ACTION ENVELOPE HOSTS AFGHANI WOMAN BUSINESS OWNER AS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE

November 25th, 2008 - LINDENHURST, NY - Sharon Newman, president of Action Envelope, spent two days as an international host to Parwana, Afghanistan's only female commercial printer. The visit included a thorough review of printing processes, website business, machinery and business practices. It was coordinated by Business Council for Peace, a non-profit international volunteer network of business professionals that helps women entrepreneurs in post-conflict countries expand their businesses, create employment, and build a peaceful future for their communities.

Sharon spent two days with Parwana, showing her how the printing business works in the United States, including the use of cutting edge technology, equipment sourcing and maintenance, raw materials management, sales and marketing, workplace safety, employee training and more. During the two days, the women shared their experiences and knowledge about commercial printing and running successful companies. Action Envelope is one of 40 companies in America hosting one or more Afghan women entrepreneurs.

"I am truly honored to have been selected to have Parwana come to Long Island and share our experience and knowledge with her," said Sharon Newman. "Parwana is the only woman printer in Afghanistan. As a woman in what is still a male-dominated business in America, I can only imagine what her challenges must be."

The visit is particularly apt for Sharon Newman, who entered the printing business unexpectedly. Newman was a stay at home mom when her husband Ken founded Action Envelope in 1971 as a distributor of plain and printed envelopes. When he died suddenly in 1993, Newman was left with three young children and no business experience. She jumped in, learned the business and kept the company growing. In 2000, her son Seth Newman joined the company and the firm made its first foray onto the internet. Today ActionEnvelope.com is a major internet business and has serviced over 250,000 customers across America and around the world.

Parwana is one of twelve Afghan entrepreneurs travelling throughout America for three weeks as part of the Bpeace Apprentice Road Trip. Her business, Afghan Women Entrepreneur Printing Services (AWEPS) employs 49 women; most are the sole support of their families. Parwana is committed to promoting women's ability to earn wages for their families and be self-sufficient. It should be noted that Parwana and her colleagues are not running micro-enterprises. Rather, they are fledgling small businesses run by Afghanistan's top businesswomen - the lifeblood of their communities and an essential stabilizing factor to generating jobs that provide income and a better life.

The sponsoring organization is Bpeace: the non-profit international volunteer network of business professionals that helps women entrepreneurs in post-conflict countries expand their businesses, create employment, and build a peaceful future for their communities. They believe: More jobs mean less violence.

ActionEnvelope.com offers plain and printed envelopes in all sizes, styles and colors. A well-stocked inventory of millions of envelopes allows ActionEnvelope.com to fulfill most orders the same or next business day.

ActionEnvelope.com offers one to four color printing on business and specialty envelopes not normally found in stock elsewhere. They offer standard production or rush production that guarantees shipping in only two business days. A trade discount program features discounts up to 20% off orders, and ActionEnvelope.com also has a loyalty discount program for repeat customers. For more information, visit www.actionenvelope.com.