Pack & Mail Plus not just about shipping

The slogan for Pack & Mail Plus reads “We do more than ship.”

That’s an understatement when someone walks into the new shipping business located in the recently constructed building adjacent to Fred Meyer on Sedgwick Road.

The Port Orchard store is one of more than 400 Pack & Mail Plus stores nationwide.

Port Orchard owners Ron and Diana Shaw said Pack & Mail Plus offer an array of services that aren’t offered at other shipping stores.

While it carries traditional shipping services such as UPS, U.S. Mail, and Federal Express, the business also offers packing materials and mailbox rentals.

Away from the shipping side of the business, Pack and Mail Plus offers giftware, giftwrap, fax service, photocopies, wedding or graduation invitations, labels, custom business cards, printing, keys made, and passport photos.

One of the more innovative offerings is the rental of a computer.

A computer station with full Internet services is available for rent hourly on sight.

Ron Shaw said it is the current and future innovations of the store he hopes draws clientele.

“We have some ideas that other stores don’t have,” Shaw said. “It could be an advantage to have a computer for rent.”

The Shaws didn’t have any experience with shipping, but Diana said her husband’s obsession with packing led to the idea of buying a shipping business.

Ron admits he is a perfectionist when it comes to packaging.

“I don’t know why I like doing it,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed doing it because I want it done right.”

Though there was no previous experience with running a shipping business, the Shaws learned more than they expected at the required two-week training session in MIchigan.

“It was overwhelming,” Ron said. “There was so much to learn.”

Since the store opened April 8, Diana said things are progressing well.

“I can’t complain,” she said. “Things have been going pretty smoothly.”

Ron said the number of customers continues to grow each day. One of those reasons may be the availability. The store is open every day from 9-6 p.m., except Sundays (11 a.m.-5 p.m.).

Diana concedes seven days a week could be a bit much with just the two of them running the store, but Ron said they currently have someone working part-time and will add as needed.

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