When you buy into an established franchise, a recognisable brand name is one of the attractions. For Mail Boxes Etc franchisees, there’s an added advantage: a significant global presence. 

Mail Boxes Etc (MBE) is one of the world’s largest retail systems of franchised shipping, printing, logistics and postal-related business service centres.

MBE started in the US city of San Diego in 1980 to provide a customised solution for businesses. As it doubled down on its homegrown market the American footprint extended overseas, reaching Australia in 1993. It was the same year Graziano Fiorelli was granted the master license for the MBE brand in Italy. 

MBE has a global presence

In 2009, MBE Worldwide, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Italian Fiorelli family, snapped up MBE globally and became the sole owner and franchisor of the MBE brand (except in the US and Canada).

Today MBE Worldwide owns 10 brands, all franchised, and almost all in the logistics and business solutions arena and two focused on print and marketing: Alphagraphics in the US and Multicopy in the Netherlands

The portfolio includes brands such as World Options, PostNet and the Aussie-born business Pack & Send. 

Headquartered in Milan, Italy, MBE Worldwide is located in a five-storey building with a staff of 500. Alberto Sacchetti is the VP for the Asia-Pacific region.

“Being part of a global group assures financial solidity and long-term vision and many commercial opportunities and shared technology,” Alberto says.

Australian master franchisee Clayton Treloar sees the value of a worldwide business every day.

“When I’m selling franchises here, people’s eyes light up when they hear about the international footprint. They are more comfortable dealing with a global brand, it’s reassuring,” Clayton explains.

“They can see the level of success overseas and that it will work here; it elevates the brand,” he says.

Synergies and tailored solutions

Alberto believes the ability and willingness to share best practices across the different brands is a strength of MBE’s business model.

“Synergies among brands at local and global levels are possible and encouraged,” he says.

MBE provides tailored solutions in a hyper-connected world, always with a customer-first approach.

While all MBE outlets offer a variety of interconnected services, Australia’s network focus differs from overseas operations.

“In Italy, the UK, Spain, Germany and France, MBE is 80 per cent pack and ship service and print is just 20 per cent. We are the reverse,” Clayton explains.

“MBE mainly caters to business and if they need corporate print design, printing and delivery, they see the value of using MBE services,” Clayton explains.

MBE is ready for more global growth

While MBE is established in Australia, with just 31 centres there is plenty of opportunity to extend the brand footprint.

“I think in the long term we may open 100 MBE centres, given the business potential today, the increasing population and related business opportunities,” Clayton says.

There is significant growth potential too across the Asia Pacific region, with MBE currently trading only in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

This equates to a massive as-yet untapped market, Alberto points out.

“We still have to start operations in China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and we will open soon in the Philippines,” he reveals.

Alberto confirms MBE Worldwide is still in an acquisitive mode.

“We are growing either through internal growth, opening new centres, opening new territories with master licensees (as we are doing in the Philippines) and also through mergers and acquisitions, as we did in Australia, buying Pack & Send in 2021.

MBE Worldwide has 1760 Business Solutions Centres in 58 countries; 1553 of these operate in Europe.

“Building a global network of 4000 Business Solution Centres in 70 countries is the next milestone for the group,” Alberto reveals.