1851

Shawn DiLeo has been in the rent-to-own (RTO) business for his entire career, starting in the early &lsquo;90s when he took a job with a small appliance store called Rent-A-Vision. Industry giant <a href="https://www.rentacenter.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-franchisee-shawn-dileo-says-rimtyme-is-rent-a-centers-best-kept-secret-2706934" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rent-A-Center</a>, took note of DiLeo&rsquo;s skills as an operator and recruited him to run a store in Geneva, New York. DiLeo moved up through the ranks quickly, becoming a manager, then a district manager, and eventually as a director of more than 60 stores.

After years of working in a variety of capacities for <a href="https://rentacenter.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-franchisee-shawn-dileo-says-rimtyme-is-rent-a-centers-best-kept-secret-2706934" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rent-A-Center</a>, DiLeo decided to enter the game as a franchisee, purchasing two Aarons franchise locations. Before long, DiLeo decided to return to Rent-A-Center, investing in the franchise&rsquo;s subsidiary brand <a href="http://www.colortyme.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-franchisee-shawn-dileo-says-rimtyme-is-rent-a-centers-best-kept-secret-2706934" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ColorTyme</a> and later a new wheel and tire concept by Rent-A-Center called <a href="https://www.rimtyme.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-franchisee-shawn-dileo-says-rimtyme-is-rent-a-centers-best-kept-secret-2706934" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RimTyme</a>. DiLeo opened two ColorTyme stores in 2008 and eventually grew his operation to include seven units in addition to three payday loan stores.

So when Shawn DiLeo says that RimTyme is one of the best business opportunities in the industry, he knows what he&rsquo;s talking about.

&ldquo;If you are looking for a rent-to-own business, you can&rsquo;t do better than RimTyme,&rdquo; he said.

RimTyme is a rent-to-own custom wheel and tire concept offered by Rent-A-Center with 35 locations owned by five franchisees, with each having a multi-unit and multi-state operation.

&ldquo;Across the $8.5 billion rent-to-own sector, with its approximately 6,700 brick and mortar locations, we&rsquo;re pretty confident that our RimTyme brand is the single highest-per-store revenue producer nationally,&rdquo; said Michael Landry, VP of Franchise Development for Rent-A-Center. &ldquo;With the top 20 percent of our stores generating revenues over $2.2 million in 2017 and our average near $1.5 million, the brand and our group of 100% multi-unit franchisees deserve the bragging rights.&rdquo;

Operationally, the wheel and tire franchise is similar to a Rent-A-Center operation, but RimTyme has its own unique branding, marketing as well as a unique automotive culture.

&ldquo;I knew the strength of the Rent-A-Center model, and the idea of applying that to a new opportunity with a new and exciting wheel and tire model that has so much territory available was exciting,&rdquo; DiLeo said. &ldquo;I saw enormous growth potential.&rdquo;

Even with initially high hopes for the venture, DiLeo says the success of his RimTyme operation has exceeded his expectations. His stores in Ohio, Indianapolis, Kentucky and Tennessee have all performed exceedingly well, despite their varying climates.

&ldquo;I expected different results from my stores in each location,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Three of my stores get snow, two don&rsquo;t. I assumed that would have an impact on sales and I&rsquo;d strategize future growth accordingly, but all of them have done very well. Everyone needs tires and wheels, and we&rsquo;ve been there to fill that need.&rdquo;

In addition to the vast range of available territory and a universal demand for RimTyme&rsquo;s services, DiLeo attributes much of his rapid growth over the past five years to the same operational efficiency that allowed him to scale up his Rent-A-Center stores years earlier.

&ldquo;They make it so easy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They set you up with marketing, training, operations support, everything. It&rsquo;s a turn-key operation, which is amazing for someone like me who wants to come in and build something very big, very quickly.&rdquo;

But Landry, is quick to point out that equal credit is owed to DiLeo.

&ldquo;I probably shouldn&rsquo;t say this in an interview for fear that another franchise company might want to recruit our franchisee, but Shawn is just the ideal franchisee,&rdquo; Landry said. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;ve seen his same-store sales increases and his growth ambitions, so I think he&rsquo;ll be with us for a long time.&rdquo;

Landry says DiLeo&rsquo;s experience with multiple brands in the rent-to-own industry prepared him to become the ideal RimTyme franchisee.

