SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Postal Service today recognized Good Sports, headquartered in Birmingham, AL, with its Mail Innovation Award for the company’s support of the success of mail and its commitment to a successful business relationship with the Postal Service.
Good Sports was one of 21 companies recognized this year by the Postal Service at the National Postal Forum (NPF) in San Francisco, which, for more than 40 years, has been recognized as the premier educational trade show for the mailing industry.
“We are pleased to recognize and honor Good Sports for its innovation, creativity and leadership,” said Jo Ann Feindt, Area Vice President, Southern Area Operations, who nominated Good Sports for the award. “By working closely with the Postal Service to develop strategic business solutions, Good Sports has produced winning results, which supports the mailing industry.”
The Mail Innovation Award, presented annually at NPF, recognizes Postal Service customers who have implemented innovative mailing solutions. Winning companies embrace new technologies and implement best practices to improve efficiency and productivity in mail operations. They provide customers with a mail product that delivers increased value, which benefits customers and the mailing industry.
The partnership between Good Sports and the Postal Service has propelled Good Sports to the cutting edge of using Postal Service programs and technology to fine-tune its operations to offer a best-in-class product at the best cost for its customers.
Good Sports is a front-runner in offering a new product through direct mail and is a giant in the industry. It took a combination of postal knowledge and innovative thinking to achieve this level of success in the industry. In a campaign to drive customers to the new mobile web site, generate a mobile coupon for the customer, and drive traffic to stores before the Black Friday rush, Hibbett Sports, through their advertising agency, Alexander Advertising, incorporated Quick Response Codes, a short number used to initiate text message communication, and a Mobile URL into their mail piece. Made with high-gloss, heavy-quality postcard paper with artwork in glow in the dark colors, the piece attracted attention, especially from the younger target demographic. The two offers on the piece made it easy for customers who were willing to receive text messages to get a coupon and also for customers receiving the mailpiece to bring it into their local store for a discount. Hibbett Sports successfully incorporated direct mail with mobile technology, and in doing so, they took full advantage of the multiple marketing platforms.
Good Sports offers a broad assortment of quality branded athletic footwear, apparel and equipment with a high level of customer service. Hibbett Sports, Inc. operates over 876 stores in 29 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.