Business In A Box Wikipedia

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A post office box full of mail
PO boxes of various sizes in a German post office, with their number range and postcodes written above them
Outdoor Post Office Boxes (as common in Switzerland) numbers one to six at 9054 Haslen, Switzerland.

A post office box (commonly abbreviated as P.O. box, or also known as a postal box) is a uniquely addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office station.

In some regions, particularly in Africa, there is no door to door delivery of mail; for example, in Kenya.[1] Consequently, renting a PO box has traditionally been the only way to receive mail in such countries.

Generally, post office boxes are rented from the post office either by individuals or by businesses on a basis ranging from monthly to annual, and the cost of rent varies depending on the box size. Central business district (CBD) PO boxes are usually more expensive than rural PO boxes.

In the United States, the rental rate used to be[when?] uniform across the country. Now, however, a postal facility can be in any of seven fee groups by location; in addition, certain customers qualify for free box rental, usually because the Postal Service does not offer carrier-route delivery to their physical addresses.

In the United Kingdom, Royal Mail PO boxes are often little more than pigeon-holes in the secure section of a sorting office and are accessible only by staff. In such cases, the renter of the PO box will be issued with a card showing the PO box number and delivery office name and must produce this to the desk staff when collecting mail. For an additional fee, the Royal Mail will deliver received items to the renter's geographical address.

Some private companies (e.g., United Parcel Service and commercial mail receiving agencies) offer similar services of renting a mailbox in a public location. The difference is that mail sent there is addressed to a street address (along with the private box number), instead of just addressed to 'PO Box CSX'.[2]Virtual mailboxes are similar to P.O. boxes but usually provide additional services such as scanning or forwarding.

Number of boxes[edit]

The quantity of post office boxes in a station varies widely. Stations of small areas are often equipped with fewer than 100 boxes, while stations in a central business district (CBD) area may offer a combined quantity of over 200,000 post office boxes.[citation needed]

Mounting of boxes[edit]

PO boxes in the lobby of a U.S. post office

Post office boxes are usually mounted in a wall of the post office, either an external wall or a wall in a lobby, so that staff on the inside may deposit mail in a box, while a key holder (some older post office boxes use a combination dial instead of a key) in the lobby or on the outside of the building may open his or her box to retrieve the mail.

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Lobby open hours[edit]

In many post offices in the U.S., the PO box lobby is separate from the window-service lobby, so that the former may be kept open for longer hours or around the clock, while the latter is locked after business hours. In the U.S. since the 1980s, in cities and large urban areas, post offices have tended to close box lobbies overnight because of the tendency of homeless people to use them for sleeping quarters. As a result, some box lobbies are accessible after hours by customers who are provided a code to a door keypad. In addition, some post offices are located in rented facilities such as shopping malls. As a result, PO boxes can only be accessed while that facility is open.

Packages[edit]

If a parcel does not fit in a PO box, the postmaster will leave a note advising that customer to pick up that parcel from the counter. In some post offices, a key will be left in the PO box that corresponds to a larger, locked box (parcel locker) where the patron may pick up his or her package if a signature is not required. Most often, in this case, once the key is used to open the larger, locked box, the key cannot be removed again by the patron, but the door cannot be secured either. Notes will also be left in the PO box in respect of cash on delivery (COD) and registered mail that has to be signed for.

In 2011, the United States Postal Service began a pilot program called 'gopost'[3] which installed larger boxes to handle package pickup from an unstaffed station. A given box can be used by multiple customers thanks to the integration of a computer which accepts a delivery code.[4][5]Deutsche Post started a similar concept called a Packstation in 2001.

The privately operated Amazon Locker, started in 2011, is a similar one-time-use pickup (and return) facility for parcels sent to and from the company.

