Like many of you, I have been reading VH1’s website and following the biographies of the Mob Wives with great interest. I was under the impression that Renee already had her own greeting card business up and running. It turns out she doesn’t, at least not yet. This is what the VH1 bio has to say: “When Renee was young her best friend was arrested and sentenced to many years behind bars. This was her first real introduction to prison, but unfortunately not her last. Thanks to a circle of friends living the street life, Renee has visited over 83 prisons and written hundreds of letters to comfort the many friends she had on "the inside." This correspondence gave her the idea to turn her love of the "the life" into a greeting card company called JAIL MAIL.”
This is what Renee tweeted today: “Jail mail inc..We'r not incorporated we're INCARCERATED!!! Stay tunes 4 the unveiling of JAILMAILINC” (I refuse to correct spelling errors, sorry.)
It appears to me as though Renee is going to use the show and publicity to launch her own business. It may be opportunistic, but it’s a very smart way to make the most of her new found fame. I don’t know if I am crazy about the idea of greeting cards for criminals, but nowadays who knows what will sell. Your guess is as good as mine. The craziest ideas take off and make millions. Why not “Jail Mail”? Maybe she can expand on it down the road with Drita’s package idea? How about “The Inmate Crate?” A lovely box of assorted salamis, twinkies, provolone cheese, a bottle of wine and a saw. Just a thought.
Picture Credit: Renee's Twitter Account @reneegraziano
38 comments:
This idea is a little outdated. I don't know NY prisons but I am very familiar with PA prisons;state and county. The prisoners in PA are now able to get emails. You sign up thru a 3rd party company called JPAY. If I type a letter today by 3 or 4pm, they recieve the next day. Only when I send Photo's do I mail anything physical. Also, now in PA you are nolong allowed to send money orders to put money on thier books. Again you have to use Jpay and use your debit or credit card online. They get the money in a day or two, which is so much better. They use to wait up to 2 weeks in some prisons for mail or money (seriously). I have 2 uncles and 1 cousin, and A FEW friends I keep in contact with using the internet.
There is a website called prison talk that has a real insider look at the whole prison society and the people who support them.
Hell my nephew keeps a cell phone on him. He's been in for 10 years now. Oh yes, I need to find the form to order his television.
Well this is interesting information. Prisons have come a long way over the years. Renee should be aware of this also, so why do you think she is going ahead with this idea? Hmmmmmm
You can get anything you want in the big house if you know the right people. But what's the point really. Why take the chance and get more time added. And in PA you can't even bring a peice of gum in with you at visits and no food shipments. This is where Renee rubs me wrong...She want's to be the tough talking mob princess with all the lingo, and attitude, but she's trying to hard. Like she's overacting the part. Does that make sense or am I the only one thinking this way?
You make sense Jnettemarie. Renee is overacting and so is Drita. It loses "realism" if they are going to go all gangster over every little thing. I suspect there will be more of that coming up. I wonder if they stop the shoot and tell them to "bring it up a notch?"
im all for renee's idea and i would sign up for it in a heart beat. here in the florida system they can not get any packages except mail and pictures. i wish i could send packages to the 2 i have in prison here my father and the father of my child. it would make it so much easier on me. and i am one of those people that she talks about that dont have time and dont want to like nikole i would rather send a card. good luck renee...
This is a good idea Janette. In PA they can only get packages from the state 2x a yr. Snack type stuff. We can send them emails thru JPay which is convenient. They usually get the emails in a day which is nice. It can take up to 2 weeks for them to get regular mail. We also have to use JPay to send money now too. The prisons nolong accept money orders. Renee's idea is good but how much will it cost? And since it's going electronically what will it take for the prisons to approve something like this? I also think she's got to many bells and whistles on the website she wants to develope. Most people just want to log on, do what they need, and log off. No music, No little man, you know? But I would sign up for a once a month/holiday card to be sent if it wasnt to expensive? Prison itself is expensive enough between the phone calls and money we send to keep them well stocked in comissary, right?
I think its a good idea, Ive dealt with both Oregon and Washington jails. At first I had time to deal with the whole jail "routine", but after awhile it gets old, and you get busy. Sometimes I dont even have time to sit and write an email (which just a few select Oregon pens. allow. currently not one where I have any loved ones, and only inmates with special privledges get to use that option..) Im am always sending birthday cards late, christmas cards late. I will write letters but then not get to the post office to mail them for days. I know so many people with the same problem...
