FedEx Office
A FedEx-owned retail network offering printing, copying, packaging, shipping, and related business services.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
FedEx Office is the retail print, shipping, packaging, and business-services brand operated by FedEx Corporation in the United States. Its roots date to 1970, when Paul Orfalea opened the first Kinko's copy shop beside the University of California, Santa Barbara campus. The small copy operation grew into a distinctive retail network serving students, small businesses, home offices, creatives, and consumers who needed accessible document production or shipping facilities. The brand developed differently from a conventional franchise chain. During its expansion, Kinko's consisted of numerous partnerships linking individual store operators with the founder. By 1997, more than 127 such partnerships had been established, and the company subsequently moved toward a centralized corporate structure. Orfalea sold a substantial interest to the investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 1997 and left the company in 2000 after disputes with the firm. Kinko's became particularly associated with late-night and community-oriented document production during the 1980s and 1990s. Its stores were used by students, writers, artists, self-publishers, small organizations, and people producing posters, pamphlets, booklets, and other short-run materials. Kinko's moved its headquarters from Ventura, California, to Dallas, Texas, in 2002. In February 2004, FedEx acquired the company for approximately $2.4 billion. The business was initially integrated and marketed as FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers, combining Kinko's retail print infrastructure with FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping services. The acquisition also changed the operating character of many stores: locations that had commonly operated around the clock before the transaction saw their hours reduced after FedEx ownership. On June 2, 2008, FedEx announced that it would replace the FedEx Kinko's identity with FedEx Office. The change positioned the chain as FedEx's retail outlet for shipping and document-related services rather than as a standalone copy-shop brand. Some stores retained older signage during the transition, and references to Kinko's continued in public usage for years. The chain is corporate-owned, unlike The UPS Store, whose network primarily uses franchised locations. FedEx Office serves individual and commercial customers with copying and digital printing, document finishing, signs and graphics, marketing materials, office support, packing, and access to FedEx shipping services. Its business has historically emphasized small-business and home-office users, while also supporting students, event organizers, professionals, and consumers handling occasional print or shipment needs. The brand's operating footprint has included thousands of facilities at various points, with the United States remaining its principal market. The company previously pursued international expansion. Locations or operations existed in markets including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, although several of those operations were later closed or sold. FedEx closed its Canadian FedEx Office stores, a Markham manufacturing plant, and its Toronto head office in 2017 while retaining Canadian shipping operations. In 2018, FedEx announced plans to open 500 FedEx Office stores inside Walmart locations across the United States. As part of FedEx's broader operating-model consolidation, FedEx Office was brought under the Federal Express Corporation operating company by June 2024.
History
FedEx Office began as Kinko's, founded by Paul Orfalea in 1970. Orfalea opened the first shop in Isla Vista, California, next to the University of California, Santa Barbara, using a sidewalk copy machine. The concept focused on convenient, accessible copying and document production in a college community, then expanded to serve a broader population of students, independent professionals, small businesses, and creative customers. Kinko's grew through a network of partnerships rather than a standard franchise system. Store operators formed loosely connected partnerships with Orfalea, and by 1997 the company had more than 127 such arrangements. The structure helped support local ownership and expansion but later required extensive legal and corporate reorganization. Clayton, Dubilier & Rice acquired a substantial stake in 1997. Orfalea left the company in 2000 after a dispute with the investment firm. Kinko's subsequently became more centralized and corporate in its management. During the 1980s and 1990s, Kinko's stores became associated with late-night copying and self-directed publishing. They served a wide variety of users, including students, writers, artists, musicians, small organizations, and independent publishers. The stores were often used for short-run books, flyers, posters, zines, pamphlets, presentations, and other materials that were difficult or expensive to produce through traditional commercial printers. The company relocated its headquarters from Ventura, California, to Dallas, Texas, in 2002. FedEx purchased Kinko's in February 2004 for approximately $2.4 billion. The acquired business became known as FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers and was incorporated into FedEx's retail network. FedEx added shipping capabilities and aligned the stores with FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services. Many locations that had traditionally operated 24 hours a day reduced their hours after the acquisition. In June 2008, FedEx announced that FedEx Kinko's would become FedEx Office. The rebrand sought to clarify that the chain was a FedEx retail business providing more than copying alone. Older Kinko's signs remained at some locations during the transition, and the former name continued to have cultural recognition. Unlike The UPS Store, FedEx Office locations are corporate-owned rather than primarily franchised. Kinko's and FedEx Office pursued international operations at different times, including activity in Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Demand and restructuring led to withdrawals from several markets. FedEx later sold its Japanese and South Korean operations to Konica Minolta. In 2017, FedEx announced the closure of its Canadian FedEx Office stores, a Markham plant, and its Toronto head office, while preserving its Canadian shipping business. The modern FedEx Office proposition combines retail printing and document services with shipping, packing, marketing materials, signs, graphics, and office support. The chain targets consumers as well as small businesses and home offices. In 2018 it announced plans for 500 stores inside Walmart locations in the United States. FedEx's DRIVE-era operating-company consolidation subsequently placed FedEx Office within the Federal Express Corporation structure, a process described as largely complete by June 2024.