Package delivery by private carriers[edit]

Until 2012, package delivery to USPS post office boxes was not available from private carriers like UPS, FedEx and others. In early 2012, the Postal Service introduced a P.O. Box Street Address (PBSA) service that allows box-holders to combine the street address of the post office where their box is located with their post office box number into a street address format.[6][7][8] A mailing industry publication called the new service 'a great service for people who already have a PO Box and don't want their packages delivered to their home.'[9]

Locked bags and caller service[edit]

Users receiving very large quantities of mail can use 'locked bags', which are numbered like PO boxes. In the United States, this service is called caller service, and the assigned number is called a caller number, although mail is typically addressed to 'PO Box (caller number).'[10]

Security[edit]

Each country has its own rules and regulations as to how one can retrieve mail at a PO Box. Some countries, such as the United States or the United Kingdom, may require one or more forms of identification. Not all countries offer locked PO Boxes.

In the United States, two forms of identification are required when signing up for a PO Box; one of which must be a photo ID.

By continent[edit]

Many countries offer some type of PO Boxes for different uses. There are an increasing number of private companies that provide similar PO Box services to the official postal service privately under the guise of mail forwarding.

Africa[edit]

PO boxes inside the NamPost main building in Windhoek.

In Namibia, PO boxes are the only form of mail delivery to private individuals. Even small settlements feature a block of PO boxes for rent. In Windhoek, capital and the only large town, blocks of PO boxes are scattered all over the city and not necessarily located at post offices but at shopping malls, in pedestrian zones or on public places.

The South African Post Office has Post Boxes available for rent. These are usually attached to or close to a post office. In urban areas with PO Boxes for rent there also may be home delivery of mail. In rural areas Post Boxes are often compulsory as no street deliveries take place. In the areas for which there is no street delivery, Post Boxes are not charged for. Boxes and Street delivery postal codes may be the same in an area, or may differ. Private Bags are available for recipients of large mail volumes.

Cameroon uses the PO Boxes in Kumba, Yaoundé, Duoala, Bamenda, and other provinces.

Asia[edit]

Post office boxes in General Post Office, Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, PO boxes are available in two different sizes. They are available in many post offices throughout the territory.

In Japan, PO boxes are available at most post office locations. There is no cost to rent a post office box, but the renter must be able to retrieve mail regularly (daily, in principle) from the box. The renter must also rent the box for 6 months or more.[11]

In the Philippines, PO boxes are available for rent in selected post offices. PO boxes, also known as lock boxes, are available in three sizes: small, medium and large.[12]

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In South Korea, PO boxes are available in one size at selected post offices. There is no charge for renting PO box, but renter must fetch mail at least once in 30 days. Application is only available at post office with valid ID, seal for receiving registered mail, and key fee (usually around 10,000 won). Seoul CPO box room is the only PO box in Korea with fully automated mail retrieving system.[13]

Oceania[edit]

Australia[edit]

In Australia, wall-mounted PO boxes come in five sizes: small, medium, large, jumbo and A4. The different sizes boxes can be mixed almost completely arbitrarily on the wall. There is also an option for locked private bag which comes in two different sizes as well: small and large.[14]

PO boxes and private locked bags can be combined.[14]

New Zealand[edit]

In New Zealand, customers have the option to select between two sizes of PO Boxes: small and large. There is also an option to hire a Private Bag similar to 'locked bags' in other countries. The annual fee is paid annually in advance.[15]

Europe[edit]

Austria[edit]

In Austria, PO Boxes come in one size, and four different versions

  1. Only Post addressed to the PO Box will be delivered to it,
  2. All mail addressed to the address of the customer and the PO Box will be delivered to the PO Box,
  3. Same as 1., but for businesses,
  4. Same as 2., but for businesses, – they are generally available at all post offices throughout the country.[16]

Only mail from Austrian Post can be delivered to an Austrian Post PO Box,[17] but there are also private companies offering the same services.

United Kingdom[edit]

In the United Kingdom, anyone applying for a Royal Mail PO box must produce documentation to verify their home or business address.

