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What does it take to build a multi generation business legacy in the rent to own industry while shaping the future of advocacy, community leadership, and customer service?

In this special RTO Legends episode, Pete Shau sits down with John Cleek Jr. to honor the life and legacy of “Tiger” John Cleek of Cleek’s Home Furnishings. From growing a family owned rent to own business in Missouri to helping build state rental dealer associations across the country, this conversation explores leadership, entrepreneurship, grassroots advocacy, customer relationships, and the power of community impact. Listeners will hear the story behind Cleek’s Home Furnishings, the evolution of the RTO industry, APRO leadership, and the values that continue to drive one of the most respected family businesses in rent to own.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Tiger John Cleek helped shape the modern rent to own industry through state association advocacy and APRO leadership
• Why community engagement and customer relationships remain essential to long term business growth
• The lessons John Cleek Jr. learned from growing up inside a family owned retail and rent to own business
• How Cleek’s Home Furnishings expanded from one appliance store into a recognized regional RTO brand
• Why grassroots leadership and local advocacy continue to protect consumer access in the rent to own industry

Episode Highlights:

• 02:32 – The origin story of Cleek’s Appliance and Food Service in Columbia, Missouri
• 05:30 – How tragedy forced Tiger John Cleek to lead the family business at just 23 years old
• 08:12 – The three business rules that still guide Cleek’s Home Furnishings today
• 13:07 – Why the company transitioned into full scale rent to own operations in the late 1980s
• 16:14 – The decision to join Aaron’s and the lessons learned from franchise expansion
• 23:08 – How Tiger John Cleek helped launch the Missouri Rental Dealers Association
• 26:17 – The push for federal rent to own legislation and APRO advocacy efforts
• 31:14 – Tiger John Cleek’s ALS diagnosis and the creation of the RTO Tiger Award
• 36:03 – The evolution of the Heartland Expo and why industry collaboration matters
• 47:18 – How community giving, autism advocacy, and customer care became part of the Cleek family mission

Meet the Guest:

John Cleek Jr. is the owner and operator of Cleek’s Home Furnishings and a respected leader in the rent to own industry. Following in the footsteps of his father, “Tiger” John Cleek, he continues to lead with a focus on community service, customer relationships, advocacy, and industry leadership across Missouri and beyond.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• “Get Bigger, Get Better, Get Out” growth philosophy
• The Golden Rule customer service approach
• Grassroots state association advocacy strategy
• Community based customer relationship building
• Heartland Expo networking and training model
• APRO leadership and legislative engagement

Closing Insight:

“Leadership in rent to own is built through service, advocacy, and relationships that last for generations.”

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