Mailing service closes doors at Kansas Union location

By Regina Cassell     Jan 4, 2002

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
Postal services operated by Mail Boxes Etc. will close after two years in the Kansas Union on the Kansas University campus. Union officials are considering adding a travel agency to take the place of the Mail Boxes' location on the fourth floor. Old signs remained at the service facility Thursday.

Kansas University students won’t be able to mail a package at the Kansas Union this spring, but they may be able to plan a vacation.

Mail Boxes Etc. is closing after two years on the union’s fourth floor, and union officials say they may recruit a travel agency to take its place.

“It seems to be something that works with our mission and hopefully will generate some traffic for the area,” said Pat Beard, director of building services.

Revenues not traffic were a problem for Mail Boxes Etc. since it opened in January 2000. Beard said the mailing and copying business averaged 7,000 customers per month but lost $10,000 during 2001, when it was operated by the union.

Mail Boxes Etc. operated the site during 2000, but owner/operator Eric Corp declined to say how much money he lost during that year.

“Most people just wanted one stamp to mail a letter,” Corp said. “It was just small, incidental stuff that doesn’t really add up.”

Corp also owns Mail Boxes Etc. stores at 3514 Clinton Parkway and in Kansas City, Mo.

After deciding to close Mail Boxes Etc., union officials mailed requests for proposals to about 25 copying and mailing businesses. None responded.

That left them wondering what type of business would prosper in the 500-square-foot space in the union’s lobby. One possibility was a barber shop.

But after a local travel agency showed interest in the space, union officials have decided to mail requests for proposals to area travel agencies. Beard declined to say which agency wanted to rent the space.

“It’s a little hole in the wall, basically, but the exposure is about as good as you can get,” Beard said.

Maupintour operated a Kansas Union office for many years, and International Tours operated one as recently as 1999, Beard said.

Beard said he hoped to fill the space sometime during the spring semester. He said the union would install coin-operated copy machines near its computer lab.

But Mail Boxes Etc.’s departure will leave KU students, faculty and staff without postal services on campus. There are several mail boxes on campus including one in front of the Kansas Union and the Hawk Shop, the union’s convenience store, may begin selling stamps.

“You’ll have to go to the post office,” Beard said. “That’s an inconvenience, but we have to watch our bottom line, too.”

Mailing service closes doors at Kansas Union location

By Regina Cassell     Jan 4, 2002

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
Postal services operated by Mail Boxes Etc. will close after two years in the Kansas Union on the Kansas University campus. Union officials are considering adding a travel agency to take the place of the Mail Boxes' location on the fourth floor. Old signs remained at the service facility Thursday.

Kansas University students won’t be able to mail a package at the Kansas Union this spring, but they may be able to plan a vacation.

Mail Boxes Etc. is closing after two years on the union’s fourth floor, and union officials say they may recruit a travel agency to take its place.

“It seems to be something that works with our mission and hopefully will generate some traffic for the area,” said Pat Beard, director of building services.

Revenues not traffic were a problem for Mail Boxes Etc. since it opened in January 2000. Beard said the mailing and copying business averaged 7,000 customers per month but lost $10,000 during 2001, when it was operated by the union.

Mail Boxes Etc. operated the site during 2000, but owner/operator Eric Corp declined to say how much money he lost during that year.

“Most people just wanted one stamp to mail a letter,” Corp said. “It was just small, incidental stuff that doesn’t really add up.”

Corp also owns Mail Boxes Etc. stores at 3514 Clinton Parkway and in Kansas City, Mo.

After deciding to close Mail Boxes Etc., union officials mailed requests for proposals to about 25 copying and mailing businesses. None responded.

That left them wondering what type of business would prosper in the 500-square-foot space in the union’s lobby. One possibility was a barber shop.

But after a local travel agency showed interest in the space, union officials have decided to mail requests for proposals to area travel agencies. Beard declined to say which agency wanted to rent the space.

“It’s a little hole in the wall, basically, but the exposure is about as good as you can get,” Beard said.

Maupintour operated a Kansas Union office for many years, and International Tours operated one as recently as 1999, Beard said.

Beard said he hoped to fill the space sometime during the spring semester. He said the union would install coin-operated copy machines near its computer lab.

But Mail Boxes Etc.’s departure will leave KU students, faculty and staff without postal services on campus. There are several mail boxes on campus including one in front of the Kansas Union and the Hawk Shop, the union’s convenience store, may begin selling stamps.

“You’ll have to go to the post office,” Beard said. “That’s an inconvenience, but we have to watch our bottom line, too.”

