There's no place like Showplace!
So many reasons to rent!
A Special Place ToShop Rent-To-Own
![Customer focused](/themes/showplace/images/vip/history-1.jpg)
Company History
Showplace began life as TV Outlet in January 1981, with owner Gary Ferriman and his wife Mary Ann selling color TV sets from the front porch of their Marion home while working full time jobs. Gary and then-partner Ron Simpson grew the business rapidly, with its first commercial location in April 1982. By adding new Zenith and Quasar TV and Electronics, as well as 10-foot C-Band Satellite Dish installations, the company was renamed TV Outlet & Satellite. From there, the business took off—expanding to include movie rentals, new GE appliances, and several brands of home furniture.
Going "All In"
By 1989, it was decided to open two additional RTO (rent-to-own) locations - Kenton and Edison (since moved to Mt. Gilead). The video rentals and satellite businesses were sold, going "all in" providing rent-to-own services instead. The business was renamed Showplace in the early 1990s, reaching a peak of 25 RTO locations in 2000. Showplace downsized the number of stores to improve quality of service in 2003 and currently operates 15 locations in the central Ohio area serving Ashland, Bellefontaine, Bucyrus, west Columbus, Delaware, Findlay, Galion, Kenton, Mansfield, Marysville, Marion, Mt. Gilead, Springfield, Tiffin and Upper Sandusky, and their surrounding areas.
![All In](/themes/showplace/images/vip/history-2.jpg)
![Commitment](/themes/showplace/images/vip/history-3.jpg)
A Family Commitment
From the beginning, Gary Ferriman attended state & national industry trade association conventions, participating in the construction of the Ohio state statute regulating the rent-to-own industry. Gary served as president for two terms of the national Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) as well as serving on the boards of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association (ORDA) and The Rental Industry Buying Group (RIBG) for several terms. In 2017, he received the Chuck Sims Rental Dealer of the Year award. Showplace is now in its second generation of family management with son Keith Ferriman serving as Executive Vice President, directing operations and marketing. Keith is currently vice president of ORDA and serves on the Specialty Committee of the RIBG.