Moncks Corner, SC, Postmaster Kimberly Williams-Smith knew what to do when a customer contacted her recently to inquire about the Postal Service’s shipping rates.
The customer, a local business owner who was using another provider to ship his merchandise, wanted to know if USPS offered more affordable options.
Williams-Smith took down the business owner’s information and submitted a lead card through the Submit a Lead program. A Postal Service business development specialist and sales representative then followed up with the customer and persuaded him to switch his business to USPS — a sale that will generate more than $113,000 in estimated annualized postal revenue.
“We’ve been told to keep an eye out for new revenue,” Williams-Smith said. “When the customer said they were shipping with our competitor, I knew we could save them some money.”
Through the new Race for a $Billion campaign, the Postal Service aims to generate $1 billion in estimated annualized revenue from Oct. 1, 2019-Sept. 30, 2020.
To meet this goal, the organization is encouraging employees to participate in its lead programs, including Customer Connect (for letter carriers), Mail Handlers (for mail handlers), Rural Reach (for rural carriers), Clerks Care (for distribution and machine clerks and retail associates) and the program that Williams-Smith used — Submit a Lead (for all other employees, including Executive and Administrative Schedule employees).
The Sales Blue page has more information about each program, as well as an updated ranking of all USPS districts in the Race for a $Billion campaign.
“To achieve our $1 billion goal, we’ll need the support of every employee,” said Mary Anderson, small-business engagement director at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. “So lead the way. Submit a lead yourself and encourage others you work with to keep an eye out for new opportunities. We can’t do it alone.”