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. 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 34thconsecutive 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’sannual "Franchise 500" overall, retaining consistent top ten ranking for the sixth year in a row.
- Ranks #1 in Entrepreneur magazine’sPostal & 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’sannual "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
See Also
FedEx Holidays Schedule 2024 - PostScan MailThe UPS Store Locations in the United States | Shipping & Packing, Printing, MailboxesWhich is cheaper UPS or USPS?Mail & Packages- 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.
See AlsoHow Late Does UPS Deliver?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 3,000Mail 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), CA.
