Alexander Haimann began collecting stamps at age seven. Deciding that his weekly one-dollar allowance would not suffice to satisfy his stamp collecting needs, Alex began selling stamps informally between local Detroit dealers at age ten. In November of 1998 at the age of twelve, Alex rented his first table at a local Detroit show. In the same year, Alex went in to business with his Cousin Bret Hoffman. Combining their first names to create Bretalex Stamp Company they focused on mint low value 1893 Columbians. Haimann and Hoffman built their business from there, holding their first table as Bretalex at Milcopex 2000 in Milwakee, Wisconsin with a limited United States and Worldwide stamp & cover stock. Haimann & Hoffman held their first booth at the 2001 APS National Show in Chicago at ages fifteen & seventeen respectively. Linn’s Stamp News in their February 18th, 2002 Issue featured an article chronicling the cousins’ APS show debut.
In early 2002, Bret went off to the University of Iowa and Alex bought his half of Bretalex. Bret has since left the stamp business. Continuing on without his partner Haimann went into a semi-partnership with Mark G. Vervaeke of Sterling Stamps for the APS National shows, holding booths at Atlantic City, NJ in 2002 and Columbus, OH in 2003. Due to distance Haimann went without Vervaeke holding a booth at Sacramento, CA this year. Spliting a corner table with Mike Ball of Polar Trading Company.
Alexander Haimann was accepted early decision to George Washington University located in Washington D.C. in mid-December of 2003. He will begin his Freshman Year in September of 2004. Bretalex Stamp Company's next booth will be at the APS Show in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2005. Following Grand Rapids, Bretalex will be sharing a corner booth, #2125 at the International Show, Washington 2006, May 27th-June 3rd with Sterling Stamps & Polar Trading Company.
Mark assisting an eager collector at the 2002 APS Show in Atlantic City
Alex and Mark behind their booth at the APS Show In Atlantic City, NJ 2002
Alex and Mike behind their booth at the APS Show In Sacramento, CA 2004