As part of the widely successful Green Initiative, sales associates are being trained in the fine art of Japanese origami. Now, for an extra dollar per item, customers can opt to have their letters professionally folded for envelope-free mailing.
"If this takes hold, it's a win-win situation for us," said District Marketing Coordinator Yule Aff. "We will make money by providing a new service, and our customers will not only be happy with the result but will also want to return for the entertainment value alone."
As part of the test initiative, Origami Master Shigatsu Baka was flown over from Japan to instruct the willing clerks.
Montgomery Secretary and skilled balloon artist Ziann Goree was the first to volunteer.
Goree is pictured above putting the finishing touches on her first origami eagle.
"I think that it's a great idea," Goree said. "The only problem I've experienced so far is that it's sometimes hard to know where to put the stamps. But we'll make it work."
Hartselle SSA Janna Martin, pictured below with her handcrafted LLV envelope, sees a world of potential in the new service.
"We could fold advertising mail in the shapes of what our customers are selling--shirts, pizzas, shoes, whatever--and this could take the concept of 'commemorative envelope' to a whole new level."
But the supply of clerk volunteers may be limited: the American Postal Workers Union has voiced its strong opposition to the initiative. A commercial entitled We Won't Fold is due to begin airing on multiple cable channels sometime next week.
To see a photo album of Alabama clerks learning origami, click here.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
