What Navis Pack & Ship does

Navis Pack & Ship is a franchise network specializing in the packing, crating, and shipping of fragile, large, awkward, and valuable (FLAV) items. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in San Diego, California, the company operates as part of Annex Brands, Inc.'s 450+ unit franchise system spanning the United States and Canada. Each location is independently owned and operated by franchisees who deliver specialty logistics to a mix of residential customers shipping personal items (antiques, art, furniture, electronics, estate distributions) and B2B clients in industries including medical equipment, automotive racing, technology, interior design, and trade show operations. Notable named accounts include NASCAR teams, Block Imaging (MRI/medical equipment), Heritage Auction Galleries, Peter O'Neill Gallery, and Southern Studio Interior Design. The company maintains a 4.75-star average rating across 2,936 customer reviews and references 30+ years of operating experience as a brand equity anchor.

The service portfolio centers on custom wood crating (ISPM-15 compliant for international shipments), specialty packing techniques such as foam-in-place, blocking-and-bracing, and custom cushioning, and a tiered delivery model ranging from terminal pickup to full white glove service. Navis is a Federal Maritime Commission-licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediary (license 023289NF, SCAC AXBN), enabling international ocean and air freight forwarding. Service verticals span 16+ specialty categories including antique, art, auction, electronics, freight, furniture, medical equipment, technology, estate, senior downsizing, and trade show shipping. Declared value coverage up to $400,000 differentiates the offering from standard parcel carriers, and no minimum weight requirement distinguishes the small-moves service from traditional movers.

Revenue is generated through a transaction-fee model: individual franchisees charge customers per shipment based on weight, dimensions, mode (ground, air, ocean), and service tier, while the franchisor Annex Brands collects franchise fees and royalties. The go-to-market combines direct local franchise sales, organic SEO across approximately 50 blog pages targeting specialty shipping keywords, community-level event sponsorships, and ongoing partnerships with galleries, auction houses, and interior design firms. Navis is positioned as the originator of the FLAV shipping category, with no disclosed software platform, public API, or AI/ML capabilities. Recent activity has centered on employee-to-owner franchise transitions rather than corporate M&A or capital raises.

Name

Navis Pack & Ship

Legal name

Annex Brands, Inc.

Website

https://gonavis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Navis Pack & Ship is a franchise network specializing in custom packing, crating, and shipping of fragile, large, awkward, and valuable (FLAV) items for residential and B2B customers across the US and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Shipping and Crating Services

NAICS

Packing and Crating (488991), General Warehousing and Storage (493110)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging, Repackaging & Co-Packing Services (TLAIAAAG)

Keywords

• Specialty packing services
• Custom crating shipping
• Fragile item logistics
• Art and antique shipping
• International freight forwarding

Headquarters

HQ city

Centennial

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Royalty Revenue: Navis Pack & Ship operates as a franchise system. Individual franchisees pay franchise fees and ongoing royalties to Annex Brands, Inc., the franchisor. Franchisees generate revenue by providing packing, crating, and shipping services to end customers (both residential and B2B) across domestic and international routes. Revenue is a mix of one-time service fees (packing, crating, freight) and recurring shipping revenue per shipment.
2. Packing and Shipping Services: Individual Navis franchise locations generate revenue through per-transaction service fees charged to customers for packing, crating, pickup, freight transportation, and delivery services. Domestic ground freight typically 10-14 business days; blanket wrap 3-10 weeks; international ocean freight 4-6 weeks; international air freight 7-10 days. Pricing is quote-based and determined by weight, dimensions, and destination.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Navis Pack & Ship is a franchise network providing specialty packing, custom crating, and shipping services for fragile, large, awkward, and valuable (FLAV) items that standard parcel carriers cannot handle. Services include custom wood crating (ISPM-15 compliant), foam-in-place and specialty packing, domestic and international shipping via ground/air/ocean freight, white glove delivery, small moves, and declared value coverage. Each franchise location serves both residential and B2B customers through direct sales and quote-based pricing.

