Bill Gallant, proprietor of Mail-It Unlimited, celebrates 30 years of being in business in Kennebunk at the Shopper’s Village store. (Abigail Worthing photo)
KENNEBUNK – It’s a milestone Bill Gallant, proprietor of Mail-It Unlimited, never thought he’d see.
“When we opened in 1989, celebrating 30 years is not something I thought we’d reach,” Gallant said, sitting in his Portland Road store.
As Mail-It Unlimited celebrates its 30th anniversary at the beginning of March, it will continue with its tradition of giving back with an annual food, clothing, and pet supply drive from March 1 to March 15.
As Gallant speaks about his thriving business, the store hums around him with the activity of milling customers wandering the aisles and staff members moving efficiently throughout. After 30 years of doing business in Kennebunk, Mail-It Unlimited is like a well-oiled machine, packed with artisanal and local products.
Gallant began Mail-It Unlimited in 1989 in a 600-square-foot space in downtown Kennebunk offering shipping and faxing, a space so small that Gallant said it was difficult to operate. Eventually the business would expand the space to 1,200-square-feet, but when the building was slated to be demolished, Gallant and his business were forced to move, this time to the Portland Road plaza it calls home, but first in another location.
“We moved in to the space where Domino’s is now in 1999, and finally had 2,400-square-feet,” Gallant said. “Eighteen months in, the landlord tells me that this space was opening up, and we jumped on it.”
This would be the new home for Mail-It Unlimited, a 6,500-square-foot space centrally located in Shopper’s Village, nestled between Ace Hardware and Fitness Nut House. When Gallant first moved in, the immense space was a big change for the business.
“I would have customers come in and look around and say, ‘You’ll never fill this place,’” Gallant said with a chuckle, gesturing around the store, filled to the brim with gifts and cards. “Well, it’s certainly full now.”
Mail-It Unlimited has become a Kennebunk landmark with its offerings, and is rated third in the country for independent UPS shipping stores.
“When UPS started ranking the authorized shipping outlets 20 years ago, our goal was to crack the top 100,” Gallant said. “Now we’ve been in the top 10 for over 10 years. That’s amazing for a town of this size.”
While the store has expanded to offer a wide array of gifts, shipping has always been the backbone of Mail-It Unlimited, first offering only shipping and faxing, then offering private mailboxes before finally offering a selection of gifts.
“We started small with gifts. We didn’t want to compete with other gift stores in downtown, and when you’re first starting out you’re investing your own money so you want to make sure that you’re careful with what you’re offering,” Gallant said.
That care for detail has carried on within the store, with each item carefully chosen and endorsed by Gallant and his team. He speaks enthusiastically about the store’s many offerings, from the large selection of Yankee Candles, a beautifully wrapped artisanal soap, and a collection of “Quilling Cards,” made by curling thin pieces of paper into pictures on the front of said greeting cards. These new cards join the store’s already impressive offerings, with span the length of one wall.
“People told me 15 years ago that greeting cards were dead, and no one bought them anymore, but every year that has been the highest growth in purchases,” Gallant said.
The Mail-It Unlimited fundraiser has been a yearly occurrence for sometime now and this year is no exception. Raising both money and donated goods for the Animal Welfare Society in West Kennebunk as well as Community Outreach Services, the store will collect donations for two weeks.
Throughout the drive, a UPS truck emblazoned with signs promoting the fundraiser will be parked in front of the Mail-It Unlimited store.
“Last year we had a goal to raise 10,000 pounds,” Gallant said. “We ended up raising close to 11,000 pounds in donations. It was incredible.”
Last year’s fundraiser was especially successful as it was done in memory of Allie, the Gallant family’s beloved golden retriever who would often roam the store with Gallant.
While he will proudly admit that he used to work 70 hours a week keeping the shop going, he works four days a week now. Gallant’s wife of almost 48 years, Anna, is now retired and the two are enjoying spending time together on the days when Gallant isn’t at his shop.
Anna and Bill grew up together in Brewer, where Anna would do the window dressings at a local gift shop, a skill that she has brought to Mail-It Unlimited. Gallant speaks with great pride about her window displays, which will soon flip from Valentine’s Day to Easter.
“We get compliments on the windows all the time,” Gallant said. “She does a beautiful job.”
When asked what is been the best part of the last 30 years at Mail-It Unlimited, Gallant responds easily; the customers.
“I’ve had customers who’ve been with me all 30 years. They’re all wonderful,” Gallant said. “I’ve always said that if you treat people with respect, they’ll give it back to you.”
As for what the future holds, he only knows one thing for sure.
“Another 30 years, I suppose,” he said with a grin.
Those who wish to contribute to the fundraiser can bring donations of nonperishable food, household items, dog food or pet food and toys to Mail-It Unlimited from March 1 to March 15. On March 15, all donated goods will be loaded into the UPS truck and delivered, with a police escort, to the destinations.
“I’m just really, really thankful,” Gallant said. “To reach 30 years is pretty special.”
Contact Staff Writer Abigail Worthing at news@kennebunkpost.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
