Business Services: Mail Centers & Copy Shops: An Industry Analysis
This new Marketdata report is a comprehensive analysis of a fragmented $8.9 billion industry that is vital to the support of small and home-based businesses and start-ups: business services, including private mailbox centers, copy shops and all other services. The business was hurt by the Great Recession and hundreds of private mail centers either closed or were acquired by FedEx or UPS and were re-branded. In-store copy shops at Office Depot and Staples have also hurt independents. However, since these retail stores serve local customers and have diversified and expanded their services, they are well positioned to take advantage of the coming wave of new start-ups and wave of entrepreneurism and self-employment (selling via Amazon, Ebay, Etsy) that’s spreading across the U.S.
The report covers: the nature of the business, definition/services of copy shops and private mail & packing centers, major issues and trends affecting the business, key demand indicators (small business formation, self-employment, the economy), market size/growth ($ receipts: 1997-2018 Forecast), extensive national and state operating ratios for each industry segment (no. of establishments, receipts by: $ size, single/multi-unit firms, state, market share of top 50 firms, payroll, profit margins – industry snapshots for 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012), analysis of franchising, major demand indicators such as self-employment trends and the growth of MLM distributors, and more.
Individual Company Profiles provided for: Private Mail Centers -- The UPS Store (acquired Mail Boxes ETC.), FedEx Office (acquired Kinkos copy shops), Pak Mail, Postal Annex (Annex Brands), PostNet Neighborhood Centers, Aim Mail Centers (Annex Brands), Safe Ship, and Copy/Print Shops – Alphagraphics, InXpress, Kwik Copy Business Centers, Minuteman Press,
PIP Printing, Sir Speedy, ARC Document Solutions, Office Depot (In-store Copy Centers), and Staples (In-store Copy Centers).
The report covers: the nature of the business, definition/services of copy shops and private mail & packing centers, major issues and trends affecting the business, key demand indicators (small business formation, self-employment, the economy), market size/growth ($ receipts: 1997-2018 Forecast), extensive national and state operating ratios for each industry segment (no. of establishments, receipts by: $ size, single/multi-unit firms, state, market share of top 50 firms, payroll, profit margins – industry snapshots for 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012), analysis of franchising, major demand indicators such as self-employment trends and the growth of MLM distributors, and more.
Individual Company Profiles provided for: Private Mail Centers -- The UPS Store (acquired Mail Boxes ETC.), FedEx Office (acquired Kinkos copy shops), Pak Mail, Postal Annex (Annex Brands), PostNet Neighborhood Centers, Aim Mail Centers (Annex Brands), Safe Ship, and Copy/Print Shops – Alphagraphics, InXpress, Kwik Copy Business Centers, Minuteman Press,
PIP Printing, Sir Speedy, ARC Document Solutions, Office Depot (In-store Copy Centers), and Staples (In-store Copy Centers).
Introduction Study Scope, Sources Used, Methodology 1-4
Executive Overview: Major Findings ($250) 5-18
Highlights of all study chapters: nature of the business, definition/services of copy shops and mail/packing centers, major issues/trends affecting the business, key demand indicators (small business formation, self-employment, the economy), market size/growth ($ receipts: 1997-2018 Forecast), key operating ratios for each industry segment (no. of establishments, receipts by: $ size, single/multi-unit firms, state, mkt. share top 50 firms – industry snapshot for 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012), list of key competitors/franchises and their revenues.
Industry Nature & Definition ($50) 19-23
Description of the industry's major segments, services provided, NAICS codes for private mail centers and copy shops/all other business services. How these services operate, products, technology, competitive landscape, industry size and structure, number of facilities, receipts, payroll costs, market share/concentration, Part-time vs. full-time operations, owner’s compensation, who their main customers are.
History/snapshot of the quick copy shops industry and its leading competitors.
Industry Size, Growth, Market Segments ($150) 24-37
Summary and analysis of Census Bureau data/receipts and comments from AMBC (private mail centers trade assn.): growth from 1997-2007 and since then, effect of the last recession, effects of FedEx Office and The UPS Store on the competitors.
Who are the customers? Census Bureau tables with breakdown of % of sales to: individuals, banks, retailers, hospitals, state & local & federal government, non-profits, etc. – 2007, private mail centers vs. copy shops/all other services.
Industry demand indicators: discussion of new business formations, selfemployment, overall economy, outsourcing, upswing in entrepreneurship and sale of franchises, positive trends in the industry’s favor.
Self-employment trends: IRS data vs. Bureau of labor Statistics data, Kaufmann Foundation report/findings regarding self-employment. Key selfemployment stats.
Table: Total U.S. self-employed workers: unincorporated, incorporated, total: 1967-2014
Discussion of rising popularity of multi-level marketing (MLM) distributors in the U.S., why profession is popular today, worker characteristics.
