In the News
August 4, 2001 - Local Internet business logs 1 Million Members
-ENGLEWOOD, FL - Englewood Sun Hearld
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ENGLEWOOD, FL -- While the life of
Internet-based businesses is often considered to be unpredictable
and unstable, the Discount Home Shopping Club has proved its
longevity in cyberspace.
Dick Burke, founder and CEO of the DHS Club, started the online
shopping club four years ago in an apartment over the garage
in his Englewood home.
Last week, the company announced the addition of its one millionth
member.
"This is not a get-rich-quick program," Burke
said. "I don't believe in them. But this does work for
people who are willing to put time and hard work into it."
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The DHS Club allows
members to shop online at www.clubshop.com in more than 140
well-known stores, including Wal-Mart, Staples, Dominos Pizza
and Best Buy. Members receive rebates on all purchases and there
is no cost to join.
Members can upgrade their membership to VIP Member status for
$49.95. As a VIP Member, you are able to receive double rebates,
access to a host of benefits and operate a home-based business.
When a member becomes a VIP Member, training tools and personal
assistance is offered to help start building a personal DHS
Club Web site to which prospective members can be referred.
Commissions are earned from the purchases by personally sponsored
members.
"We succeed where other multi-level programs fail,"
Burke said. "We are not pushing some magic diet pill, cleaning
products or phone cards. We don't have a specific product that
we have to charge a lot of money for to pay off all the commissions.
You can't really compare us to anything else."
The company doubled in size in its first year and moved out
of the apartment over Burke's garage and into a modest storefront
office on Dearborn Street. A year ago, the DHS Club moved to
a new waterfront building at 2560 Placida Road, and now employees
20 people.
"When I first began the business I was sitting and
dreaming," Burke said. "I said to myself that one
day I wanted an office on the water with a company boat. I wanted
to own a company that I would have wanted to work for."
Burke said making dreams come true is what DHS Club is all about.
"If it's not a good consumer opportunity it won't
make a good business," he said. "I want my staff as
well as our club members to get the things in life they want.
To know that the DHSC helped someone but their first home, or
buy school clothes for the kids, is the best feeling."
Office manager Linda Mango has been with the business since
it began four years ago.
"I remember driving up the road to Dick's house and
not being real sure about what I was getting into," Mango
said. "I'm glad I stayed. Everyone here knows how to work
as a team. We pull together and get things done."
For more information, visit the DHS Club Web site at www.clubshop.com,
or call (941) 475-3435.
By ALYSSA SCHNUGG
Staff Writer
* editor's note: Our corporate name has been changed to "The
Discount Home Shoppers' Club. |
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