Some employees may describe their coworkers as family, but at Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service, this sentiment goes beyond a simple metaphor. The business, headed by owner and family matriarch Donna Flanagin, currently operates with help from multiple generations of the Flanagin family. Consisting of Donna Flanagin, her husband Doug, her two daughters Monica Clark and Erica George, and her granddaughter Reese George, all come together with a few others to help ensure bulk mail can be successfully be signed, sealed, and delivered across Northwest Indiana and beyond.
In the business’s early days, Donna Flanagin was taking on the bookkeeping work alone. As things started to gain momentum, she recruited more team members to help pitch in with the heavy influx of work, including her cousin and, later, a good friend. For a time, the crew struck a nice balance. As the business grew even bigger, it was inevitable that more hands on deck were needed for operations to continue to run smoothly. It just so happened that many of these hands were connected to the Flanagin surname, and those who didn’t still were close as extended members of the family.
“Eventually, it kind of flip-flopped - I had more bulk mail customers than I did secretarial workers,” Donna Flanagin said. “I had a few different employees when my daughters went to college, and then at different times, they both came to work for me. That's when they came into the business, and they have been with us since they got out of college. Monica is a bit more involved in the mail end of it, and Erica is more involved in the secretarial service end. My husband works a separate seasonal job. There are some seasons that we don't have him, but he still helps out throughout the year when he can. My granddaughter came to work here about five years ago as well.”
Being able to blend familial relationships with working ones has been a dream come true for the Flanagin clan. It was a surprise at first for Donna Flanagin when she heard both of her daughters wanted to come work for her following graduation – she made it known they were more than welcome to find a job wherever they desired – but they were firm in their choice, and she was delighted when they made their decision.
“I've loved every minute of it, regardless of the ups and downs,” Donna Flanagin said. “I get to see my grandchildren. They got to grow up here with me. I mean, really, who gets that? Not a lot of people get to work together with their children and grandchildren. It’s been wonderful.”
“Seeing my family every day is a unique and special privilege,” Erica George added. “It is also a privilege when we all decide to take a day off and have a family day, or moments when one of us stays back at the office so the others can go run some errands really quick.’”
As mothers themselves, the flexibility that came with having their mom as their boss was a huge bonus for Erica George and Monica. There has been no pressure adjusting schedules when instances at home arise. The girls are always welcome to bring their kids in when needed, creating even more time to spend together outside the home. This has allowed both of them to further step into their role as mothers while still maintaining a quality work-life balance.
“The biggest benefit has been being able to raise my children while working,” Erica George said. “Having a family business allowed me to bring my children to work with me as they grew. It also allowed me to have the flexibility as they got older when it came to school, field trips, sports, doctor appointments, sickness, etc. The flexibility allowed me to take care of my in-laws. The flexibility means I don’t have to worry about scheduling appointments. We make the rules and can change them at any time to fit our lives.”
“My favorite memories are raising my three children in our office. It was such a blessing to be able to work and raise my kids alongside my sister and mom,” Monica added. “The flexibility is the best benefit. If I need to pick up my kids from school, there are absolutely no worries – either one of my family members will run out and do it for me or I can just leave work and get them.”
Additionally, while the grind is always important on the job, being employed alongside family typically results in a stress-free environment.
“As long as the work gets done, they can do what needs to be done,” Donna Flanagin said. “If they want a vacation, that's fine. They just need to schedule it in.”
Working together has also created an even greater sense of community. Flanagin’s is proud to be a locally-focused business, and the team loves jumping in on events and projects in and around Valparaiso. One of the most memorable has been the Flanagin Fairies at Valparaiso’s Popcorn Parade. By having the family in close quarters, the whole bunch can jump in on the fun, creating quality moments to last a lifetime.
“My daughters were my first Flanagin Fairies; many years ago, Reese was one of the first junior fairies on the float, as she played Ariel in the parade that year,” Donna Flanagin said. “My other granddaughters also grew up here, and they were fairies all the time when they were little in the parade. This past year, my grandson was Peter Pan in the parade, so they've all been a part of our floats over the years.”
Collaborating has been a meaningful experience for the entire Flanagin team. While they share a family bond, it’s the work they do together that has truly brought them closer—and they wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.
“My sister is my best friend, my mom is my best friend. We love to laugh and we have the same sense of humor. Debbie, our sales rep, is like a sister that my mom never had. She is a joy to have with us and I consider her a part of the family,” Monica said. “I feel so blessed to be able to work with my family.”
For more information on Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service, please visit mybulkmail.com.
