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August 2000 |
Volume II, Issue XIV |
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August 2000 |
Volume II, Issue XIV |
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Under terms of the agreement, kinkos.com and FedEx will launch a co-branded application this fall that will be accessible at kinkos.com and via links at www.fedex.com. Today, customers can utilize this service, dubbed "Print to Kinko's," at www.kinkos.com for same-day delivery in 20 major markets and overnight delivery throughout the country. Powered by kinkos.com's proprietary technology, in a single transaction from their desktop, customers can prepare documents in multiple finished formats, such as black and white copies, bound color presentations and color transparencies, and ship the finished documents to multiple recipients. Furthermore, the customer can include personalized memos with each package and specify various arrival times, including same-day and overnight delivery. FedEx is the exclusive express shipping provider for all overnight deliveries for kinkos.com. By year's end, same-day delivery via local couriers will be offered in 55 markets, covering 80 percent of the U.S. population. Also, in the coming months, the companies plan to expand service to select international markets and to offer in-store pick up in select Kinko's locations. "Whether to the corporate business traveler, consumer or small-business professional, we're delivering online document and business solutions that put customers in control, while assuring them that their most important documents will be handled professionally every step of the way. By leveraging our proprietary technology with Kinko's fulfillment expertise and vast retail presence and FedEx's extensive air/ground infrastructure, we are well positioned to be the dominant player in the Web-based print and delivery arena," explained Rick Steele, president and CEO, kinkos.com. With the launch of the co-branded application and on an ongoing basis, the companies will continue to enhance this service to include, among other things, direct support for other native file formats, additional paper sizes and types and other binding and delivery options. Customer support is available for this Web-based printing and delivery service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via live Web chat, email and a toll free telephone number. "Integrating FedEx capabilities with key applications creates all-new opportunities both for us and our allies," said David Roussain, vice president of electronic commerce, FedEx. "This alliance with kinkos.com creates a new application that serves many markets and provides our customers time-savings and efficiency. Our customers can and do expect the very best from Kinko's and FedEx." Currently, FedEx operates staffed World Service Centers(R), offering a full complement of express shipping solutions, in more than 50 U.S. Kinko's branches. The number of FedEx staffed locations is expected to increase to 150 by May of 2001. Each FedEx-Kinko's location will offer the latest document drop-off time available in that zip code area. To offer customers even greater flexibility, documents can be printed and shipped online until 9 p.m. EST for next-business-day delivery or 8 p.m. local time for same-day delivery in specific markets. "Kinko's, Inc. and FedEx have been allies for more than six years working together to seamlessly integrate document printing, finishing and overnight shipping. Increasing FedEx's presence in our branches means that customers can truly make Kinko's their one-stop solution for all their document needs," explained Joseph Hardin, Jr., president and CEO, Kinko's, Inc. "By moving the FedEx alliance online and taking advantage of Kinko's more than 1,000 digitally connected branches and the services offered on kinkos.com, we bring to market a clicks-and-bricks offering that provides customers with a unique experience that is fast, convenient and reliable." "The FedEx-Kinko's relationship unites the most recognized brand name in the quick print industry and the most trusted name in the transportation industry," said Glenn Sessoms, vice president, retail operations and strategies, FedEx. "Both companies share a strong reputation among business professionals as providers of fast, efficient and reliable solutions for their customers, and we look forward to expanding our relationship." |
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Ken Leslie, |
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Publisher |
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Andi Serratos, |
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Editor in Chief |
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©2000 |
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In a strategic move that leverages two
established, trusted brands to improve the way businesses manage and
distribute documents, kinkos.com(TM), Kinko's Inc.(R) and
FedEx(R)(NYSE:FDX) unveiled an unprecedented, exclusive U.S. alliance to
provide customers with solutions for time-definite document printing and
finishing with same and next day delivery. Also, FedEx and Kinko's are
expanding their existing retail relationship that has been in place since
1994.