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How to make “top shelf” office space out of your closet.
CHICAGO, GURNEE, HOFFMAN ESTATES, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …
In the corporate world, if they ask you to move your office to the closet, it’s probably not a good sign for your long-term future with the company. If you find yourself working from home, however, converting a closet into a home office can be an effective and economical use of space. With five locations throughout greater Chicago, DirectBuy, the leading home improvement and furnishings club, has some helpful tips on converting a closet into a functional home office.
“Whether you work out of your home or not, nearly everyone has some semblance of office space in their home,” said I.J. Sell, owner of DirectBuy of Tinley Park. “By converting the closet in the guest room or in the basement, you can maintain that room’s primary function while giving yourself or other family members more than adequate office space.”
So, how do you convert a closet into functional office space? For starters, clear everything out of the closet, including clothes, rods, and shelves. Next, take precise measurements of the space, making note of wiring and lighting. Depending on your particular space and what’s available, you may also need to consider the following:
- Installing an electrical outlet within the closet if none are nearby. Make sure you install enough to accommodate a computer, lighting, a printer and other office necessities.
- Installing a jack for either an Ethernet or DSL line to connect to the Internet. If possible, and to save yourself installation costs, it may be more affordable to buy a wireless router and purchase a laptop with a wireless card.
- Painting the closet walls will make it seem more like a room and less like a closet. Lighter colors can make your workspace seem bigger than it is.
- Installing shelves that will function as a desktop that’s the width of the closet and long and deep enough to give you space to either write or work at your computer. You may also want to consider installing additional shelves for storage purposes.
- Purchasing small file cabinets on wheels for storage underneath your work area.
“One of the downsides to working at home is you essentially never leave the office,” said Sell. “By converting your closet, you can literally close the door on work for the day. You can even put a lock on it for added security and to remove the temptation to work during off hours.”
DirectBuy offers nearly everything you need for your home office—at wholesale prices direct from the manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. In addition, DirectBuy also employs product specialists and designers if your home improvement project is a bit more than you want to take on or you don’t have the time.
For more than 38 years, DirectBuy clubs have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring and accessories by purchasing from over 700 brand name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. With several convenient locations in greater Chicago (Chicago, Gurnee, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Tinley Park), consumers can enjoy a comfortable, country club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.
For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuycares.com.
About DirectBuy
Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. The DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are part of more than 160 locations throughout North America.
Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuycares.com.
Locations of the DirectBuy clubs serving greater Chicago area: DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 Stonington Ave Ste. 150, Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 North Avondale Ste. 110, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 High Grove Lane Ste. 124, Naperville, IL; DirectBuy of Lake County, 3900 Washington Street, Gurnee, IL; and DirectBuy of Tinley Park, 18400 S. 76th Avenue Ste. B, Tinley Park, IL.
To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.
How to make “top shelf” office space out of your closet.Read More
Duck…Duck…Donation! DirectBuy of Sacramento Helps Fund Breast Cancer Research
ROCKLIN, CALIFORNIA…
Do you remember going to the carnival with your family when you were younger? If so, you likely remember playing the Duck Pond game where you picked the floating rubber duck you thought the luckiest and, moments later, walked away with a prize that likely cost far less than what Mom or Dad paid. DirectBuy of Sacramento, the leading home improvement and furnishings club, created its own version of the Duck Pond game for its members in an effort to raise money for breast cancer research.
During the month of October, a $5 donation gave members the chance to pick a pink duck with a number on the bottom that corresponded to a prize, such as a $50 American Express gift card. With much more at stake than the carnival attraction, this Duck Pond game drew a significant response from both members and staff.
“Several employees’ families have been touched by breast cancer, and we wanted to help,” said Amy Sroufe, Regional Service Manager. “We collected member donations both online and in the club during the month of October and then matched them.”
In addition to monies raised from the “donation ducks,” the match included funds raised as part of DirectBuy of Sacramento’s participation in Lee National Denim Day on October 2, 2009. For this fundraising event, DirectBuy employees purchased the right to wear jeans to work. Staff members who made a donation were able to write the name of a loved one on a paper jean pocket and have it displayed in DirectBuy’s Member Services department.
At the end of the month, DirectBuy of Sacramento had collected nearly $1,000 in member and staff donations, which it then matched. The club then made a $2,000 donation to the Women’s Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), helping to fund research of new treatments and cures for the 192,000 women diagnosed every year.
“Besides helping consumers save money on home improvement projects and home furnishings, DirectBuy also has a reputation for giving to many local and national non-profits,” said Sroufe. “We’re proud to do our small part to help fight this terrible disease that affects so many families.”
In addition to supporting breast cancer research, DirectBuy clubs across the United States and Canada actively contribute to many local non-profits and charities, including The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, YMCA, Homes for Our Troops and various children’s hospitals.
