KeAnna, the owner of The Postman, was inspired to create her shipping and mailing service business through her own personal experiences. After moving frequently and recognizing the need for a secure, reliable address, she saw an opportunity to provide a valuable service to her community. This became the foundation for The Postman, where she is able to use her passion for helping others to meet the mailing needs of local residents in Seattle’s Central District.
Apart from seeing her vision come to life, KeAnna finds the greatest joy in connecting with people–both meeting new faces and catching up with familiar ones. Listening to their stories and being updated on what’s happening in her customers’ lives has helped her business become a place where meaningful bonds are formed within the community. This is her favorite part, but it is closely followed by the rewarding experience of creating jobs. “Whether it be one employee or 10, it’s really fun and feels wholesome to be able to create jobs for people in my community.”
The Postman offers a variety of services, including a free of charge drop off service, allowing folks to drop off pre-labeled packages with these carriers: USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL. They get hundreds of pre-labeled packages everyday, making this The Postman’s most popular service. In addition to shipping services, they provide private mailboxes, serving over 150 businesses, organizations, and individuals. A newer addition more people should know about is their selection of thrifted clothes, shoes, and bags. They also feature some of KeAnna’s personal art that she creates, both one of a kind originals and printed pieces. The Postman isn’t just a place for shipping supplies and printing services. By offering a mix of services and creative items, they create a space where customers can not just run errands but also explore and enjoy something special during their visit.
The drive and motivation behind The Postman comes from the meaningful connections KeAnna has made, the family that she provides for, and the fulfillment of being a business owner. As the chief operations officer, she is in charge of day-to-day operations, making it especially rewarding when she can see her work provide value and contribute to the local economy. She sees her brand as a community staple and a legacy business, finding joy behind all the hard work. “It’s like a sport. It’s not always easy working out, but when you see the results you just wanna keep going.”
KeAnna’s advice to up and coming small business owners is to trust the process and keep pushing forward. She emphasizes that success doesn’t happen overnight and the journey is filled with constant ups and downs. Her key message is to stay persistent – she wants people to remember that when you’re down, the up is soon approaching as long as you keep moving forward and stay passionate about what you do.