Table: Estimated Number of Active Direct Salespeople (multi-level marketers) in the United States: 1992-2012.
Market Size: 1997 – 2018 Forecast: Marketdata discussion of industry growth
Table: Business Center Industry Receipts, by Segment & Annual % Change: 1997-2018 F, private mail centers & copy shops/all other business services
2013 Performance: Discussion of industry growth, performance of Office
Depot in-store copy shops and Staples in-store copy shops (sales, division results) as barometer for growth.
2014 Outlook: Marketdata outlook and forecast, rationale.
2018 Forecast: Marketdata outlook and forecast, rationale.
Industry Structure & Operating Ratios of the Industry ($350) 38-70
Discussion/Text
Explanation of how to interpret Census data, how the data is arranged/classified by NAICS codes, and major market segments, status of new 2012 Census
Industry Snapshot: Private Mail Centers: 1997, 2002, 1997
Summary & analysis: no. of firms, establishments in U.S., firms; $ receipts; avg. receipts per estab., no. of employees, payroll as % sales, avg. receipts/payroll per employee, % single-unit firms, % corporations/proprietorships/partnerships, mkt. share for top 4, 8, 20, 50 firms.
Discussion and analysis: major findings related to above
Industry Snapshot: Copy Shops/All Other Business Services: 1997, 2002, 1997
Summary & analysis: no. of firms, establishments in U.S., firms; $ receipts; avg. receipts per estab., no. of employees, payroll as % sales, avg. receipts/payroll per employee, % single-unit firms, % corporations/proprietorships/partnerships, mkt. share for top 4, 8, 20, 50 firms.
Discussion and analysis: major findings related to above
Summary & Analysis of Major Ratios
No. of establishments, receipts, avg. receipts per estab. – 2011, 2007: private mail centers, copy shops
Labor ratios/productivity: 2007 vs. 2002, avg. receipts per employee/payroll per employee private mail centers, copy shops
Legal form of organization of firms: 2007, by: corps., sole proprietorships, partner-ships: share of industry receipts, avg. receipts per estab., private mail centers, copy shops.
Ratios by single-unit vs. multi-unit firms: number, share of receipts: private mail centers, copy shops – 2007 vs. 2002
Ratios by receipts size of establishment: most common $ size estab., share of industry receipts by size estab. 2007 vs. 2002, private mail centers, copy shops
Geographic analysis – top 5 states, share of national receipts in 2011
Industry Financial Health: Findings of Bizminer report for private mail centers: composite income statement ratios, avg. sales per facility, gross margin, pre-tax profit, officer’s compensation, payroll SG&A expenses as % sales, select balance sheet measures (Current ratio, EBIDTA, days receivables, return on assets: 2010 2013.
Table: 4-year Income, expense and profit margin ratios statement for private mail centers: 2010-2013
Statistical Census Bureau Tables
Sales to payroll labor productivity ratios: 1997, 2002, 2007: private mail centers
Sales to payroll labor productivity ratios: 1997, 2002, 2007: copy shops
Estabs. & receipts, by legal form of organization of firms: 2007, 2002, 1997 – private mail centers
Estabs. & receipts, by legal form of organization of firms: 2007, 2002, 1997– copy shops
Market Share (Concentration Ratios): top 4, 8, 20, 50 firms: receipts, payroll as % sales, 2007, 2002, 1997 – private mail centers
Market Share (Concentration Ratios): top 4, 8, 20, 50 firms: receipts, payroll as % sales, 2007, 2002, 1997 – copy shops.
Ratios by single-unit vs. multi-unit firms: no. of firms, estabs., receipts for firms with 1, 2, 3-4, 5-9, 10+ estabs.: 2007, 2002, 1997 – private mail ctrs.
Ratios by single-unit vs. multi-unit firms: no. of firms, estabs., receipts for firms with 1, 2, 3-4, 5-9, 10+ estabs.: 2007, 2002, 1997 – copy shops.
Ratios by receipts size of estab., no. of estabs. Receipts, as % total (estabs. with less than $10K receipts per year to $10+ million): 2007, 2002, 1997 – private mail centers.
Ratios by receipts size of estab., no. of estabs. Receipts, as % total (estabs. with less than $10K receipts per year to $10+ million): 2007, 2002, 1997 – copy shops.
Number of Private Mail Centers by state, receipts per state, avg. receipts per estab. – 2011, alphabetical by state.
Number of Copy Shops by state, receipts per state, avg. receipts per estab. – 2011, alphabetical by state.
Number of Private Mail Centers & Copy Shops Combined, by state, receipts per state – 2011, alphabetical by state.
Top 15 states, ranked by state receipts: 2011 – All business services combined.
