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Captain Courageous Takes on High Seas Piracy.

Personal experience pushes Captain James K. Staples to Battle Back.

DATELINE: Norwell, Mass.

Modern day high seas piracy. It happens every day.
It may lack the Hollywood charm of Johnny Depp and the Pirates of the Caribbean, but the life and death drama is real and a pressing issue.

Captain James K. Staples, referred to by some members of the press as Captain Courageous, a three decade sea captain, Master Mariner and U.S. Merchant Marine, has launched a consulting service to combat high seas piracy. He has recently been utilized as an expert by CBS News, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, BBC and organizations such as Navy and Coast Guard. He has been a key note speaker for NATO and other security conferences.

Staples also served as spokesman for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, Mass. when fellow alum and friend Richie Phillips, Captain of the Maersk Alabama, a U.S.-flagged container ship was attacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, was being held hostage in a recent high profile piracy incident. Now he is reaching out to the international maritime community to offer his expertise and insights.

Staples is no stranger to piracy threats. In addition to commiserating with other seasoned captains about the growing problem, he experienced unwanted guests approaching his own ship the Green Bay. After firing two shots from his Browning Hi Power 9 mm pistol over the offenders bow and witnessing a quick retreat by the suspects, Staples realized how close he came to a deadly situation.

“High seas piracy affects us all,” noted Staples. He elaborated, “From the hostages who get raped, beaten and murdered, to the shipping lines who get blackmailed, to the anxious families of crews throughout the world to consumers paying higher prices at Wal-Mart.”

Battling piracy can be traced back to 1797 when the USS Constitution, the oldest naval vessel in world still afloat, was launched and pressed into service fighting piracy along Africa’s Barbary Coast. Today Somalia is a Mecca for pirates and they have nearly crippled shipping in the Gulf of Aden. Piracy is also rampant from the Strait of Malacca and Indonesia to Venezuela, Nigeria and the Persian Gulf.

Smaller crews – down from 42 to 19 on most overseas voyages – and more desperate times have been contributing factors to the rise in piracy. Staples also notes that a lack of state of the art surveillance equipment (including thermal imaging and infrared cameras tied into radar) on ships puts honest seafarers at a disadvantage.

Staples addressed the common sense and controversial ways to combat piracy and to keep shipping crews and their cargo safe. From trained marksmen and anti-piracy teams onboard to better technology, he outlines methods of taking the seas back from organized pirate groups and rouges.

“Going to sea is dangerous enough. Fire, sinking, drowning – it just part of the challenge. Piracy takes that danger to a new level and it must be curtailed,” noted Staples.

For additional information about Captain James Staples, please visit his website www.OceanRiverLLC.

Captain Courageous Takes on High Seas Piracy.Read More

Your new travel guide…Kelly Miller opens Best of Lehigh Valley Resort Maps franchise.

Resort Maps' Kelly Miller

BETHLEHEM, PENNYSYLVANIA AND WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

Resort Maps, creator of nearly 100 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently announced Kelly Miller as the owner of the new Resort Map to be published for the Lehigh Valley. The map will include all key destinations in the Easton, Bethlehem, and Allentown areas.

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of towns and cities, distributed free to area visitors at travel information and rest areas as well as at advertiser locations. The Best of Lehigh Valley map will highlight local attractions and things to do, restaurants, festivals and fairs, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services in Lehigh Valley. Each advertiser on the map will be represented with a display ad surrounding the perimeter of the map, including a color-coded grid locator and their actual building hand-drawn, highlighted and labeled, making it easy to locate. 

“There’s so much going on in the Lehigh Valley right now with the development of local sports teams, casinos, festivals and other locally owned businesses. That’s not only drawing interest from the locals but tourists from all over,” said Miller. “There aren’t any maps that cover the attractions of this area and showcase what local businesses have to offers. Our map will help locals and tourists alike discover the Lehigh Valley.”

A lifelong resident of the Lehigh Valley, Miller graduated from Northampton High School and Cedar Crest College. In addition to owning a Resort Maps franchise, she is a notary and tag agent for the Department of Motor Vehicles in Wind Gap. Miller resides in Bethlehem Township.

