Franchise News & Press Releases

Buddy’s Home Furnishings, a leader in the rent-to-own franchise business, was recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking.

The 43rd annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500® is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry. Recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the 2022 Franchise 500® ranks Buddy’s Home Furnishings as #226 for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, franchise support and overall brand power.

“We’re thrilled to be back on the Franchise 500® list for the second time,” said Michael Bennett, CEO of Buddy’s Home Furnishings.

“This year’s success really began back in 2020, when we laid the foundation and started fine-tuning our growth strategy. We established an exceptional management team, which helped us attract more franchisees. As a resu…

Leading RTO Retailer gives $20,000 to the Duke University Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center.

On December 14, Buddy’s Home Furnishings, a retailer specializing in the sales and rental ownership of furniture, electronics, appliances and home accessories, donated $20,000 to the Duke University Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center.

Tisch Brain Tumor Center was established in 1937 as one of the first brain tumor research and clinical programs in the United States.

Each year, the center welcomes 800 new adult patients and 75 new pediatric cancer patients.

“It’s an honor to give to this outstanding institution,” says Michael Bennett, CEO of Buddy’s Home Furnishings.

“It is our hope that through our donation, the Tisch Brain Tumor Center will continue to innovate and, most importantly, provide care for those who need it most.”

Buddy’s executives Mike Zagar, Director of Franchise Operations, and Jos…

Buddy's Home Furnishings is a retailer specializing in the sales and rental ownership of furniture, electronics, and appliances.

Buddy’s Home Furnishings, a retailer specializing in the sales and rental ownership of furniture, electronics, appliances and home accessories, awarded Loren Pierce, PharmD, RPh, with eight franchise locations across Georgia. The agreement adds to Buddy’s recent spike in statewide interest, reaching 16 signed franchise deals in 2021 alone. Once open, Buddy’s will have nearly 40 locations across Georgia.

Pierce is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pierce Pharmacy Management, Inc., an entity group comprising more than 20 retail pharmacies, durable medical equipment, drug wholesale and flower shops.

“With shrinking margins in the retail pharmacy environment, I started exploring other synergistic, community-focused retail businesses which led me to Buddy’s,” said Pierce.

“As a pharmacist, my mission is to serve my co…

bebe stores, inc., a multi-unit franchise operating group with Buddy’s Home Furnishings, has signed an agreement to re-franchise eight company-owned stores between Kentucky and Indiana, adding to the group’s existing footprint of 47 stores.

“We’re thrilled to build on our partnership with Buddy’s by adding eight new stores to our existing portfolio,” said Martin Fontela, Chief Operating Officer of bebe.

“Our team is also taking the necessary steps to set us up well for future growth with Buddy’s as we set our eyes on potential markets in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida.”

bebe partnered with Buddy’s in 2020 and has since franchised 47 stores across the country.

“I’ve personally witnessed tremendous progress within Buddy’s franchise program since joining the company more than five years ago,” said Fontela.

“Buddy’s fosters a team-minded mentality between the franchisee and franchisor, which is a culture you can’t find with most franchi…

Rent-to-own retailer awards three franchised locations to TryBudCo, LLC.

Buddy’s Home Furnishings, a retailer specializing in the sales and rental ownership of furniture, electronics, appliances and home accessories, awarded TryBudCo, LLC with three franchised locations across Georgia with the first scheduled to open in Macon.

The new locations will add to Buddy’s growing nationwide footprint of more than 300 stores.

Ray Muncy is an operating partner with TryBudCo. He started in the rent-to-own industry in 1987 in Columbus, Georgia and has since held various positions such as field operator, credit manager, general manager, district manager, regional manager and director of franchise operations for a large lease purchase company.

“I came across Buddy’s franchise opportunity when I thought I was closing the chapter on my rent-to-own career,” said Muncy.

“It encouraged me to venture into franchise ownership and re-ignited my love for the in…

WRCT Investments, LLC Opens Fifth Franchised Store with Company in North Carolina this June.

Buddy’s Home Furnishings, a retailer specializing in the sales and rental ownership of furniture, electronics, appliances and home accessories, opened its doors in Wilmington, North Carolina earlier this month, adding to the retailer's nationwide footprint of nearly 300 stores.

The franchised location is the fifth store for WRCT Investments, LLC, a Buddy’s development group operating several locations across Georgia and North Carolina. The group has franchised with the company since 2016.

“We are excited to open a new store in Wilmington, a major cultural and economic center of coastal North Carolina,” said Tom Carico, co-owner of Buddy’s Wilmington.

“We chose to franchise with Buddy's because of the company’s established, flexible business model and supportive franchise team that made it possible for two doctors to understand a completely new business and …

Buddy’s Home Furnishings is a mainstay in the rent-to-own industry specializing in the sales and rental ownership of furniture, electronics, appliances and home accessories.

This year, the company celebrates 60 years in business and is approaching another milestone–nearly 300 operating stores, 251 of which are franchised locations.

“I’m proud to be a part of one chapter in Buddy’s storied history,” said Michael Bennett, CEO. “Buddy’s has prevailed through every economic environment over the decades, and at the heart of its success are the people.”

Buddy’s was founded in 1961 in Tampa, Fla. with a mission to help customers attain ownership of home necessities through affordable payments without the constraints of traditional credit or financing. The company adopted its franchise model in 2009 with a vision of serving more communities by expanding into new and existing markets nationwide.

Mitchell Lee recently joi…