USPS logo LINK — USPS employee news Printable

Solid gold

Grammy Award maker sings Postal Service’s praises

John Billings, an enthusiastic USPS customer, crafts a Grammy Award.
John Billings, an enthusiastic USPS customer, crafts a Grammy Award.

Although John Billings’ work is coveted by the biggest names in the music industry, his favorite performer is the Postal Service.

Billings owns a company in Ridgway, CO, that handcrafts the gold-plated, gilded gramophone trophies presented at the annual Grammy Awards. Billings and his team produce about 600 trophies for the ceremony each year.

The company also crafts trophies for the Latin Grammys and college basketball’s John R. Wooden Awards. It also makes a metal “rubber duck” hood ornament — inspired by C.W. McCall’s 1976 hit song “Convoy” — that’s popular with truckers.

Billings uses Click-N-Ship to send hundreds of packages to customers each month.

“I love it,” he said. “I print the postage, walk in [to the Ridgway Post Office with the package], set it down and walk out.”

Billings’ customers also appreciate the ability to track their packages, he said.

“The tracking is amazing. People follow the shipments. Every single time, it makes it. In 20 years, I’ve never had to put in a claim.”

Post-story highlights