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Spend But Save at Local Club

If you’re the handy sort that likes to tackle projects around the house – and stay within a budget, then a membership at Direct Buy might make a whole lot of sense for you. I met recently with Allen Chiang who owns the Norwalk franchise of Direct Buy, and with his wife Kea, asked him to explain how it all works.

“Our members have access to literally hundreds of catalogs, both in our office or on-line,” Allen said, “and the price they pay for goods is the wholesale price. We do not mark anything up. Our revenue comes exclusively from membership fees.” Members often save 50 percent or more over the retail price that they would pay for the same item in a store. Direct Buy offers several membership options, depending on the project a homeowner has in mind. “Think of it as a gym membership,” said Allen. You can sign up for three months, or for a lifetime, depending on your needs.

Allen and Kea met in Oregon while he was working at Intel, and Kea was doing graduate studies. “We were looking for a business to buy. We researched the top franchises and found Direct Buy was top in the wholesale category,” Allen said. The couple became members on the West Coast before making the final decision to buy into the company. And they liked what they saw. When the Norwalk franchise became available they moved east and settled in Redding.

Members of Direct Buy can find just about anything they might need in one of the catalogs, from roofing shingles to outdoor furniture and kayaks, from faucets to kitchen cabinets and window treatments. And if you need help figuring out that kitchen layout, there’s a kitchen designer on staff to help you plan.

 

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