Product overview

Navis Pack & Ship is a franchise network of packing and shipping service providers offering a comprehensive suite of logistics solutions for fragile, large, awkward, and valuable (FLAV™) items. The core offering centers on custom crating and specialty packing services, complemented by domestic and international shipping via ground, air, and ocean freight. The product portfolio includes: Custom Crating as the foundational specialized service; Shipping Services as the primary delivery mechanism; Specialty Packing Services providing cushioning, blocking, and bracing; and White Glove Delivery for premium placement. The company differentiates through 16+ specialty shipping verticals (Antique, Art, Auction, Computer, Electronics, Equipment, Estate, Freight, Furniture, Medical Equipment, Senior Downsizing, Technology Equipment, and Trade Show Shipping) that serve both residential and B2B markets. Add-on services include Pickup & Delivery options, Small Moves for partial loads without minimum weight requirements, and Declared Value Coverage insurance up to $400,000. International capabilities feature ISPM-15 compliant wood packaging and Federal Maritime Commission licensing for ocean freight forwarding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Crating Design and build of custom wooden crates for fragile, large, awkward, or valuable items. Crates are made with ½ inch plywood with 1×4 inch furring strips, or ¾ inch plywood bases for heavier items, with ISPM-15 compliant options for international shipping. Sold to both residential and B2B customers through franchise locations.
• Shipping Services Domestic and international shipping for large, fragile, and valuable items via ground, air, and ocean transport. Over 30 years of shipping experience; includes 10-14 business day domestic ground freight, 3-10 week blanket wrap, 4-6 week international ocean freight, and 7-10 day international air freight. Sold per-shipment via quote-based pricing.
• Specialty Packing Services Specialty packing services not typically available from traditional shipping companies, including foam-in-place packaging, custom cushioning systems, blocking and bracing. Provided by each franchise location for items that require handling beyond standard parcel carrier capabilities.
• White Glove Delivery Premium delivery service including placement of items into the room of choice, unpacking, and debris removal. Available for high-value and specialty items as the top tier of Navis's pickup/delivery service options.
• Pickup and Delivery Services Variety of pickup and delivery options including Terminal (customer picks up at carrier terminal), Curbside (driver delivers to curb), Curbside + Liftgate (driver uses liftgate to unload to curb), and Inside Delivery (driver delivers to garage/threshold), offered depending on budget and scheduling needs.
• Small Moves Service for moving a single piece of furniture or an entire house full of items. No minimum weight requirements, unlike traditional movers. Targeted at both residential and business customers who need a partial or single-piece move.
• International Shipping International shipping services from the U.S. and Canada with full customs clearance support, ISPM-15 compliant wood packaging, and ocean container shipping options. Adheres to ISPM-15 rules for all international shipments globally (excluding certain prohibited destinations).
• Antique Shipping Specialized packing and shipping of fragile and valuable antiques with custom crating solutions. Used by auction houses, estate representatives, and individual collectors.
• Art Shipping Packing and shipping services for museums, art galleries, auction houses, and private collectors, including art crate construction. Designed to meet museum-grade packaging standards.
• Auction Shipping Coordination of pickup, packing, crating, and shipping services for nationally known auction houses and their buyers. Evidenced customer relationships include Heritage Auction Galleries.
• Electronics Shipping Packing, palletizing, crating, boxing, and shipping of all types of electronic equipment including computers and servers. Used by businesses, technology companies, and individuals shipping high-value electronics.
• Medical Equipment Shipping Packing, palletizing, crating, boxing, and shipping of fragile and valuable medical equipment including MRI machines. Evidenced B2B customer: Block Imaging.
• Furniture Shipping Shipping services for business and residential customers shipping furniture across the country or internationally. Evidenced B2B customer: Southern Studio Interior Design.
• Technology Equipment Shipping Shipping of valuable technology equipment with attention to the challenges, priorities, and time constraints involved in tech equipment transport for businesses and individuals.
• Equipment Shipping Nationwide or worldwide shipping and packing solutions for time-sensitive or oversized equipment. Used by manufacturers and industrial customers.
• Freight Shipping Logistics services for shipping freight and cargo, including LTL, FTL, and full container loads. Supports both domestic and international freight forwarding requirements.
• Estate Shipping Complex estate distribution services trusted by estate executors, attorneys, and personal representatives for shipments involving multiple beneficiaries and multiple locations of sentimental and irreplaceable possessions.
• Senior Downsizing Shipping Careful handling of sentimental and irreplaceable possessions important to families during senior downsizing transitions. Targeted at adult children, seniors, and family members coordinating moves from larger homes to smaller residences or care facilities.
• Ocean Freight Services Ocean freight shipping with various container options including Standard 20' and 40', High Cube, Open Top, Reefer, Flat Rack, and Platform containers for international shipments. Provided under Federal Maritime Commission Ocean Transportation Intermediary licensing.
• Declared Value Coverage Door-to-door coverage for repair or reimbursement on items shipped if damage occurs during transit. Basic policy covers up to $400,000 in declared value; higher policies available for high-value shipments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rated 4.75 out of 5 from 2,936 customer reviews
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Annex Brands, Inc.coreOthersAnnex Brands, Inc. is the franchisor of Navis Pack & Ship, headquartered in San Diego, CA. It provides the franchise model, brand, training, marketing support, sales support, operations support, and technology to the network of independently owned Navis franchise locations. The Annex Brands network spans over 800 locations across packing, shipping, and business services. Navis is part of a 450+ unit system under Annex Brands.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FedEx Office: FedEx Office is the retail and packing arm of FedEx, offering packing, shipping, and printing services at corporate-owned retail locations; it competes with Navis in packing and shipping but as part of FedEx's broader logistics portfolio rather than as a specialty FLAV franchise.
• uBox / ABF Freight system (ArcBest): ArcBest operates ABF Freight and the U-Pack/uBox portable moving and shipping service, providing asset-based freight and small-load moving options that compete with Navis's small-moves and freight shipping services at a broader, more commoditized scale.

