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A site to see…Resort Maps launches new look Web site

Peter Hans
Peter Hans, CEO of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc.

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

Resort Maps, creator of 100 customized travel maps across the United States, United Kingdom, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently revamped the look of its Web site, www.resortmaps.com.

The new and improved Web site showcases Resort Maps brand new logo, as well as a number of other new features, including links to travel tips, travel discounts, featured destinations and reviews of Resort Maps advertisers, courtesy of TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site. The new site also provides easy access to online versions of Resort Maps so that traveler’s can navigate around the map in the area they plan to visit before their trip and discover the best places to stay, eat, shop and play.  The site also includes an order form for travelers who would like a hard copy map.

“When some people turn a landmark age, they change the way they dress or buy a sports car. When we printed our 100th map, we decided to revamp and improve our Web site,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc. “Besides being more user-friendly, we think we’ve added some features to make online visitors’ experience at resortmaps.com far more enjoyable.”

Hans pens one of those new features, “Peter Picks”. A former investment banker who worked abroad for more than a dozen years, Hans has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia and Australia. With the “Peter’s Picks” column, he describes some favorite destinations, both within the Resorts Maps network and to places he hopes to create Resort Maps in the not so distant future.

“The column is just one more fun aspect of the new site,” said Hans.  “Our Web site is also a valuable resource to travelers as our maps have been throughout the company’s more than a quarter of a century in business.”

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. Each map highlights local attractions and things to do, restaurants, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services. Each advertiser on the map is represented with a display ad on the perimeter of the map, including a color-coded grid locator and their actual building hand-drawn, highlighted and labeled, making them easy to locate. 

For more information on Resort Maps or to inquire about ownership of a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

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 100 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published.  Nearly 20 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, Vail & Beaver Creek, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Delray 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, Brewster/Harwich/Dennis, Chatham-Orleans, Eastham-Wellfleet, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Petoskey and Harbor Springs, 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, New Brunswick, 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).

A site to see…Resort Maps launches new look Web siteRead More

Kitchen makeover ideas—without the makeover

 CHICAGO, GURNEE, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

Looking to make an impact on your kitchen but don’t have the budget for a complete makeover? There are many mini-makeover ideas homeowners can use to give their kitchens a bit of a different look without a major undertaking.

“Because the kitchen is such a focal point in a home, the perception is that to give it a new look requires a major undertaking,” said Jeremy Vest, owner of DirectBuy of DuPage County. “Truth be told, there are several small, do-it-yourself projects that can have a very significant impact with only modest effort and very little investment required.”

One such technique is taking the doors off your kitchen cabinets. “Open shelving” allows you to display dishes, stemware, antique bowls, small appliances and more.  Open shelving can also make your kitchen appear larger and more open.

This option also offers the opportunity to experiment. You can remove certain cabinet doors and leave others, creating your own pattern. Or, you might consider painting the back of the cabinet that is viewable from the front a different color to add a little pizzazz to your kitchen. 

Another kitchen mini-makeover idea that’s a bit more labor and cost-intensive is redoing your kitchen’s backsplash. While there are many choices available, the three most popular materials used for kitchen backsplashes are:

  • Stone mosaics
  • Glass mosaics
  • Glazed ceramic

There are simply thousands of colors and designs you can use in any of these formats.  You can even use them as inserts in conjunction with another material such as stainless steel. 

“A lot of homeowners feel that how their kitchen looks is how it looks unless they want to completely remodel,” said Vest. “These ideas give homeowners a chance to liven up their kitchen without committing to a major renovation.”

DirectBuy Club offers home furnishings and items and materials for home improvement projects to help all homeowners create their dream homes—all at direct insider prices. DirectBuy also employs product specialists and designers, so if you need some assistance in selecting products or taking on a home improvement project, you have seasoned professionals at your service.

For more information on a DirectBuy Club membership, you can visit directbuycares.com.

About DirectBuy Club

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 or 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 150 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuy.com. 

Locations of the DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: 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 Northern Illinois, 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.

