News

October 2008

Selling Luxury Goods? Think Taction

Waldoboro, Maine, October 31, 2008 - How does an Illinois purveyor of luxury goods such as rare wine and exotic flowers keep his company financially strong in this soft economic climate? He wines and dines people in Waldoboro, Maine.

Doug Doretti, the CEO of Clubs of America, recently shifted his company's customer service to a call center in Waldoboro, a small town in Maine's midcoast region.

Doretti's company comprises eight monthly gift clubs that have shipped out more than 3 million packages in the past fifteen years. Each club offers unique products from a wide variety of sources. The clubs also provide monthly newsletters to help members become passionate, knowledgeable connoisseurs.

Doretti explained that when people purchase luxury products, especially on an ongoing basis, they expect and deserve great service. He Doretti searched for a new call center and hired Taction - The Contact Center, which is housed in a meticulously restored Oddfellows Hall in the village of Waldoboro.

"We found Taction through other companies that are clients. They are reasonably priced with flexible terms in the contract that met my needs."

Doretti supplied agents at the 100-seat center with products from his eight clubs, including coffee, Chicago deep-dish pizzas, and beer from microbreweries around the country. He wanted agents to be able to describe the products with first-hand knowledge and enthusiasm.

"The products are absolutely incredible," said Steve White, CEO of Taction. "Who wouldn't want to sample freshly made chocolate as part of their job? Plus, our agents have fun discussing each club's new monthly offerings. Maybe they get to tell a prospect about the beauty of the flower of the month club's bouquet. Or they get to point out the vintage of a rare wine from the other side of the world."

Doretti started his company with his brother, Dirk, and he went through some lean years where he put other family members to work. The ensuing success and notice from such outlets as "Good Morning America" and USA Today have not prevented him from rolling up his sleeves and appearing at the office most weekends.

"He wants to be sure the company he worked so hard to build continues to thrive and give its customers an incredible thrill when they open that package every month," said White. "And now we're thrilled to help Doug give every single one of his customers and potential customers a quality experience when they call. Whether it's someone buying their wife or mother a membership in the flower of the month club or a guy who works as hard as Doug giving himself a reward by joining the cigar of the month club, an agent in Waldoboro, Maine, is going to make sure that person has a fantastic experience when they call."

For an interview with Doug Doretti, call (815) 363-4000 or email doug@greatclubs.com.

About Clubs of America: Clubs of America was founded in 1994 and is the world's foremost monthly gift club specialist. They offer carefully chosen, rare and exotic selections from around the world, delivered to your door each month. They bring the eight individual clubs, such as the finest, freshest American microbrewed beer, exotic wines, fragrant, fresh-cut flowers, gourmet chocolates, fresh roasted coffee, Chicago pizza, fresh fruit, and hand-rolled cigars of the month. Their judging panel is comprised of experts in their fields; their wine specialist, for example, is a true connoisseur with more than forty years of experience in the wine industry. Clubs of America is committed to exceeding expectations, with superior products that reflect the special nature of your gift with no minimum membership terms.

About Taction - The Contact Center

For a quarter century, Taction - The Contact Center has been a leading provider of contact center services for some of the world's most trusted brands. Current and past clients include Smartpak Equine and Canine, Cuddledown, Samsonite, American Express, Kodak, Maine's Office of Tourism, Harbor Sweets, Polaroid, Lotus 1-2-3, and Frank Schaffer Publications. The Waldoboro contact center offers direct-to-consumer services, such as order taking and customer service, and business-to-business support such as inside sales and list scrubbing. Taction operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Visit www.Taction.com to learn more.