What Handle With Care Packaging Store does

Handle With Care Packaging Store is a franchise network of over 350 independently owned and operated pack-and-ship service centers operating across the United States, organized under franchisor Annex Brands, Inc. (headquartered at 7580 Metropolitan Drive Ste 200, San Diego, CA). Founded in 1984 with its first store in Denver, Colorado, the network specializes in custom packing, crating, shipping, moving, and packaging supply services for fragile, large, awkward, and valuable (FLAV) items that standard parcel and freight carriers cannot safely handle. The service mix spans residential use cases (antique shipping, art shipping, senior downsizing, student relocations, small moves) and commercial use cases (art galleries, antique dealers, medical equipment, fulfillment for e-commerce and mail-order businesses, trade show logistics, and equipment/machinery shipping).

The underlying technology stack centers on proprietary packaging indexes refined over 35+ years that match specific techniques and materials to item characteristics, a foam-in-place custom molding system that hardens around wrapped items to form a protective encasement, ISPM-15 heat-treated wood crating for international shipments, and Federal Maritime Commission OTI licensing that enables the network to issue NVOCC House Ocean Bills of Lading and consolidate international ocean freight. The franchisor operates a centralized website (gopackagingstore.com) with a quote-request form and a national call center (1-877-722-5236), while each franchise maintains its local storefront, retail packaging supply inventory (one location stocks over 140 box sizes), and customer relationships.

The business model combines professional service revenue (packing, crating, fulfillment, on-site packing, white glove delivery, warehouse services), transactional fees from arranging freight via major carriers (UPS, FedEx for air; LTL/FTL providers for ground; ocean carriers for international), retail sales of packaging supplies, and freight insurance brokerage. Pricing is entirely quote-based with no published rate cards, varying by item size, weight, fragility, value, destination, and shipping method. Revenue flows are highly fragmented across the 350+ franchise locations, with franchisor-level economics captured through franchise fees, brand licensing, and centralized OTI international shipping services.

Name

Handle With Care Packaging Store

Legal name

Annex Brands, Inc.

Website

https://gopackagingstore.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Handle With Care Packaging Store is a franchise network of 350+ independently owned pack-and-ship centers across the US, specializing in custom packing, foam-in-place packaging, ISPM-15 crating, and freight coordination of fragile, oversized, and valuable items for both consumers and commercial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Packaging, Crating and Shipping Services

NAICS

Packing and Crating (488991), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191), General Warehousing and Storage (493110)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging, Repackaging & Co-Packing Services (TLAIAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Assembly, Installation & In-Home Setup Services (White-Glove Add-On) (TLAAAKAJ)

Keywords

• Custom packing services
• Shipping and crating
• Freight forwarding
• International shipping logistics
• Packaging supplies retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Harleysville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Packing Services: Professional packing services where The Packaging Store team packs items on behalf of customers using appropriate materials and techniques. This is a core service for fragile, valuable, oversized, or awkward items that customers cannot or prefer not to pack themselves. On-site packing is also offered for items too large to bring to the store.
2. Custom Crating: Build-to-order wooden crates and custom boxes for items that require custom-sized protective containers for domestic or international shipping. Crates meet ISPM-15 requirements for international shipments.
3. Shipping & Freight Services: Arrangement of shipping through major carriers including air freight, LTL (less-than-truckload), full truckload, and ocean freight. The network calculates rates from major carriers and provides rate comparisons. Domestic and international shipping services are offered, including LCL consolidation and full container loads.
4. Freight/Transit Insurance: Freight insurance offered as an add-on service where professionals help customers assess item value and assign appropriate insurance coverage. No limit on insurance for items packed by The Packaging Store. Covers damage and loss during transit.
5. Packaging Supplies Sales: Sale of packaging materials and supplies including boxes, tape, cushioning materials, protective packaging, and other shipping essentials. One location stocks over 140 box sizes.
6. Fulfillment Services: Order fulfillment services for business customers including packaging of shipments, shipping coordination, paperwork handling, and warehouse services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Handle With Care Packaging Store is a franchise network of 350+ independently owned and operated pack-and-ship service centers that provide professional packing, custom crating, domestic and international shipping/freight coordination, packaging supplies, and fulfillment services. The network specializes in items that standard carriers struggle with—Fragile, Large, Awkward, and Valuable (FLAV) goods such as antiques, artwork, furniture, electronics, medical equipment, and industrial machinery—and backs shipments with foam-in-place encasement, ISPM-15 certified wood crates, and Federal Maritime Commission-licensed OTI services for international ocean freight.

