Annex Brands Stores Offer Shoppers Tips for Supporting Their Local Small Businesses

Packaging and Shipping Specialists Celebrate National Small Business Week by Highlighting the Contributions of Small Businesses to Healthy Local Economies

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - Apr 18, 2012) - Participating members of the Annex Brands franchise network, comprised of PostalAnnex+, Navis Pack & Ship, AIM Mail Center, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship stores nationwide, are offering small business owners 100 free black and white copies during National Small Business Week, May 20-26, to show support for the role that entrepreneurs play in building and maintaining healthy local economies. National Small Business Week, sponsored annually by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), celebrates the economic impact that small businesses have on both the local and national level.
"Our franchisees are small business owners," said Steve Goble, vice president of marketing communications for Annex Brands, "and they understand both the challenges and rewards of small business ownership. They also understand the value that small businesses bring to their own community and to communities throughout America, and they are proud to support their fellow entrepreneurs."
According to statistics compiled by the SBA, between 1993 and 2009 small businesses were responsible for 65 percent of the 15 million net new jobs created -- making small businesses crucial to economic development and new jobs creation. Even more important to local communities, according to Goble, is the fact that studies show that up to three times as much money stays in the local economy when products and services are purchased from locally owned businesses rather than national chain stores.
"We hope that all small business owners will take advantage of our free copy offer during National Small Business Week," said Goble. "But shoppers can also play a huge role in helping small businesses thrive all year long. Here are some easy ways to support local entrepreneurs and local economies, too."

• Pay in cash. Credit card companies charge business owners a processing fee for using their services. Using cash saves the business owner from having to pay this fee, which is typically passed along to consumers in price increases.
• Rave about them online. Many new customers turn to review websites like Google Places and Yelp to figure out where to take their business. Giving local small businesses five star ratings and glowing reviews can help them tremendously by driving new traffic to their stores.
• Help save resources. For example, bringing shopping bags from home is eco-friendly and it saves the business owner from having to purchase more.
• Tell them how you found their business. This helps business owners know which of their advertising dollars are actually bringing in customers.
• Shop at small businesses as often as possible. This keeps local small businesses open and it keeps money in the local community. For example, drink coffee from the local coffee shop; or make home improvement purchases at the local hardware store.

"Local business owners often live, shop, send their children to school, attend religious services and volunteer in the town or city where their business is located," said Goble. "They are invested in supporting the economic growth of their communities. When local shoppers make it a point to support these businesses, they contribute to that growth -- and that's a win-win situation."
PostalAnnex+, Navis Pack & Ship, AIM Mail Center, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship stores are one-stop support centers for packaging, postal and office supply needs as well as back-office support services. For more information, visit www.AnnexBrands.com.

About PostalAnnex+, Navis, AIM Mail Center, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship

PostalAnnex+, Navis, AIM Mail Center, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship stores are members of the Annex Brands franchise network. Their locations offer one-stop support for packaging, shipping and office supply needs. Founded in 1985 in San Diego, Annex Brands has more than 425 locations operating in 41 states across the U.S. and into Canada. All PostalAnnex+, Navis, AIM Mail Center, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees. For more information on the company's services or for franchise information, visit www.AnnexBrands.com.

About Annex Brands

Annex Brands, Inc. is a franchisor of the PostalAnnex+, Navis Pack & Ship, AIM Mail Center, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship brands. Formerly known as Postal Annex+, Inc, Annex Brands is headquartered in San Diego, California. Its brands offer shipping and business services such as moving van, freight shipping, small parcel and overnight document delivery services, private mailbox rental, notary service, high-speed copying in black & white and color, office supplies, web site/e-commerce services, faxing service, printing, stationery, rubber address stamps, key duplication, greeting cards and assorted gift items, all in a convenient, service-oriented environment. To find out more about the company, visit www.AnnexBrands.com.

Contact:

Steve Goble
Vice President of Marketing Communications
Annex Brands, Inc.
sgoble@annexbrands.com
619-563-4800