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. ___