Product overview

Handle With Care Packaging Store is a franchise network of over 350 independently owned and operated pack-and-ship service centers providing comprehensive shipping and logistics solutions across North America. The company operates as a single unified service offering built around core capabilities in shipping, crating, and custom packaging, supported by specialized services for fragile, valuable, oversized, and awkwardly-shaped items. The portfolio centers on Shipping, Crating, and Custom Packaging as the primary service pillars, with supporting services including Freight Insurance, International Shipping, Ocean Shipping, Packing, Pickup & Delivery, and various specialty shipping categories (Antique, Art, Computer, Electronics, Equipment, Furniture, Medical, Technology). Additional value-add services include Foam in Place & Custom Foam, Fulfillment Services, Long-Term Storage, Moving Services, On-Site Packing, Trade Show Logistics, Warehouse Services, White Glove Delivery, and Notary Services. The company positions itself as experts in shipping items that standard carriers cannot handle, serving both residential and commercial customers with a network of franchise locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Domestic Shipping and Freight Coordination Domestic shipping of parcels and freight (air freight, LTL and FTL) coordinated across major carriers with rate comparison, pickup and delivery. Designed for residential customers and businesses needing reliable delivery of standard, fragile, oversized, or valuable items within the U.S.
• International Shipping (Air and Ocean Freight) Worldwide shipping service offering air freight, LCL ocean consolidation, full container loads, and customs documentation handling for personal and commercial goods. Provides ISPM-15-compliant export packaging and full paperwork management for items shipped internationally.
• Custom Crating Build-to-order wooden crates and custom protective containers for fragile, oversized, awkward, and valuable items that exceed standard packaging. Domestic crates for any shipment; export crates built to ISPM-15 heat-treated standards and stamped in compliance with IPPC regulations for international cargo.
• Custom Packaging Custom boxes and crates constructed to fit the specific dimensions and fragility profile of each item, using the company's proprietary packaging indexes to match materials and techniques to item needs and ensure damage-free arrival.
• Professional Packing Full-service professional packing of items on behalf of customers using appropriate materials, techniques, and equipment at the storefront or on-site for items too large or delicate to transport to a location. Designed for fragile, valuable, oversized, or awkwardly shaped items customers prefer not to pack themselves.
• Foam-in-Place Custom Packaging Custom foam packaging in which a uniquely formulated liquid is set into a custom box or crate; wrapped items are placed into the pliable foam which expands and hardens around them into a custom protective encasement. Used for fragile, valuable, or awkwardly shaped items.
• Pickup and Delivery Door-to-door pickup and delivery at origin and destination, with premium white-glove options including two-man delivery, inside placement, unpacking, and debris removal for fragile or valuable items.
• Freight and Transit Insurance Shipping insurance coverage for valuables against damage and loss during transit, with professionals helping customers assess item value and assign appropriate coverage. There is no upper limit on coverage for items the company packs.
• Order Fulfillment Services Order fulfillment for business customers including packaging of shipments, shipping coordination, paperwork handling, and warehouse services for storage and shipment preparation. Designed for mail-order businesses, e-commerce, and recurring commercial shipping needs.
• Packaging Supplies Retail Retail sale of packaging materials including boxes (over 140 box sizes carried at one location), tape, cushioning materials, protective packaging, and other shipping essentials for customers who choose to pack items themselves or need supplies for moves and shipments.
• Long-Term Storage Secure storage services for valuables and goods requiring extended holding periods. Used by individual and business customers needing secure intermediate or long-term storage of items being shipped, sold, or relocated.
• On-Site and Trade Show Packing Mobile packing services where technicians travel to customer locations to package items too large or delicate to bring into a store, plus specialized logistics for trade show materials and exhibition shipments.
• Small Shipment and Moving Services Alternative moving and shipping solutions for smaller personal property loads (apartment moves, student relocations) compared to full-service ICC-licensed movers. Includes senior downsizing support for sentimental possessions.
• Notary Services Commissioned and insured notary public services including document witnessing and loan signing agent services offered at certain franchise locations. Designed for individual consumers and small businesses needing convenient in-store notarization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.8% satisfaction rate on international shipping
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Annex Brands, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnex Brands, Inc. is the franchisor of the Handle With Care Packaging Store network. Many locations maintain an agent relationship with Annex Brands, which employs an Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission. Annex Brands carries out OTI services as an agent (issuing NVOCC House Ocean Bills of Lading) in compliance with FMC regulations. Annex Brands provides the international shipping infrastructure, licensing, and franchise support for the network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FedEx Office: FedEx-owned retail print, pack, and ship network providing direct access to FedEx transportation services. Competes head-to-head with Handle With Care for packing, shipping, and freight services across both consumer and business segments.
• Navis Pack & Ship: Sister franchise network under the same parent (Annex Brands, Inc.) operating a comparable pack-and-ship and specialty crating model for fragile, large, awkward, and valuable items. The Handle With Care website links to franchise.gonavis.com, confirming a shared franchisor relationship and directly overlapping services.
• Craters & Freighters: National franchise specializing in custom crating, packing, and freight shipping for oversized, fragile, and high-value items including electronics, medical equipment, and art. Most directly comparable competitor in the specialty FLAV niche.
• Pak Mail: National pack-and-ship and freight franchise offering custom packing, crating, and domestic/international shipping. Closely comparable in franchise structure, service mix, and target customers including fragile, oversized, and high-value items.
• The UPS Store: Largest US pack-and-ship and business-services retail franchise, owned by UPS. Offers packing, shipping, freight, and printing services with direct integration into UPS transportation, making it the dominant direct competitor for both routine and specialty shipments.
• PostalAnnex+: Pack-and-ship and business-services franchise offering packing, shipping, freight, and printing across a national footprint. Competes in the same SMB and consumer segments served by Handle With Care franchisees.

Emerging players

• FreightCenter: Online freight broker comparing LTL and truckload rates across carriers. Competes with Handle With Care's freight arrangement revenue stream by allowing customers to obtain comparable rates directly online.
• ShipBob: Tech-enabled fulfillment and shipping provider for SMB e-commerce merchants. Competes for the same SMB fulfillment and shipping-coordination demand that Handle With Care addresses via its fulfillment services offering.
• uShip: Online marketplace for truckload, LTL, and specialty freight shipping including vehicles, boats, and oversized items. Represents a digital alternative to franchise-based freight arrangement for the same customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• Flexport: Large-scale international freight forwarder and customs broker offering ocean and air services with technology-led visibility. Overlaps with Handle With Care's international shipping/OTI capabilities at a much larger scale and primarily serves enterprise shippers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thepackagingstoreharleysvillepa

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 Handle With Care Packaging Store