Boone Mailing Center: Promoting Community in the Community—And Shipping Too
Story by Sam Calhoun
“Being kind to people,” answered Whit Whitley, co-owner of both locations of Boone Mailing Center, when asked his secret to success.
His strategy is working. After a year in business, Whit and his wife Marie just opened their second location of Boone Mailing Center at 276-Suite H Watauga Village Drive in Boone next to Wal-Mart. The original location is the log cabin at 1095 East King Street in Boone.
Boone Mailing Center is an all-inclusive operation, offering shipping via UPS, FedEx and the United States Postal Service; a total of 260 24-hour mailboxes between the two stores; a variety of printing services, including brochures, business cards, presentations and invitations; online auction management through eBay; international shipping; and a full-service copy center.
The Whitleys opened their first location in September 2005 and their new location on Thursday, November 16.
“We really like to make it easy on people. This stuff is tough and people are stressed out already,” said Whit, 33, who has 10 years of experience in the shipping industry. “We just try to make shipping and people’s office and business needs easier. We love it.”
Having owned a Mailbox Express franchise in Wilmington, Whit knew the ropes of the business before he and his family moved permanently to Boone in 2003.
A native of Wilmington, Whit met the Cincinnati, Ohio-born Marie on his home turf seven years ago. Marie was a talented dancer who performed all over the country during her downtime from the Performing School of Creative Arts in New York City.
“She’s traveled all over the world dancing,” smiled Whit.
Wanting to move to the beach, Marie relocated to Wilmington and met Whit shortly thereafter.
“We immediately knew we were supposed to be together,” said Whit, who married Marie less than a year later. Today, the couple of seven years has two children—Haylee, 4, and Tosh, 2.
While still in Wilmington, Whit opened his own Mailbox Express with the help of a friend who originally owned the franchise. During that time, Whit was still touring and playing keyboard with his reggae band, Selah, that frequented the Boone area.
“I just fell in love with the area,” he said. Soon after, Whit introduced Marie to the mountains as well. “She said, ‘I’ve traveled the whole world and there’s no place like Boone.’”
The couple decided that Boone was the place where they’d raise their children. They sold their business and packed their belongings.
Fast-forward to 2005 and the opening of the couple’s first store. With the grand opening close to Christmas, business was good. Through networking and word of mouth, business grew. Not only did their mailing and shipping services take off, but they also became impromptu distributors of pumpkins during Halloween and trees during Christmas. They were on the fast track to becoming integral parts of the community—a status they cherish.
“We’re very grateful to the people here,” said Whit. “We want to thank the people of Boone.”
Whit said that he, his wife and their two full-time employees get compliments all the time, attributing the good word of mouth to the business’s dependable reputation and low prices.
“We’re really honest,” said Whit, who, with his wife, works 50 hours per week while balancing parenthood. “We know that you don’t have to rip people off to make a living.”
In addition to all of the services at Boone Mailing Center, the store also offers some special services that set it apart from a typical mailing center. Customers of Boone Mailing Center enjoy the store’s account service that allows clients to visit the store whenever they want, drop off packages and a pay a consolidated bill at the end of each month. The center also offers a drop off and pick up service. For clients who live in the city limits, a mailing center employee will pick up a package that needs expedited delivery or shipping and mail it.
The Boone Mailing Center also has implemented some green practices.
“We try to recycle as much as possible,” said Whit, who uses used packing peanuts in all of his shipping.
So how is working with his significant other?
“She’s a great business partner. I couldn’t ask for a better partner,” said Whit, who added that he and his wife didn’t get along as well when they worked two separate jobs.
“I expect to be successful in Boone because of the people—they’re great,” added Whit, who said that he strives to treat each person who walks through the door with respect.
So what’s next?
According to Whit, if the couple decides to expand in the future, it will probably be toward Lenoir.
Both locations of the Boone Mailing Center are open and operational. Whit recommends that those who need to ship gifts for the holidays bring them to the center before December 23 to save money. Packages will still ship on December 24, “but it’s expensive,” he said.
Boone Mailing Center has two locations—the original, located at 1095 East King Street in Boone, and the new location at 276-Suite H Watauga Village Drive in Boone next to Wal-Mart. Both stores are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call the King Street location at 828-263-9202 or the Watauga Village Drive location at 828-264-4524
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