·S6 E17

How Kevin Silvers Built Relationships Across the Rent to Own Industry

March 30

1h 6m

Episode Description

What keeps someone successful in the rent to own industry for more than three decades?

According to Kevin Silvers, it comes down to relationships, reinvention, consistency, and showing up for people every single day.

In this episode of The RTO Show, Pete Shau sits down with Kevin Silvers of King of Promotions to talk about the evolution of the rent to own industry, vendor partnerships, customer engagement, leadership, and business growth. From caddying for golf legends like Arnold Palmer and Michael Jordan to building long term relationships with Rent A Center, Buddy’s, Showplace, Countryside, and other RTO leaders, Kevin shares lessons on sales psychology, customer retention, promotions, store operations, and the future of rent to own. This episode is packed with stories about entrepreneurship, vendor strategy, reinvention, and what it really takes to thrive in the RTO business.

What You’ll Learn:

Why relationship building is still the most valuable skill in the rent to own industry
How successful RTO operators adapt, reinvent themselves, and stay ahead of changing customer behavior
The role promotions, training, and customer engagement play in long term store growth
What Kevin Silvers learned from working with major RTO brands like Rent A Center, Buddy’s, Showplace, Rentway, and Countryside
How leadership, mentorship, and industry collaboration continue to shape the future of rent to own

Episode Highlights:

02:47 – Kevin shares stories about caddying for Arnold Palmer and meeting Michael Jordan
06:12 – The business lessons learned from billion dollar entrepreneurs and golf legends
11:40 – How Kevin entered the jewelry business and developed his sales philosophy
17:05 – The moment Kevin first discovered the rent to own industry
20:13 – Why profitable renting requires strategy, balance, and operational discipline
28:04 – How RTO managers taught Kevin more about leadership and people than any sales seminar
41:58 – The story behind launching King of Promotions and building a trusted vendor brand
49:20 – Kevin’s advice for new vendors entering the rent to own industry today
54:26 – Recognition, industry awards, and why relationships matter more than trophies
58:15 – The craziest things Kevin has seen while visiting RTO stores across the country

Meet the Guest:

Kevin Silvers is a longtime rent to own industry vendor, relationship builder, and co founder of King of Promotions. Over the years, he has worked with major RTO companies across the country while helping stores improve promotions, branding, customer engagement, and operational support through relationship driven business strategies.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned

Relationship based sales strategy
Customer retention and referral growth methods
Store level leadership development
Promotional product and branding systems
Vendor partnership strategies in rent to own
Reinvention and operational adaptation in RTO
Customer appreciation event marketing

Closing Insight:

“Success in rent to own comes from staying connected to people, learning every day, and continuing to reinvent yourself as the industry evolves.”

How Kevin Silvers Built Relationships Across the Rent to Own Industry

Episode Description

Never lose your place, on any device