Private Mail Centers – States with above U.S. average receipts per estab. – 2011
Copy Shops – States with above U.S. average receipts per estab. 2011
Competitor Profiles: The Major Mail Center & Copy
Shops Franchises ($250) 71-92
(For each company: headquarters address, company history, description, services, revenues when available – actual or estimated, initial franchise fees/royalty rates/start-up costs, history & recent developments; acquisitions, number of U.S./foreign franchises in 2010-2013).
Summary/Table – number of U.S. franchises, estimated or actual revenues, for the major copy shop franchises and mailing/packaging franchises
Census Bureau Franchise Information: 2007: No. of franchisee-owned vs. franchisor-owned franchises, percent of industry receipts, avg. receipts per establishment. Separate tables for private mail centers and copy shops
Profiles Provided For These Companies:
Mail & Packing Centers
The UPS Store (acquired Mail Boxes ETC.)
FedEx Office (acquired Kinkos Copy Shops)
Pak Mail
Postal Annex (see Annex Brands, AIM Mail Centers)
PostNet Neighborhood Centers
Aim Mail Centers (Annex Brands)
Safe Ship
Copy Shops
Alphagraphics
InXpress
Kwik Copy Business Centers
Minuteman Press
PIP Printing
Sir Speedy
ARC Document Solutions, Inc.
Office Depot – In-store Copy Centers
Staples – In-store Copy Centers
Reference Directory of Industry Information Sources
Addresses, phones, contacts at major industry trade associations, trade journals, reports, industry analysts, etc.
Executive Overview: Major Findings ($250) 5-18
Highlights of all study chapters: nature of the business, definition/services of copy shops and mail/packing centers, major issues/trends affecting the business, key demand indicators (small business formation, self-employment, the economy), market size/growth ($ receipts: 1997-2018 Forecast), key operating ratios for each industry segment (no. of establishments, receipts by: $ size, single/multi-unit firms, state, mkt. share top 50 firms – industry snapshot for 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012), list of key competitors/franchises and their revenues.
Industry Nature & Definition ($50) 19-23
Description of the industry's major segments, services provided, NAICS codes for private mail centers and copy shops/all other business services. How these services operate, products, technology, competitive landscape, industry size and structure, number of facilities, receipts, payroll costs, market share/concentration, Part-time vs. full-time operations, owner’s compensation, who their main customers are.
History/snapshot of the quick copy shops industry and its leading competitors.
Industry Size, Growth, Market Segments ($150) 24-37
Summary and analysis of Census Bureau data/receipts and comments from AMBC (private mail centers trade assn.): growth from 1997-2007 and since then, effect of the last recession, effects of FedEx Office and The UPS Store on the competitors.
Who are the customers? Census Bureau tables with breakdown of % of sales to: individuals, banks, retailers, hospitals, state & local & federal government, non-profits, etc. – 2007, private mail centers vs. copy shops/all other services.
Industry demand indicators: discussion of new business formations, selfemployment, overall economy, outsourcing, upswing in entrepreneurship and sale of franchises, positive trends in the industry’s favor.
Self-employment trends: IRS data vs. Bureau of labor Statistics data, Kaufmann Foundation report/findings regarding self-employment. Key selfemployment stats.
Table: Total U.S. self-employed workers: unincorporated, incorporated, total: 1967-2014
Discussion of rising popularity of multi-level marketing (MLM) distributors in the U.S., why profession is popular today, worker characteristics.
Table: Estimated Number of Active Direct Salespeople (multi-level marketers) in the United States: 1992-2012.
Market Size: 1997 – 2018 Forecast: Marketdata discussion of industry growth
Table: Business Center Industry Receipts, by Segment & Annual % Change: 1997-2018 F, private mail centers & copy shops/all other business services
2013 Performance: Discussion of industry growth, performance of Office
Depot in-store copy shops and Staples in-store copy shops (sales, division results) as barometer for growth.
2014 Outlook: Marketdata outlook and forecast, rationale.
2018 Forecast: Marketdata outlook and forecast, rationale.
Industry Structure & Operating Ratios of the Industry ($350) 38-70
Discussion/Text
Explanation of how to interpret Census data, how the data is arranged/classified by NAICS codes, and major market segments, status of new 2012 Census
Industry Snapshot: Private Mail Centers: 1997, 2002, 1997
Summary & analysis: no. of firms, establishments in U.S., firms; $ receipts; avg. receipts per estab., no. of employees, payroll as % sales, avg. receipts/payroll per employee, % single-unit firms, % corporations/proprietorships/partnerships, mkt. share for top 4, 8, 20, 50 firms.
Discussion and analysis: major findings related to above
Industry Snapshot: Copy Shops/All Other Business Services: 1997, 2002, 1997
Summary & analysis: no. of firms, establishments in U.S., firms; $ receipts; avg. receipts per estab., no. of employees, payroll as % sales, avg. receipts/payroll per employee, % single-unit firms, % corporations/proprietorships/partnerships, mkt. share for top 4, 8, 20, 50 firms.
