DirectBuy Member Purchases Continue to Grow Despite Slow Economy

MERRILLVILLE, IN, May 18, 2011 (Press-News.org) DirectBuy, the home improvement and furnishings club with confidential dealer prices, has announced that the company's more than 400,000 members throughout the US and Canada purchased nearly $750 million in merchandise during a 12-month period ending April 30, 2011. DirectBuy members have the collective buying power to purchase directly from hundreds of name-brand manufacturers or authorized suppliers to avoid hidden retail markups on a wide variety of merchandise for their homes.

The three quarters of a billion dollars in DirectBuy member purchases from May 2010 through April 2011 represents a 14% increase in order volume over the same period in the previous year, an indication that purchasing activity among DirectBuy members is continuing to grow - most notably in the areas of small appliances (38.7% increase), and home accessories (20.9% increase).

Through their unique business model, DirectBuy has enabled its members to save hundreds of millions of dollars year after year on products ranging from kitchen cabinetry, countertops, and appliances to furniture, flooring, electronics, and even jewelry. In today's economy, those savings become even more important.

And while the economy is improving, many traditional retailers are still struggling to recover from one of the worst recessions in US history and a corresponding decrease in consumer purchasing. In contrast, the information released by DirectBuy suggests that not only are consumers continuing to invest in their homes, but that they are doing so at an increasing rate thanks to the confidential dealer pricing available through DirectBuy membership.

In fact, in the category of Home Improvement alone, DirectBuy members purchased nearly $350 million in merchandise, while also investing heavily in Home Furnishings. These numbers include a 20.3% increase in merchandise purchases related to Home Entertainment Furnishings.

The company's purchasing success stems, in part, from its strong relationships with more than 1,000 manufacturers or authorized suppliers in the US and Canada and large selection of more than one million products - all available at confidential dealer prices. DirectBuy also recently re-launched its e-commerce portal - members.directbuy.com - that gives members the ability to browse, price, compare, and purchase merchandise online. As a result, members are now purchasing even more merchandise online thanks to the improved site and its speedier search returns, increased product availability, and user-friendly interface.

Along with a new website, DirectBuy has also beefed up its member email communications and expanded its Club Exclusive email offers that deliver savings from their suppliers that exceed the everyday values already available to members. The company noted a more than 25% increase in online order volume following the site enhancements and increased email communications, and that number is expected to rise as the company invests further in additional technology advances and membership offerings.

DirectBuy also recently announced that it is bringing back the popular Free 30-Day Membership program, which gives families the opportunity to "test drive" membership and make purchases prior to deciding on a membership plan. Consumers and families interested in learning more about DirectBuy and receiving a certificate for a Free 30-Day Membership are invited to visit http://www.directbuy.com/free30 to sign up.

About DirectBuy
Since 1971, DirectBuy 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 more. With more than 130 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in Canada. In addition, DirectBuy clubs boast a team of designers to help members with their purchases, as well as provide access to a roster of hand-selected contractors to help expedite members' projects.

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