Renee, my name is Jordan and I live in Florida and currently unemployed. Please tell me where to go to drop an application for your site =)
I personally think this is a great idea i have many friends family member and just people i know that are locked up and this will make thing ten times easier. i have delt with the oregon and california jails and prisons as i write to alot of people in many different places but so far i have found california to be the most open to things i know people that to this day have cell phones and call me on the regular yeah there not alloud but doesnt mean they cant get them and the only punishment when they find them is a slap on the wrist which im fine with.
maybe Renee is going thru menopause, first crying, then raging, crying, raging, geez, get a grip. I think this idea is good, except somebody already came up with it, just google it. Jailmail inc is already been done, however I think if this person does something then get together with these other 'women' it'll be to her benefito
Hi Renee. Love your show. You have a really great idea with the Jail Mail, Inc. I enjoy cardmaking as a hobby and I'd really like to help you out. I'd also like to brighten the days of any prisoners who'd like receiving some correspondence. Please let me know if I can help.
I am wondering if individuals read and comprehend nowadays.
Moving along Anonymous we are not Renee Graziano nor affiliated with her.
And if we were how in the hell would she contact you with help for Jail Inc. ?
I think it is a good idea, i have never had to deal with jails until i met my husband.But i like it cause im to busy most of the time to mail anything and my husband would love to get cards.So im all for it.
Just curious when it will come out that Carla was the mistress of mob rat Michael DiLeonardo aka Mikey Scars?? Carla was his mistress for eight years. She always liked married mob guys.
Renee may be having trouble with the name, as someone is already using it. There is a website called "Jail Mail" -- for people who want to become pen-pals with prisoners. I would think the client base for Renee's idea would be much smaller -- you'd have to already have a loved one "inside" and on top of that feel the need for the service, and have the resources to pay for it in addition.
Renee might be able to draw clients on a corporate Level as well. For example...There are a lot of human rights / ACLU organziations that could take advantage of sending bulk mailings to prisoners or facilities to communicate to prisoners. Instead of sending this information directly which might be stopped by bureaucratic tyrants and DOC policies. They send the stuff thru her service who's mailings have already been preapproved. Does that make sense?
Perfect sense Jeanette! Maybe you can get you a part time gig as a Jail Mail Inc. Representive.
An anonymous with the Scars request, it's up. Miss Gravano had tipped us thru on of her tweets on May 22. However, I have a life to live. So posts and stories get up when they get up. Thanks the tip!
I have been up reading these blogs for like an hour now. I am totally hooked on the show. I normally don't like reality shows, but this one got me. I just wanted to say how hard I was laughing at the people writing to Renee and asking for applications. I didn't expect that. That was too funny. I needed a good laugh. Thanks.
Jail Mail was trademarked previously however the owners let the mark die/expire. Or they might have sold it to Renee. Anyway Renee is now the trademark owner of Jail Mail so any website using that name will have to take it down if Renee ask them to.
I'm really glad Renee did bring back Jail mail inc. My husband is currently incarcerated and he's always saying I don't write to him nearly enough. I do write, but not everyday like he'd like, so I think Jail Mail Inc is a wonderful thing for Renee to bring back. It will make things so much more convienent for me, and maybe he'll appreciate it too! :) Thank you so much Renee and good luck! I Love Mob Wives!! Krista G.,
San Antonio,Tx
I REALLY DO LIKE UR IDEA ABOUT JAIL MAIL I WRITE TO PPL TO AND I THINK WHAT U SAYD ABOUT THE JAIL MAIL IS A AWESOME IDEA BUT IM WONDERING WHEN IS THE JAIL MAIL THING WILL BE READY?
Lovely, Jail Mail Inc will be up and running in a couple of months or maybe a little longer. You can be sure we will announce it here the moment we know anything. Renee wants to make sure that her website is running without glitches among other things. If you read the blog or follow us on Twitter, you will know the minute we do. Thanks for your interest.
Every state has different mail allowances. KY, you cannot even send typed email printing. Packages can only be sent 2 X a year. FL, is strange as well. Beither do email, or internet. I think Rene has a terrific idea. It gives the inmate something to look forward to and eases those on the outsides consciences for not having the time to do it as often as they'd like.
