South Bay's most recent House Party @ DirectBuy reminded us all that Yelp is all about connecting people with great local businesses, not just restaurants! Thanks to DirectBuy of Silicon Valley for inviting a select group of Elites to take a sneak peek inside their members-only facility and throwing a remarkable shindig…
What is DirectBuy? This is where you will find the #1 way in North America to buy virtually everything for your home. Whether you are looking for custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, windows and doors, plumbing products or anything related, they have it. When you join DirectBuy, you become a member of a club that is 400,000 members strong. This strength means that you gain exclusive access to confidential insider pricing from hundreds of the most trusted manufacturers in the US and Canada. Mark and Paul, current owners have been here in the Bay Area for the past six years and previously spent 9 years with DirectBuy in the Chicago area. This experience means that they understand what it takes to run a successful membership club.
Admittedly, DirectBuy here in Silicon Valley doesn't have the most positive Yelp reviews. And the whole purpose of them hosting a Yelp event was to gain insight into the social media savvy customers out there… Who better to invite than the South Bay Elite Squad, our most active contributors on and offline? With a little help from Michi's Catering, Bartenders Unlimited, a few VIP DirectBuy members and a little creativity, this private showroom was turned into a house party!
Michi's set up shop in high end kitchen, whipping up teriyaki ribs, hand rolls, mango salad, gyoza and sushi bar… just to name a few tasty items! Anson W "loved the pork ribs, which were so tender that they fell off the bone with every bite! A close second were the spicy crab hand rolls – OM NOM NOM! The sushi quesadilla, mango salad and crab cakes were also appreciated." Plus, "Bartenders Unlimited provided exceptional service and kept the drinks flowing without a hitch, exclaimed Elizabeth S.
Guests sampled the food and drink while meeting other DirectBuy members, consulting the in-house design staff and playing a "Price Is Right" game with select showroom merchandise. Elites who came closest to guessing the DirectBuy price on these items were personally awarded gift certificates to local restaurants by Owners Mark and Paul. Both of them were on-hand to mingle with Yelp attendees and bunk any misconceptions about the level of service they provide! To Janet O, "the owners of Direct Buy made a great impression. Mark made fun of his business's rating online and proceeded with the result of the game. Any guy who can laugh at himself and poke jokes at his own expense is a-okay in my book :)"
Alyx F "found the DirectBuy staff to be incredibly honest, kind and informative. They definitely helped me learn more about what they do, and I am seriously considering them as an option for when I purchase a home! I wasn't entirely sure what to expect coming to this event since it seemed a little sales-y to me, but it was an absolute blast. The food, drinks and DirectBuy staff were incredible. Who doesn't love sushi, cocktails, wine and home decor?" Likewise Emmalouise B thought the house party was "perfect for both me and Hubby as we're in the process of buying a house and the advice and tips from the staff was so helpful." Mission accomplished!!!
Thank you, DirectBuy for opening up your doors to meet the Yelp Elites! We all had a fanatstic time and learned more about your business. But don't take my word for it… Read the 5-star event reviews and Waitman Gobble's photos on Flickr.
Until our next Elite Event, SYOY!
Abby S, South Bay-Peninsual Community Manager
