Mom and son compete and complement each other as owners of DirectBuy Brooklyn and Queens

USA (SANEPR.com) May 9, 2008 -- The business part of their relationship started when Marti Brandt became a DirectBuy member eight years ago prior to Mark’s wedding. She wanted to give her son a bedroom set for a wedding gift. Marti attended a DirectBuy Open House and joined that day. “Right away I saw the value in the membership,” said Marti. “I’m the shopper in the family and I knew with purchasing the mattress and box spring alone, I was saving a ton of money at DirectBuy.”

At the same time, Marti was unhappy in her career and determined to be her own boss. She started researching franchises and attended a trade show in Washington, DC. The last booth on the way out the door was DirectBuy. “That is when it hit me that DirectBuy was the perfect choice for me,” she said. “I realized with this type of business, I could truly do good things for people by helping them save money. It is something I knew I wanted to share with my family.”

She opened DirectBuy of Brooklyn and Queens in December of 2003, but her son Mark and his wife were ready to have a baby at the time and not in the position to buy into a business with Marti. He did, however, come to work for her at the showroom. “He is very service-oriented and he was the perfect person to head up Customer Service for me,” she said. Mark quickly realized he enjoyed the business as much as his mother did and set forth to open his own showroom in New York City.

“When I was growing up, I never thought that I would eventually be in the same business as my mom,” said Mark. “But, she has a great business mind and I saw how successful she was in Brooklyn and Queens and how much she got out of helping people and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.”

In 2005, Mark opened DirectBuy of Manhattan. “I was so surprised to see another side to Mark during this time. I had no idea that he has such keen design and decorating skills. He always had such a messy room as a kid, but he’s done a beautiful job with the Manhattan showroom,” said Marti.

This duo’s relationship continues to thrive in spite and because of their respective DirectBuy showrooms. “Brainstorming with my son is an interesting dynamic and we are bettering ourselves and our businesses at the same time,” said Marti. “I am very proud of what Mark has accomplished and I am thrilled when he is honored at our Corporate Conferences and presented awards for achieving his goals!”

This Mother/Son team is a strong one. “The only problem we ever really have is that he sometimes forgets and calls me "Mom" instead of Marti during meetings that we attend together...and sometimes, on purpose, I end my e-mails to him with ‘Love, Mom’.”

For Marti and Mark, one special program their respective businesses have started together is the “Nearly Perfect Non-Profit Donation Program.” DirectBuy helps its members save money by enabling them to buy direct from the manufacturer. Occasionally, those items have slight imperfections and the manufacturer prefers to simply send a new item without exchanging the damaged model. DirectBuy of Manhattan and DirectBuy of Brooklyn and Queens are donating these items to non-profit organizations with qualified needs and a 501(c)3 status. These items may include headboards, china cabinets, furniture and other home improvement items.

“There is something special about giving a very useful item that has been returned because of a little scratch or other slight defect to an organization that is helping others,” said Mark. “We’re looking forward to partnering with one or several non-profits in our community so we can make the ‘Nearly Perfect Non-Profit Program’ a win for everybody.”

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 500 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 New York City area since 2003. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers and unparalleled selection helps make members' dream projects a reality. It's a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. The DirectBuy showrooms serving the greater New York City area are part of more than 150 franchise locations throughout North America.

DirectBuy franchise locations servicing the greater New York City area are: DirectBuy of Manhattan, 469 Seventh Avenue 6th Floor, New York, NY, 212-290-3020 and DirectBuy of Brooklyn and Queens, 72-25 Queens Boulevard, Woodside, NY, 718-247-2320

For more information on DirectBuy, you can visit www.directbuycares.com.