Kitchen makeover ideas—without the makeoverRead More

A 10 in the Valley! DirectBuy of Delaware Valley celebrates 10 years in business.

BOOTHWYN, PA…

For 10 years, DirectBuy Club has been offering consumers in greater Delaware Valley 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 Delaware Valley offers products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, from more than 700 manufacturers or their authorized suppliers.

“Our 10 years  have been particularly rewarding because DirectBuy has been able to help its members save literally thousands of dollars on their home improvement projects and home furnishings in what’s been a very difficult economy for many people,” said Dave Jennings, owner of DirectBuy of Delaware Valley. “As the economy improves, we’re looking forward to what the next 10 years brings.”

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 services, such as installation, many times at a discounted rate.

“That’s another beautiful thing about DirectBuy. We not only help members save on products, but can put them in touch with very capable installers who offer discounted rates,” said Jennings. “That’s quite a load off your mind when you’re undertaking a renovation or remodeling project that the installers are from a trusted, reliable source.”

Conveniently located at 102 Chelsea Parkway in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, 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 10 in the Valley! DirectBuy of Delaware Valley celebrates 10 years in business.Read More

What to buy once you’ve bought your first home

MERRILLVILLE, IN …

The U.S. government’s recent first-time home buyer’s tax credit paved the way for a number of individuals and couples to experience the joy of owning a home. With the excitement of purchasing your first home comes the reality of “what now” in terms of furnishing, decorating, and fixing up that new home. And that’s an expense many first-time home buyers do not plan for ahead of time.

The National Association of Home Builders projects that most homeowners will spend $7,400 on their home, with more than half being spent during their first year of ownership. Even with a tax credit, that’s a mighty hefty price tag. So how do first-time homeowners go about making their new house a home without maxing out their bank account or credit cards?

“There’s a natural tendency when you buy a house to want to do everything right away. What you really need to do is prioritize what you want to buy and do, and then develop a plan,” said Mike Georgeff of DirectBuy. “What’s truly important in developing your plan is taking care of the essentials before making new furniture purchases.”

DirectBuy’s experts recommend:

  • Tools for home improvement projects: Make sure to have a well-stocked toolbox that includes a hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, a tape measure, and a staple gun. The more you are able to do on your own, the easier it will be to keep costs down.
  • Purchasing “ready-to-assemble” furniture: Ready-to-assemble or “flat pack” furniture offers several advantages. First, you don’t have to wait for delivery. Since the furniture is in boxes, you can load it in your car and bring it home the very same day. More importantly, since you, not the store or manufacturer, will be assembling the furniture, it costs less.
  • Accounting for window coverings in your budget: One consideration that is often overlooked by new homeowners is the increased number of windows in a house compared to an apartment. Be sure to budget appropriately for proper window coverings for your home. This has value from an aesthetic viewpoint (look and privacy), as well as from a cost perspective (e.g. thermal curtains can keep the heat/cold out, reducing energy costs and protecting your furniture from depreciating faster due to sunlight exposure).
  • Garden tools: If you’re moving from an apartment into your first home, chances are a lawn mower, rake, and other garden tools were not in your closet. As a new homeowner, you want to maintain the curb appeal of your home. That starts by caring for the exterior of your home from Day One., which means you should have the basics on hand: lawnmower, garden hose, sprinkler, and a shovel (for winter weather).
  • Basic appliances: While many existing homes usually come with appliances, a new homeowner needs to take inventory of whether or not they will need to purchase big-ticket items like a refrigerator, stove, and a washer/dryer before spending on less critical items, like a home theater system.

“That doesn’t mean everything you do or purchase has to be an essential. It’s just that some new homeowners can get caught up in doing everything at once and digging a financial hole that prohibits them from taking on more improvements,” said Georgeff. “By taking it slow, one room at a time, new homeowners can make their house a home without being house poor in the first year.”

