Mister postman - International Presort of America Inc - Company Profile

Black Enterprise, Dec, 1992 by Angela Flagg

Sending massive mail orders to other countries is no picnic for most companies--and Lorenzo C. Blackett Sr. knows this well. That's why the 41-year-old entrepreneur started International Presort of America Inc. (IPA), a Houston-based international mail consolidator that attempts to save cash-conscience CEOs time and money in postage and sorting labor.

Blackett, IPA's CEO, boasts that his company expedites airmail to more than 160 countries in three to seven days and printed materials in 10 to 14 days. He adds that IPA also offers a minimum savings of 25% and eliminates 16 intermediate steps that mail encounters at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

Blackett says IPA saves clients money by commingling large and small volume mailers' foreign mails. This procedure allows Blackett to take advantage of the presort discounts in the USPS's International Priority Airmail and International Surface Air Lift programs.

"We also receive our postage at a reduced rate and then we share the difference with our clients," he adds.

A former sales rep for several international courier companies, Blackett launched IPA in November 1987 with the help of former coworkers. With $13,000 borrowed from a friend, Blackett opened a Houston office and bought postage in bulk from the USPS. This allowed him to offer lower mailing rates to his clientele.

Six months later, IPA opened a Dallas branch. IPA then entered the Washington D.C., market with an office in Landover, Md., in November 1989. A staff of 29 full-time and 13 part-time employees keeps IPA on track. The company posted 1991 sales of $3.6 million and Blackett expects 1992 sales to reach $4.1 million. Within the next three years, Blackett projects that IPA will double its sales.