Mailing service closes doors at Kansas Union location

By Regina Cassell     Jan 4, 2002

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
Postal services operated by Mail Boxes Etc. will close after two years in the Kansas Union on the Kansas University campus. Union officials are considering adding a travel agency to take the place of the Mail Boxes' location on the fourth floor. Old signs remained at the service facility Thursday.

Kansas University students won’t be able to mail a package at the Kansas Union this spring, but they may be able to plan a vacation.

Mail Boxes Etc. is closing after two years on the union’s fourth floor, and union officials say they may recruit a travel agency to take its place.

“It seems to be something that works with our mission and hopefully will generate some traffic for the area,” said Pat Beard, director of building services.

Revenues not traffic were a problem for Mail Boxes Etc. since it opened in January 2000. Beard said the mailing and copying business averaged 7,000 customers per month but lost $10,000 during 2001, when it was operated by the union.

Mail Boxes Etc. operated the site during 2000, but owner/operator Eric Corp declined to say how much money he lost during that year.

“Most people just wanted one stamp to mail a letter,” Corp said. “It was just small, incidental stuff that doesn’t really add up.”

Corp also owns Mail Boxes Etc. stores at 3514 Clinton Parkway and in Kansas City, Mo.

After deciding to close Mail Boxes Etc., union officials mailed requests for proposals to about 25 copying and mailing businesses. None responded.

That left them wondering what type of business would prosper in the 500-square-foot space in the union’s lobby. One possibility was a barber shop.

But after a local travel agency showed interest in the space, union officials have decided to mail requests for proposals to area travel agencies. Beard declined to say which agency wanted to rent the space.

“It’s a little hole in the wall, basically, but the exposure is about as good as you can get,” Beard said.

Maupintour operated a Kansas Union office for many years, and International Tours operated one as recently as 1999, Beard said.

Beard said he hoped to fill the space sometime during the spring semester. He said the union would install coin-operated copy machines near its computer lab.

But Mail Boxes Etc.’s departure will leave KU students, faculty and staff without postal services on campus. There are several mail boxes on campus including one in front of the Kansas Union and the Hawk Shop, the union’s convenience store, may begin selling stamps.

“You’ll have to go to the post office,” Beard said. “That’s an inconvenience, but we have to watch our bottom line, too.”

Mailing service closes doors at Kansas Union location

By Regina Cassell     Jan 4, 2002

Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
Postal services operated by Mail Boxes Etc. will close after two years in the Kansas Union on the Kansas University campus. Union officials are considering adding a travel agency to take the place of the Mail Boxes' location on the fourth floor. Old signs remained at the service facility Thursday.

Kansas University students won’t be able to mail a package at the Kansas Union this spring, but they may be able to plan a vacation.

Mail Boxes Etc. is closing after two years on the union’s fourth floor, and union officials say they may recruit a travel agency to take its place.

“It seems to be something that works with our mission and hopefully will generate some traffic for the area,” said Pat Beard, director of building services.

Revenues not traffic were a problem for Mail Boxes Etc. since it opened in January 2000. Beard said the mailing and copying business averaged 7,000 customers per month but lost $10,000 during 2001, when it was operated by the union.

Mail Boxes Etc. operated the site during 2000, but owner/operator Eric Corp declined to say how much money he lost during that year.

“Most people just wanted one stamp to mail a letter,” Corp said. “It was just small, incidental stuff that doesn’t really add up.”

Corp also owns Mail Boxes Etc. stores at 3514 Clinton Parkway and in Kansas City, Mo.

After deciding to close Mail Boxes Etc., union officials mailed requests for proposals to about 25 copying and mailing businesses. None responded.

That left them wondering what type of business would prosper in the 500-square-foot space in the union’s lobby. One possibility was a barber shop.

But after a local travel agency showed interest in the space, union officials have decided to mail requests for proposals to area travel agencies. Beard declined to say which agency wanted to rent the space.

“It’s a little hole in the wall, basically, but the exposure is about as good as you can get,” Beard said.

Maupintour operated a Kansas Union office for many years, and International Tours operated one as recently as 1999, Beard said.

Beard said he hoped to fill the space sometime during the spring semester. He said the union would install coin-operated copy machines near its computer lab.

But Mail Boxes Etc.’s departure will leave KU students, faculty and staff without postal services on campus. There are several mail boxes on campus including one in front of the Kansas Union and the Hawk Shop, the union’s convenience store, may begin selling stamps.

“You’ll have to go to the post office,” Beard said. “That’s an inconvenience, but we have to watch our bottom line, too.”

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