2005 Store Of The Year, Stayton Oregon

Harteloos believe giving back to the community is just another way to connect with postal patrons

STAYTON OREGON (Thursday, February 23, 2006) - If you ask Sue and Don Harteloo what's made them successful, the quick answer is the people around them. "People respond to giving back to the community," Sue said. The national Postal Connections company awarded Stayton Postal Connections, owned by the Harteloos, Store of the Year. The award is given to stores that lead in sales and are leaders in the community through donations, service and support. Fred Morache, chief operation officer for Postal Connections, said the award is given annually to the Postal Connections franchise that participates most in their community. "Through their good works in the community they extend the message we want, which is a service pledge that helps to increase their business and give something to the community," Morache said. Giving to the community is second nature to the Harteloos. The couple and their store support YMCA soccer and basketball teams, the Special Olympics, local schools, the Stayton Library and other organizations that rely on donations. "That was a lot of commitment there," Morache said. "In addition, they are successful owners. "We're very proud of Don and Sue and how they've taken the idea of service and really helped their community," he added. The couple found out about their award at the National Convention in San Diego, though not before they had a little disappointment. Their store missed the top sales award for stores their size by only $1,000. "I guess this is probably better," Don said of the Store of the Year award. There are six other Postal Connections stores in the Oregon and Southern Washington area, and 103 nationwide. "We have over 100 stores so what (this award) simply means is we're recognizing the best of the network," Morache said. The Harteloos earned that title in a relatively short time. They opened the store on Shaff Road in May of Photo by Megan Otto Don and Sue Harteloo, owners of Postal Connections in Stayton, won store of the year honors for their customer service and community outreach. 2003. As the only shipping agent besides the Post Office, Don said they stay busy from morning until night. "We earned this award despite the fact that we're from a town of less than 8,000 people," Don said. The store that beat them in the sales category was in Lancaster, Pa., a town of more than 56,000 residents. The Harteloo's credit their involvement in the community around them for their surprise success. "A lot of it is we understand the needs of the community," Sue said. "Don was raised here." Don's father and grandfather were both figures in the community as he was growing up. Don's father was one of the first managers off the Stayton Cooperative Telephone Company and his grandfather George Smith was one of the founders of Norpac. "Giving back to the community is what you do," Don said with a shrug. The couple moved back to the community after spending eight years in Portland to be near family. Sue is from Salem originally. The couple has background in retail, Don as a manager and trainer for Montgomery Ward and Sue as a manager of Hallmark. Running an award-winning business is just one of the many pies the Harteloo's have their hands in. They also run a holly farm outside of Stayton, shipping holly around the country. They first found out about Postal Connections when they needed to ship something for the farm from Redmond. The Postal Connections store in Redmond was a nice business, Don said, and they realized it was something they could do. The store offers everything from packaging and shipping, to Internet access, mail services, notary, office supplies and copies. Postal Connections aren't affiliated with a single shipping agent, so they can offer a variety of options and allow customers to choose the best one for them. Don said they have up to six pick-ups throughout the day, to ensure that every customer gets his or her items shipped promptly. "It's all about options," Don said. "We can offer the customers every choice." The couple are at the store most days, with only three other employees filling out the schedule. They also get some help from their daughters when they are not at school. Don and Sue said the help they got raising their children was another reason they're happy to give. "We know that somebody else was supporting them when our kids were in school," Sue said. Their daughters, Michelle and Melissa, went through the school system in Stayton. The store has changed a little since opening, as the Harteloo's responded to needs they saw and heard from customers. "Our goal is to make sure the customer is satisfied when they walk out the door," Sue said. "Customer service is everything," Don added.

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