New firm Goin' Postal not only ships but sells

The daily routine at a new business in Madison is much saner than its name implies.

Goin' Postal offers shipping and packaging services with United Parcel Service, Federal Express, DHL and the United States Post Office. "We can also arrange shipping of freight," Manager Rosie Woodard said.

The parent company for Goin' Postal is Four Woods Inc., which includes Jerry and Rosie Woodard and David and Susan Woodard. "Jerry and David are brothers and Rosie and Susan are the wives," Rosie Woodard said.

"My husband Jerry works at BellSouth in Birmingham and is always looking for new business ideas," Rosie Woodard said, "so he and David got together and brought the wives in to form our corporation.

"David Woodard went into a Goin' Postal last Christmas and talked to the owner," Rosie Woodard said. He was looking for a career after retirement from the U.S. Air Force. "When David found Goin' Postal, it was a match. He was smitten."

The Woodard couples opened their first store in April in Valdosta, Ga., where David and Susan Woodard now live. "We opened our Madison store on Oct. 12," Rosie Woodard said.

She manages the store with help from one employee. "Customer service is paramount," she said. "We try to be the friendly neighborhood shipping store."

The store sells shipping supplies and provides photocopying, laminating, fax and notary public services. "We rent mailboxes and offer Money Gram money orders and money transfers," she said.

Unique gift items also line Goin' Postal's shelves. "We prefer to deal with environmentally friendly products," Woodard said. "We have palm wax candles made with all natural scents and cotton wicks. They don't smoke and just melt away."

Himalayan salt lamps are an out-of-the-ordinary gift item. "They're attractive and different," she said. The store carries Go Natural makeup, greeting cards and an array of cookbooks. "We also offer recycling services for any packing supplies you need to get rid of," Woodard said. "Anyone that needs to ship or needs any supplies for shipping would find what they need at our store," she said. "We greet customers with a smile, personal, courteous service without waiting in long lines."

Goin' Postal is a franchise with headquarters in Zephyrhills, Fla. "The man that started the company said, 'It's a cool name,' " Woodard said.

A retired teacher, Woodard likes dealing with the public. "I've always enjoyed the people aspect of any job.

"If you need to ship a gift, come in and pick it out. We will wrap it, package it, ship it and sell you a greeting card to go with it," Woodard said. "We want to be one of your favorite places to come."

Goin' Postal is located in the new Madison Commons shopping center at 1593 Hughes Road, Suite D. Operating hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call 325-0450, send a fax to325-0451 or send e-mail tomadison@goinpostal.com.