POSTAL ANNEX KEEPS PACKING 'EM IN, COMPANY ACQUIRES FRANCHISE SYSTEM OF THE PACKAGING STORE

font face="Verdana" color="#000000">Continuing its acquisition of shipping companies, San Diego-based Postal Annex , Inc. today announced it has acquired the 68-unit Franchise system of Handle With Care Packaging Store, also known as The Packaging Store.

font face="Verdana">ostal Annex is a franchise system with over 300 retail and commercial "pack and ship" centers in 24 states.  The Packaging Store, based in Denver, operates a mix of retail stores along with packing and crating facilities found in commercial centers such as industrial parks.nbsp;

font face="Verdana">We are excited to continue our acquisition of quality shipping brands," emphasized Jack Lentz, CEO and founder of Postal Annex .   "With this addition, we continue to extend the company's reach into new markets and operations."nbsp;

font face="Verdana" color="#000000">ostal Annex president and CFO Patrick Edd commented, "Adding The Packaging Store brand strengthens the company's growth into the small freight segment of the shipping industry while providing added synergies to our existing franchise network.   Now we will be able to provide a wider range of shipping options to all our customers."

font face="Verdana" color="#000000">he Packaging Store opens 11 new states for the company, bringing the total served to 35 across the nation.  In addition, the acquisition increases the total number of Franchises to over 400 and supports the company's long-term growth plan to have 500 outlets by the end of 2008.  

font face="Verdana" color="#000000">teve Goble, Postal Annex 's vice president of marketing communications added, "The Packaging Store brand is a well-established name in each of its local markets.  More than half the owners have been in the same location for greater than 10 years."  Goble said Postal Annex is looking forward to the cross-branding opportunities among each operation.

font face="Verdana">he Packaging Store was founded in Denver,Colorado in the early 1980s.  Not long afterward, the company realized a niche was not adequately being served by anyone else's operation -- the special handling, crating and shipping of large and valuable items.  Ben Blakeley, president and CEO of Navis, the company's parent organization, said, "Selling The Packaging Store to Postal Annex allows us to concentrate on our warehouse-based franchise, Navis Pack & Ship, which is growing rapidly in response to strong demand in the commercial sector while providing Packaging Store franchisees the opportunity to be supported by a very strong multi-service system.  We think highly of Postal Annex's management, their reputation in the industry, and are proud to work with them in this transition."

font face="Verdana" color="#000000">These are seasoned, experienced business owners," Edd commented about The Packaging Store franchisees.  "We know we can learn a great deal from them while providing them new levels of support from our network of business owners."

font face="Verdana" color="#000000">oth firms are privately owned.  No purchase price was disclosed.

br /> bout Postal Annex
ostal Annex , Inc., founded by Lentz in 1985 and headquartered in San Diego, is a one-stop support center for packaging, shipping, postal and office supply needs. 

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