without losing the customer-first soul. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs the spark, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—what should RTO teach lawmakers next?
APRO
Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
Support the show
www.TheRTOshowPodcast.com For swag and information
Facebook - The RTO Show
Instagram - the_rto_show
Linkedin - The RTO Show
Youtube - The RTO Show Podcast
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By Pete ShauSend us a text
A customer says, “I’ll never own the laundromat,” and everything changes. That moment turned rent-to-own from a product on a shelf into a service with purpose for Shannon and Cynthia Baber Strunk—two industry legends who built, defended, and evolved RTO over four decades. We trace their path from Firestone showrooms to 50 stores, the hard lessons of a tire-and-wheel experiment, and the surprise breakthrough of early cell phones, starting with bag phones in the 90s.
We open up about the years when regulation threatened the model and how advocacy became the strategy. Shannon and Cynthia helped shape state laws, led within APRO, and visited Washington more than twenty times to educate lawmakers on how the RTO transaction actually works and why constituents choose it. You’ll hear candid insights on the state-vs-federal balance, why complacency is dangerous, and what message resonates in today’s DC: clear explanation over alarm, customer outcomes over abstractions.
Behind the scenes, technology was the quiet multiplier. Moving from posting cards to modern software transformed reporting, policy decisions, and forecasting. That data discipline now powers their RNR Tire Express focus, where six-month same-as-cash and purchase options require both operational savvy and regulatory awareness. They also share the blueprint for succession done right: start your next leaders at the bottom, insist on real accountability, and set bold forecasts you actually believe your people can hit.
If you care about rent-to-own growth, small-market strategy, industry advocacy, or succession planning, this story is a masterclass in building something durable without losing the customer-first soul. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs the spark, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—what should RTO teach lawmakers next?
APRO
Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
Support the show
www.TheRTOshowPodcast.com For swag and information
Facebook - The RTO Show
Instagram - the_rto_show
Linkedin - The RTO Show
Youtube - The RTO Show Podcast