Content area
Full Text
Charlie Loudermilk said customers can't pay for furniture by the week anymore. He's upscaled. Now customers have monthly payment plans.
But as founder, chairman and CEO of Atlanta-based Aaron Rents Inc. (NYSE: RNT), Loudermilk said he still struggles to propel his company's reputation beyond those original retail roots.
Loudermilk is continuing that image revamp, he said, through new store locations, renovations and the recent acquisition of former Heilig-Meyers stores from the bankruptcy block. Loudermilk expects to open another 100 stores this year.
Aaron Rents' aggressive growth strategy already has caused one analyst to lower earnings per share estimates on the company - from $1.61 a share to $1.51,...