“I’m extremely excited about this opportunity and the potential for additional maps within and around the Lehigh Valley,” said Miller.

Slated for a fall 2010 distribution, The Lehigh Valley Resort Map will offer a treasure trove of things to do for people vacationing in the area or just out for a day or two. Resort Maps free ‘souvenir style’ maps will be on display at local advertisers’ shops as well as at many non-advertiser locations throughout Lehigh Valley.

The Lehigh Valley Resort Map will also be available on-line at www.resortmaps.com, along with interactive maps to over 100 areas that Resort Maps covers. These interactive maps allow the viewer to read a description of each business as they scroll over each building and to connect to the website of the business for further information. 

For information on how to advertise on the initial Best of Lehigh Valley Resort Map, you can e-mail Kelly Miller at kellym@resortmaps.com or call 610-401-7796.

About Resort Maps

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps has been creating and publishing advertising maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Today, that network of franchises has grown to over 98 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. Twenty million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2010.

For more information on Resort Maps and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Eagle River, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Portland, York-Ogunquit), , Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City,  Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Chatham-Orleans, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Traverse City, Northern Michigan), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York (The North Fork, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs, The Hamptons,), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, Lehigh Valley, The Main Line), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) and Virginia (Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes) and Puerto Rico (Vieques, Culebra).

Your new travel guide…Kelly Miller opens Best of Lehigh Valley Resort Maps franchise.Read More

Furnished Housing by Owner (www.FHBO.com) launches Web portal for furnished vacation rental and corporate housing.

 BOSTON, MA…

There may be no place like home, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for sterile hotel accommodations when you’re on vacation or away for extended periods on business. With the launch of Furnished Housing By Owner (www.FHBO.com), travelers have a resource to search and secure furnished housing and rentals directly with the property owners – at much lower rates than an extended stay in a hotel.

FHBO.com allows property searchers to filter properties by location, keywords, # bedrooms, # beds, Internet availability and availability dates.  For each property, you can view photos, rates, reviews and a map of the exact property location.  It’s free to search FHBO’s property listings and visitors to the site can save a link to a specific property for future reference. 

“Many times business travelers or vacationers just assume they have to stay in a hotel and absorb the cost.  Unlike a hotel room, a furnished property offers the amenities of home such as a full kitchen and comfortable living space,” said David Alex-Barton, founder of FHBO.com. “With our global online service, travelers have multiple options literally at their finger tips–whether they are looking for a furnished New York studio, a self-catered London flat, or a tropical island vacation villa.”

In addition to being an invaluable resource for travelers, FHBO.com is a boon for property owners in an economy when many travelers have cut back. For a low annual fee of $99, each property listing is highlighted with large photos, concise property details, an availability calendar, a Google map, rates, reviews and direct owner contact including a direct link to the owner’s Web site.  

FHBO.com offers an easy-to-use interface so owners can add properties quickly and easily. For even greater exposure, FHBO.com promotes individual rental listings on several online services such as Craigslist, Ebay, Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube. In addition, FHBO.com will also feature select properties on its home page.

Here is a sampling of furnished housing listings on FHBO.com with direct links:

“What makes FHBO.com different than other furnished housing sites is that we’re furnished housing owners [Back Bay Suites – Boston] as well being furnished rental experts,” said Alex-Barton. “We know that what is most important to every property owner is customer inquiries and keeping their property booked.   On FHBO, we feature properties, not advertisements and we put our focus on promoting each individual property listing.” 

To celebrate the launch of the site, FHBO.com is offering a two-month free listing with coupon code “FHBO2010”

For additional information on FHBO.COM, you can visit www.fhbo.com or call 617-262-0099.

Furnished Housing by Owner (www.FHBO.com) launches Web portal for furnished vacation rental and corporate housing.Read More

A perfect 10! DirectBuy of Nassau County celebrates 10 years in business.

WESTBURY, NY…

For 10 years, DirectBuy Club has been offering consumers in greater Nassau County a brand new way to save on home improvement projects, furnishings, and accessories.

The leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, DirectBuy of Nassau County offers products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, from more than 700 manufacturers or their authorized suppliers.

“We help consumers stretch their dollars and create the homes of their dreams. Even after 10 years that doesn’t get old,” said David Pena, owner of DirectBuy of Nassau County. “Ten years later we’re just as excited about this opportunity because DirectBuy makes even more sense for consumers than it did when we opened our doors.”

In addition to tremendous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring, and accessories, DirectBuy Club also offers design and delivery services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services, many times at a discounted rate.

“Our 10 years in business have not only given us the opportunity to help families create the home of their dreams, but also to establish ourselves as part of the local business community,” said Pena. “We look forward to further cultivating those relationships with our customers and the community as we build toward even bigger and better things in the years to come.”

Conveniently located at 200 Shames Drive in Westbury, New York, DirectBuy Club offers consumers a comfortable setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy Club

For more than 39 years, DirectBuy Club has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement, and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories, and much, much more. With more than 150 locations in North America, DirectBuy Club offers its members access to more than 700 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in the U.S. and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in Canada. Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy Club’s savings, service, and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

A perfect 10! DirectBuy of Nassau County celebrates 10 years in business.Read More

New summer programs offered at The Bridge Center in Bridgewater, Mass.

BRIDGEWATER, MASS.

The Bridge Center, a non-profit (501)(c)( 3) recreation center that serves children with developmental, physical and emotional disabilities, recently announced its new portfolio of camp programs for Summer 2010. Camp is offered to children and adolescents aged 4-22.

That new portfolio includes:

Camp Connect – Designed for children and teens with Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, and related challenges, Camp Connect offers programming and supports designed to support social skills and thinking development and practice.  Camp Connect offers three- and six-week sessions with 2:6 counselor:camper ratios. First , six-week session begins Monday, June 28 and ends August 6; second Lite session (three weeks) begins August 9 and ends August 27.

Camp Summit – Designed for campers who struggle with behavioral control and benefit from significant behavioral supports and structures, Camp Summit provides an environment focused on success using a behavioral level system for the whole camp and individualized behavior plans as appropriate.  Camp Summit offers one- and three-week sessions with 2:6 counselor:camper ratios. First weeklong session begins June 28. The more intensive Summit session lasts three weeks and runs August 9 through August 27.

Camp Endeavor – Designed for campers with learning, intellectual, and developmental disabilities who benefit from intermittent or limited support, Camp Endeavor helps campers try new activities, meet new people, and feel successful.  Camp Endeavor offers one-week sessions throughout the summer with 1:3 or 1:2 counselor:camper ratios in order to assure that every camper has the appropriate accommodations so they may fully participate in all activities. One-week sessions start June 28 through week of August 23.

Camp Discovery – Designed for campers with intellectual and developmental disabilities who benefit from extensive or pervasive support, Camp Discovery provides campers full access to all activities with its 1:1 or 1:2 counselor:campers ratios that assure appropriate modifications are in place throughout camp.  Camp Discovery staff support campers with ADLs (activities of daily living) as needed and offers one1-week sessions throughout the summer. One-week sessions start June 28 through week of August 23.

Horse Camp – Designed for campers aged 8+ who love horses, Horse Camp offers riding center activities every morning, including one mounted riding lesson each day.  In the afternoons, campers join Camp Endeavor and participate in a variety of camp activities.  We offer four 1-week sessions of Horse Camp during the summer, typically with 1:3 counselor:camper ratios. Sessions take place the weeks of: July 6, July 19, August 2 and August 16.

“Structured recreational activities are key ingredients for children’s social, emotional and physical development,” said Jennifer Harber, executive director of The Bridge Center.  “Our specialized camps offer children maximum opportunities to grow from their summer experiences.”

For more information on The Bridge Center’s camp schedule, including fees, please visit http://www.TheBridgeCtr.org. The Bridge Center strives to achieve a “no child is turned away” policy. Financial assistance and assistance with transportation are available.

