STAMFORD, Conn., Sep 22, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI) today announced that its signature publication, Priority, a Pitney Bowes Publication(TM), has selected its 2004 "Best Small Business" Award recipients. The five winners from across the country have developed cutting- edge, successful small business practices, in the categories of marketing, sales, management, technology, and innovation.

In its first year, the publishers of the magazine received entries from all parts of the country. Winners were submitted based upon their successful implementation of leading-edge business practices. This year's 2004 winners include:

    Overall Award:  Auction Systems Auctioneers & Appraisers, Phoenix, AZ
     * A full-service firm specializing in property valuation and liquidation
       utilizing the auction method of marketing, this business took top
       honors winning the Overall Award. It was selected for its high growth
       and skillful use of several innovative small business strategies.

    Marketing:  Jet Set Management Group Inc., La Jolla, CA
     * A modeling agency, booking talent for print campaigns, catalogs, TV
       commercials and feature films, this firm won for their highly effective
       marketing tactics and the effectiveness in leveraging their brand
       reputation.

    Sales:  Global-5, Inc., Longwood, FL
     * This public relations and marketing firm took top honors for their
       strategic alliance with the Small Business Administration Matchmaking
       program. That program matches government agencies and corporate clients
       with small businesses, to provide them with a competitive edge with
       which to solicit and win large business contracts.

    Management:  RRR Feed Co., Goldthwaite, TX
     * A feed company located in central Texas, this company provides employee
       incentives and bonuses to keep staff successfully on target.

    Technology:  Count Me In, LLC, Mt. Prospect IL
     * This mid-west company is a leading developer of award-winning software
       solutions that enable companies to efficiently and cost-effectively
       manage people, processes and operations.  They are pioneering
       technological solutions for small businesses and demonstrating great
       success in marketing their software solutions to businesses.

    Innovation: The Vickie Milazzo Institute, Houston, TX
     * This consulting agency was honored for their unique and innovative
       business practice of training registered nurses to become Certified
       Legal Nurse Consultants, essentially inventing a new career for nurses.

"We are proud that Pitney Bowes continues to be a leader in creating solutions and innovations for small businesses. We see the magazine as another valuable resource for these business owners, and we see the awards programs as a good way to highlight some of the successful practices that our readers can learn from and employ in their own businesses," said Neil Metviner, publisher of Priority, a Pitney Bowes Publication(TM) for Pitney Bowes and president, Pitney Bowes Direct. "This program clearly demonstrates our continuing commitment to provide our small business customers with innovative tools and successful applications."

Published four times each year, Priority, a Pitney Bowes Publication(TM) reaches over 720,000 small business owners with articles and news items which owners can use to improve the performance of their businesses. The magazine launched its annual awards program in an effort to highlight and share some of the most innovative and effective small business practices being employed by small businesses throughout the United States.

Pitney Bowes, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, is the world's leading provider of integrated mail and document management systems, services and solutions. The $4.6 billion company helps organizations of all sizes reduce costs, increase effectiveness and enhance customer relationships. The company's 80-plus years of technological leadership has produced many major innovations in the mailing industry and more than 3,500 active patents with applications in a variety of markets, including printing, shipping, encryption, and financial services. With approximately 33,000 employees worldwide, Pitney Bowes serves more than 2 million businesses through direct and dealer operations.

     Contact:
     Christopher Tessier
     Manager, Public Relations
     203-351-7210
     Christopher.Tessier@pb.com
     http://www.pb.com

SOURCE Pitney Bowes Inc.

Christopher Tessier, Manager, Public Relations,
+1-203-351-7210, Christopher.Tessier@pb.com

http://www.pb.com