Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Looking for the perfect postal gift?
Many USPS-themed products are available this holiday season
Looking for unique gifts this holiday season? Consider these USPS-branded toys, apparel, home décor and collectibles available from the online Postal Store and other retailers:
• For kids. The Flybar electric ride-on truck ($139.99) looks like a Postal Service LLV. The toy, geared toward children ages 3-5, also comes with a mailbox and three letters.
“Mr. ZIP’s Windy Day” is a lift-the-flap book ($10.99), based on the adventures of the popular USPS character.
Mr. ZIP and his friends B. Franklin and Farley are also available as 11-inch plush, cuddly toys ($14.99 each).
Also available: Postal truck, Post Office mailbox and letter carrier costumes, as well as a mail carrier dog costume ($17.99-29.99).
• For home and office. The new year is right around the corner and philatelists can start fresh with the Stamp Art 2025 Calendar ($15.99).
An assortment of boxed holiday cards ($12.49-$17.49) and the latest holiday stamps are also available.
There are also ornaments featuring Mr. ZIP ($27.99) and Santa Claus dressed as a letter carrier ($15.95), along with other trinkets to dress the Christmas tree (starting at $15.95).
You can also get throw pillows showcasing whimsical Christmas Forever stamps ($23.99-$25.99), as well as framed stamp art, including the new Thank You, Healthcare Community stamp ($29.95).
• For downtime and entertainment. Take a break from the busy holiday season by playing Monopoly: U.S. Stamps Edition ($44.99); True Crime Stories ($39.99), a board game based on Postal Inspection Service cases; and the Great American Mail Race ($23.49).
There are also a variety of jigsaw puzzles ($16.99-$19.99) and bookmarks showcasing individual stamps ($5.95), including a set of four ($20.95) featuring the new Dungeons & Dragons release.
• For wearing your postal pride. A variety of hoodies, T-shirts and tank tops featuring stamps are available ($22.97-$43.99). There’s also a USPS-branded T-shirt available online from Hot Topic and in Kohl’s retail locations.
Products are available while supplies last. Shoppers should consult the Postal Service’s recommended mail-by dates to ensure delivery in time for the holidays.
Spruce up your social media profile for the holidays
USPS Operation Santa frames are now available
Employees can create a USPS Operation Santa frame to update their social media profiles.
Social media frames allow people to overlay their online picture with a message or image that is meaningful to them.
The frame must be created in Facebook, but once done, that image can be used on other social media platforms — such as LinkedIn or Zoom. The Postal Service is one of only two federal agencies to have had a frame approved by Facebook.
When a person changes their profile picture, a notification is sent to everyone who is following that person.
Using a USPS frame will likely attract attention because people typically notice a change in someone’s profile more than any other type of post, said Mary Beth Levin, the Postal Service’s social media strategy and analytics manager.
“This is another way of letting people know about Operation Santa,” she said. “It’s simple. It’s free. And it’s for a great cause.”
The instructions for creating a frame are available on LiteBlue.
Milestones
Appointments, awards and more
Here’s a look at recent USPS announcements
• Anthony F. Alverno, global business and service development chief counsel, retired after 32 years with the Postal Service. Mikhail Raykher, a corporate postal and business law attorney, was named acting global business and service development chief counsel.
• Richard K. Brown, global products and market development manager, was named acting international processing and logistics director.
• Treasurer James A. Orth retired after 21 years with the Postal Service. Michael A. Milligan, strategic business and financial planning director, was named acting treasurer, while Xia Li, revenue and forecasting manager, was named acting strategic business and financial planning director.
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