Small P.O., Big Trophy

It scored the highest in "Business Connect" revenue for the entire Greenville District. 

"Every time someone comes in and I help them find the right box to mail something for their business, or I help them find the best postage rate, I log that as a 'business connect,'" Ocracoke postmaster Celeste Brooks explained. She has a lot of moments connecting with Ocracoke businesses that send mail orders to off-island customers. But one particular business – an online shop managed from Ocracoke – makes up the bulk of her revenue. 

"We have one big and one growing online business," she said. "They are mailing a lot of stuff." 

When some of the other postmasters in the area expressed surprise that tiny little Ocracoke took top honors, Celeste says she told them, "We're not just sitting around here on the beach drinking a beer; people on Ocracoke work hard year round." 

The trophy will stay on Ocracoke until next year, when it move on to the P.O. with the current highest revenue. (Which means it will probably stay right here on the island.) It's a great conversation piece and is always available for a photo op.