{{Short description|American chain of shipping and packaging stores}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = The UPS Store | logo = The UPS Store Logo (New).jpg | image = | image_caption = | type = Subsidiary | location_city = San Diego, California, U.S. | foundation = {{start date and age|1980|8|1}} (as Mail Boxes Etc.)<br>2003 (as The UPS Store) | area_served = United States and Canada | industry = Retail and Franchising | services = Packaging and labeling, Shipping, Postal, Printing, and Business Services | homepage = {{URL|theupsstore.com}} | parent = United Parcel Service }}
'''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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pack and Ship, Print, Mailboxes and more - The UPS Store|url=https://www.theupsstore.com/|access-date=May 24, 2021|website=www.theupsstore.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |date= March 30, 2020 |title= US Industry (Specialized) Report OD5561 Packing & Shipping Service Franchises |url= https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/packing-shipping-service-franchises-industry/ |publisher= IBISWorld |page= 30 |access-date= March 26, 2021 |quote= The UPS Store is the world's largest franchisor of retail shipping, postal, printing and business service centers. Headquartered in San Diego, it operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of United Parcel Service Inc.}}</ref>
== History == In March 2001, UPS acquired Mail Boxes Etc.,<ref>{{cite news |last= Herper |first= Matthew |date= March 5, 2001 |url= https://www.forbes.com/2001/03/05/0305ups.html?sh=173298fb5983 |title= UPS Picks Up Mail Boxes Etc. |work= Forbes |accessdate= March 26, 2021 |quote= The express carrier said today it is paying $191 million in an all-cash transaction for Mail Boxes Etc., a chain of 4,300 packing and shipping centers.}}</ref> which was founded in 1980 as an alternative to the post office.<ref>{{cite news |last= Apodaca |first= Patrice |date= August 28, 1990 |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-28-fi-92-story.html |title= 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. |publisher= |accessdate= March 26, 2021 |quote= Mail Boxes Coast to Coast Inc. in Encino is the largest franchiser for Mail Boxes Etc., the San Diego-based company that has gained attention with its nationwide network of post office alternative stores and steady earnings gains. Since it was founded in 1980, Mail Boxes Etc. has grown to $25.7 million a year in revenues and about $1.5 million in net income. Mail Boxes Etc. stores provide the usual postal services, such as letter mailing and private box rentals, plus other office and shipping services.}}</ref> In February 2003, UPS rebranded more than 3,000 Mail Boxes Etc. locations as The UPS Store.<ref>{{cite news |date= February 10, 2003 |url= https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2003/02/10/daily3.html |title= UPS to convert Mail Boxes Etc. into UPS Stores |publisher= Atlanta Business Journal |accessdate= March 26, 2021 |quote= United Parcel Service Inc. plans to convert 3,300 Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) stores in the 48 contiguous United States into The UPS Stores.}}</ref> Each location is independently owned.<ref>{{cite news |last= Tash |first=Joe |date=July 23, 2019 |url= https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/ups-store-independent-franchising-model-retail-shipping-copies-mail-san-diego/78235/ |title= Independent Owners, Big Brand Drive UPS Store |publisher= NBC San Diego |accessdate= March 26, 2021 |quote= Under The UPS Store’s business model, all of its locations are franchises, meaning they are owned by independent entrepreneurs, rather than by the company.}}</ref>
== Services == The UPS Store offers shipping, packaging, printing, shredding, notary services and postal services for individual consumers and small businesses.<ref>{{cite report |date= March 30, 2020 |title= US Industry (Specialized) Report OD5561 Packing & Shipping Service Franchises |url= https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/packing-shipping-service-franchises-industry/ |publisher= IBISWorld |page= 30 |access-date= March 26, 2021 |quote= Franchisees of The UPS Store offer packing and shipping services alongside a variety of business solutions, including copy and print services, mailbox services, computer time rentals and more…}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bednarski |first=PJ |date= September 18, 2018 |url= https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/325297/beyond-shipping-spots-capture-the-excitement-or.html |title= 'Beyond ShippING' Spots Capture The Excitement (Or Not) Of UPS Store |publisher= MediaPost |accessdate= March 26, 2021|quote= UPS is calling it the “Beyond ShippING” campaign, with a spot in which actors rattle off all those other “ing” things -- printing, packing, shredding, notarizing, supplying, sizing, mailboxing, scanning and more -- that the 4,700 UPS Stores nationwide provide.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Olson |first= Elizabeth |date= September 19, 2012 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/business/media/ups-bills-stores-as-small-business-solution.html |title= U.P.S. Bills Stores as Small-Business Solution |work= The New York Times |accessdate= March 26, 2021 |quote= a third of the customers of the 4,300 UPS Stores are small businesses — with 10 or fewer people or individuals — that accounted for 75 percent of overall revenue. }}</ref> Franchise locations are typically found on or near military bases, hotels, colleges, shopping centers and convention centers.<ref>{{cite report |date= March 30, 2020 |title= US Industry (Specialized) Report OD5561 Packing & Shipping Service Franchises |url= https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/packing-shipping-service-franchises-industry/ |publisher= IBISWorld |page= 30 |access-date= March 26, 2021 |quote= They are traditionally located in and around densely populated commercial areas, such as shopping centers, college campuses, military bases, convention centers, hotels and urban renewal areas.}}</ref> {{As of|alt=As of 2021|2021|03|post=,}} there were 5,268 UPS Store locations across the United States and Canada.<ref>{{cite web|title=The UPS Store|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/upsstorethe/282553|access-date=March 26, 2021|publisher=Entrepreneur|quote=# of Units: 5,268 (as of 2020); Franchises are located throughout the United States and in Canada.}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Domestic Shipping Services in the U.S. {{!}} The UPS Store|url=https://www.theupsstore.com/pack-ship/domestic-shipping|access-date=May 24, 2021|website=www.theupsstore.com}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/small-business/news/11079073/the-ups-store-to-offer-3d-printing-services-for-smbs|access-date=May 24, 2021|website=www.cpapracticeadvisor.com|date=August 6, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Custom Print Services {{!}} The UPS Store|url=https://www.theupsstore.com/print|access-date=May 24, 2021|website=www.theupsstore.com|language=en}}</ref>
== Awards == In 2019 and 2020, The UPS Store was ranked fifth overall among the top franchise brands in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list.<ref>{{cite news |last= Herold |first= Tracy |date= April 14, 2020 |url= https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/348551 |title= The Best Franchise Brands of 2020 |publisher=Entrepreneur |accessdate= March 26, 2021|quote= We’ve crunched the numbers from our 2020 Franchise 500 list, identifying the 113 companies that performed best in their categories. Among them, you’ll naturally find a lot of familiar names — companies that have dominated their categories for decades. Postal & Business Centers - The UPS Store. 2019 Franchise 500 Rank: 5}}</ref> The company ranked third on the Franchise 500 list in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500/2021 |title= 2021 Franchise 500 Ranking |publisher=Entrepreneur |access-date= March 26, 2021 |quote= #3 The UPS Store. Postal & Business Centers}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category|The UPS Store}} *{{Official website}}
{{UPS}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:UPS Store}} Category:Companies based in San Diego Category:American companies established in 1980 Category:Retail companies established in 1980 Category:American companies established in 2003 Category:Retail companies established in 2003 Category:Franchises Store Category:Printing companies of the United States