This weekend, postal customers will look for supplies and stamps. Here is a local editorial planning guide to the ways the Postal Service will reach out to customers this weekend in your area.

UPSTATE NEW YORK — Postal customers will be rocking around the APC this month, as all Automated Postal Centers (APCs) in the region begin to dispense this year's Winter Holidays stamps that feature a reindeer, snowman, gingerbread man and toy soldier.   

The 24-hour self-service stations also offer shipping services and zip code look-ups, with recent upgrades that permit post office box payments.

Automated Postal Centers (APCs) offer a Spanish-language option for all transactions.   

APCs are located in Albany’s Stuyvesant Plaza and General Mail Facility (Karner Road Post Office), Clifton Park, Glens Falls, Latham, Plattsburgh, Rome, Niskayuna, Syracuse’s General Mail Facility (Taft Road Post Office) and Carousel Center, and Watertown.

Bargain of the Weekend:

Just the right sized box (and free, too)
Finding just the right box for holiday mailing is a bargain, with free Priority Mail supplies.

Local post offices are well stocked for holiday shippers looking for the familiar red, white and blue containers.  New this holiday season is a Priority Mail Flat Rate Gift Envelope that makes a test run at larger Post Offices around the region.

Each $4.95 flat-rate envelope includes a convenient slot inside for securing gift cards. This new product is designed for mailing greeting cards with a gift card enclosed or sending oversized greeting cards.   The retailing legend, Macy’s, is already using the new envelopes with gift card sales made on its website.

Not sure what size Priority Mail flat rate box works for the slippers and fruitcake?  Also new this season is a free Priority Mail variety pack, available to order at usps.com.   This includes four of the popular postal packages, including 

• one  Small Flat Rate Box (8 5/8" x 5 3/8" x 1 5/8" – ships at $4.95),
• two Medium Flat Rate Boxes (11" x 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"  and 11 7/8" x 3 3/8" x 13 5/8" -- ships at $10.35),
• and a Large Flat Rate Box (12 1/4" x 12 1/4" x 6" -- ships at $13.95).

By preparing postage online, mailers qualify for a five percent discount. Delivery Confirmation for Priority Mail is also available for no extra fee with online postage. 

Postal officials recommend ordering Priority Mail flat rate supplies at www.usps.com by Thursday, December 10, to insure receipt for holiday shipping. 

What is the Upstate New York story this weekend?
Now through the end of January, a special postmark will be applied to letters directed to Santa’s Workshop, located outside of Wilmington.  

On December 16, 1953, the Santa's Workshop seasonal theme park in Wilmington NY was authorized to provide limited postal services on the grounds, including a special picture postmark, bearing the designation of North Pole NY.  

On September 30, 1995, then Postmaster General, Marvin Runyon, unveiled the 1995 Holiday Contemporary stamps at Santa's Workshop, North Pole, NY in a special ceremony.

A trip to the High Peaks is not necessary to enjoy the special postmark on holiday mail. Package pre-stamped mail and send to: North Pole Postmaster, PO Box 1768, North Pole, NY 12997. There is no added fee for this service. Mail will be postmarked by elves at the Santa’s Workshop and returned to the US Mail at the Wilmington Post Office.    

YOU OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURE (stamps)
Now that you've got Billy's school picture or Fido's photo with Santa, how will you share these with adoring friends, co-workers and family? It's not too late to create customized postage for use on holiday cards or as gifts for the New Year.

The Postal Service provides personalized postage in partnership with four vendors:

Zazzle Custom Stamps says you can make every letter a special delivery with customized postage! Add photos, business logos, and text to design your own custom postage.  Discounts begin with as few as two sheets, with turnaround within 48 to 72 hours.
www.zazzle.pb.com

Photostamps, offered through stamps.com, recommends that orders be placed no later than December 16 for normal handling and December 21 for rush receipts by Christmas.  Don’t have a picture?  Use Photostamps library with NFL, collegiate logos and Anne Geddes images.   
http://photo.stamps.com/Store/?source=si10985886

Stamp Expressions, a postage option of Pitney Bowes, prints several personalized stamp denominations, including postcard stamps, and options that range from 20 stamps to a roll of 30,000 stamps.  Most orders ship within 48 to 72 hours.
http://www.pbcustomprint.com/

Endecia's Picture It Postage is printed on 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" sheets of self adhesive labels. Each pack contains 20 stamps – you select portrait or landscape orientation.  Biggest stamps available.
http://www.pictureitpostage.com/. 

IN THE NEXT PLANNING GUIDE Heading towards the busiest mail day (That’s Monday, December 14)…a look at the numbers.

# # #

Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/news.

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 26th in the 2008 Fortune 500.