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Small talk, big deal

Employee’s tip brings in $304,000

Whittier, CA, Letter Carrier Maria Mousavinia used the Customer Connect program to generate new revenue for USPS.

A California letter carrier’s answer to a customer’s question has resulted in a shipping deal worth more than $304,000 for the Postal Service.

Maria Mousavinia, who is based in Whittier, was talking with the chief executive officer of a medical device company when he asked her about setting up an account to handle returns of medical monitors.

After going back to her Post Office, Mousavinia passed on the key details through Customer Connect, a joint program with the National Association of Letter Carriers that encourages carriers to identify sales opportunities for USPS.

Martin Espinoza, a California 4 District business development specialist, and David Gonzales, a senior sales executive, followed up with the customer.

They closed a deal to handle the company’s returns, which had been done by another shipper. The deal also included the customer switching $200,000 in parcel shipping to USPS.

In total, the deal is worth $304,500 in new estimated annualized revenue for the Postal Service.

Sales generated from Customer Connect leads count toward the USPS Power of One campaign to raise revenue through sales leads from employees.

“Maria has been a letter carrier for more than 30 years,” said Mary Anderson, small-business engagement director at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. “When a customer reaches out for help, she brings that experience to bear to answer questions, ask questions and pass on the information.”

The Postal Service is encouraging as many employees as possible to submit at least one lead through any of its six lead programs by Sept. 30. The Small Business Sales team is tracking program participation rates through its weekly “Drive to 35” downloadable report.

The Small Business and Lead Generation Programs Blue page has more information about Customer Connect and the other employee lead programs: Business Connect, Clerks Care, Mail Handlers, Rural Reach and Submit a Lead.