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The UPS Store® History

The UPS Store concept was introduced in 1980 as Mail Boxes Etc. - a convenient alternative to the post office. Throughout its evolution, it has continued to define and lead the business services category it created. In 2001, UPS acquired Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. In 2003, the two companies introduced The UPS Store® brand. On April 7, 2003, approximately 3,000 Mail Boxes Etc.® locations in the United States (at the time, nearly 90% of the domestic U.S. network) re-branded as The UPS Store and began offering lower (around 20% on average) UPS-direct shipping rates. In 2012, Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. became The UPS Store, Inc. The centers remain locally owned and operated, and continue to offer a variety of packing, shipping, freight, postal, printing and business services, with convenient locations and world-class service.

Milestones

2013

  • Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur® magazine's annual "Franchise 500," in the postal and business services category for the 23rd consecutive year.

 

2012

  • Name changed to The UPS Store, Inc.
  • Tim Davis becomes president.
  • Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur® magazine’s annual “Franchise 500®” in the postal and business services category for the 22nd consecutive year.

 

2011

  • Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur® magazine’s annual “Franchise 500®” in the postal and business services category for the 21st consecutive year.

 

2010

  • Ranks #1 in City Business Journals “American Brand Excellence Awards”, in the retail category, for the second consecutive year, and 11th overall, up from 15th in 2009.

  • Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500,” in the postal and business services category for the 20th consecutive year.

 

2009

  • Italy's Fineffe Group acquires the Mail Boxes Etc. international network outside the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.
  • City Business Journals honors The UPS Store network as the recipient of the sixth annual American Brand Excellence Awards in the retail category.
  • Sponsorship: Toys for Tots Literacy Program wins PR News' Platinum PR Award for Best Community Relations Campaign.

 

2008

  • Opens 6,000th worldwide location.
  • Expands existing sponsorship with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and establishes the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.

 

2007

  • Named the Most Competitive Retailer for 2007 by National Retail Federation Foundation® and Kanbay Research Institute (KRI).

 

2006

  • Launches the "Design Dale’s Ride" coloring contest, giving children ages 5 -12 a chance to design Dale Jarrett’s The UPS Store/Toys for Tots racecar.
  • Latin America operations expands with the opening of the first center in Brazil.

 

2005

  • Celebrates company’s 25th anniversary.
  • More than 265 Mail Boxes Etc. locations in Canada re-brand as The UPS Store.
  • Signs on as national sponsor for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation.

 

2004

  • Opens 5,000th worldwide location
  • Announces new master license agreement in Mexico, with plans to expand to 300 centers in the Mexican market over the next 10 years.

 

2003

  • More than 3,000 Mail Boxes Etc. locations in the United States re-brand as The UPS Store.

 

2002

  • Stuart Mathis becomes president.
  • 1,000th international location opens in Berlin, Germany.

 

2001

  • Acquired by UPS® (www.ups.com).
  • Introduces new tagline, "There’s help in here. Real help."™

 

2000

  • Opens 4,000th location worldwide.
  • Opens centers in Sweden and the Republic of Korea.
  • Announces ValueCard program for corporate clients, to provide business support services and simplified billing processes for "road warriors."

 

1999

  • Introduces a new center design and décor package to its global franchise system with an updated floor plan, color scheme and high-impact graphics.
  • Introduces technology platform to U.S. franchisees that links network technology with point-of-sale (POS) computer systems, enhancing business capabilities and improving efficiency.
  • Opens locations in Tokyo and Vienna.
  • Features winner of the "See Your Small Business on the Super Bowl Search II" during Super Bowl XXXIII commercial.

 

1998

  • Establishes We Deliver Dreams Foundation to fulfill dreams of individual children who are victims of abuse, neglect, poverty, violence or illness.
  • Signs master license agreement for Japan.
  • Features winner of the "See Your Small Business on the Super Bowl Search" during Super Bowl XXXII commercial, testifying to MBE’s commitment to the small-office/home-office (SOHO) market.
  • Opens 3,000th location in the United States.

 

1997

  • Acquired by US Office Products (USOP).
  • 500th international location opens in Philippines.
  • Debuts tagline, "Making Business Easier. WorldwideSM" during Super Bowl XXXI commercial.
  • CEO A.W. DeSio retires, named Chairman Emeritus.

 

1996

  • Advertises on the Super Bowl for the first time.
  • Grows to 3,000 franchise locations worldwide.
  • James H. Amos, Jr. joins the company as president.

 

1995

  • Launches first national ad campaign, "It's not what we do, it's how we do it"®.

 

1994

  • 100th international location opens in Canada.
  • Establishes national media fund.

 

1993

  • Grows to 2,000 franchise locations worldwide.
  • Introduces No-limit Shipping Program (now called TotalShipping™).

 

1990

  • Grows to 1,000 franchise locations worldwide.

 

1988

  • First international location opens in Canada.
  • Signs Canada as first master license agreement.

 

1986

  • Name changed to Mail Boxes Etc., Inc.
  • Becomes a publicly traded company.

 

1982

  • Sells first area franchise.

 

1981

  • A. W. DeSio becomes President.

 

1980

  • U.S. Mail Boxes founded by Gerald Aul, Pat Senn and Robert Diaz.
  • Name changed to Mail Boxes Etc. USA.
  • Herb Goffstein becomes president.
  • Sells first franchise in Carlsbad (San Diego County), California.