&ldquo;Shawn&rsquo;s decades-long experience with some of the biggest brands in the rent-to-own segment &mdash; Rent-A-Center, Aaron&rsquo;s and ColorTyme &mdash; gave him the foundational experience to excel,&rdquo; Landry said. &ldquo;That deep experience is on full display in his RimTyme operation, which is steadily expanding across several states. The success he&rsquo;s having with RimTyme comes as no surprise.&rdquo;

DiLeo currently has three new RimTyme stores in development, all set to open within the next 12&ndash;18 months. As his business has grown, DiLeo says he&rsquo;s also been well assisted by RimTyme&rsquo;s field-support team.

&ldquo;The support staff has been amazing,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The field consultant works with my team, helps select locations, assists with store design, provides both soft opening and grand opening support, and comes out to my stores to help with audits, operations and anything else we might need an extra hand for.&rdquo;

DiLeo says both Rent-A-Center and RimTyme have proven lucrative opportunities for him, and he&rsquo;s excited to continue growing with both.

&ldquo;The Rent-A-Center franchising model is fantastic, and to have that same, proven model applied to wheels and tires has been a home run,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The branding, support, marketing, operations, training, &mdash; everything has been perfected. These are the best brands in rent-to-own, and RimTyme is the best-kept secret in the industry.&rdquo;

Why Franchisee Shawn DiLeo Says “RimTyme” is Rent-A-Center’s Best-Kept Secret

Why Franchisee Shawn DiLeo Says RimTyme is Rent-A-Center’s Best-Kept Secret

1851 Franchise

The industry veteran says Rent-A-Center’s franchised wheel and tire concept is one of the segment’s best bets.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

why-franchisee-shawn-dileo-says-rimtyme-is-rent-a-centers-best-kept-secret

Atomic Wings

Milwaukee Business Journal: Atomic Wings Plans To Bring the Heat to Southeast Wisconsin

milwaukee-business-journal-atomic-wings-plans-to-bring-the-heat-to-southeast-wisconsin

Right at Home

Leading In-Home Care Franchise Looks to Expand in Dayton 

leading-in-home-care-franchise-looks-to-expand-in-dayton

Melting Pot

Celebrate National Fun With Fondue Month With Melting Pot

celebrate-national-fun-with-fondue-month-with-melting-pot

World Gym

World Gym Franchise Owner in Tucson, Arizona, Wins Best New World Gym Award

world-gym-franchise-owner-in-tucson-arizona-wins-best-new-world-gym-award

Healdsburg, California World Gym Owner Wins World Gym of the Year Award

healdsburg-california-world-gym-owner-wins-world-gym-of-the-year-award

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

Login

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

CPK Franchising - California Pizza Kitchen - 1851 Franchise

California Pizza Kitchen Is Now Franchising in the U.S.

cpk-franchising-california-pizza-kitchen-united-states

California Voters Reject $18 Minimum Wage Increase

california-voters-reject-18-minimum-wage-increase

McDonald’s Commits $100 Million to Aid Franchisees and Rebuild Trust After E. Coli Outbreak

mcdonalds-commits-100-million-to-aid-franchisees-and-rebuild-trust-after-e-coli-outbreak

Blackstone Acquires Majority Stake in Jersey Mike's, Signaling Ambitious Growth Plans - 1851

Blackstone Acquires Majority Stake in Jersey Mike's, Signaling Ambitious Growth Plans

blackstone-acquires-majority-stake-in-jersey-mikes-signaling-ambitious-growth-plans

What's To Come for The Economy and Franchising in 2025

whats-to-come-for-the-economy-and-franchising-in-2025

The Crucial Role of Social Media in Franchise Success

the-crucial-role-of-social-media-in-franchising

Paris Baguette Franchise Deep Dive - 1851 Franchise

Franchise Deep Dive: Paris Baguette’s Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

franchise-deep-dive-paris-baguettes-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Importance of Good Customer Service in Franchising

the-importance-of-customer-service-in-franchising

Austin Titus Shares Vision for Cannoli Kitchen’s Growth in Competitive Pizza Franchise Market

austin-titus-shares-vision-for-cannoli-kitchens-growth-in-competitive-pizza-franchise-market

The Top 10 Home Service Franchises to Consider in 2025

the-top-10-home-service-franchises-to-consider

How to Get Your Kids Involved in Your Franchise Business - 1851 Franchise

How To Get Your Kids Involved in Your Franchise Business

how-to-get-your-kids-involved-in-your-franchise-business

Pizza Hut Franchise Struggles - Mashed.com Agg - 1851 Franchise

Pizza Hut Faces Franchise Struggles, Store Closures and Employee Backlash Amid Decline

pizza-hut-faces-franchise-struggles-store-closures-and-employee-backlash-amid-decline

Why Franchisee Shawn DiLeo Says RimTyme is Rent-A-Center’s Best-Kept Secret

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS