During my time as director of franchising for ColorTyme there has been one question that always seems to come about when speaking with aspiring rent-to-own franchisees. "Where does the name 'ColorTyme' come from?"
Well, the answer to that question begins with Curtis Mathes' famous slogan: "The most expensive television set in America, and darn well worth it!"
In the late 1950s, George Curtis Mathes, Jr.'s corporation entered the television manufacturing market, and soon began producing a line of color televisions. Over the next twenty-odd years color televisions began popping up in households across America, but it wasn't until the early 1970s that the color television started to overtake the longstanding black and whites in living rooms. Just like today's flat screen televisions, the new technology was expensive, so it took a while for retail prices to drop low enough that an average American family could afford to have a color television in their home.
However, Curtis Mathes wasn't looking to compromise the quality of his product to meet ideal selling prices. When Curtis Mathes began manufacturing televisions he had one major goal in mind; to have the most well-built, reliable and expensive television on the market. He did. And, they were. The televisions were so well built that each set had a four year warranty, which was unheard of at the time - and today for that matter. But, if consumers wanted the best they were going to have to pay for it.
So, by the end of the 1970s Curtis Mathes had perhaps the finest color television set in the world, but because of its price tag most Americans couldn't afford to purchase it. That's when Willie Talley stepped in and partnered with Curtis Mathes. Willie had an ingenious concept, " ColorTyme." Willie believed at the time that it was "tyme" for all households to have "color" television...hence ColorTyme. While he didn't expect the name to become so quickly dated, it has stuck over the years.
Willie's idea materialized in Athens, Texas in 1979, where the first ColorTyme rent-to-own store opened. With the store's opening came the opportunity for every average American family to purchase the finest color television available. Curtis Mathes didn't have to sacrifice quality, and any American household could now afford to move from the era of black and white into the time of color.
A year later, Willie and his partner purchased ColorTyme from Curtis Mathes. In 1982, the concept was transformed into a franchise. And, even though Curtis Mathes no longer owned any portion of the ColorTyme concept, the company opted to implement the successful rent-to-own strategy in Curtis Mathes retail stores, which can be seen advertised in this 1984 commercial.
Today, ColorTyme is the nation's oldest franchisor of independently owned and operated rent-to-own stores. Thanks to the most expensive television set in America.
Well, the answer to that question begins with Curtis Mathes' famous slogan: "The most expensive television set in America, and darn well worth it!"
In the late 1950s, George Curtis Mathes, Jr.'s corporation entered the television manufacturing market, and soon began producing a line of color televisions. Over the next twenty-odd years color televisions began popping up in households across America, but it wasn't until the early 1970s that the color television started to overtake the longstanding black and whites in living rooms. Just like today's flat screen televisions, the new technology was expensive, so it took a while for retail prices to drop low enough that an average American family could afford to have a color television in their home.
However, Curtis Mathes wasn't looking to compromise the quality of his product to meet ideal selling prices. When Curtis Mathes began manufacturing televisions he had one major goal in mind; to have the most well-built, reliable and expensive television on the market. He did. And, they were. The televisions were so well built that each set had a four year warranty, which was unheard of at the time - and today for that matter. But, if consumers wanted the best they were going to have to pay for it.
So, by the end of the 1970s Curtis Mathes had perhaps the finest color television set in the world, but because of its price tag most Americans couldn't afford to purchase it. That's when Willie Talley stepped in and partnered with Curtis Mathes. Willie had an ingenious concept, " ColorTyme." Willie believed at the time that it was "tyme" for all households to have "color" television...hence ColorTyme. While he didn't expect the name to become so quickly dated, it has stuck over the years.
Willie's idea materialized in Athens, Texas in 1979, where the first ColorTyme rent-to-own store opened. With the store's opening came the opportunity for every average American family to purchase the finest color television available. Curtis Mathes didn't have to sacrifice quality, and any American household could now afford to move from the era of black and white into the time of color.
A year later, Willie and his partner purchased ColorTyme from Curtis Mathes. In 1982, the concept was transformed into a franchise. And, even though Curtis Mathes no longer owned any portion of the ColorTyme concept, the company opted to implement the successful rent-to-own strategy in Curtis Mathes retail stores, which can be seen advertised in this 1984 commercial.
Today, ColorTyme is the nation's oldest franchisor of independently owned and operated rent-to-own stores. Thanks to the most expensive television set in America.
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