How to Run a Retail Shipping Business

Shannan Bogle - UPS Store Madison, Wisconsin On Variety Being the Spice of Life: "You never do the same thing twice. And that's what I loved about it was you were always doing something different whether somebody was walking in to have you shipping a book for them and then the next person was having you fax for them, and the next person had an Amazon return. So the variety of it is what caught me." Retail businesses still exist, and the UPS Store franchisees have been growing as people will always need to send something from one place to another. But Shannan Bogle of the UPS Store in Madison, Wisconsin lets us know that her store does so much more than shipping.  After decades in this business, she has an incredible amount to share. Shannan will also tap into the versatility required to manage a UPS store, from printing services to Amazon returns, shedding light on the highs and lows that come with balancing corporate mandates and the independence of franchise ownership. We’ll explore the current business climate's pressures, the impact of the pandemic, and the shift to remote work, as well as the local community dynamics over her 26 years of operation. She delves into each facet of business ownership, retail business ownership, and the ways entrepreneurs can make moves to grow their business. Listen as Shannan explains not only her world, but a broader way of looking at business and finding the gold buried within every business. Enjoy! Visit Shannan at: https://locations.theupsstore.com/wi/madison/6666-odana-rd Podcast Overview:   Podcast Transcription: Shannan Bogle [00:00:00]: The one thing when I did buy it that I thought was funny was they did make me take out, life insurance policy that equaled the loan. Just because there's not enough product in my store James [00:00:11]: Oh. Shannan Bogle [00:00:11]: That would pay off the loan. And since it's all knowledge based, they're like if you get hit by a bus tomorrow, we can't recoup. James [00:00:22]: You have found Authentic Business Adventures, the a business program that brings you the struggle stories and triumphant successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found in the podcast link found at drawincustomers.com. We are locally owner of the UPS Store in Madison, Wisconsin. So, Shannon, how is it going today? Shannan Bogle [00:00:48]: Thank you. Very good. Thanks. James [00:00:51]: I'm excited to learn a few things from you. Thing 1 is how do you end up in the shipping business? Shannan Bogle [00:00:58]: Well, I started out my previous I was a bartender. James [00:01:03]: Oh. Seems like an easy transition. Right? Shannan Bogle [00:01:05]: No. Yeah. Bartending at night is a great job. Bartending during the day, not so much. James [00:01:12]: Oh, just from a financial point of view or just a really crazy drunks come in? Shannan Bogle [00:01:15]: No. You can't make any you don't make money during the day. Oh. Like you do at night. James [00:01:19]: Alright. Shannan Bogle [00:01:19]: So then, luckily I was working at, a bar on road. Mhmm. And a former work coworker came in and said, oh, go talk to John up at the UPS store on road. And I went and talked to him and started there and the rest is history. James [00:01:36]: You end up buying the business? Yeah. Wow. So you went from bartending? Shannan Bogle [00:01:39]: Out. Yep. And I started out on the counter. James [00:01:41]: Alright. Yeah. As an employee? Shannan Bogle [00:01:43]: Yeah. James [00:01:44]: Okay. Shannan Bogle [00:01:44]: Yep. And learned a lot from him and he was a great teacher and he made me a manager and then I expressed interest in wanting to buy it. So we had a contract and about 4 years into the contract, I felt comfortable enough with selling price. Somebody came in and he was shipping out, I'm a nosy person. He came in,