North America[edit]

In Canada and the U.S., Postal Boxes are available in five different sizes (A, B, C, D & E). They are generally available in all post offices throughout the country.

In the United States, PO Boxes are generally available through the United States Postal Service (USPS). They are usually arranged from the smallest boxes at the top to the largest boxes at the bottom. The two largest sizes may be configured as drawers. To rent a PO Box, two different forms of identification are required. At least one of them must be a valid photo ID. This also applies to others who wish to share the box with the original subscriber's permission, and are of legal age. The post office will not forward mail from a PO Box until the box is closed, and then only to one address for all subscribers. As part of the agreement to rent a PO Box, if the PO Box is used for business, the Post Office will provide, upon request, the geographical (street) address of the business.

Street Addressing[edit]

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Until 2012, only items mailed or shipped via USPS could be received at a USPS PO Box. However, a service called Street Addressing has begun to change this. Once a permission form is completed by the box holder, Street Addressing allows private shippers, such as United Parcel Service (UPS) or FedEx, to ship items to a modification of the actual street address of the Post Office where the PO Box is located. The Post Office accepts the item, and places it in the PO Box or, for larger items, handles them the same way they would a package sent via USPS. (Some have storage lockers.) Only certain Post Offices offer Street Addressing, and even for ones that do, it may not be available to all of its PO Box customers (e.g., boxes without a fee). Other restrictions also exist, including the same limitations on items that cannot otherwise be mailed by ground service though USPS. (Not to be confused with items that cannot be shipped by air.) In many cases, the package may require one additional business day for delivery, and the service was never intended for overnight delivery. Also, federal holidays not observed by the private shipper might cause a delay. If an item is shipped using Street Addressing in which the box holder did not properly sign up for, it will be returned to sender.

Street Addressing will have the same street address of the post office, plus a 'unit number' that matches the P.O. Box number. As an example, in El Centro, California, the post office is located at 1598 Main Street. Therefore, for P.O. Box 9975 (fictitious), the Street Addressing would be: 1598 Main Street Unit 9975, El Centro, CA. Nationally, the first five digits of the zip codemay or may not be the same as the P.O. Box address, and the last four digits (Zip + 4) are virtually always different. Except for a few of the largest post offices in the U.S., the 'Street Addressing' (not the P.O. Box address) nine digit Zip + 4 is the same for all boxes at a given location.

See also[edit]

  • Private Mail Bag – delivered to recipient by contractor.
  • Post box – used for outgoing mail.

References[edit]

  1. ^Universal Postal Union. 'Kenya'(PDF). Universal Postal Union. Retrieved 19 February 2016.[failed verification]
  2. ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^'USPS.com® – gopost®'. Tools.usps.com. 28 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  4. ^'New Postal Kiosk Will Handle Packages'. Potomaclocal.com. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  5. ^'USPS officially announces gopost pilot'. Dmnews.com. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  6. ^'Move to Competitive Locations with Street Addressing'. Ribbs.usps.gov. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  7. ^Street Addressing[dead link]
  8. ^'Street Addressing Now Available For USPS P.O. Box Holders'. Giantprintshop.com. 1 February 2012. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  9. ^'The New Addresses on the Block'. Mailingsystemstechnology.com. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  10. ^'D920 Caller Service'. Pe.usps.gov. 3 July 1994. Archived from the original on 29 August 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  11. ^[1]Archived 28 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^'Retail Services'. PHLPost. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  13. ^'개인정보 유출걱정은 끝! 우체국 사서함 신청방법/이용방법/이용료 안내' (in Korean). Korea Post. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
    '우체국 우편사서함 제도~ 그것이 알고싶다!!' (in Korean). Korea Post. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  14. ^ abPost, Australia. 'Post Office Boxes & bags'. auspost.com.au. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  15. ^'PO Box & Private Bags | New Zealand Post'. www.nzpost.co.nz. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  16. ^'Postfach'. Post.at. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  17. ^Nur Sendungen die von der Österreichischen Post zugestellt werden, gelangen ins Postfach. – English: Only mail from Austrian Post gets in your PO Box

External links[edit]

Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Post_office_box&oldid=992308503'

A business idea is a starting point for any current or future entrepreneurs. It is essential because it is the beginning of a new life – the life of a business and the life of an entrepreneur.

