One proposal is to offer incentives to local businesses to set up satellite post offices in their stores.
 

Carl Walton, public affairs and communications spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service, said that the main concern is finding a way to provide better service.

"We have done this already in many ways, including the Internet. But there is just so much you can do alone." Walton said, "Sometimes you have to go to the post office to do things."

Satellite offices benefit both businesses and the post office. The businesses receive part of the revenue generated by the satellite office, and the postal service has provided customers with alternatives to using the main office.

Donald Courtemanche, director of the Downtown District, believes this could be great for the downtown area.

"If you work at City Hall, you may not want to walk that far to the post office, but if there was one in the area it would be more convenient." Courtemanche said, "It would increase foot traffic for the stores that are already here, and of course create more business for your own business. I think it’s a good idea."

The U.S. Postal Service would provide all signage, counters and display walls, and other materials needed to conduct postal business, as well as training of store employees. The area a business uses can be as small as 12 feet by 15 feet. It must be handicapped accessible, offer handicapped parking spaces and have a wheelchair ramp nearby. The stores are prohibited from offering private mailboxes or competitive products.

Shoprite supermarket in Bristol recently added a satellite post office. Store manager Jon Murphy believes that it will be very busy through the holidays.

"We just opened it today, and we have had steady flow of traffic." Murphy said Tuesday, "It’s great because it draws customers here, it’s convenient and you don’t have to go into town."

According to post office spokesman Carl Walton, the biggest challenge for the U.S. Postal Service is finding businesses willing to take on the additional responsibility.

For more information on how to start a satellite post office, call Sue Billings at (203) 782-7089.

Franchone Fraser-Ben Reuben Bey can be reached at ffraser@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, Ext. 221.