Rent-to-Own Stores Thrive During Recession The rent-to-own industry has a history few retailers would envy but recent sales most would covet.Aaron's, the second-largest retailer in the $6.3 billion industry, plans to open 200 stores in 2010 on the heels of an 18% increase in same-store sales last year.Rent-to-own stores lease electronics, appliances and other household items by the week or month.