But, an idea is important only in the initial stage of a startup. The results from good business ideas will feel in all phases of the development of a company, but also a large part will depend on other entrepreneurial activities.

An average person always has many ideas. It is the very nature of us as humans to dream about a better life, about a better environment, about a better world. However, ideas, in many cases, will come and go from our brain. If you want to remember and make something about your specific business idea, you can simply use the business ideas book. I have also developed the business ideas book template that you can download for free.

Well, we have an idea, and now the most important question is: what’s next? In this post, I can’t cover all entrepreneurial tasks that will need to be accomplished, but I will try to summarise simply what you as an entrepreneur will need to take when you come with a good idea.

1. Define Your Products and Services

Every business will rely on something that will sell to customers. That something can be a product or service. Until now, you have an idea that covers some product or service for your future or current company. The next thing that you must do is to clearly and accurately define those products or services as a result of the initial idea. You will need to answer the following questions:

  • What product or service you will offer?
  • What are the features of these products or services?
  • What are the benefits that your products or service will bring to your potential customers?
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2. Define the Market for Your Business Idea

You already have an idea, and you already have defined the products or services that you will offer on the market. The next thing that you must do is clearly, precisely, and unambiguously define the market that you will serve with these products or services. Here are some questions that you as an entrepreneur will need to answer:

  • On which market you will offer these products and services (city, region, country, continent…)?
  • Who will be the customer of these products or services?
  • What are the features of those customers who will consume your products or services (sex, age, income, ethnicity, etc.)?
Here is how you can design the new product development process in your company.

3. Define Main Competitors

Next, the important things about the products, services, and market when you want to define your next steps about your initial business idea are competitors.

Follow these steps on how to conquer the fears of starting a new business.

Don’t make a mistake to underestimate your competitors, because the success of your business in large part will depend on your own, but also on their performance. It is necessary to precisely define the main competitors who are already on the market that you defined earlier. Here are some questions that you, as an entrepreneur, will need to answer:

  • What are the five most significant market players in the industry in which you categorize your business idea?
  • What, where, and how that five major market players offer their products and services?
  • What are the main features of their products or services?
  • What are the benefits that they provide to the market with their products or services?
  • What is the resistance of the market related to the entry of new competitors and how difficult it can be accomplished?
You can find more about defining the main competitors in the post titled: How to Differentiate Yourself.

4. Define Resources Required by Your Business Idea

You already have an idea, have defined your products and services, have defined the market where you will offer those products and services, and have defined the main competitors and what they are currently doing. Now, it is time to define the necessary resources you will need if you want your idea to become a reality. You will need to define a minimum the following:

Business In A Box Wikipedia Shqip

  • How many human resources you will need?
  • What kind of intellectual capital will you need for your business?
  • How much financial resources you will need?
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  • What material resources you will need?
  • Where will you find that material resources?
  • What information resources you will need?
  • What will be the sources of that information resources?

And What’s Next for Your Business Idea?

There will always be something next because you are an entrepreneur who starts a business or works on the expansion of your current business. Once you define these elements, start again from scratch and adjust the product or service and market. This is because, by definition and understanding of competitors and all resources that you will need, you will have additional facts, which must be included in your offers to the market.

Business In A Box Wikipedia Free

For example, after defining the competitors, you will find something about what they are doing to sell their products or services to the market. You can simply copy their experience and improve it to gain a competitive advantage. So, you have to redefine the first two elements.

Box

Business In A Box Wikipedia Encyclopedia

Also, with all of this information, you will need to develop your business model and start implementing and testing it outside, on the market with your customers.

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In the end, the most frequently entrepreneurial activity is to take action.