Friday, June 26, 2026
These Gen Zers are ditching the screens for paper
Letters from ‘snail mail clubs’ offer income, entertainment they can feel
Subscription-based mail clubs have become a lucrative side hustle — and sometimes a flourishing, full-time business — for many Generation Z entrepreneurs.
These creators say a tactile, personalized mailpiece has real appeal for a cohort that grew up immersed in a world of screens.
Sometimes called “snail mail clubs,” the businesses offer everything from architectural artwork and recipes to historical romances in epistolary form for a monthly subscription.
In many cases, these creators are expanding on an already established social media presence, according to financial website MoneyTalksNews.
It marks a shift in digital entrepreneurship, according to the website, proving “you do not need complex software or a massive tech startup to generate serious income.”
It appears to be a thriving niche market. In 2019, Link reported on Letterjoy, a business launched in 2017 by Michael Sitver during his college years that capitalized on his love of history and of receiving letters.
For the first few years, the company catered mostly to general history buffs, but they’ve added more than a half-dozen new collections since then.
“We now offer both weekly and monthly mail clubs, and some weeks we mail upwards of 20,000 letters,” Sitver said. “I have one of the coolest jobs in the world. … It has given me a chance to explore everything from literature to espionage and secret ciphers.”
He said he believes the appeal of the clubs is the analog nature of the products.
“A lot of people are looking for something they can enjoy in their free time without having to look at a phone or doomscroll. Snail mail fills that gap perfectly. It’s nostalgic, tactile and unhurried.”
Thanks to viral videos on TikTok, “there’s pretty much a snail mail club for every interest. There are 200-plus mail clubs now delivering everything from stickers, to history, to love stories, to mysteries — and that list is growing fast,” he said.
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People
This technician is quite an artist
One employee has fun with test cards and another finds fans at a parade
It could be said that Electronic Technician Chris Karibian is something of a one-man stamp services department.
Karibian doodles “stamps” to test the postmark of the Advanced Facer Canceler System, or AFCS, at the Charlotte, NC, Local Processing Center.
“Test cards need to be fed into the machine in the proper orientation so that the ID tags, sort codes and cancellation marks all go where they’re supposed to,” he explained.
He started by drawing a box where the stamp would go, then a smiley face — “then it grew into what it is today,” he said.
“I do a set of four cards usually at home in my free time or on my lunch break. Some days I just don’t have the time, so there a few days here and there that haven’t gotten drawings.”
His co-workers seem to enjoy the drawings. “They look forward to seeing them and being surprised at who or what I draw for the day.”
Karibian has been drawing for years and took a cartooning class at Disney World when he was younger and a drawing course at Hofstra University. “I have been drawing for a long as I can remember,” he said.
He completed his route in the Knick of time
If mail delivery was a sport, then Letter Carrier Michael Chan would be MVP.
The 24-year employee of New York City’s Wall Street Station was caught on video recently navigating the fan-filled streets with a packed mail cart before the start of the New York Knicks’ NBA championship victory parade.
They team defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals to capture their first title in 53 years. The championship parade, held on June 18, shares part of the same path as Chan’s delivery route.
“When I was walking through the crowd near Broadway, I had to go through each barrier, and all the Knicks fans helped me lift my cart over the barricades so I could go on to the next spot of my route to deliver. If it was just me, I wouldn’t have been able to because it’s so heavy. The day was total energy,” he said.
Unbeknownst to Chan, his daily delivery went viral and has been shared on social media by news outlets. The fans gathered along the route can be heard and seen cheering for him.
“My friends, family members and customers told me about the video. ‘We saw you on social media,’ they said. I was just doing the job, that’s all and I was just there at the right time,” he said.
Customer Services Manager Stanley Jong had encouraged carriers in the city to start their routes early that day because of road closures. The video was filmed as Chan was headed back to the station.
“As long as everyone got their mail on time — that’s what matters. I came back and I enjoyed the parade on TV,” he said. “I am a big Knicks fan.”
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
News Quiz
Let’s get this party started
How much do you know about USPS involvement in America’s 250th?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. Which of the following is not part of the Postal Service’s participation in the United States’ 250th anniversary?
a) 30 mail collection boxes wrapped with a patriotic theme
b) Release of the Declaration of Independence stamp
c) Special national postmark for mail processed through August
d) Unveiling of a new USPS logo to replace the “sonic eagle”
2. What are four common imposter scams that the Inspection Service highlighted on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day?
a) Cryptocurrency scams, grandparent scams, fake tech support and phony political surveys
b) Fake tech support, grandparent scams, Social Security scams and counterfeit ATM cards
c) Grandparent scams, romance scams, fake tech support and cryptocurrency scams
d) Romance scams, fake tech support, Social Security scams and cryptocurrency scams
3. Prior to images of the American Icons stamps now being displayed, which stamp images were featured on decals on the ground-floor windows of USPS headquarters?
a) American Bison
b) Harriet Powers
c) Lowriders
d) Route 66
4. Why was a former Missouri carrier technician recently sentenced to one year in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $22,000?
a) She caused a traffic fatality while on duty and left the scene.
b) She dumped 265 Priority Mail pieces into the trash.
c) She let a known mail thief borrow her LLV.
d) She sold her arrow key and stole checks from the mail.
5. In which of the following locations has Vehicle Operations Assistant Paramjit Singh represented the USA in international field hockey tournaments?
a) Paris
b) Rome
c) Tokyo
d) Zurich
Answers: 1) d. 2) c. 3) c. 4) d. 5) c.
July 1, 2026
Datebook
‘Summer Safety’
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar about protecting themselves from heat-related illnesses.
“Summer Safety” will be held on Wednesday, July 1, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from Kaiser Permanente, a provider of health insurance plans for federal employees, will lead the webinar.
Participation is voluntary, but participants must register before the event. Nonexempt employees must participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
July 1, 2026
Datebook
‘The Skin You’re In: Understanding Your Body’s Largest Organ’
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn about the vital roles of skin and practical tips for keeping it healthy from the inside out.
“The Skin You’re In: Understanding Your Body’s Largest Organ” will be held Wednesday, July 1, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, a provider of health insurance plans for federal employees, will lead the webinar.
Participation is voluntary, but participants must register before the event. Nonexempt employees must participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
Postal Bulletin spotlights PMG Heroes’ Program
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published June 25, takes a look at the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program, which honors employees who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Updates to the organization’s policies, procedures and forms are also included.
Employees can go to usps.com to read and download the latest Postal Bulletin, along with past issues.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
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These Gen Zers are ditching the screens for paper
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People
This technician is quite an artist
One employee has fun with test cards and another finds fans at a parade
-
News Quiz
Let’s get this party started
How much do you know about USPS involvement in America’s 250th?
-
July1Datebook
‘Summer Safety’
-
July1Datebook
‘The Skin You’re In: Understanding Your Body’s Largest Organ’
-
Brief
Postal Bulletin spotlights PMG Heroes’ Program