About The Bridge Center

The Bridge Center, which is the new name for Handi Kids, was founded by the Knights of Pythias in 1963. The Bridge Center’s beautiful 20-acre campus is located in Bridgewater, MA and provides accessible play and skill-building activities for all children regardless of the nature or severity of their disability. Year-round activities include nine weeks of summer camp, therapeutic horseback riding, school vacation camps, holiday parties, Saturday programs, teen programs, vocational training, after-school activities and family support groups. 

The Bridge Center also offers carefully designed summer programs and social skills groups designed to meet the social and behavioral needs of children with Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and related challenges. 

If you’d like to learn more about The Bridge Center’s programs or are interested in becoming a supporter, please call (508) 697-7557 or send an e-mail to info@TheBridgeCtr.org.

New summer programs offered at The Bridge Center in Bridgewater, Mass.Read More

Keith Mercurio Named Sales Manager at Winters Company Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

Keith Mercurio

Keith Mercurio, a Belmont resident, has been named Sales Manager at Winters Company Plumbing, Heating & Cooling of Cambridge.

Mercurio has been promoted to Sales Manager after working as an apprentice, technician and licensed plumber at Winter Company for almost seven years. Mercurio was the first in the company to go from “green” apprentice to licensed plumber through Winter’s training facility and receive plumbing certification with the state.

In his new position, Mercurio will be responsible for bidding, selling and assigning jobs to Winters’ plumbers and technicians. He will also be responsible for training all new technicians. Mercurio was recently selected by Nexstar, the independent residential service contractors association, to become one of their 12 member trainers, which is the highest level a trainer can reach in the country. Mercurio just returned from a four-day Nexstar training session in South Carolina where he trained a group in a number of disciplines.

Mercurio majored in political science and philosophy at St. Michael’s College in Vermont. In 2006, when he was a 24-year-old technician at Winters, Mercurio ran as the Republican candidate for Massachusetts State Representative of the 29th Middlesex District.

“Over the years I have received a lot of support from Winters Company that extends beyond the goals of the company. Tim Flynn and the Winters team supported me when I ran for State Rep and when I became involved with Nexstar training. Winters Company is simply one of the best companies to work for,” noted Mercurio.

Outside of Winters Company, Mercurio has volunteered at Big Brother in Boston for more than three years. He has also spearheaded a number of volunteer plumbing initiatives to help veterans.

He is a native of Watertown, MA.

About Winters Company Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

Since 1994, Winters Company Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has specialized in providing home services of plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and kitchen and bath remodeling projects to thousands of homeowners throughout Eastern Massachusetts.

Winters Company is the largest residential plumbing company in the state, with 20 trucks on the road and a full staff of licensed and insured plumbers and technicians. In addition to 24 hour service and lifetime guarantees on many of their services, Winters Company has standardized their services, which ensures that every customer receives the same high quality workmanship delivered in the same professional and courteous manner.

Winter Company’s trusted professionals are trained to care for a home ‘s systems as well as the home and homeowner. All of Winter’s technicians undergo drug-testing and background checks, ensuring that only first-rate providers comprise Winter’s team.

Winters Company has been honored with a number of awards over the years including the Local Torch Award for Excellence from the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List Super Service Award. Winters Company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. For more information, call (617) 484-2121 or visit the website at www.wintersplumbing.com.

Keith Mercurio Named Sales Manager at Winters Company Plumbing, Heating & CoolingRead More

Boston Bearing Co. Keeps Roller Coasters, Golf Carts and Ski Lifts Moving

Action Bearing, a Boston based bearing company catering to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) markets throughout the U.S., has recently announced a new division to specifically cater to the bearing needs of amusement parks, fitness centers, ski areas and facilities with go karts and golf carts.

Action Bearing’s customer care representatives in the new Recreation division are trained to accommodate the unique needs of clients in these specific industries. Action’s 24/7 service and inventory are critical to the operations of many of their clients.

Action Bearing’s knowledgeable Recreation team assists clients in determining which bearing technologies would be most suitable by taking into consideration the specifications, recommendations, maintenance strategies, fatigue life and wear resistance of the bearing in relation to the application.

