Postal workers set for a bumper year of thank-you gifts, as hunt for some of the nation’s most-loved posties is launched

New research commissioned by curated online marketplace notonthehighstreet has found that the pandemic has brought posties closer to their communities than ever before, as a quarter of the public (24%) prepares to spend on postie thank-you gifts this year. This comes as the UK looks set to spend £487m on thank you gifts for the UK’s key workers* overall including nurses and teachers as their essential work during the pandemic continues.

The research has uncovered just how much the nation has valued their daily postie visit since March’s lockdown with 1.9m Brits now going so far as to call their postie a friend. One in 10 (11%) say that receiving post is the most exciting part of their day, 12% rely on them as a familiar face to see every day, and over 1.5m Brits say they rely on their postie to stop them from being lonely. It’s no surprise then that almost 15% of the nation now know their postie by name, the highest percentage of all the community workers according to the poll.

Postal workers have worked tirelessly to keep people connected and small businesses thriving during the pandemic - with half of the UK (49%) saying they’ve received more letters and parcels than usual since lockdown hit the UK in March, and more than half of adults (59%) agreeing they rely on postal workers more as a result. Thanks to their ongoing deliveries under extraordinary circumstances, a quarter (24%) of the nation will be giving a thank you gift to their postal worker this year. For many, this will be for the first time ever (41%). 

In a bid to celebrate the work of Britain’s postal workers, notonthehighstreet is giving people the opportunity to show appreciation for their postie and encouraging Brits to nominate their local postal worker to receive the ultimate Christmas thank you package in #TheMagicOfSmallThings campaign: celebrating the small, thoughtful things that make all the difference. The move follows Royal Mail’s Thumbs Up For Your Postie campaign earlier this year, where customers were encouraged to show their appreciation for their postman or postwoman in a socially distanced way with a friendly “thumbs up.

Those who make a nomination will also have the chance to bag one of 5,000 ‘postie packs’ for free - with notonthehighstreet encouraging Brits to ‘reverse post’ the ‘postie pack’ to their postal worker through their letterbox. Each pack contains a chocolate bar made by a small business and an ‘ode to the postie’ and will be available from 10th November until stocks run out. Visit www.notonthehighstreet.com/thank-your-postie to nominate posties, and redeem a postie gift.

Ella d’Amato, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at notonthehighstreet, said: “We’ve been supporting small businesses since 2006, but this year has been like no other in our history as customers have chosen to shop small for more than just gifts.  Whether it’s showing a loved one you’re thinking of them or cherishing a cosy moment at home, the UK’s postal workers have been integral in keeping the nation connected and  enabling our small businesses to continue trading this year. 

It’s this sentiment that will carry the spirit of Christmas in 2020 and why we’ve chosen to celebrate #TheMagicOfSmallThings: the small, thoughtful things that make all the difference. We hope that our free gifts for our much loved posties and unique gifts from the UK’s best small businesses will provide some much needed joy to people this festive season - no matter who they are.”

Musician Ronan Keating, who is working with notonthehighstreet to celebrate UK posties, said: “It’s amazing to see how many people are planning to give a little thanks this Christmas to posties who have been vital in keeping us smiling this year. As we head into the festive season under lockdown, I couldn’t be happier to be helping notonthehighstreet celebrate posties who are going to be busier than ever helping to keep the nation feeling connected.”

For more information on #TheMagicofSmallThings campaign, and to nominate your postie or order your free Postie Pack gift, head to www.notonthehighstreet.com/thank-your-postie