DirectBuy Club offers home furnishings and items and materials for home improvement projects to help all homeowners create their dream homes—all at direct insider prices. DirectBuy also employs product specialists and designers, so if you need some assistance in selecting products or taking on a home improvement project, you have seasoned professionals at your service.

For more information on a DirectBuy Club membership, you can visit directbuycares.com.

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 directbuy.com or directbuycares.com.

What to buy once you’ve bought your first homeRead More

Going once? Twice? DirectBuy of Northern Colorado members “sold” on art auction

DirectBuy of Northern Colorado
DirectBuy of Northern Colorado Owner Roger Klopfensteine greets art auction guests.

FORT COLLINS, COLORADO…

When people hear the words “art auction,” saving a lot of money isn’t necessarily the first thought that comes to mind. Attendees of the art auction at DirectBuy of Northern Colorado recently experienced otherwise, with members and guests saving more than $4,400 on artwork.

West End Publishing conducted the live auction on Friday, August 20, 2010 featured 300+ pieces of art. West End Publishing is one of the fastest growing art publishers in the art world today, distributing and representing the artwork of internationally renowned artists such as Duaiv, Gary Benfield, Paula McArdle, and Sir Winston Churchill Fine Art Collection. Fifty DirectBuy of Northern Colorado members and their guests were in attendance.

“Though I’ve never been to Sotheby’s, our art auction had quite a bit of its own excitement and our guests really did get into the spirit of the event,” said Patty Klopfenstein, owner of DirectBuy of Northern Colorado. “Besides being shrewd art buyers and saving more than $4,000, they also took advantage of the other saving opportunities.”

The art auction included a number of raffle giveaways for pieces of artwork and framing. In total, guests who attended this event took home more than $9,500 in free raffle giveaways. In addition to the raffle giveaways, attendees also received a discount on framing for the artwork purchased, pushing the free giveaways to more than $10,000.

“Based on the success of this event, I can certainly see us hosting another art auction in the not-so-distant future,” added Klopfenstein.

Since opening in 2009, DirectBuy of Northern Colorado 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 manufacturers or their authorized suppliers. Conveniently located at 2226 East Harmony Road in Fort Collins, DirectBuy Club offers consumers a comfortable setting where members finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy Club

Consumers interested in joining DirectBuy of Northern Colorado are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy’s business model and the benefits of buying direct. The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional retail markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise.

Since 1971, DirectBuy Club has been showing hundreds of 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 offers its members access to more than 500 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in Canada, and more than 700 in the United States.

For more information on a DirectBuy Club membership, visit http://www.directbuycares.com.

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.

Going once? Twice? DirectBuy of Northern Colorado members “sold” on art auctionRead More

Resort Maps and TripAdvisor become travel companions

Peter Hans of Resort Maps
Peter Hans, CEO of Resort Maps

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

Resort Maps, creator of over 100 hand-drawn maps across the United States, United Kingdom, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently entered into an agreement with TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site.

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of towns and cities that feature local attractions and things to do, restaurants, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services. Resort Maps are also available in electronic format on Resort Maps’ Web site, www.resortmaps.com. Under the agreement, Resort Maps will run TripAdvisor user reviews of Resort Maps advertisers on its recently enhanced Web site.

“Before going on a trip, many travelers visit our Web site to find out more about their destination and get a head start on creating their trip itinerary,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps.  “Travelers can check out maps of their destinations and places along the way in addition to other travel information and deals. By highlighting TripAdvisor reviews on our site, visitors can receive additional feedback from fellow travelers to supplement their trip planning.”

The partnership will also bring new visitors from www.resortmaps.com to TripAdvisor.com, further broadening their position as the world’s premier travel site.

“We’re delighted to be working with Resort Maps and expect that our user reviews will bring significant value to Resort Maps advertisers,” said Séverine Philardeau, senior director of global partnerships for TripAdvisor. “In turn, we look forward to seeing additional reviews from places Resort Maps users have visited on tripadvisor.com.”

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 100 Resort Maps in publication in the US, the UK, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, with several more in the process of being published.  Nearly 20 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).

