Ship It!

What Ship It! does

Ship It! is a privately held, single-location shipping and business services center operating from 809 W 8th Street in Pella, Iowa. Founded in 2010 and staffed by approximately 9 employees, the company functions as an authorized drop-off and shipping point for five carriers — FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, and Spee-Dee — allowing it to offer in-store rate comparison across providers. Beyond shipping, Ship It! runs a multi-line retail service operation covering professional packing (with its Pro-Pack Guarantee that refunds insured value plus packing/shipping costs on damaged parcels), digital photocopying and color printing, large-format blueprint and banner printing, instant passport and visa photos ($14.50 per set), fax services, Amazon return label processing, office supply retail, digital mailbox rental via iPostal1, VHS/media digitization, and document lamination.

The technology footprint is modest and operational rather than differentiated: calibrated digital printers using low-thermal technology for fold-resistant color prints, online shipping rate estimator and multi-carrier tracking portals hosted on a WordPress site (shipitpella.com) and a tracking subdomain (totalchoicepella.com), and a basic file-upload form for remote print job submission. There is no proprietary software platform, no app, no API, and no AI/ML components disclosed. Marketing is limited to organic social channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare) and an RSS blog with content on packing tips and seasonal promotions, indicating a community-rooted, local-awareness posture rather than a scalable acquisition model.

The business model is purely transactional and unit-priced: revenue is generated per service rendered at the counter or via walk-in foot traffic, with pay-as-you-go billing across all listed services. Volume discounts exist only for photocopying (5–15% off 101+ pages) and a college move-in discount (20% off 5+ packages to the same address). Customer segments are horizontal and fragmented — general consumers, college students and their families, and local small businesses — with no named enterprise accounts, no recurring contracts, and no subscription revenue outside the iPostal1 mailbox offering. The company's email domain (totalchoicepella.com) suggests a brand association with "Total Choice Shipping." No external investment, parent company, or M&A activity is evidenced.

Name

Ship It!

Legal name

Ship It!

Website

https://shipitpella.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ship It! is a single-location, multi-carrier authorized shipping and business services center in Pella, Iowa, offering packing, printing, passport photos, fax, Amazon returns, and office supplies to local consumers, college families, and small businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shipping & Mailing Services

NAICS

Couriers and Express Delivery Services (492110)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Parcel Shipping, Labeling & Rate Shopping Platforms (CRAFAMAF)

Keywords

• Shipping center services
• Professional packing services
• Digital printing services
• Passport photo services
• Office supply retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Pella

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Shipping Services: Revenue from shipping packages via FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL. Customers pay for shipping labels and carrier fees, with Ship It acting as an authorized shipping center for multiple carriers. Professional packing services are offered as an add-on.
2. Printing Services: Revenue from photocopying, digital printing, large format printing (blueprints, banners), and photo printing services. Prices vary by size, paper type, and color.
3. Passport Photos: Instant passport photos taken with government-approved camera for $14.50 per set of two photos. Also offers visa photos, FOID photos, and international drivers license photos.
4. Amazon Return Services: Label printing services for Amazon returns ($0.10 to print label) and box taping ($0.54). Also polypropylene bags available for $0.99.
5. FAX Services: Domestic fax service for $4 plus $0.40 per page. International fax rates are $8 plus $2.00 per page.
6. Office Supplies: Sale of envelopes, specialty paper, pens, markers, and other office supplies. Special orders welcome with 2-3 business day delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ship It! is a single-location, multi-carrier shipping and business services center in Pella, Iowa that accepts packages and creates labels for FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, and Spee-Dee, with professional packing services backed by the Pro-Pack Guarantee. It also delivers on-site digital printing (B&W, color, large format blueprints and banners), instant passport and visa photos, office supplies retail, FAX services, Amazon return label printing, digital mailbox rental, media conversion, and lamination to walk-in individual and small business customers.

