| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Milan, Italy |
| Products | Packing, Shipping, Document & Office Services |
| Parent | Fineffe Group |
Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) is a global retail chain of business service centers. The locations offer pack and ship services, couriers, office services, document production, shipping, packing materials, printing, copying, postal services and some other business services.
Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. was founded in 1980 in the United States, and grew to be the world's largest franchisor of retail shipping, postal and business service centers.[1] In 2001 Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. was acquired by United Parcel Service. Starting in April 2003, Mail Boxes Etc. locations in the United States re-branded as The UPS Store.[2] The UPS Store brand was later used at centers in Canada and India.[3] Today, in the United States, Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. only franchises The UPS Store branded centers, and all remaining Mail Boxes Etc. locations will either convert to The UPS Store brand or close by 2012.[4]
In 2009, for locations outside the United States, Canada, and India, the brands, marks, and operating system of Mail Boxes Etc. were sold to the Fineffe Group, based in Milan, Italy.[4][5] The Fineffe Group is the holding company of the Fiorelli Family business interests, operating since 1993 with affiliates for retail services under the following brands: Mail Boxes Etc., Western Union, Direfarestampare and Credit Planet. Founder and Chairman Graziano Fiorelli joins son Paolo, CEO, to direct more than 300 associates from its Milan headquarters. The company generated consolidated revenue of more than US$193 million (€145 million) in 2008.
Mail Boxes Etc. retail locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of MBE Worldwide. Locations are owned and operated by master licensees of MBE Worldwide or their franchisees. The network comprises approximately 1,272 shops in about 30 other countries.