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.

Awards and Rankings (.pdf)

2024

• Ranks #4 in Entrepreneur magazine's annual "Franchise 500" overall, retaining consistent top ten ranking for the eighth year in a row.
• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500” in the “Postal, business, printing and communication services” category for the 34th consecutive year.
• Ranks #1 in Franchise Direct’s list of Top 100 Franchises.
• Wins Tournament of Roses® Parade Bob Hope Humor Award for its float “The Beat of Achievement,” inspired by the Start Small, Grow Big program with Junior Achievement USA.

2023

• Ranks #4 in Entrepreneur magazine's annual "Franchise 500" overall, retaining consistent top ten ranking for the seventh year in a row.
• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine's Postal & Business Centers category for the 33rd consecutive year.
• Ranks #1 Forbes Best Customer Service List.
• Ranks #20 in Entrepreneur magazine's list of Fastest Growing Franchises in the U.S. and Canada.
• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine's list of Top Franchises for Less Than $150,000.
• Ranks #2 in Franchise Direct list of Top 100 Franchises.
• Ranks #13 in Entrepreneur magazine's list of Top Global Franchises.

2022

• Ranks #2 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual "Franchise 500" overall, retaining consistent top ten ranking for the sixth year in a row.
• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s Postal & Business Centers category for the 32nd consecutive year.
• Ranks #17 in Entrepreneur magazine’s list of Top Global Franchises.
• Ranks in Entrepreneur magazine's list of Best of the Best Franchise Brands.
• Ranks among Entrepreneur magazine's list of brands doing the best at championing the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. 
• Ranks #3 on Franchising.com’s Top 50 Brands by Number of Multi-Unit Franchisees.
• Ranks #7 in Entrepreneur magazine's list of Top Franchises for Veterans.

2021

• Ranks #3 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual "Franchise 500" overall, retaining consistent top ten ranking for the fifth year in a row.
• Opens 5,000th United States retail location.
• Wins Franchise Innovation Award in the category of Most Innovative Building Design, Remodel, or Prototype.
• Sarah Casalan Bittle named President of The UPS Store, Inc.

2020

• Receives Tournament of Roses Parade Sweepstakes Award for its float “Stories Change Our World”.
• Participation in the 2020 Tournament of Roses® Parade, the company’s float highlights the importance of childhood literacy and the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.
• Ranks #5 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500” overall, retaining consistent top ten ranking for the fourth year in a row.
• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s “Top 100 Franchises for Less Than $150,000”.
• Launches new and contemporary design of its retail stores.

2019

• Receives Tournament of Roses Parade Sweepstakes Award for its float “Books Keep Us On Our Toes”.
• Participation in the 2019 Tournament of Roses® Parade, the company’s float highlights the importance of childhood literacy and the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.
• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500,” in the “Postal, business, printing and communications services” category for the 29th consecutive year.
• Ranks #5 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500 overall, retaining consistent top ten ranking for the third year in a row.
• Hosts first national Small Biz Challenge competitions in Los Angeles and New York.

2018

• Celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.
• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500,” in the “Postal, business, printing and communications services” category for the 28th consecutive year.
• Ranks #4 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500 overall, retaining consistent top ten ranking for the second year in a row.
• Participation in the 2018 Tournament of Roses® Parade, the company’s float highlights the importance of childhood literacy and the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.
• Receives Tournament of Roses Parade Extraordinaire Award for its float “Books Bring Dreams to Life”.

2017

• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500,” in the “Postal, business, printing and communications services” category for the 27th consecutive year.
• Ranks #4 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500 overall, achieving the company’s highest ranking in history.
• Opens 5,000th retail location in North America.
• Toys for Tots Literacy Program hits $4 million in donations raised since it began.
• Participation in the 2017 Tournament of Roses Parade, the company’s first-ever float which featured the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.
• Receives Tournament of Roses Parade Isabella Coleman Award for its float “Books Bring Us Together,” a float designed to highlight the importance of childhood literacy.

2016

• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500,” in the “Postal, business, printing and communications services” category for the 26th consecutive year.
• Ranks #25 overall in Franchise Gator’s annual ranking of top franchise opportunities.
• Ranks #33 overall in Franchise Direct’s ranking of global franchise opportunities.

2015

• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500,” in the “Postal, business, printing and communications services” category for the 25th consecutive year.
• Ranks #8 in Entrepreneur magazine’s list of “100 Veteran Friendly Franchises.”
• Ranks #1 in the “Postal and Shipping” category in Franchise Times magazine’s annual “Top 200” listing.

2014

• Expands 3D Print Services to nearly 100 retail locations across the United States.
• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500,” in the “Postal and business services” category for the 24th consecutive year.
• Ranks #1 in American Brand Excellence Awards in the retail category.
• Toys for Tots Literacy Program hits $3 million in donations raised since it began.

2013

• Becomes first national retailer to test 3D printing services in its retail locations.
• Introduces Main Street franchise model designed to support opening The UPS Store locations in small towns and rural communities within the U.S.
• Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Franchise 500,” in the “Postal and business services” category for the 23rd consecutive year.

2012

• Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE) officially re-named as The UPS Store, Inc.
• Tim Davis named president of The UPS Store, Inc.
• Toys for Tots Literacy Program hits $2 million in donations raised since it began.
• 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.
• Toys for Tots Literacy Program wins PR News’ Platinum PR Award for Best Community Relations Campaign.

2008

• 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 race car.
• Latin America operations expands with the opening of the first center in Brazil.

2005

• Celebrates company’s 25th anniversary.
• More than 260 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 retail 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 retail location in the United States.

1997

• Acquired by US Office Products (USOP).
• 500th international location opens in Philippines.
• Debuts tagline, "Making Business Easier. Worldwide℠" 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 retail 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 retail locations worldwide.
• Introduces No-limit Shipping Program (now called TotalShipping™).

1990

• Grows to 1,000 retail 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.