By Rachel Schreiber

Sometimes a decision made in a moment can affect future generations. For Don Alexander, Jr., owner of Money Mailer, this is true. Don’s grandfather, coming from Ferris State, was driving thru Ann Arbor in the 1920s when he stopped in Ann Arbor and got a job at a drug store on North University. His grandfather bought the store and renamed it Alexander Drug Store. Don’s grandmother was part owner of the renowned Liberty Records. That led to the next two generations of true blue and maize Alexanders.

Don’s decision to be an entrepreneur was reinforced by the rocky economy. He was working in sales at Interfirst Wholesale Mortgage Company and had done well for himself. Then, due to the economy, Don was let go from his new job at National City Bank’s home equity department. He says, “I knew I needed to make a change. I had to decide whether to stay in the mortgage business, which was a plummeting disaster, or to work really hard but not be able to know my future. For me, it really comes down to the company you work for and what they have planned. Then I decided to start my own company. I knew if I worked really hard, I would see it come back to me right away.”

Don stumbled upon the Money Mailer franchise, or rather his mother did. One day, while his mother was taking a walk she met a neighbor who owned Money Mailer, and was about to retire. “My mother lived near this woman and she said to my mother you should buy this business. My mother called me and said, you should do this. I thought about it, I knew I had to make a change. There was something appealing about doing business with businesses in Ann Arbor and helping them get more business. I like to see them do well.”

Don says, “Money Mailer contains coupons to Ann Arbor businesses. I bought the franchise last September and signed the businesses on by walking door to door. There are coupons for Busch’s, Produce Station, The Earl, Liberty Athletic Club, all top notch A+ companies, wonderful to work with and customers love to go to. I’m an Ann Arbor boy. My envelope is all about the staples of Ann Arbor.”

“My last job was great. I loved working there and when it closed, I was devastated and believed I’d never find anything like that again. Then I stumbled on this, and this is so much better. Working with the community in Ann Arbor is great, people love their businesses and they take such pride in their business,” he states.

Don wears countless hats; he solicits the businesses, helps design ads, selects the lead coupon and invoices his customers. How does he do it all? “I’m tired, he says laughingly. “I talk to owners of companies about advertising; I have a whole art dept behind me. The customer gives me an idea of what they want their coupon to look like. I incorporate their logo and we discuss how they can get new customers. After they’re printed, they truck the envelopes out from Virginia.” The envelopes are mailed eight times a year to over 50,000 Ann Arbor homes and are available online.

His economic background lends itself well to his stimulus plan. Don explains, “It’s called the Money Mailer Stimulus Program. We’re giving away $100 per day to anyone for the entire month of July. I’m going to pick a specific business in the envelope and show up at that place. The first person to use a coupon while I’m there at the business will win the money. But, you never know where I’m going to show up.”

Money Mailer
Don Alexander, Jr.
1044 Bicentennial Parkway
Ann Arbor, MI
734-429-0751 (v); 734-678-6128 (c); 734-661-0162 (f)
Email: dalealexander@moneymailer.com