In recent years we’ve consistently heard about the demise of the USPS, we’ve also heard of the direct marketing industry coming under threat, and the drop off in volume across the board. However, all is not gloom and doom, there is light at the top of the Christmas tree! On December 1st 2009 the USPS launched a press release speaking to the flow of mail during the Holiday Season (I prefer to call it Christmas, but I have to be politically correct right!?). The numbers are staggering: The USPS is expecting over 3 billion cards and letters to be delivered over the holidays. In addition, 97 million Americans will visit a Post Office – that’s about one in three folks will go stand in line to use this essential, national service. Over 30 million pounds of mail will be delivered to overseas military installations alone – which hopefully will put smiles on the faces of our service men and women. The printing presses will be running too, over 2.11 billion Holiday Stamps will be printed and used – that’s a lot of fish paste!

Apparently the busiest day of the year for all mail will be December 14th when more than 830 million packages, letters and cards will be put in to the mail-stream – - and two days later they’ll be delivered on the busiest delivery day of the year, December 16th. There are in excess of 250,000 postal carriers – here at Compact we know these things because in our Resident List database we house all of their carrier route polygons – which many of you use when purchasing our products. These 250,000 carriers will be trudging through the snow, sleet, rain and in some places sunshine, to bring you those priceless pieces of holiday cheer.

So, thanks to our postal service, to those carriers and all of the other postal employees who provide such an essential service throughout the year, but never more important than at Christmas (I mean “the Holidays”).

Happy Holidays everyone!

Cheers Rich