Sir Speedy Parent Adds PIP Printing to Roster

Franchise Services Inc., the parent company of the Sir Speedy quick-printing center chain, said Thursday it has acquired the Postal Instant Press Inc. chain for an undisclosed price.

Agoura Hills-based Postal Instant Press, known as PIP Printing, operates 600 quick-printing centers across the country. Sir Speedy operates more than 800 units in the United States and 13 other countries. Combined revenue for the two chains will exceed $700 million.

Franchise Services acquired Postal Instant Press from Kane-Miller Inc. The two chains will keep their names and be operated independently, according to Franchise Services spokesman Mike Ebbing.

The consolidation is part of an ongoing wave of change that’s sweeping through the $10-billion quick-print industry. Competitors such as Sir Speedy, Postal Instant Press and Ventura-based Kinko’s have all been expanding beyond their core copy businesses into new services.

Competitors now are able to electronically transmit documents for customers and print them at multiple locations. Sir Speedy has also added full-color, digital printing services.

Earlier this year, Kinko’s said it will use $200 million from a New York-based investment fund to finance expansion. Kinko’s has more than 840 stores and 23,000 employees.

Kinko’s, which initially targeted college students, now markets itself to home offices and small businesses. Its locations offer on-site computer rentals, fax services, color printing and overnight mailing.

Franchise Services also owns the 30-unit Copies Now quick-printing chain and MultiCopy International, which provides quick-printing services in Europe. Another company owned by the Mission Viejo-based holding company is Comprehensive Business Services Inc., a franchise network of more than 300 accounting practices in the United States and Canada.