For more than 38 years, DirectBuy has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 4401 Granite Drive in Rocklin, California, DirectBuy offers members a comfortable setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.
For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can call 716-684-1400 or visit www.directbuycares.com .
About DirectBuy
Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy has been serving the greater Sacramento area since 2007. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. DirectBuy of Buffalo is one of more than 160 DirectBuy locations throughout North America.
Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy at 916-251-5200 or visiting www.directbuy.com..
To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.
Duck…Duck…Donation! DirectBuy of Sacramento Helps Fund Breast Cancer ResearchRead More
Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield Announce Annual Gala on March 6th
The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield recently announced their Annual Gala will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, MA. The Gala is a major fundraiser for the privately funded, non-profit club and this year more than 350 people are expected to attend.
During the evening, the club will honor former Marshfield Selectman and Town Moderator Jim Robinson and his wife Maureen for their support of and dedication to the Boys and Girls Club and families in the area. Both grew up in Marshfield – Jim graduating from Marshfield High in 1972 and Maureen in 1973. Their two sons, Brian and Sean are also MHS graduates.
Over the years, Jim, who is the founder of Dynamic Results (Pembroke), has served the town of Marshfield in various capacities. In 1979, he was appointed to the Advisory Board. In 1983, Jim was elected as a selectman and then reelected in 1986. In 1993, he was elected moderator for one three-year term. He ran again in 1999 and served for three more terms until he left office in 2008. Jim currently serves as Treasurer on Marshfield Community Television’s Board and as Vice Chairman of the finance committee for St. Ann’s by the Sea Parish in Marshfield.
Along with serving the town, Jim and Maureen have been key supporters of the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield. Knowing that the club was essential to the community, the Robinsons do all they can to ensure that every child has this safe haven for recreation.
In addition to honoring the Robinsons, the “Youth of the Year” will be announced and presented with a scholarship. The Gala promises to be dazzling with hors d’oeuvres, dinner, entertainment and a silent and live auction.
The club hopes to raise more than $60,000 to support programs for more than 4,000 youths in the area. Major sponsors for the event include Rockland Federal Credit Union and Tiny and Sons Glass.
Tickets are $100 each or $1,000 for a corporate table for 10. For more information about the Gala or to purchase tickets or donate an item to the auction, visit the website marshfieldboysandgirlsclub.com or contact Shawn Costa, Director of Development at the club (781) 834-1300 (ext. 277).
About the Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield provides a safe haven for recreation and fun, which includes a variety of supervised activities for the 1,100 current members and is available to youth (between the ages of 6 to 18 years old) within the town and surrounding communities. The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield has five Core Areas: Character and Leadership; Education and Career; Health, Sport Fitness Recreation and Life Skills; The Arts; and Technology. These Core Areas serve as the foundation for all programming.
As a privately-funded, non-profit organization, the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield relies tremendously on the generous philanthropic support of individuals. Financial gifts assist in providing the financial strength necessary to continue the club’s mission “to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive and responsible citizens, as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders.”
For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, please contact (781) 834-CLUB (2582) or visit the club in Library Plaza or the website at MarshfieldBoysAndGirlsClub.com. The club’s mailing address is P.O. Box 311, Marshfield, MA 02050.
Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield Announce Annual Gala on March 6thRead More
Never too old to adopt…Tarlow Breed Hart & Rodgers P.C. helps play Santa for New England Center for Homeless Veterans’s “Adopt a Vet” program.
BOSTON, MASS.
We all have our wish list when it comes to gifts we’d like to receive for Christmas. The residents of the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, located at 17 Court Street in Boston, are no different—only that list contains some of life’s necessities, like warm clothing for the winter. As part of the Center’s “Adopt-a-Vet” program, Boston-based Tarlow Breed Hart & Rodgers, P.C. (TBHR) helped make the wishes of two dozen homeless veterans come true.
The Adopt-a-Vet program involves each resident drafting a list of items he or she would like to receive for Christmas. Donors are then asked to purchase and wrap gifts from that list to be given to the residents for Christmas. More than 20 members of TBHR’s staff contributed gifts to this year’s program, enabling TBHR adopted shelter residents to check off every item on their wish lists.
“This is such a worthwhile program on so many levels. When our car pulled up, the Shelter volunteers were ecstatic!” said Jennifer A. Civitella Hilario, a lawyer at TBHR who volunteers her time at the Center and who coordinates the firm’s participation. “What makes it even more worthwhile is that the donations and contributions from our firm and other companies and individuals made it possible for every veteran who participated to receive most of the items on their lists.”
Items contributed to the Adopt-a-Vet program include:
- winter coats
- gloves, hats, waterproof boots
- sweaters, shirts, jeans
- gift cards to Walgreens, McDonalds, Starbucks
- notebooks, journals
- books
- MBTA’s Charlie Cards
For more information on the New England Center for Homeless Veterans and its programs, you can visit http://www.nechv.org.
High Five! DirectBuy of Central Connecticut celebrates five-year milestone
ROCKY HILL, CONNECTICUT…
For more than five years, DirectBuy of Central Connecticut has been offering consumers in the greater Rocky Hill area a brand new way to save on home improvement products, home furnishings and accessories.
As the leading members-only home improvement and home furnishings club, DirectBuy of Central Connecticut offers direct insider pricing on products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, all from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. DirectBuy also offers design, delivery and installation services.
“The growth we’ve experienced since we opened our doors five years ago is a little hard to fathom,” said Peter Maloney, owner of DirectBuy of Central Connecticut. “Not only have we grown in terms of the number of our members, but also in the number of manufacturers who want to sell their products through DirectBuy. And that’s got us even more excited about the next five years.”
In addition to the tremendous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring and accessories, DirectBuy also offers design services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services to DirectBuy members, often at a discounted rate.
“Our five years in business have not only given us the opportunity to help families create the home of their dreams, but to also establish ourselves as part of the local business community,” said Maloney. “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.”
Since 2004, DirectBuy of Central Connecticut has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 50 Inwood Road in Rocky Hill, DirectBuy offers consumers comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.
About DirectBuy
Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct enables members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy has been serving the greater Rocky Hill area since 2004. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.
To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.
High Five! DirectBuy of Central Connecticut celebrates five-year milestoneRead More
DirectBuy of Buffalo concludes successful Toys for Tots drive.
CHEEKTOWAGA, NY…
DirectBuy of Buffalo, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, recently donated more than $1,000 as part of its holiday toy drive for Toys for Tots.
Working with the Conrad Kania Detachment of the U.S. Marine Corps’ 25th Battalion, DirectBuy’s toy drive began in early December and ended on December 20, 2009. During that period, DirectBuy of Buffalo collected dozens of new toys to be distributed to underprivileged children in the greater Buffalo area. The financial contribution represents funds donated as part of the drive and money contributed by DirectBuy of Buffalo.
“We were thrilled with the number of toys we collected during the drive. Our members really stepped up to the plate and we thank them for that,” said Mark Klinger, owner of DirectBuy of Buffalo. “This latest contribution is, in a way, to say thank you to our members for supporting this worthy cause and to show we are just as committed to doing the same.
Joseph Moreno served as chairman for the DirectBuy Toys for Tots drive and other drives held in the greater Buffalo area. “We can’t thank DirectBuy of Buffalo enough for their kind donation,” said Moreno. “Times are still tough for many people and the donation of new toys and monetary donations by DirectBuy and others really helped bring joy to local children who might not otherwise have gotten a Christmas present this year.”
For more information on Toys for Tots, please visit their Web site at www.toysfortots.org.
DirectBuy clubs across the United States and Canada are active contributors to many local non-profits and charities, including The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, The Salvation Army, YMCA, Homes for Our Troops and various Children’s Hospitals. Locally, DirectBuy of Buffalo sponsored a Habitat for Humanity effort on Guilford Street in Buffalo and regularly donates to charitable efforts like The Ride for Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the Buffalo Humane Society, and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
For more than 38 years, DirectBuy has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 4950 Genesee Street in Cheektowaga, New York, DirectBuy offers members a comfortable setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.
For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can call 716-684-1400 or visit www.directbuy-buffalo.com.
About DirectBuy
Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy has been serving the greater Buffalo area since 2005. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. DirectBuy of Buffalo is one of more than 160 DirectBuy locations throughout North America.
Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy at 716-684-1400, or visiting www.DirectBuy-Buffalo.com.
To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.
DirectBuy of Buffalo concludes successful Toys for Tots drive.Read More
Driving in a winter wonderland…Safe driving tips for the winter elements for new drivers.
PLYMOUTH, MA…
It’s easy to get caught up in the childlike exuberance of the season’s first snow storm. For newer drivers who may not have driven in snow before that exuberance can lead to getting stuck snow banks, fender benders and worse. As part of its safe driving campaign for Plymouth high school students, King Collision Centers and its partners in the campaign—Commerce Insurance, the Plymouth Police Department and Plymouth Public Schools–recently issued safe driving tips for winter on its Web site, www.plymouthsafedriving.org.
“Depending on the time of year you got your learner’s permit, there’s a good chance that many new drivers have not driven in snowy, inclement weather with a parent or instructor. That makes a big difference in how you approach navigating the roadways this time of year,” said Bruce King, owner of King Collision Centers. “But whether you’re a new driver or not, we all should be following these tips for safer winter driving.”
For starters, drivers should:
- Clear all snow and ice from your windows to avoid any obstructed views. The hood and roof of your vehicle should also be cleared to prevent wind-blown snow from obstructing other drivers’ views.
- Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you for stopping. Remember, the posted speed limits are set for dry pavements. So, if the driver ahead of you is going less than the posted speed limit, it’s for a good reason.
- Brake carefully. In snowy or icy conditions it will take longer for you to come to a stop so start braking sooner. Do not slam on the brakes.
- Be wary of bridge decks and exit ramps. Due to the different air exposure, bridge decks can often be more slippery than the regular roadway. Similarly, exit ramps typically do not get as much sand or salt as the main road and will probably be a bit more slippery. Proceed with caution.
- Be even more wary of trucks. Trucks and semis are heavier than the standard auto and take longer to stop. It’s best to let the truck pull out ahead of you rather than cut them off.
- Leave plenty of room for maintenance vehicles and look further ahead while driving than you usually do to help anticipate potential problems.
“The most important thing we want to get across to young drivers with this campaign is that speed kills, even more so during inclement weather,” said Gary Maestas, superintendent of Plymouth Public Schools. “By maintaining a cautious rate of speed and following these winter driving tips, all drivers can dramatically reduce the likelihood of an accident.”
For updates on latest events and activities related to the Plymouth Safe Driving program and additional safety information, please visit www.plymouthsafedriving.org.
Anyone Can Remove Dents – King Collision Centers Removes Doubts
Founded in 1984 by Bruce King, King Collision Centers provides superior collision repair and extraordinary customer care to thousands of clients south of Boston. King Collision is dedicated to earning customers for life and their team of professionals help clients through the collision repair process every step of the way – from coordinating a rental vehicle; providing accurate damage appraisal; assisting with the insurance claim process and ensuring that the vehicle is returned to its pre-accident operation, safety and value.
King Collision Centers was voted “Best Collision Repair” by Market Surveys of America and they have been selected to participate in the Repair Shop Referral Programs of 20 different insurance companies. That includes being part of Commerce Insurance’s CARES (Commerce Auto Express Repair Service) Shops, an elite program that includes approximately 120 collision shops across Massachusetts.
The company continues to build strategic alliances with auto dealerships, enabling dealerships to offer collision repair services on-site – similar to their alignment with Mastria Auto Group in Raynham.
King Collision Centers are located in Pembroke, Plymouth and most recently, Raynham, MA.
For more information, visit KingCollision.com or contact 508-747-2005
Driving in a winter wonderland…Safe driving tips for the winter elements for new drivers.Read More
A wonderful move… DirectBuy of Tri-Cities Washington helps preemie and family move back into home.
RICHLAND, WA…
As part of its Secret Santa program and with the help of the Kadlec Foundation, DirectBuy of Tri-Cities Washington adopted four area families going through some tough times—the idea being to raise funds for those families to help them through the holidays. What ensued can only be defined as a Christmas miracle.
One of those families, the Ramirez family, was in particular need. With Alfredo Ramirez recently laid off and Maria pregnant with the couple’s third child and restricted to bed rest, their home had fallen into disrepair with a broken heater and several cracked or broken windows. Complicating matters even more, on December 18, Maria gave birth prematurely to daughter Vanessa, more than 8 weeks early at a weight of only 4 ½ pounds.
“We were going to help the Ramirez family regardless of any other factors, but when Vanessa was born prematurely it created another situation because the hospital has regulations about the homes in which premature babies will be living. The Ramirez home was not suitable for a preemie, so the hospital found them some temporary housing,” said Scott Stocum, owner of DirectBuy of Tri-Cities Washington. “That’s where the Christmas miracle truly happened, as vendors, DirectBuy members and other members of the local community stepped up to help the Ramirez family.”
DirectBuy contractor Sooner Construction measured the windows and agreed to do the installation free of charge. A local supplier, Ply Gem Pacific Windows, offered substantial discounts on 11 windows and DirectBuy supplier Higuera Hardwoods picked up the tab for the windows. In addition, a local HVAC company (Total Energy Management) diagnosed and repaired the heater at no cost.
While repairs were underway on the home, DirectBuy, along with a local clothing company (Children’s Attic), donated clothing for the Ramirez children (they have two other children, a six-year-old boy and one-year old girl). DirectBuy also bought clothes for Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez, as well as toys for the children and diapers and wipes for the new baby.
On the day after Christmas, the Ramirez family moved back into their home—with baby Vanessa in tow.
“This truly is a Christmas miracle or something you see in a Hollywood movie. Once word got out about the Ramirez family, so many people stepped forward to help,” said Stocum. “We’re grateful and proud to live and work in a community that really looks after their own.”
Opening last year, DirectBuy of Tri-Cities Washington has already helped numerous consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 2630 North Columbia Center Boulevard in Richland, Washington, DirectBuy offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.
About DirectBuy
Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct enables members’ hard-earned money go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy has been serving the Tri-Cities area since 2008. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.
To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.
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