User:Prigsbee/PostNet (franchise)

PostNet
	240px
Company type	Private
Industry	Business Services
Founded	1993
Headquarters	Denver, CO, USA
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Steven Greenbaum (CEO); Brian Spindel (President, COO
Products	packing, shipping, and printing
Number of employees	252,000 (2008)
Website	Postnet.com

PostNet is a business services franchise, based in the United States. PostNet, founded in 1993, has approximately 400 stores in the United States, and an additional 150 stores in other countries, including

PostNet stores offer a wide variety of services for businesses and consumers, including packing, shipping, printing, and copying. PostNet stores competitors include the UPS Store, FedEx Office, business supply stores such as Office Max, Staples, and Office Depot, and a wide variety of other business service franchises and independent stores.

History

PostNet was founded by Steven Greenbaum and Brian Spindel in 1993, following a number of years of experience as a consulting company that helped develop independent pack-and-ship stores get started around [[North America[]]. They then decided to move to a franchising business model, and founded PostNet in 1993.^[1]

They opened the first PostNet store in Las Vegas, Nevada and began to sell franchises around the world. South Africa opened its first PostNet franchise in 1995, and currently has over 200 stores.^[2]

Initially PostNet stores focused on offering packing and shipping services, but when??/ began diversifying into copying, printing, and other business services.

In 2007, Greenbaum and Spindel moved corporate headquarters to Denver, Colorado.

Products and Services

PostNet offers a wide variety of products and services to both consumers and small businesses. As with other franchise systems, individual stores are required to offer the same basic set of products and services, but each owner can choose to emphasize certain products or services over others, based on local market conditions or store capabilities. With the permission of the franchisor, owners may offer additional products and services.

Basic products and services include:

Shipping services. In the United States, PostNet stores offer services from UPS, FedEx, DHL, and USPS.
Packaging supplies and services.
Copying and printing. This includes a wide variety of business printing products, such as business cards, brochures, as well as finishing services such as lamination and binding.
Private mailbox rentals and services.
General business services including notary, fax, and computer rental.
Office supplies.

Additional products and services offered by stores include:

Banners, posters, blueprints, and other wide format printing.
Shredding services.

Franchise Model

PostNet follows a multi-level franchise model that includes^[3]:

Single franchise, allowing development of a single store
Area franchisor, responsible for developing two or more stores in a specific territory
Area developer, responsible for developing a specific territory in the United States, including recruiting additional franchisees and providing training
Master franchiser, responsible for developing the PostNet franchise in a country outside the United States.

Global Locations

PostNet currently has stores in the following countries^[4]:

PostNet stores are also located in the following United States territories:

Franchise Relations

Unlike many franchises, PostNet has no franchisor-owned stores, nor does PostNet require franchises to purchase supplies or equipment from the franchisor. (New stores are required to purchase a "development package" of initial equipment and supplies, as well as assistance with the store build-out ^[5].)

Current US franchisees pay royalties of 5% of revenues. Current franchisees also pay 2% of revenues into a National Advertising Fund, that is used for system-wide direct mail, newspaper insert, and other marketing programs.

PostNet has an annual franchisee convention, typically held in April each year, and a set of regional meetings held around the United States in the summer and fall. There is an active franchisee advisory council.

References

Franchise Business Review, Franchisee Satisfaction Report - PostNet, retrieved 2009-04-27 {{citation}}: |last= has generic name (help)

[1] ttp://www.postnetfranchise.com/companyprofile/history/

[2] ttp://www.postnet.co.za/home/

[3] ttp://www.postnetfranchise.com/opportunity/franchisesavailable/

[4] ttp://www.postnetfranchise.com/opportunity/franchisesavailable/

[5] ttp://www.postnetfranchise.com/franchiseprogram/storedevelopment/

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