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Tame your CDs, DVDs, movies and game system storage with MM Design
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Home and Living welcomes Vanessa O'Connor with MM Design.
Q.: Vanessa, will you tell Home and Living Readers a little about your background?
A.: I’ve been working in the retail industry for more than 33 years. After college, and following my love for cooking, I opened a retail store selling high-end kitchenware along with a cooking school. After selling the company, I joined Williams-Sonoma, was promoted to a district manager and opened several new locations up and down the eastern seaboard. After W-S, I joined Bare Escentuals as the vice president of store operations. But always an entrepreneur-at-heart, I started looking for another business venture. A friend introduced me to my current business partner, Marcel Manzardo, who had developed a unique storage product for what was at that point, just for CDs. He was looking for someone with retail and marketing experience to promote this incredible idea, so we joined forces and for 15+ years now, we have worked together as a strong team.
Q.: How old is MM Design and what is your mission?
A.: Marcel Manzardo, our president, started the company 16 years ago to create a more efficient way for storing media in something other than the original bulky jewel case packaging. Our original mission is the same today as it was when we first began: we strive to provide our customers with the most innovative and intelligent media storage products that save them the one thing they need most, and that’s space. Over the years we have continued to expand our product line based on our customers’ needs and the trends in the industry. For example, as soon as movies were being offered in the new Blu-ray format, we jumped into action and were the first to introduce a sleeve, the HiDef Pro, to fit this new and specific packaging design.
Q.: It’s wonderful to be talking to you around New Year’s because a lot of folks have clean-up resolutions. What are some of the products that can help them with that goal?
A.: Although it’s true that folks tend to focus on “clean-up” projects during the first part of the year, our customers come to us with the same problem no matter what time of year it is, and that is to find a storage solution for their media collections so they can reclaim valuable space they’ve lost by storing their media collections in the original packaging. Conventional packaging takes up three to four times more space than storing discs in our DiscSox sleeves, so by replacing this bulky packaging with our sleeves, customers automatically reclaim over 75 percent of storage space.
Q.: Talk to me about DiscSox and its properties, please.
A.: DiscSox is a media storage system unlike any other product available on the market today because it has a unique and patented DiscSox sleeve design that safely holds all parts of original packaging along with the CDs, DVDs or Blu-ray discs. Furthermore, we also offer a variety of smart and stylish containers that store 100s to 1000s of media discs.
All DiscSox sleeves are archival quality and fully protect the discs, which is crucial for die-hard music and movie collectors. We also take storing any size media collection a step further by offering organizational tools such as alphabetical dividers cards and labels that help make finding that one disc that you really want—easy and straight-forward. Using the complete DiscSox media storage system helps people to organize their collections, makes finding titles easy and convenient, and simplifies the introduction of new titles alphabetically into an existing collection.
Q.: What is the one coolest product in your estimation? Home and Living has the linen-style decorative case from the HomeDécor™ Collection! It is really nice with leather corners and looks like a piece of antique luggage. It is so decorative in fact, that I keep it in my living room. How are your customers using it?
A.: Our decorative cases are an exciting new line for MMDesign. Our customers have been asking for these types of cases to store their media collections for a long time, so this is a perfect solution.
They are also using them in their family rooms, guest bedrooms and living rooms—anywhere where function and design can come together! The average household owns 78 DVDs and 111 CDs, so these cases, which hold about 300+ DVDs and CDs, allow plenty of room for existing collections and provide room to grow.
Q.: In today’s economy people are looking for storage solutions at a good price. How would you suggest they get started? What would you suggest to someone on a budget?
A.: We like to think of our DiscSox concept as “how much is it worth to you to have the space you need?” There’s definitely a perceived value that’s attached to not only the cost of the product, but what’s to gain from it! And in our case it’s more space…But we do have to be sensitive to the current economic climate, and so we suggest that customers budget their purchases. For example, customers who have 100’s to 1000’s of CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs should only purchase what they can afford at the current time, and then to add additional sleeves and containers as they can afford them.
We have a variety of sleeves to fit all budgets starting from $5.95/25-pack. We also encourage our customers to sign up for the DiscSox NewsLine that typically includes a promotion for saving money.
Q.: With the explosion of interactive video games, families probably have a lot of accessories and stuff. What do you have to address those needs?
A.: MMDesign has a storage solution for all media types, and games are no exception. We have specially-designed sleeves that hold the original packaging and a range of discs for all video games. Whether customers have the PS2, PS3, XBOX, XBOX 360 or Wii, we have the sleeve.
Q.: Are your DiscSox sleeves archival quality?
A.: We are very excited to announce that all DiscSox sleeves are now made from 100 percent recyclable, eco-friendly, archival-safe polypropylene. Sleeves made out of polypropylene ensure customers that their discs will be safely protected and that the life of their discs will be prolonged.
Q.: What type of feedback are you getting from homeowners who are using your merchandise?
A.: We continually receive accolades from satisfied customers using the DiscSox products. They are excited to finally have more space, especially those who live in places where space is at a premium.
Q.: Where are customers going to find these new storage products and do you have a website for more information?
A.: All of the DiscSox products can be found on our website www.discsox.com. We are also anxious to attract the attention of large retailers who could bring the DiscSox line to the many existing customers requesting that the products be carried nationally and to those who are still out there seeking the perfect media storage solution.
Q.: Is there anything else you would like to tell Home and Living Readers?
A.: Customers tell us the traditional media storage options they find in retail outlets today, including bulky wire towers and wood shelving, are outdated. Our DiscSox line offers intelligent and innovative products that make DiscSox the complete and perfect storage solution for any size media collection.
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