Each Recreation division specialty is led by one of Action Bearing’s industry solutions experts. The amusement industry requires the best quality at a reasonable price, whether it is for a roller coaster or a portable ride. Action Bearing provides special solutions such as Polymer lubricants that stop failures and reduce downtime. Bearings for the go and golf cart industry must be able to withstand outdoor environments and for this, Action provides mounted units with triple lip seals and ball bearings with full contact sealing. They also provide spherical bushings, spherical roller bearings, tapered roller bearings, adhesives and sealants, rod ends, oil seals and mounted units. Richard Furtado, Action Bearing’s Marketing Specialist within the Recreation division, capably handles the the requirements of the amusement industry.

Sports equipment, especially that which is found in fitness centers, require high quality, long life and a good price/performance ratio. Joe Falvey, Marketing Specialist in Action Bearing’s Recreation division caters to the Fitness industry with solutions that include ball bearings, taper roller bearings, spherical roller bearings, oil seals, hydraulic cylinders and pumps.

The key to ski area maintenance is 24-hour service, product knowledge and the ability to find the right bearing at the right price, whether it is for lifts, groomers or bullwheels. Action Bearing carries the full line of bearings for Riblet, Yan, Hall and other manufacturers and is a member of the NSAA. Related products that Action carries include miniature and instrumentation bearings, oil seals, ball bearings and linear motion. Rick Piracini, Marketing Specialist, oversees special solutions for the Ski industry within Action’s Recreation division.

Failure Analysis

As part of their customer care, Action’s industry experts provide clients with the unique service of “Bearing Failure Analysis” which helps them determine the cause of bearing failure so that they may prevent future failure and predict reliability. Or, if clients desire to do so, they can utilize the Bearing Failure Analysis program within the Technical Toolbox on the Action Bearing website.

“Action’s Recreation division was created to meet increased demand and significant growth in the amusement, fitness and ski markets over the last couple of years. We have three specialists in this division devoted to specifically catering to their needs,” noted Steve Katz, president of Action Bearing.

To reach Richard Furtado in Action’s Recreation division, contact 866-995-8761 or email rfurtado@actionbearing.com.

To reach Joe Falvey, contact 866-995-8760 or email jfalvey@Actionbearing.com.

To reach Rick Piracini, contact 866-995-8765 or email rickp@actionbearing.com.

The Action Bearing Difference

In a proud tradition, the same families that started the company in 1957 keep Action Bearing rolling by specializing in bearings for OEM and MRO markets across the country. Action Bearing has a staff of 22 and a 23,000 square foot facility to provide bearings ranging in size from 3mm to tunnel-boring 15-foot-diameter giants.

Action Bearing offers customers a one-stop shopping experience. With an online product catalog with over 3 million bearings; a vast inventory of bearings; worldwide sourcing; a fixed price program; a knowledgeable staff dedicated to delivering; same day shipping and 24/7 service, Action Bearing has become the leading provider of bearings to OEM and MRO markets in the U.S.

Action Bearing maintains headquarters at 201 Brighton Ave. Boston, MA. For more information, contact 617-782-1400 or toll free, 800-225-4587, email info@Actionbearing.com or visit www.Actionbearing.com

Boston Bearing Co. Keeps Roller Coasters, Golf Carts and Ski Lifts MovingRead More

DirectBuy of Puget Sound’s Matt Martin receives Service Professional of the Year honors.

DirectBuy of Puget Sound's Matt Martin

LACEY, WA AND MERRILLVILLE, IN…

 DirectBuy Club, the leading home improvement and home furnishings club offering direct insider prices, recently announced at its International Sales & Service Conference in Dallas, Texas that Matt Martin, a Lacey resident and service manager at DirectBuy of Puget Sound, had been named DirectBuy’s Service Professional of the Year.

Candidates for the Service Professional of the Year award are nominated by their peers, supervisors and franchise owners and are graded on their role in providing an exceptional member experience by going above and beyond for their members. Martin achieved the highest grade among service professionals from more than 150 DirectBuy Clubs across the United States and Canada.

