ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- When a business elects to
franchise its concept, it automatically doubles its customer base.  In
addition to its original customer who purchases its service or product, the
business gains another customer in the franchise partner or franchisee that it
now must support and service.  Pak Mail has been doing a good job at both for
the past 15 years.
    Most recent in Pak Mail's long line of customer service enhancements is
the launching of Pak Ship and Sell(TM) (PSS), a proprietary, completely
customized, fully integrated point of sale and packaging/shipping management
software system.  Through a series of seven regional conferences held this
fall, more than 350 Pak Mail franchise partners were trained in the set up,
application and implementation of PSS.  The new software system was developed
at Pak Mail's corporate headquarters and provides state-of-the-art technology
specific to the packaging and shipping industry.
    According to the principals at Pak Mail, this product is an evolving work
in progress.  During its development stage, management and software technician
staff worked closely with actual franchise operators to ensure that the
product efficiently achieved the desired outcomes of both of Pak Mail's
customer bases.  PSS affords the franchise partner one-stop technical shopping
and gives them the tools to efficiently manage his business from A to Z; the
customer benefits by receiving quick, accurate and efficient service.
    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.  PSS takes the guess work out of packaging and shipping the most
precious to the most awkward of items -- a big benefit for both franchisee and
their customers.
    PSS was created with flexibility in mind.  As the industry or market
changes, so does PSS.  Each Pak Mail center has the ability to modify the
software to match their individual environments.  There may be specific
characteristics of a particular market that are unique and there are also
seasonal considerations in the packaging and shipping business.  Modifications
are not a problem.  The Pak Mail Franchise System Advisory Council (FSAC) will
gather input from store operators throughout the year that will provide the
data to implement at least two system enhancements per year.
    Pak Mail was motivated to create PSS because there simply was not a
product on the market that directly matched their specifications.  They wanted
to maintain control, manage ongoing support and provide necessary upgrades to
address the evolutionary nature of the industry.  So far, PSS has made the
match.  Both customers are happy.

    Comments after the regional training from franchisees include:
        "PSS is great!!!  Easier than expected."
        "It is great that we are going to have the best software available in
        the industry."
        "Back up is always a phone call away."
        "The PSS program is fantastic and has a high level of efficiency.
        Great job by all!"
        "...Knowing that we finally have a system designed for us, by us, and
        we actually have technical support provided when we need it.  Great
        job!"
        "Not as terrifying as I thought."

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