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor® is the world’s largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools.

TripAdvisor® Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 50 million monthly visitors* across 17 popular travel brands: www.tripadvisor.com, www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.frequentflier.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com and www.kuxun.cn. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 35 million unique monthly visitors*, 20 million members, and over 35 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 23 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com). TripAdvisor also operates TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor’s millions of monthly visitors. The division includes Business Listings, which allows hoteliers to connect directly to millions of researching travelers, and Vacation Rentals, which helps property managers and individual home owners list their properties and showcase hotel alternatives.

TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

©2010 TripAdvisor LLC.  All rights reserved. 

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide, June 2010

Resort Maps and TripAdvisor become travel companionsRead More

Designing your home office… DirectBuy of Orlando provides tips on setting up your home office.

ORLANDO, FL…

Not too long ago, the home office meant the corporate headquarters of a company. With more and more people running businesses out of their home or telecommuting to their “day job” a day or more a week, the home office has had to become every bit as functional and comfortable as the cubicle or office at work. To that end, DirectBuy of Orlando, the leading members-only home improvement and home furnishings club with direct insider prices, has some helpful tips on setting up your home office.

For starters, DirectBuy recommends drawing a floor plan of the room or area where your home office will be. Your floor plan should include markings of where the electrical outlets are and accurate measurements of the heights of the windows, doorways and any closet space to give you additional design options.

“If you’re going to be spending significant time in your home office, from eight to 20 hours a week or more, you’re going to want a space that’s a little more comfortable, functional and aesthetically pleasing than the spare room or corner of a room that’s passed for a home office in years past,” said Brian Cohen, owner of DirectBuy of Orlando. “Many of our members work with our designers to create not only a comfortable workspace for one or more members of the household, but also a room you’ll want to show off to guests.”

Some of the things you may want to consider in planning your office space:

  • Ergonomic chairs, desks, and other office pieces.
  • Lower shelves so you can reach for books, folders, and other items without strain.
  • Lighting under workspace shelves to make it easier to read.
  •  A mount or platform for your computer monitor so you can look at the screen without tilting your head up or down.
  • Neutral, soothing colors for your walls like teal blues, soft cool grays, and warm Tuscan colors to create a relaxing work atmosphere.
  • How much natural light does the room get and how much do you want? Do you prefer curtains to blinds? There are a wide range of innovative blinds, sheers, louvers, and shutters to achieve the look you want.
  • The depth of the pieces you’re putting in your office. There’s nothing worse than trying to add a desk to a spot that fits length- and width-wise but leaves no room for the chair.
  • Installing additional outlets to give you more layout and design options.
  • Avoiding wall-to-wall carpeting if possible; offices are high traffic areas and wear will show on your rugs the more time you work at home. Use carpet tiles for the areas you want carpeting, so that you can replace them if they fade or show stains, and use hardwood or ceramic tile for the rest of the space.

DirectBuy of Orlando carries a large selection of brand-name office furniture at direct insider prices from manufacturers or their authorized suppliers. DirectBuy of Orlando also employs product specialists and designers who can help members create the home office that works best for their individual needs and for family members if it’s a shared workspace.

Since 1971, DirectBuy Club 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 502 Sunport Lane, Suite 400, in Orlando, DirectBuy of Orlando offers consumers a comfortable, welcoming setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy Club membership, visit directbuycares.com.

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 directbuy.com or directbuycares.com.

Designing your home office… DirectBuy of Orlando provides tips on setting up your home office.Read More

Working for the weekend… Top five Labor Day weekend projects.

CHICAGO, GURNEE, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

The initial intent of Labor Day was to provide a day off for workers. For many homeowners, that “off” day provides a perfect opportunity—three full days—to start and finish home improvement projects. Sometimes the largest question to ponder is which home improvement project to take on for the long Labor Day weekend.

“It’s nice to be ambitious and to try and take advantage of that extra day off, but the biggest mistake homeowners can make with the Labor Day weekend is starting something that bleeds into the next week,” said Dave Kushner, owner of DirectBuy of Northern Illinois. “The goal should be to pick one project that you can easily finish in one day so there’s still enough time to enjoy the weekend and rest up.”

Some simple Labor Day weekend projects Kushner recommends include:

  • Paint and wood protection – Painting or finishing wood surfaces usually works best in warm weather. While this summer has been unusually warm, you never know when the weather will turn. So, take advantage of the long weekend to stain/seal your deck.
  • Concrete protection and sealing – Another area where homeowners fail to take precautions before winter. Whether it’s your driveway, walkway, patio or the surface of your storage shed, a coat of sealer can prolong the life of the surface. You can find concrete sealer at most hardware stores and home improvement centers.
  • Clean carpets – You can rent a steam cleaner at your local supermarket or home improvement store. Be sure to start this one on Saturday so your carpeting has time to dry by Monday.
  • Mulching and winterizing flower beds – While most consider mulching to be a spring time activity, mulching again in the fall accomplishes a few things. First, mulch tends to fade in the summer heat, so “refreshing” your mulch is not a bad idea. Second, mulch offers a layer of protection for plants during the winter.
  • Paint – Painting remains the home improvement project that reaps the largest return on investment (a 250% return on your investment for freshly painted interior walls, according to HomeGain.com). Limit costly mistakes and spills by using drop cloths and painter’s tape.

“There really aren’t many days off when you own a home,” added Kushner. “But completing one of these projects can improve the look and feel of your home and give you plenty of time to enjoy that Labor Day cookout.”

About DirectBuy Club

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 or 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 150 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuy.com. 

Locations of the DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: 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 Northern Illinois, 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.

Working for the weekend… Top five Labor Day weekend projects.Read More

Feeling the heat… Radiant heating for your home

MERRILLVILLE, IN …

It’s been a hot summer across North America. Yet with autumn only a few short weeks away, the focus will soon switch to heating your home. For many homeowners, especially those who don’t enjoy stepping onto a cold floor in the morning, radiant heat delivers an interesting alternative.

Radiant heating systems involve supplying heat directly to the floor or to panels in the wall or ceiling of a house. In contrast to the way a forced air heating system warms a room by circulating hot air, radiant heating warms a room from the heat emanating from a specific heat source (e.g. –  a hot stove). Consequently, radiant heat warms the items closest to the source first, which is why most people install it in the floor.

“Radiant heat offers many benefits in both form and function. Besides avoiding a cold floor in the morning, radiant heat offers a quieter alternative to a noisy furnace,” said Mike Georgeff, of DirectBuy. “The other nice feature of radiant heat is that it allows you to program the temperature for certain zones of the house, like the bathroom first thing in the morning, rather than heating the entire level.”

Typically, radiant heat comes in three forms: electric, hydronic (water), and solar. The most common are electric and hydronic. When the radiant heat system is turned on, energy is forced through a conducive material embedded in floor tile or floor board (if installing the radiant heat in the floor). Both electric and hydronic systems require electricity (the water used for hyrdonic radiant heating is heated by electricity).

In addition to programmable thermostats, most radiant heating systems will also have an ambient thermometer. So, once the desired heat is achieved, the system can be sustained or turned down accordingly. With forced air, the ambient temperature and the programmed temperature aren’t always the same.

“Radiant heat is one of the more efficient forms of heating available and requires significantly less operating time to maintain the desired warmth compared to furnaces and other methods of heating. That keeps operational costs to a minimum,” said Georgeff. “Couple radiant heat’s efficiency with the negatives associated with forced air—noisy furnaces, dust, etc.—and you can dramatically improve your living environment.”

In addition to radiant heating systems, DirectBuy Club offers many products to improve the energy efficiency of your home—all at direct insider prices. DirectBuy also employs product specialists and designers, so if you need some assistance in selecting products or taking on a home improvement project, you have seasoned professionals at your service.

For more information on a DirectBuy Club membership, you can visit directbuycares.com.

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 directbuy.com or directbuycares.com.

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