Cape Girardeau mailing center adding services

By Jim Obert

Business Today

Customers who rent mail boxes at Mailboxes & Parcel Post in Cape Girardeau will soon be able to access those boxes 24 hours a day. An outside entrance to the mail boxes will be opened by spring. Currently, customers access their mail during regular business hours.

Cheryl Walker, who has owned the business for almost eight years, also said the business expansion last year made the 24-hour mail access possible.

"We took down a wall and moved into space where a former business was," said Walker. "We redecorated and made a room for the improved mail service."

Walker said she has also added more shipping boxes. There are now about 70 different sized boxes for customers to choose, an increase of about 15.

"We also brought in more decorative packaging this year," said Walker, pointing to bright yellow boxes with smiley faces and boxes that look like birthday wrap.

There are also decorative mailers with bubble wrap lining. Smiley faces, bumble bees and flowers are among the designs available.

Customers have been able to pay their AmerenUE and Southwestern Bell bills at Mailboxes & Parcel Post for the past two years. Walker said a record was set Feb. 3 when 307 bills were paid there.

"We've picked up tremendous amounts of business since we started the payments service," said Walker, adding that people can also pay AT&T wireless and long-distance bills. "People who come in to pay their bills often purchase stamps and other items."

The business offers a UPS shipper saver card. Each time a customer visits and ships something UPS, a card is punched. Ten punches gets a customer a free UPS shipping of 5 pounds or less.

Walker said the business continues to offer business cards, letterhead and stationary, notary, rubber stamps and labels, wedding invitations, laminating, money orders, copies, faxes, resumes, greeting cards and general office supplies.