- 2024
FedEx Office joins consolidated Federal Express structure
[1]FedEx's operating-company consolidation is described as largely complete, placing FedEx Office under Federal Express Corporation alongside other FedEx operations.
- 2018
Walmart store expansion announced
[1]FedEx Office announces plans to establish 500 stores inside Walmart locations in the United States.
- 2017
Canadian FedEx Office network closes
[1]FedEx announces the closure of its Canadian FedEx Office stores and associated facilities while retaining Canadian shipping operations.
- 2008
FedEx Kinko's becomes FedEx Office
[1]FedEx announces the new FedEx Office identity for its retail print and shipping business.
- 2004
FedEx buys Kinko's
[1]FedEx acquires Kinko's for approximately $2.4 billion and begins integrating the copy and office-services chain with its shipping network.
- 2002
Headquarters moves to Dallas
[1]Kinko's relocates its headquarters from Ventura, California, to Dallas, Texas.
- 2000
Paul Orfalea leaves Kinko's
[1]The founder departs following a dispute with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.
- 1997
Kinko's partnership network is reorganized
[1]Kinko's begins consolidating its numerous store partnerships into a more centralized corporate structure after Clayton, Dubilier & Rice acquires a substantial interest.
- 1970
First Kinko's copy shop opens
[1]Paul Orfalea opens the first Kinko's location in Isla Vista, California, beside the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Products and positioning
A convenient, corporate-owned retail service network that connects FedEx shipping with accessible print, copy, packaging, document-finishing, marketing, and office-support services.
Printing · 1970
Print and copy services
Core services include black-and-white and color copying, digital printing, document reproduction, and production of short-run materials. Customers can use the network for presentations, reports, flyers, posters, booklets, and other documents that require rapid retail fulfillment.
Marketing and graphics
Signs, graphics, and marketing materials
FedEx Office produces business cards, promotional materials, signs, banners, and other visual communications. These offerings extend the brand beyond basic copying into small-business marketing and event-related production.
Shipping and packaging · 2004
Packing and shipping
Stores provide packing assistance, packaging supplies, shipment acceptance, and access to FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services, including residential delivery options. The retail network connects physical store visits with FedEx's wider transportation infrastructure.
Business services
Office and document services
The chain supports customers with document finishing, binding, scanning, and related office tasks. These services are intended for individuals, home offices, students, and small businesses that need occasional access to workplace equipment or production capabilities.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Walmart store-within-a-store expansion
United States
FedEx Office announced a plan to open 500 locations inside Walmart stores, extending customer access through retail co-location.
Outcome. The announcement represented a major planned expansion of the physical retail footprint.
- 2008FedEx Office rebranding campaign
United States
FedEx replaced the FedEx Kinko's name with FedEx Office and used the transition to present the chain as the retail arm of its broader shipping and business-services network.
Outcome. The FedEx Office name became the principal identity, although Kinko's signage and informal usage persisted during the transition.
Brand decisions
2023
Join FedEx operating-company consolidationStrategyBackground
FedEx announced a DRIVE-era plan to consolidate its operating companies into one organization.
Action taken
FedEx Office was brought together with other FedEx businesses under the Federal Express Corporation operating company, with the process largely completed by June 2024.
Aftermath
FedEx Office remains a retail-facing brand within the consolidated FedEx operating structure.
2018
Expand through Walmart locationsStrategyBackground
FedEx Office pursued broader physical access to customers through a partnership-style retail presence.
Action taken
FedEx Office announced plans for 500 stores inside Walmart locations across the United States.
Aftermath
The plan expanded the brand's intended reach beyond conventional standalone stores.
2017
Withdraw from Canadian FedEx Office retail operationsStrategyBackground
FedEx reviewed its Canadian retail office-services footprint while maintaining its Canadian shipping business.
Action taken
FedEx announced the closure of 24 Canadian stores, a Markham manufacturing plant, and its Toronto head office.
Aftermath
FedEx Office exited Canadian retail operations, while FedEx shipping services continued in Canada.
2008
Replace FedEx Kinko's with FedEx OfficeStrategyBackground
The Kinko's identity remained strongly associated with copying, while FedEx wanted the retail chain to communicate a broader set of shipping and office services.
Action taken
FedEx announced a new FedEx Office brand and began replacing store signage and customer-facing materials.
Aftermath
The new name became the standard brand, while legacy Kinko's references remained visible at some locations during the transition.
2004
Acquire Kinko'sM&ABackground
FedEx sought to combine its parcel network with Kinko's established retail printing and office-services presence.
Action taken
FedEx purchased Kinko's for approximately $2.4 billion and integrated the business as FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers.
Aftermath
The chain became a customer-facing outlet for FedEx shipping as well as printing and business services; many locations also reduced their former 24-hour schedules.
Acquisition price. Approximately $2.4 billion (February 2004)
Recent events
Canva and FedEx Office partner on design-to-print integration[3]
Reported:
Canva partnered with FedEx Office on a design-to-print integration intended to help businesses reopen; FedEx customers can use Canva templates, images and illustrations to create print materials.
Sources3 sources
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