Direct peers

• The UPS Store: The UPS Store is the closest direct peer to Navis Pack & Ship — a franchise network of retail packing, shipping, and business service centers operating across the US, offering custom packing, crating, and shipping of parcels and freight to both residential and B2B customers under the UPS brand umbrella.
• Pak Mail: Pak Mail is a national franchise network of packing, crating, and shipping centers that directly competes with Navis in specialty shipping for fragile, oversized, and high-value items, serving both retail and business customers with custom packaging and freight services.
• PostNet: PostNet is a franchise network of neighborhood business centers offering packing, shipping, printing, and related services, and serves a comparable customer base to Navis in the small-format retail shipping and business services category.
• Craters & Freighters: Craters & Freighters is a specialty crating and freight franchise that competes most directly with Navis in custom wood crating, white-glove delivery, and shipping of high-value, fragile, and oversized items for B2B and high-net-worth residential customers.

Emerging players

• FreightCenter: FreightCenter is a freight brokerage and quoting platform that competes with Navis's freight shipping services by aggregating LTL, FTL, and parcel rates online; it overlaps with Navis on the freight leg but does not offer custom crating or white-glove handling.
• Masterpiece International: Masterpiece International is a specialty art and antique logistics provider that directly competes with Navis's art shipping and auction services, offering museum-grade packing, climate-controlled transport, and international customs handling for galleries, collectors, and auction houses.
• GoShip: GoShip is an online freight marketplace offering LTL and FTL shipping quotes and bookings, overlapping with Navis's freight services but without the custom crating, specialty packing, and white-glove capabilities that anchor Navis's value proposition.
• uShip: uShip is an online marketplace that connects customers with carriers and shipping service providers for large, bulky, and high-value items — a digital-only emerging alternative to Navis's physical, full-service packing and crating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/navis-pack-ship-118162374885104

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Navis Pack & Ship