The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY - otsego county news, delaware county news, oneonta news, oneonta sports

inactive

July 29, 2008

Oneonta firm is postal service’s top shipper

Still works for state, not with special unit

ONEONTA _ Gary Laing received a gift in the mail _ from the U.S. Postal Service. The package arriving at Laing’s shipping room was an illustration of the White House, with 20 stamps featuring that image, a first-day cancellation and a medallion.

``Please accept this framed artwork as a small token of our appreciation for a job well done,’’ wrote S. Elaine Sauer, manager of the postal service’s Approved Shipper Program. ``We want to personally congratulate and thank you for your outstanding effort in obtaining more than $500,000 in meter revenue in 2007.’’

Laing, whose firm The Shipping Room is at 291 Chestnut St., was the No. 1 revenue-producing shipper in the program last year, according to the May letter by Sauer that accompanied the artwork.

``It’s a pretty cool award,’’ Laing said. ``We’re great friends with the post office.’’

Since the Approved Shipper Program started, more than 2,000 retail shipping operators have combined to surpass $40 million in sales through the program, according to a postal service news release.

Laing said he has been selling stamps for years, and the postal service asked him to participate when it started its shipper program in April 2006.

For agreeing, Laing was given the service’s eagle emblem to use, which he said has attracted customers, especially walk-in business. The award also has been reported in shipping industry news, he said.

On Monday, Laing said he didn’t know the comparison of his sales of metered postage and stamps this year. Postal service employees pick up mail and packages at his business at 2 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, he said. The Shipping Room offers packaging and shipping through the mail service, by United Parcel Service or Federal Express. Laing said he will recommend shipping options, costs and deliveries based on customer’s wishes. Distance is a major factor, he said, and a package going to California will be more economically shipped with a faster arrival projected through the postal service, he said. Laing, a 1975 graduate of Oneonta High School, started The Shipping Room in 1991 and has four full-time employees _ five during the academic year, when he has a satellite operation in Hunt College Union at the State University College at Oneonta. The award is good recognition, he said, but also humbling, and he attributes his success to his employees.

Laing said he’s hanging the artwork on a wall at home. He also plans to frame a certificate from state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, that recognizes The Shipping Room and Laing for contributions to the quality of life in the community and state. ___

If you have good news you’d like to share, call Managing Editor Cary Brunswick at 432-1000 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 217; fax him at 432-5707; e-mail him at cary@thedailystar.com; or write to him at P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Text Only
Local News
  • Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving

    A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.

    May 11, 2010

  • Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.

    May 11, 2010

  • Mary Lorraine Hawkins RICHFIELD SPRINGS _ Mary Lorraine Hawkins, 85, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 10, 2010, she was at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.

    May 11, 2010

  • Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.

    May 11, 2010

  • Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.

    May 11, 2010

  • Evelyn E. Kinney MORRIS _ Evelyn E. Kinney, 81, of Morris, passed away Jan. 17, 2010.

    May 11, 2010

  • Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.

    May 11, 2010

  • Daisy Wagner Schultz WALTON _ Daisy Meda Wagner Schultz, 65, of Walton, passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, May 9, 2010, at home.

    May 11, 2010

  • Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.

    May 11, 2010

  • Edward Luke Ryder MOUNT VISION _ Edward Luke Ryder, 71, passed away Monday, May 10, 2010, at his home.

    May 11, 2010

  • Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.

    May 11, 2010

  • Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.

    May 11, 2010

  • 3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
    Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.

    May 11, 2010

  • Alyce H. Roberts ONEONTA _ Alyce H. Roberts, 89, of Oneonta, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2010, at home.

    May 11, 2010

  • 3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
    Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.

    May 11, 2010

  • Outdoor biking program starts in city ONEONTA _ An outdoor biking program Tuesday nights has begun in Oneonta.
    The group meets at the Brenner Recreational Center near Hodges Pond in Neahwa Park at 5 p.m.

    May 11, 2010

  • Outdoor biking program starts in city ONEONTA _ An outdoor biking program Tuesday nights has begun in Oneonta.
    The group meets at the Brenner Recreational Center near Hodges Pond in Neahwa Park at 5 p.m.

    May 11, 2010

  • Marc E. Guy DELHI _ A graveside memorial service for Marc E. Guy, 79, of Delhi, who passed away Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at Hospice of the Golden Isles,

    May 11, 2010

  • Bridge work to take place on I-88 today OTEGO _ Crews will be working on bridge maintenance on Interstate 88 eastbound between exit 12 in Otego and exit 13 in Oneonta beginning at 8 a.m. today, a media release said.

    May 11, 2010

  • David C. Yager ONEONTA _ Graveside services with military honors for David C. Yager, who passed away Feb. 7, 2010, will be at 1 p.m. Friday, May 14, 2010, in the West Oneonta Cemetery.

    May 11, 2010

New Today!
Additional Content
Poll

Do you think we will have a big snow storm the rest of the winter?

Yes
No
     View Results