ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Pak Ship and Sell(TM) (PSS) is
a unique and highly innovative software system introduced to Pak Mail
franchises this fall.  Developed by on-staff technicians at Pak Mail's
corporate headquarters, PSS is a fully integrated point of sale and
packaging/shipping management software system running under the familiar
Windows format.  PSS is proprietary software specifically designed to enhance
the efficiency of any Pak Mail business while providing important data for
cash and business management.
    "Our vision was to create our own software in order to design a system
specific to our industry and with our own franchisees in mind.  It was the
solution necessary in order to take destiny in our hands.  We wanted to
maintain control and provide one-stop shopping by managing the ongoing phone
and Internet support and provide enhancements that address the evolutionary
nature of our industry," says Evan Lasky, Pak Mail Chief Operating Officer.
PSS was developed at Pak Mail's International Support Center at the
encouragement of the Franchise System Advisory Council (FSAC), a body of
representative Pak Mail franchise partners from around the country.  PSS is
unique compared to what is currently available on the commercial market.
    PSS was designed with three major modules.  The first is a point of sale
program that acts as a cash register, includes a customer data base system and
has an accounts receivable module.  The second is a shipping display screen
that has been designed to calculate weight, dimensions and carrier rates for a
specific package.  Third, the software provides a packaging module that allows
a Pak Mail store operator to accurately calculate the ultimate shipping
weight, size, recommended packaging materials and labor required to ship the
package.  Customers will be afforded greater accuracy, economy and efficiency
because of the PSS system.
    The current investment by Pak Mail in the PSS system is approximately
$600,000.  "This expense represents a significant portion of our budget," says
Chief Financial Officer Ray Goshorn.  "We feel that it is justified many times
over in order to secure and control our future as a franchise system.  We are
consistently striving to better support our franchisees so that they may
provide better service to their customers."
    PSS was introduced to the Pak Mail franchisees this fall through a series
of seven regional training conferences held throughout the country.  As
incentive to the franchisees and to ensure the broadest possible
implementation of PSS, regional meeting attendees received a substantial
discount on the software and were offered hands-on training in the 1-1/2 day
sessions.  Each regional training session accommodated approximately 50 store
operators.
    "My first directive once we decided to create our software in house was
that the ongoing support must be excellent.  The primary support will be by
telephone and company intranet.  We are enhancing our staff significantly to
support the operational use of PSS," says John Kelly, Chief Executive Officer
of Pak Mail.  The FSAC will bring suggestions for continuing support and
enhancements of the system to Pak Mail's International Support Center to be
implemented at least twice a year.
    There are more than 350 operating Pak Mail franchises with nineteen
domestic area developers and international master franchise partners.  For
more information, call 1-800-778-6665.

Link to this page: