Couple chose Morgan Hill because of community, growth opportunities
Published in the December 11-25 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Photo by Marty Cheek
Steve and Brenda Conner in their recently opened Postal Annex franchise at Tennant Station.
When Steve and Brenda Conner decided to open up their own retail business, they chose the Postal Annex Plus franchise because it best suited their needs, allowing them to provide their customers friendly and professional service and a variety of delivery options for packages and letters.
The couple chose Morgan Hill to build their business because they felt it’s a friendly community with good growth potential. Morgan Hill Life asked the Conners to share their tips in packing and sending gifts during the holidays.
Time is of the essence when sending holiday gifts. What are some considerations gift-givers should bear in mind when sending their presents?
Know the shipping cut-off dates and transit times in December. There are certain days in December after which delivery before Christmas is no longer available. These cut-off dates range from the 17th to the 23rd of December. Knowing these dates can help you plan shopping and shipping, plus save money by avoiding unnecessary express shipments. Your local Postal Annex Plus will be able to inform you of these critical dates. Also, we can help you plan by providing transit time quotes for the various shipping zones. We all want our shipments to arrive before Christmas.
What tips would you give gift-senders in packaging their items – particularly fragile items?
Fragile and delicate items must be packaged with the expectation that some rough handling will likely occur, it is just a fact of shipping. To protect against damage, the correct size carton must be used with the proper cushioning, approximately two to three inches of padding on each side for support, and labeling to protect the contents. Use a new or slightly used box. An over used box can lose up 70 percent of it protection. Shipping insurance can also be applied to cover replacements in the rare case that a package is damaged.
What products does the Postal Annex carry to help people pack their gifts in the best way?
We carry dozens of different size cartons, pouches, cushioning materials, and labels. We even carry boxes for bicycles, art, and TV’s, and also packaging for wine and champagne — and yes, we ship wine and craft beer.
For unusual shapes and sizes, in some cases we can cut custom sizes in store, or provide special order boxes with one or two day turnaround. We do custom packaging for not only shipping customers but also for self delivery, carry-on luggage and even storage. We also have special holiday print cartons and pouches as an alternative to gift wrap.
If cost is a consideration in mailing a package, what options do your customers have when using the Postal Annex?
We offer all four major carriers, (FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL) with a wide variety of delivery times to fit every need of cost and delivery time. Wherever possible, we can cut down oversized boxes to minimize dimensions and reduce shipping cost. We also have lots of valuable coupons to use every month. Please look for them in Morgan Hill Life and mailers. Ask for one in the store if you forget to bring one.
What other smart gift-sending tips would you like to share with people sending packages during the holidays or other times of the year?
Use the right size and type of container, avoid unnecessary weight or size, know if insurance is needed, and know when it needs to get there. You can always call us with any questions, quotes requests, and advice. We are glad to help in anyway we can.