Discussion and analysis: major findings related to above
Summary & Analysis of Major Ratios
No. of establishments, receipts, avg. receipts per estab. – 2011, 2007: private mail centers, copy shops
Labor ratios/productivity: 2007 vs. 2002, avg. receipts per employee/payroll per employee private mail centers, copy shops
Legal form of organization of firms: 2007, by: corps., sole proprietorships, partner-ships: share of industry receipts, avg. receipts per estab., private mail centers, copy shops.
Ratios by single-unit vs. multi-unit firms: number, share of receipts: private mail centers, copy shops – 2007 vs. 2002
Ratios by receipts size of establishment: most common $ size estab., share of industry receipts by size estab. 2007 vs. 2002, private mail centers, copy shops
Geographic analysis – top 5 states, share of national receipts in 2011
Industry Financial Health: Findings of Bizminer report for private mail centers: composite income statement ratios, avg. sales per facility, gross margin, pre-tax profit, officer’s compensation, payroll SG&A expenses as % sales, select balance sheet measures (Current ratio, EBIDTA, days receivables, return on assets: 2010 2013.
Table: 4-year Income, expense and profit margin ratios statement for private mail centers: 2010-2013
Statistical Census Bureau Tables
Sales to payroll labor productivity ratios: 1997, 2002, 2007: private mail centers
Sales to payroll labor productivity ratios: 1997, 2002, 2007: copy shops
Estabs. & receipts, by legal form of organization of firms: 2007, 2002, 1997 – private mail centers
Estabs. & receipts, by legal form of organization of firms: 2007, 2002, 1997– copy shops
Market Share (Concentration Ratios): top 4, 8, 20, 50 firms: receipts, payroll as % sales, 2007, 2002, 1997 – private mail centers
Market Share (Concentration Ratios): top 4, 8, 20, 50 firms: receipts, payroll as % sales, 2007, 2002, 1997 – copy shops.
Ratios by single-unit vs. multi-unit firms: no. of firms, estabs., receipts for firms with 1, 2, 3-4, 5-9, 10+ estabs.: 2007, 2002, 1997 – private mail ctrs.
Ratios by single-unit vs. multi-unit firms: no. of firms, estabs., receipts for firms with 1, 2, 3-4, 5-9, 10+ estabs.: 2007, 2002, 1997 – copy shops.
Ratios by receipts size of estab., no. of estabs. Receipts, as % total (estabs. with less than $10K receipts per year to $10+ million): 2007, 2002, 1997 – private mail centers.
Ratios by receipts size of estab., no. of estabs. Receipts, as % total (estabs. with less than $10K receipts per year to $10+ million): 2007, 2002, 1997 – copy shops.
Number of Private Mail Centers by state, receipts per state, avg. receipts per estab. – 2011, alphabetical by state.
Number of Copy Shops by state, receipts per state, avg. receipts per estab. – 2011, alphabetical by state.
Number of Private Mail Centers & Copy Shops Combined, by state, receipts per state – 2011, alphabetical by state.
Top 15 states, ranked by state receipts: 2011 – All business services combined.
Private Mail Centers – States with above U.S. average receipts per estab. – 2011
Copy Shops – States with above U.S. average receipts per estab. 2011
Competitor Profiles: The Major Mail Center & Copy
Shops Franchises ($250) 71-92
(For each company: headquarters address, company history, description, services, revenues when available – actual or estimated, initial franchise fees/royalty rates/start-up costs, history & recent developments; acquisitions, number of U.S./foreign franchises in 2010-2013).
Summary/Table – number of U.S. franchises, estimated or actual revenues, for the major copy shop franchises and mailing/packaging franchises
Census Bureau Franchise Information: 2007: No. of franchisee-owned vs. franchisor-owned franchises, percent of industry receipts, avg. receipts per establishment. Separate tables for private mail centers and copy shops
Profiles Provided For These Companies:
Mail & Packing Centers
The UPS Store (acquired Mail Boxes ETC.)
FedEx Office (acquired Kinkos Copy Shops)
Pak Mail
Postal Annex (see Annex Brands, AIM Mail Centers)
PostNet Neighborhood Centers
Aim Mail Centers (Annex Brands)
Safe Ship
Copy Shops
Alphagraphics
InXpress
Kwik Copy Business Centers
Minuteman Press
PIP Printing
Sir Speedy
ARC Document Solutions, Inc.
Office Depot – In-store Copy Centers
Staples – In-store Copy Centers
Reference Directory of Industry Information Sources
Addresses, phones, contacts at major industry trade associations, trade journals, reports, industry analysts, etc.
