The UPS Store

The UPS Store (formerly the United States arm of Mail Boxes Etc.) is a franchised subsidiary of United Parcel Service which provides, according to its website, shipping, shredding, printing, fax, passport photos, personal and business mailboxes, and notary services.[1][2]

History

In March 2001, UPS acquired Mail Boxes Etc.,[3] which was founded in 1980 as an alternative to the post office.[4] In February 2003, UPS rebranded more than 3,000 Mail Boxes Etc. locations as The UPS Store.[5] Each location is independently owned.[6]

Services

The UPS Store offers shipping, packaging, printing, shredding, notary services and postal services for individual consumers and small businesses.[7][8][9] Franchise locations are typically found on or near military bases, hotels, colleges, shopping centers and convention centers.[10] As of 2021 there were 5,268 UPS Store locations across the United States and Canada.[11]

Each UPS Store also serves as an access point for UPS shipping where customers can drop off packages with prepaid labels, as well as pack and ship new shipments.[12]

The UPS Store's other major industry is printing. The store offers brochures, door hangers, car magnets, flyers, yard signs, menus for restaurants, manuals, and 3D printing.[13][14]

Awards

In 2019 and 2020, The UPS Store was ranked fifth overall among the top franchise brands in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list.[15] The company ranked third on the Franchise 500 list in 2021.[16]

References

  1. Pack and Ship, Print, Mailboxes and more - The UPS Store www.theupsstore.com, retrieved May 24, 2021^
  2. US Industry (Specialized) Report OD5561 Packing & Shipping Service Franchises IBISWorld, March 30, 2020, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  3. Matthew Herper. UPS Picks Up Mail Boxes Etc. Forbes, March 5, 2001, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  4. Patrice Apodaca. Post Office Alternative Changes Its Route : Franchising: Mail Boxes Coast to Coast has had a hard time making a profit, but selling its Long Island network has helped. August 28, 1990, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  5. UPS to convert Mail Boxes Etc. into UPS Stores Atlanta Business Journal, February 10, 2003, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  6. Joe Tash. Independent Owners, Big Brand Drive UPS Store NBC San Diego, July 23, 2019, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  7. US Industry (Specialized) Report OD5561 Packing & Shipping Service Franchises IBISWorld, March 30, 2020, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  8. PJ Bednarski. 'Beyond ShippING' Spots Capture The Excitement (Or Not) Of UPS Store MediaPost, September 18, 2018, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  9. Elizabeth Olson. U.P.S. Bills Stores as Small-Business Solution The New York Times, September 19, 2012, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  10. US Industry (Specialized) Report OD5561 Packing & Shipping Service Franchises IBISWorld, March 30, 2020, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  11. The UPS Store Entrepreneur, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  12. Domestic Shipping Services in the U.S. www.theupsstore.com, retrieved May 24, 2021^
  13. StackPath www.cpapracticeadvisor.com, August 6, 2013, retrieved May 24, 2021^
  14. Custom Print Services www.theupsstore.com, retrieved May 24, 2021^
  15. Tracy Herold. The Best Franchise Brands of 2020 Entrepreneur, April 14, 2020, retrieved March 26, 2021^
  16. 2021 Franchise 500 Ranking Entrepreneur, retrieved March 26, 2021^