Local company offers new way to decorate homes

Realty Builder

by Caroline Gabsewics

Staff Writer

Have you been wondering what kind of gift to get your client who bought a home from your listings? Gift certificates to restaurants or stores are nice, but what about something they can use for an entire year?

HomeBase Exclusive Privileges, a Jacksonville-based company, recently launched a new way to buy decorative products and services for interior and exterior living spaces.

President Marc Howard and Vice President Tammy Wathen of HomeBase said this new card is a great gift to give to new homebuyers.

“A big part of our marketing strategy is to reach out to Realtors,” said Howard. “It is a great appreciation gift that Realtors can give their new homebuyers before and after a sale.”

HomeBase is offering a special to realty companies. Magnolia Properties jumped at the opportunity to make these cards available for their agents to give to their clients.

Eileen Blocker, broker and owner of Magnolia Properties, said this concept is very much appreciated and needed in the industry.

“I think this is probably the best thing (gift) I can think of,” she said. “The homeowner can get ongoing use out of it.”

Blocker recommends these cards to the general public, Realtors, realty companies and builders.

“It is certainly going to be a valuable asset,” she said.

How it works:

• The plastic card, may look like a credit card, but it is simply an identification card with the person’s name and expiration date printed on it.

“If a Realtor or a realty company purchases the card, they have the option of putting their name and company on the back of the card,” said Howard.

• A card can be purchased for $95 and used for a full year, but there are discounts for Realtors and realty companies.

• After a year is up, the card can be renewed, if the person wishes.

• The card acts as a discount card.

The card allows the member to purchase items for their home at a discounted price.

“We have pre-negotiated discounts from a network of home decor and home service merchants,” said Howard.

Currently there are about 60 local merchants who are in the HomeBase network. Wathen said they hope to have a total of 80-90 merchants.

There are over 30 product and service categories, and multiple businesses under each category that members can choose from.

“We were very selective on what companies we chose. We wanted the most recognizable and trusted people in the business,” said Howard. “We want to make sure our merchants will be around for a long time, even when the market is bad.”

Blocker said by Wathen and Howard choosing reputable merchants, it eliminates the possibility of not having a good experience.

“It’s like having someone recommend you to the best in the business,” said Blocker. “It’s perfect for people who are moving here from out of town, because they don’t know who to go to for these things.”

Howard explained some of the discounts that businesses decided to give to HomeBase members. The merchants may change the discount at anytime, and card members will be notified of any changes.

Elegant Door & Glass is offering $250 off any new door purchase. Lifetime Enclosures is offering 20 percent off a purchase. Color Wheel Paints is offering 25 percent off a purchase.

“They are significant savings,” said Howard.

Aside from in-store savings, card members will also receive promotional e-mails about “limited time offers” from HomeBase merchants. Members will receive e-mails about the merchant’s upcoming sales and clearance items before the general public. For example, card members were recently invited to shop the Woodchuck’s annual spring tent sale before the general public.

Another perk to being a card member is that once a month a cardholder will win spending cash in amounts of $100, $250, or $500 to be used with the HomeBase merchant of choice.

“It is a win-win for everyone all the way around,” said Wathen.

Howard said these merchants who have decided to become a part of the HomeBase network know this will help bring in new customers.

“By being a part of HomeBase, it builds loyalty within the network,” he said.

“It is all about keeping money here with local businesses.”

Currently, HomeBase is only in Jacksonville, but there are plans to expand to other areas of the U.S.

They recently launched the network to the public and have been attending many Realtor events.

“Reception has been incredible,” said Wathen. “We have been getting everyone’s attention.”

Howard, who is a former president of Sea Coast Industries, came up with the idea a few years ago.

“Last year I started putting it down on paper and last May through December we spent developing the program,” said Howard.

Wathen has a degree in interior design and spent 14 years as a design manager for new construction homes. That is also how she met Howard.

“I worked with Marc and his wife on designing their home that they were having built,” she said. “He showed me the business plan and I just liked that is was a win, win, win for everyone.”

For more information on HomeBase Exclusive Privileges, e-mail them at [email protected] or visit www.gethomebase.com.

What you can buy

• Accessories

• Appliances

• Area rugs

• Blinds and Shutters

• Cabinets

• Countertops

• Custom Closets

• Decorative Hardware

• Doors

• Enclosures