“Matt possesses three key attributes that make him a successful service professional. He’s a hard worker, dedicated and has a big heart. He’s the epitome of what we strive for in serving our members,” said Dimitri Olympidus, owner of DirectBuy of Puget Sound. “Matt puts himself in the members’ shoes with every situation, good and bad.  As a result, members pick up that he is genuinely interested and committed to them. This breeds a culture of service that is second to none at our club.”

Olympidus presented Martin Service Professional of the Year award on stage at the Conference, where he received a commemorative plaque for this achievement.

“I am very honored to receive this award and the recognition that comes with it,” said Martin. “From day one, it has been my goal to provide an exceptional level of service to our members and I have had the pleasure of working with a fantastic team in Puget Sound.  I have also been blessed to have the support of our owner Dimitri who has given me all of the tools to make this team so strong.”

Martin started with DirectBuy in 2007. In his role, he oversees all aspects of DirectBuy of Puget Sound’s service department. A graduate of the University of Oregon, he holds a bachelor’s degree in business. Martin resides in Lacey with his wife Christie and their two daughters.

DirectBuy of Puget Sound offers area residents thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, flat-screen televisions and major appliances from more than 700 top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. 

To assist members with their home renovation projects, DirectBuy employs interior designers and product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishing, Home Improvement, Flooring, Accessories, and Entertainment/Outdoor.

DirectBuy of Puget Sound, conveniently located at 8719 Commerce Place Drive Northeast in Lacey, Washington, offers consumers a comfortable, welcoming setting and design center where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy Club

For more than 39 years, DirectBuy Club has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 150 locations in North America, DirectBuy Club offers its members access to more than 700 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy Club’s savings, service, and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

DirectBuy of Puget Sound’s Matt Martin receives Service Professional of the Year honors.Read More

DirectBuy of Syracuse receives Top Customer Service Award at International Conference in Dallas, Texas.

EAST SYRACUSE, NY AND MERRILLVILLE, IN…

DirectBuy Club, the leading home improvement and home furnishings club with direct insider prices, recently announced at its International Sales & Service Conference in Dallas, Texas, that DirectBuy of Syracuse as the 2010 Top Customer Service Star Rating Club.

DirectBuy clubs have the opportunity to be recognized as a Top Customer Service Star Rating Club based on the results of a customer service survey that goes out monthly to new and old members, as well as to consumers who visited a DirectBuy location and declined to become members, regarding their experiences with DirectBuy. The survey measures all clubs according to DirectBuy’s Service Theme and Standards, from the appointment-setting process and new member orientation all the way to problem resolution and renewals.

“DirectBuy of Syracuse achieved a 5-Star Customer Service Rating for five of the six quarters of the qualification for this award. They narrowly missed having six straight quarters of 5-Star Ratings by just .02 points!” said Patti Titus, DirectBuy Corporate’s Senior Director of Merchandise Services. “That speaks to how focused they continue to be in delivering the absolute best member experiences each and every time, and also stands as a testament to the talents of their team members.”

DirectBuy of Syracuse owners Maurice King and Melina Cholmondeley accepted a commemorative plaque onstage at DirectBuy’s International Sales & Service Conference.

“We take customer service very seriously at DirectBuy of Syracuse. We’re constantly looking for ways to improve,” said King. “This award really is a testimony to our staff. It is a team effort all the way as we strive to elevate the shopping experience for our members while continuing to provide them with tremendous selection and savings.”

DirectBuy of Syracuse offers area residents thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, flat-screen televisions and major appliances from more than 700 top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. 

To assist members with their home renovation projects, DirectBuy employs interior designers and product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishing, Home Improvement, Flooring, Accessories, and Entertainment/Outdoor.

DirectBuy of Syracuse, conveniently located at 6804 Manlius Center Road in East Syracuse, offers consumers a comfortable, welcoming setting and design center where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy Club

For more than 39 years, DirectBuy Club has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories, and much, much more. With more than 150 locations in North America, DirectBuy Club offers its members access to more than 700 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy Club’s savings, service, and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

DirectBuy of Syracuse receives Top Customer Service Award at International Conference in Dallas, Texas.Read More