Artist and ColorTyme Franchisee Larry Hill donated three watercolors that will be auctioned off at this week's Retreat to support Kids Across America.

Photo RTO Online

See 66 photos from last night's ColorTyme Lobster Bake here at the Sagamore here.

A lobster-bake for over 140 members of the ColorTyme extended family of franchisees, vendors and their families kicked off the first annual ColorTyme Summer Retreat at the historic Sagamore Hotel on Lake George Wednesday. ColorTyme President Bob Bloom said the Retreat is a working vacation for ColorTyme franchisees that includes a buying show.

See RTO Online's photo gallery of last night's ColorTyme Lobster Bake here.

The buying show format was changed this year to maximize show-specials for ColorTyme dealers while lowering the expense for vendors. For the first time, no product will be shown. Instead, each vendor will present to the entire group and show specials are available to all ColorTyme franchisees, even if the don't attend the Retreat. Hot Show specials are only available to attendees. "We expect franchisees to buy as much or more than they always have," said Bloom. "The difference is that vendors can focus on their relationships with franchisees instead of setting up product and spending all of their time in a booth."

Artist and ColorTyme franchisee Larry Hill (left), shown here with ColorTyme President Bob Bloom at Wednesday's lobster bake, donated three watercolors that will be auctioned off to benefit Kids Across America.

Artist and ColorTyme Franchisee Larry Hill donated three watercolors that will be auctioned off at this week's Retreat to support Kids Across America. Hill, who spent three weeks on each painting, jokingly says he owns Rent to Own stores to support his love for painting. Mike and Morganna Harwood, 2007 ColorTyme Franchisee of the Year (see story), initiated ColorTyme's relationship with Kids Across America. Harwood is ColorTyme's largest franchisee and the only franchisee to receive a Top 10 Award for three consecutive years.

ColorTyme recently opened its first company-owned RimTyme in Texas (see story). In addition to opening eight more company stores by December, Bloom said that, based on inquiries, interest in the RimTyme system is high. RimTyme will soon announce the signing of a second franchisee. Former Aaron's exec Dave David Deignan completed the conversion of his Macon, Georgia Magic Wheel and Tire store to RimTyme earlier this year (see story). Deignan also opened an additional RimTyme location in Warner-Robbins, Georgia.

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