Scottsdale-based franchise grows in Valley, Denver

By: Money Mailer | 3 Shares 253 Reads

Scottsdale-based franchise grows in Valley, Denver

April 21, 2007
Tony Natale, Tribune

Bob Chase of Scottsdale uses the U.S. Postal Service to help small business owners in the Valley and elsewhere reach millions of potential customers without the companies paying those big advertising bucks.

Chase, the nation's biggest Money Mailer franchise owner, mails 1.7 million advertising letters each month to homes in the Valley and the Denver area, trumpeting the words of more than 2,500 small businesses in both states.

His company, Response Marketing, 13860 N. Northsight Blvd. at Scottsdale Airpark, has been sending the red, white and blue envelopes full of local businesses ads and coupons for 18 years.

Chase and his 40 employees in Scottsdale and 30 in Denver recently were honored by the 28-year-old firm with the "Number One Region Award" for the second consecutive year.

"In all areas of performance, (Chase's) team stands tall, continually reaching new heights in our system," said Godfred Otuteye, president of Money Mailer. "He is resolute in his commitments and works extraordinarily hard to fill them."

Money Mailer franchisees mail more than 189 million envelopes containing ads and coupons to 21.5 million homes, serving more than 195 categories of local businesses.

Money Mailer was rated as Number One Leader in 2007 by Entrepreneur Magazine in the $62 billion direct mailing industry and has 300 franchise holders in 33 states.

The Scottsdale Money Mailer franchise owner began with one employee, himself, 18 years ago.

His mailings have increased each year by 15 percent to 20 percent.

Today, since adding the Colorado franchise, his firm represents 2,500 small businesses in both states each year, making it the largest in the country.

"I'm overwhelmed by the response our Money Mailer region has received, and I feel honored to be recognized by the Money Mailer parent company," said Chase, who feels his company will continue to grow as the population — and small businesses — move into the Valley.

Chase said he learned about the advantages and money-saving aspects of Money Mailers when he owned a Scottsdale-based carpet cleaning franchise in 1989.

"I realized back then that direct mailing advertising was more affordable and could reach more local clients," said Chase, who subsequently dropped his carpet cleaning franchise and purchased the Money Mailer franchise.

"Small businesses with limited budgets today are facing a growing challenge as more and more companies advertise on the Internet," said Chase, whose company has doubled in size since 2002.

Companies pay his firm $300 on average for mailing their ads, including coupons, to 10,000 homes near their locations each month.

Money Mailer franchises, meanwhile, cost between $40,000 and $60,000 for permission to mail within three to four ZIP codes, and franchises for larger geographical areas such as regions like the Valley cost much more.