Kinko’s, FedEx to Offer Joint Service Over Internet

In a business alliance to be announced today, customers of Kinko’s Inc. will be able to submit printing orders via the Internet then have their orders delivered by FedEx without leaving their homes or offices. Dubbed “Print to Kinko’s,” the service is being offered through the FedEx Web page and through Kinkos.com, a separate company controlled by Kinko’s, the closely held Ventura-based chain of 1,000 document-processing stores. Internet customers would be charged copying rates comparable to walk-in rates at Kinko’s stores as well as regular FedEx shipping rates. The companies would not comment on the value of the agreement. Rick Steele, president and CEO of Alexandria, Va.-based Kinkos.com, said customers worried about online security will be offered an extra layer of encryption when uploading their documents to the site. FedEx, owned by Memphis, Tenn.-based FDX Corp., began shipping documents for Kinko’s in 1994. FedEx employees are currently stationed in 50 Kinko’s stores, with plans to expand into 150 by next May, said Charles Morrison, Kinko’s vice president for product marketing. For same-day document deliveries, Kinko’s now relies on independent messenger services in about 20 cities, growing to 55 by the end of the year, Morrison said.