Pilot - Who are we? The story behind the RTO show

Welcome to The RTO Show.

I'm Pete Shau, and if you've spent any time in the rent-to-own industry — whether you're behind the counter, running a store, managing multiple locations, or leading from the home office — then you already know: this business gets in your blood.

I've spent over 20 years in this industry. From store management at Rent-A-Center to multi-unit operations at Rent King and Buddy's Home Furnishings, I've lived the day-to-day grind, the leadership challenges, and the moments that remind you why RTO is unlike any other business out there. And in August of 2022, I decided it was time to build something for the people who feel the same way.

That's what The RTO Show is — a front-row seat to the rent-to-own industry.

Every episode, we're bringing you real conversations with industry leaders, operators, vendors, and innovators. We'll dig into what's working, what's changing, and what you need to know to lead better and grow stronger. From legislative updates and product spotlights to the stories behind the businesses that are shaping RTO's future — if it matters in this industry, we're talking about it.

This isn't just a podcast. It's a community. And it starts right here.

So whether you're a seasoned vet or brand new to the industry — welcome to The RTO Show. Let's talk rent-to-own.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Welcome to the first episode of the RTO show.

SPEAKER_01 0:10

We're your hosts, Danny Lastra and Pete Shao. And uh we're excited to be here and talk about the RTO and industry and everything that that goes on from purchasing goods, employees, stories. I'm sure we got stories we're gonna tell, right, Pete?

SPEAKER_00 0:25

Lots and lots and lots of stories. We got lots of stories to tell everybody, but we first we want to tell everybody who we are and what we've done in the industry and a little bit about the industry.

SPEAKER_01 0:33

Uh first off, all we talk about ourselves, who we are, our background. Pete, you take off.

SPEAKER_00 0:38

So I've been in the RTO industry for about 18 years. Started off in Iraq in 2000 and did a seven-year sentence with them. Uh shortly after that, I went to uh Rent King for two years, then I went back to Buddies for five years, and then I went to Rent King of four years, and in between I had a couple of different jobs where I did some crazy shit.

SPEAKER_01 0:57

And uh as we all know, you try to get away from RTO, you always find your way back.

SPEAKER_00 1:02

I've got two wedding rings, one for my wife, one for RTO.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

I'm I'm Daniel Lasher, been in the industry for 11 years now. Came in in 2011, uh, worked for uh CPO group uh Rank King, started off as an account manager, worked my way all the way up to district manager. Only been with one company, I'm homebred, but obviously made a lot of connections with uh other companies, people from other industries as well that's related to us. It's definitely a business that it's in your blood. You either love it or you just aren't gonna cut out for it. You love it or you love to hate it. That's that's a very true statement. Love or love to hate it. Sometimes uh we actually will do that. There's a lot of love. Definitely hate it. A lot of laughs too. Like a lot of, oh my god. You know, I guess part of this podcast we're gonna be talking about is uh, you know, explaining what is RTO and the difference between retail and RTO and how similar they can be, but at the same time very different. And I think we're just gonna have a lot of fun with this. Uh we're gonna have guest interviews, uh, people with so many experience, years of experience building from the ground up. How there's so many more companies there are now than when it first started. You know, I mean that's one thing we talk about a lot. There's too many.

SPEAKER_00 2:15

There's too many. There's too many people out there trying to trying to fake the funk. Do what we do. They're not good at it.

SPEAKER_01 2:23

But but the the crazy thing is, is the the more pops up, it it's more customers pop up too. Like it's it's it's just funny how you know when there's more people in the world.

SPEAKER_00 2:32

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

That's true. There are two more people in the world, right?

SPEAKER_00 2:35

When I started there was like three billion people, now there's like eight million people, a percentage of them are rent-owned customers, and then we pull them in and we we we show them love and we give them all kinds of things that they can get and have and enjoy it.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

You know, for those that don't know, the the rent-owned industry is what is it now, an 8.5 billion dollar industry? You know, it's it's heavy hitter, you know. I mean, some companies are bigger, obviously, but it is definitely it's nothing to turn your nose up at.

SPEAKER_00 3:02

It's nothing to No, because otherwise we wouldn't have a podcast. Having you lovely folks listen to us. Right. So in this uh podcast, we plan on educating and exploring, having interviews and comment points, talking about what's new, what's upcoming, what's old, what's outgoing, what uh rent owned is today versus what it was yesterday, the advantages of rent to own, because a lot of people have uh have put a stigma on rent to own, which is not at all the truth. We have gotten way better than what it used to be. And uh I think that now, especially now, we have come full circle into the 21st century. We are advertising better, we are loving our customers better, we have better products, and we feel you know about everything like everybody else. We feel the gas prices and we feel the food prices, and and we're here to help with that because we take the idea of putting all that money out forward and you can make subtle payments and still own the very product and pieces that you need every single day.

SPEAKER_01 3:59

No, I I I think one thing I'm looking forward to is the real you know, just like the business, I look forward to the relationship building. I can't wait to get people on here and discussing innovative ideas, marketing strategies, grassroots versus digital.

SPEAKER_00 4:13

Well, as soon as we figure this out, we can have a hope, we could have a third bike.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

We can figure it out. So that's a little bit about Danny and Pete and what you can kind of expect from the show. I I hope you all enjoy it. I hope we uh get a lot of followers, I hope we uh get a lot of listeners. Uh I I look forward to feedback, you know, what topics we are ready to grow with you.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

Mm-hmm and we want to do this together organically and uh make the best podcast that we can for everybody to enjoy, educate, and have a little fun. Have a lot of fun. Okay, way more fun than education. Way more fun than education. We want you guys to laugh. We're gonna probably have like a laugh track on here, and we're gonna have some noises that either we make or don't make.

SPEAKER_01 4:58

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 4:58

I think I think this is the beginning of a beautiful podcast relationship.

SPEAKER_01 5:03

Oh man. I think it's gonna take off for sure. So with that being said, uh, look forward to the future. Look forward to discussing everything with y'all. Can't wait for the next one.

SPEAKER_00 5:13

Stay tuned to the RTO show with Danny and Pete.