True Value and ARA form alliance
10 March 2010
The American Rental Association (ARA) has created a new alliance with True Value Company, the US-based hardware cooperative, to provide ARA member benefits to the cooperative's retailers who offer rental services.
True Value has approximately 5000 independent retail locations many of whom offer rental services under brands including True Value, Grand Rental Station and Taylor Rental.
In addition to providing True Value retailers with access to ARA's education, information, risk management and government affairs programmes, the new alliance combines the resources of both organizations' respective trade show capabilities under the banner of ARA's annual convention and trade show, The Rental Show.
One consequence of this is that True Value's annual Rental Market event will no longer be held, with True Value's rental members encouraged to visit the Rental Show.
"Providing competitive, top-quality rental equipment and services is a critically important part of how our retailers serve their communities," said Michelle Henebry Finnigan, director of True Value's rental and maintenance repair & operations businesses; "In an economy that has customers watching every penny, rental provides an increasingly popular solution for getting a job done right or hosting a big event without having to lay out the cash for new equipment."
From 1 July 1, ARA will extend member benefits to all True Value rental programme
Participants, including Grand Rental Station, Taylor Rental and Party Central rental franchises, and Just Ask Rental and Rental Center licensed program retailers. True Value rental retailers will receive preferred pricing for The Rental Show in Las Vegas in 2011.
"This cooperative working relationship of ARA and True Value brings benefit to members of both organizations. We look forward to the opportunities created by our joint efforts," said ARA CEO Chris Wehrman. "We couldn't be more pleased to welcome our new members and add their participation to the association's representation of the equipment rental industry."
