Learn about the core values of The UPS Store and what it takes to be a successful The UPS Store franchise owner.
2020 was full of challenges to say the least, but now it’s a brand-new year full of new opportunities. Whether you’ve decided to take matters into your own hands and create your own job, or business ownership has been a long-time goal, a new year can be the perfect time to make a fresh start. Despite the hardships the last year created, it also increased the ease of accessing capital, boosted the availability of real estate and reduced competition, ultimately creating a more favorable environment for new businesses. Opening a franchise provides additional resiliency and support making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs to get their business up and running. Although franchising comes with many advantages, it still requires a lot of hard work and commitment to be successful. What exactly does it take to be a great franchisee? At The UPS Store it begins with sharing our core brand values.
World-Class Customer Service
The UPS Store franchise owners are committed to delivering an exceptional customer experience by providing convenience, quality and value in every transaction. Our franchisees thrive on connecting with customers and helping to solve their problems. People skills are critical to success. Franchisees must have the ability to communicate and interact with both customers and their employees in a positive manner.
Retired business professional turned The UPS Store franchise owner Greg Murray says, “The interesting thing about The UPS Store is that when a customer walks into the door there’s an extremely high probability that they’re coming there to do something that is important to them. If you’re providing value to your customers, if you’re being inventive and creative you are rewarded with profitability.” He continues, “If you pick a good location for a The UPS Store and you put time and effort into it and deliver good customer service, it can be financially rewarding.”
Customer service is a true brand differentiator at The UPS Store. Our franchisees take pride in their work and are devoted to meeting the needs of their customers. In fact, customers are more than just customers. They become friends and refer their friends and fellow business owners as well. Multi-store owner Jay Soucia agrees, “Building relationships with mailbox holders and customers that come in on a normal basis and seeing them refer their friends, their business associates and the community back to my store is pretty exciting.”
The most successful franchisees are not only motivated individuals, but they’re driven by results like these. Customer referrals are the ultimate confirmation of a job well done and fuel their desire to continually improve the franchise.
Dedication
The UPS Store is dedicated to providing excellent franchise opportunities and innovative solutions to help franchisees thrive and grow their business. The UPS Store franchise owners are dedicated as well, going above and beyond to exceed customer expectations and drive the brand forward at the local level. They are resilient, determined and willing to work hard. These qualities, combined with our brand strength and proven business model, have helped thousands of entrepreneurs become successful business owners.
Finding a way to say yes, whether shipping perishable food items, fragile artwork or even an automobile, and treating every item with the utmost care, is the cornerstone of customized high-quality service. Franchisee Laura Griffin says, “You never know who’s going to walk through your door or what they are going to want.”
Franchisee Hamo Gharibian adds, “I do not say no to any project. If the customer comes through the door, even if I do not know how to do it, I say yes to it.” It’s this passion and enthusiasm that keeps customers coming back time after time, even if it means traveling out of their way.
For store owners like Tom Reese, it’s not just a business. When his store was ravaged by fire, he felt like he was losing much more. He shares, “I started crying because I felt like I was losing my baby…I wasn’t going to slow down. I wasn’t going to do anything except get this store back to where it was.” Thanks to his dedication and hard work, Tom was able to do just that. He rebuilt and opened a new store that’s better than ever.
But being a successful The UPS Store franchise owner is about more than just your own dedication. You must also hire, train and manage a team of employees committed to helping the business run as smoothly as possible. Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to motivate others is key.
Community Focus
The nature of a franchise business is that it is local – a local business serving local customers. Owning a franchise like The UPS Store gives you the opportunity to get to know the residents, small business owners and members of other community organizations.
The UPS Store franchisees are proud owners striving to make a difference in their communities. Because it is uniquely positioned to help small businesses operate more smoothly and reach their goals, The UPS Store helps to strengthen communities from within. Franchisee Adam Berns notes, “We’ve really been able to kind of hand-in-hand watch their business grow and become a business, from day one helping them design a logo to starting to produce business cards and marketing materials for them, opening a mailbox and helping with the logistics of their business. It’s probably one of the most rewarding things to be able to help other people start their own business and be that path to success.”
Whether providing services like packing, shipping, printing, copying, shredding, notarizing or mail/package handling to individuals or small businesses, the goal is the same - to make life a little easier for their neighbors. This was perhaps most notable last year as franchisees stepped up to not only provide the critical services their customers rely on every day, but also found new ways to quickly adapt to the changing circumstances. In addition to providing critical services during a time of uncertainty, franchisees rallied around fellow small business owners to help support the local economy. Strong leadership skills, flexibility, empathy and a willingness to collaborate are essential to operating a community focused business.
Great franchise owners play a big role in the success of a franchise brand. Aside from business skills, a commitment to customer service, dedication to go above and beyond and a desire to make a difference in your community are essential. If this sounds like you, we should connect. Reach out to our franchise development team to learn more about the many opportunities we have available across the country.