Product overview

Ship It! is a local shipping center and office services business operating as an authorized reseller and drop-off point for multiple major carriers (UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, Spee-Dee). The core offering centers on Shipping Solutions with professional packing services (Pro-Pack Guarantee), supported by an online Shipping Rate Estimator and Package Tracking portal. Adjacent service lines include Digital Printing Solutions comprising Photocopy and Digital Prints, Large Format Print Pricing for blueprints and banners, and File Upload to Print for remote job submission. Additional services include Instant Passport Photos (a standalone revenue driver), Office Supplies retail, FAX Services, Amazon Return Label Processing, Digital Mailbox Rental (via iPostal1), After Image Services (media conversion), and Lamination Services. The business operates as a single physical location in Pella, Iowa with an online presence for tracking, estimates, and file uploads.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shipping Solutions Multi-carrier shipping service offering rate comparison and label creation across UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, and Spee-Dee, with package drop-off handled in-store. Serves individual consumers and small businesses in Pella, Iowa needing domestic or international shipping.
• Pro-Pack Guarantee (Professional Packing) Professional packing service using over 80 box sizes plus foam, peanuts, bubble-wrap, and specialty boxes (artwork, laptops, double-wall). Backed by a guarantee that refunds insured value plus packing and shipping costs if a package arrives damaged when insurance was purchased. Targets customers shipping fragile, valuable, large, or awkward items.
• Digital Printing Solutions Full-service digital printing including black-and-white and color photocopies, file-to-print service, scan-to-file or email, FAX services, large format blueprints and banners, and lamination, using low thermal technology to prevent cracking on color prints. Serves walk-in consumers, small businesses, and students needing printed documents.
• Instant Passport Photos Government-approved passport, visa, FOID, and international drivers license photo service providing two photos per set for $14.50, with a retake guarantee if photos are rejected during processing. Targets travelers and applicants needing compliant official photos on demand.
• Office Supplies Retail Retail sale of office supplies including envelopes, specialty paper, ink-jet labels, card stock, pens, markers, and other office items, with special orders fulfilled in 2-3 business days. Serves local small businesses and walk-in consumers needing standard or specialty office supplies.
• FAX Services Outgoing FAX transmission service priced at $4 plus $0.40 per page domestically and $8 plus $2.00 per page internationally, with a confirmation page provided after successful transmission. Serves customers needing to send faxes to U.S. or international locations.
• Amazon Return Label Processing Service for processing Amazon returns including label printing at $0.10, box taping at $0.54, and polypropylene bags at $0.99 each. Targets Amazon shoppers needing an in-person drop-off point for returns.
• Digital Mailbox Rental Mailbox rental service providing customers with a secure address to receive UPS, FedEx, and other packages, kept secure until pickup. Serves local individuals and small businesses needing a stable mailing address.
• After Image Services (Media Conversion) Service converting legacy analog media (VHS tapes, 8mm slides, etc.) to digital formats for preservation and modern playback. Targets consumers with family archives or outdated media that needs digitization.
• Lamination Services Document lamination service handling sizes up to 11x17 with same-day turnaround and up to 24x36 within 3 days. Targets consumers and small businesses needing to preserve or protect documents, signs, or reference materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Refunds insured value plus packing and shipping costs if professionally packed package arrives damaged

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FedExcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFedEx Authorized ShipCenter - Ship It! is authorized to accept FedEx packages, print shipping labels, and provide full FedEx shipping services including Express and Ground options.
• UPScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUPS Authorized Outlet - Authorized to accept UPS packages and provide UPS shipping services including Next Day Air, Second Day Air, 3 Day Select, and Ground shipping options.
• USPScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved Shipper for US Postal Service - Authorized to process USPS packages including First Class, Priority Mail, Express Mail, and Media Mail.
• DHLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDHL Authorized Shipping Center - Authorized to handle international DHL shipments for global package delivery.
• Spee-Dee Delivery ServiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional delivery service partner available for package tracking alongside FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL options.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Goin' Postal: Franchise alternative to The UPS Store offering shipping, packing, printing, passport photos, notary and mailbox services at independently owned retail locations.
• Postal Connections: Independent pack-and-ship store network offering multi-carrier shipping, packaging, mailbox rental, printing and passport photos to local communities — same retail shipping-center model.
• The UPS Store: Franchise network of pack-and-ship retail locations offering UPS shipping, packing, printing, mailbox rental, and small-business services — directly comparable to Ship It!'s multi-service storefront model.
• PostalAnnex+: Pack-and-ship franchise providing UPS/USPS/FedEx/DHL drop-off, professional packing, printing, passport photos and office services — directly comparable multi-service shipping center.
• Minuteman Press: Franchise commercial printing and marketing-services network — directly comparable to Ship It!'s photocopy, digital print, large-format and blueprint/banner offering.
• PostNet: Franchise network of shipping, printing and business service centers providing multi-carrier drop-off, packing, document printing and design services to small businesses and consumers.
• Pak Mail Centers of America: Franchise pack-and-ship retailer offering multi-carrier shipping, custom packing, printing, mailbox and shipping services to small businesses and consumers — same core model as Ship It!.

Broad incumbents

• FedEx Office: National chain (formerly Kinko's) offering FedEx shipping, packing, printing, copying and document services. Operates at much larger scale but overlaps the full Ship It! service menu.
• Office Depot: National office-supply retailer offering in-store printing, copying, packing and shipping services — overlaps Ship It!'s office-supplies, printing and small-business shipping lines.
• Staples: National office-supply retailer with printing, copying, packing and shipping services. Broader category overlap with Ship It!'s office-needs, printing and shipping lines.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShipitPella
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShipItatTotalChoiceShipping
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ship-it-

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 Ship It!