Open for Business
A new store in Point Plaza provides a positive shopping experience for consumers of all socioeconomic groups who need furniture, appliances, electronics and more.
Russell Falkenstein, chief strategy, analytics and growth officer at Aaron's corporate office in Atlanta, said the 18,000-square-foot Aaron's in Butler Township opened Feb. 26.
Items in the store can be purchased outright or over time, with the buyer paying weekly, biweekly or monthly.
“Customers can pay us whenever they get paid or whatever works for their schedule,” Falkenstein said.
While buyers pay a little more for items for the opportunity to pay over 12 to 24 months for their new living room, refrigerator, television, mattress, computer or game system, no credit check is required and items can be returned should the buyer become unable to pay their lease-to-own obligation.
Aaron's does not charge interest on lease-to-own items either.
“Our goal is serving the underserved consumer, making sure they can get the quality home goods to improve their quality of life,” Falkenstein said. “We are available to everybody.”
<br />He said Aaron's offers high-approval rates and low payments to everyone, including those with no credit or poor credit.“It's not a loan,” Falkenstein said. “There's no interest.”Aaron's has 1,400 stores in the United States, and Falkenstein is excited about the new Butler location.“We are really enthusiastic about the potential of the town,” he said. “It's not the biggest market, but one that fits our footprint.”He said customers who cannot afford to buy larger-ticket household items are not well-served by big box stores, and can shop in a large, bright, clean Aaron's store while paying competitive prices.“We offer a service, I think, that other people don't,” Falkenstein said. “We have a better customer experience.”In addition, Aaron's crews deliver and set up purchases for free, whether the customer paid cash or entered a lease-to-own contract.“Most items come with a warranty,” Falkenstein said.Should a customer become unable to pay their lease, items can be returned to the store with no penalty or further obligation to Aaron's, he said.
The most frequent Aaron's purchase is living room furniture, Falkenstein said, but televisions are popular at this time of year because of the NCAA's March Madness, a national basketball tournament.“Butler has a great selection,” Falkenstein said.He said washers and dryers have been big sellers during the coronavirus pandemic because people are trying to avoid encountering others at the laundromat.Falkenstein said much of Aaron's upholstered furniture is made by the company's furniture manufacturer, Woodhaven.Two Woodhaven factories in South Georgia make Aaron's upholstered furniture, and several bedding manufacturers owned by Aaron's are located around the United States.Ashley furniture also is available at all Aaron's locations, Falkenstein said.Examples of electronics brands include Samsung, Sony and HP.Appliances sold at Aaron's include G.E., Samsung and Whirlpool, among others.Aaron's boasts $1.2 billion in revenue and has 10,000 associates at stores across the nation, Falkenstein said.He looks forward to a long relationship with customers in Butler.“We want to be able to serve the community as best we can,” Falkenstein said. “We are happy if our customers and employees are happy.”
