SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - Aug 22, 2011) - San Diego-based Annex Brands, Inc. today announced the acquisition of the 62-unit franchise system of AIM Mail Centers®.
With the addition, Annex Brands now counts more than 425 shipping franchises located across 41 states in the U.S. as well as a presence in Canada. The company's existing brands include PostalAnnex+®, Navis Pack & Ship®, Handle With Care Packaging Store® and Sunshine Pack & Ship®.
"We are very excited to have the AIM Mail Centers' franchisees join our Company," commented Jack Lentz, founder, chairman and CEO of Annex Brands. This is the fourth acquisition for Annex Brands in the past 4 years and second of 2011. In 2006, the company acquired the Florida-based Sunshine Pack & Ship system and in 2007 added the 68-unit Handle With Care Packaging Store brand. In January of this year, Annex Brands acquired the 49-unit Navis Pack & Ship franchise system. Lentz commented that the company's growth strategy continues to be a two-pronged approach: sales of new franchises as well as acquisitions.
Annex Brands' president and CFO Patrick Edd commented, "Adding the AIM Mail Centers system strengthens our presence in the pack and ship industry, providing increased resources to those franchisees and their customers." Edd said the acquisition fits the company's vision to "build a franchise network that offers more service to more people in more places."
Steve Goble, Annex Brands' vice president of marketing communications added, "The AIM Mail Centers' brand offers us new e-commerce opportunities we plan on using with our other brands. In the same way, our existing brands have resources and tools we believe the AIM Mail Centers' franchisees will immediately find valuable and useful." Goble said the newly added stores will not be required to re-brand. Both PostalAnnex+ and AIM Mail Centers have a strong presence in Southern California, totaling over 150 locations.
AIM Mail Centers was founded in Mission Viejo, California in 1985. Michael Sawitz, founder and CEO of Amailcenters Franchise Corporation, AIM's franchisor, said, "Annex Brands is a high-quality, growing franchisor. I am very pleased to have our franchisees join this organization and wish them all the best going forward."
Edd commented, "We are motivated and focused to help the AIM Mail Centers' franchisees with their businesses. We already have opportunities lined up to present to them which we expect will be received very well. Shortly, they'll be our guests at our national convention where we will welcome them into our system and let them enjoy a key benefit of franchising: networking among one's peers."
Both firms are privately owned. No purchase price was disclosed.
About Annex Brands
Annex Brands, Inc., was formerly known as Postal Annex, Inc., founded by Lentz in 1985 and headquartered in San Diego. After the Handle With Care Packaging Store acquisition, the company changed its name to Annex Brands, Inc. to more closely reflect its multi-branded service in the packing, crating and shipping industry. Each location is an individually owned and operated franchise. Its retail stores offer a one-stop support center for packaging, shipping, postal and office supply needs, including the ability to compare shipping rates with UPS, FedEx, DHL and USPS shipping. The commercial locations provide custom packaging and shipping solutions for larger and more valuable items. For more information on the company's history, services and franchise information, visit www.AnnexBrands.com.