I'm just watching this show now and have to say: This Renee woman is really out of her mind. I'm afraid she can't be saved anymore since she already old (well 41 looking 55)but really: this woman gives the word trash a bad name. She lives in a paralel universe and really seems to think people respect the mob or mobsters but none of this is true: some people fear mobsters, some people hate mobsters and most people just think they are trash, just like Renee and those other ho's who think this kind of life is a lifestyle...
ok im alil late on this 1 but 1st of JAILMAILINC is genius!!!! the comments about me being out of my mind really show ur ignorance and in inability 2 think out of the box i look 56 u either in need of glasses or an eye thansplant!!!i look and feel 42 and am great with it......ur insecurity shows something aweful........... i think my idea is an incredibile 1 and am extremely happy 2 put it 2 gether... i dnt think being a gangster mobster or anything of acriminal nature is cool but i do have family as so does half of our country in prision so y wldnt i make it easier 4 ppl 2 keep in touch... and do me a favor bai ball use ur name whn u got somthing 2 say... stop hiding.. i dnt y shld u!!!!!!
Renee, I originally wrote this blog and was a skeptic about your idea. However, after seeing the tremendous response it got from our readers, I have no doubt that this idea is pure genius! This blog was number one for a very long time and is still is one of the most popular. I think when you launch your business and show it on the show, it will go back to being number one!
To Bibi, I just saw this comment, I want to tell you that I met Renee in person and she looks great. The camera does not do her justice at all. Her warm and friendly personality is not captitalized on by the show. It's a show and they are after DRAMA for ratings, not hugs and kisses.
Hey Renee, I have a few family members in the PA DOC. Jail Mail is a great idea, but I have a few questions. 1) Would I beable to upload pictures to be sent to the inmates? No, not the nekkid kind LOL family photos. 2) If I have a membership to Jail Mail can I schedule dates for cards to be sent? For ex. If I have 2 guys with birthdays in march, can I schedule cards for both at an earlier date? (Hope that made sense?) **Sometimes I only make sense to meself**
I have dealt with the DOC in Pa for a long as I can remember. Spending quality time with daddy and uncles etc..over at vending...AAHHHH good times! No, seriously but I do follow prison reform not that I have time to be very proactive.
There are a lot of human rights / ACLU organziations that could take advantage of sending bulk mailings to prisoners or facilities to communicate to prisoners. Instead of sending this information directly which might be stopped by bureaucratic tyrants and DOC policies. They send the stuff thru your service who's mailings have already been preapproved.
This part above is a comment I made earlier in this post under jnettemarie. I changed to Harley when I became a writer on this blog. JUST a FYI.
I know your crazy busy and my post is long, just wanted to share my thoughts and what I would use Jail Mail for if it was up and running. Thanks for stopping by our blog, have a good one Harley
is that right BIBI? you're entitled to you're opinion i respect that. but you seem awful quick to judge and don't seem to have any basis for your post.
My girl Chiara is in the "KNOW". And I trust her judgement of character. You were not only negative you took it to another level by personnally attacking Renee.
I don't care how tough you are, it fucking hurts. So a little piece of advice BiBi, be kind, don't judge,
CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF!
Whats the status of Renee's dad Anthony "TG" Graziano? She mentioned in one of her interviews he was scheduled to go into a halfway house in July, did this happen? According to the BOP, his actual release date is 1/30/2012. Your blog should do a post on him.
We have done a post on Mr. Graziano. We are aware of his "release" date.
I LOVE MOB WIvES. I could see myself as one since I've been told you look Italian and talk like I'm a Yorker , But as a leader boss not a male boss I was the cheater in the family and the guard I called the shots got the stare that will make u backdown and to top it off I live in Las Vegas lol. Just keep it going oh yeah DUMP THE SHOW keeping up with the skanks oh I mean the kardashens whatever
By the way I've had boyfriends in jail since I was 16 great way to keep in touch its pretty funny to walk in the waiting room and see friends love it
I don't think inmates should be allowed any kind of contact. And non of this nonsense of time off for good behavior. Their victims do not get any time off until their last breathes. And no workout equipment. The ones that expect to be released should come out of jail scrawny and very weak when they do. No cable and only bread and water to eat. God bless America!!!! Your tax dollars at work............
Not all victims of crimes are murdered & some victims move on to live very happy lives.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Not all people are in prison for murder. Prison is supposed to rehabilitate inmates so when they do get out they can acclimate themselves to life and be productive citizens of society!
Is jail Inc up and running yet people??
I'm afraid there has been no word of that in a very long time. Seems that the idea has been abandoned, maybe it was too difficult to execute. Renee is working on another business venture the past year called Mb Candy.
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