Unishippers Launches Powerful New Website
New Website Includes International Shipping Tools

In response to the increased need for online tools for international shipping, Unishippers is pleased to announce the availability of state-of-the-art international shipping capabilities in its newly updated website, Unishippers.com.

Launched in February 2008, the new Unishippers.com includes DHL international shipping capabilities which are fully integrated within the application. In addition to displaying rates for DHL shipping to destinations all over the world, the website helps users fill out important documentation such as the Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) and the Commercial Invoice. The site also assists users in submitting the appropriate information electronically to the U.S. government, and allows them to print documents that must accompany the shipment for customs. Here are a few tips for easily processing your international shipments online.

Determining Dutiable vs. Non Dutiable
One very important step in preparing an international shipment is to determine whether an item is dutiable (taxable) by an individual country. Unishippers.com makes this process very simple during the "prepare a shipment" step by seamlessly linking to the DHL website. Just enter the information related to your international shipment, including the destination contact information and sender information, along with shipment and billing details.

Then choose the category that best describes what you are shipping. To select multiple commodities, simply press and hold the Ctrl or Command key, then click on each of your commodities. Once the proper items have been highlighted, click on the "Determine Status" link and it will indicate whether the contents of your shipment to the country you have selected should be marked as Dutiable or Non-Dutiable. If the shipment is dutiable, you will also be required to enter the contents of your shipments. Be sure to complete all of the information on the form.

To determine the Schedule B (Harmonization) code for the item you are shipping, simply click on the Lookup button next to the Schedule B field. A new page on DHL's website will open and allow you to find the correct Schedule B Code. Once you are on DHL's webpage, enter a keyword that best describes the contents of your shipment and click "Search." Choose the code that best describes your shipment and then return to our website and enter that number in the appropriate space. When you have filled in all the required fields, click "Save Item."

Printing Documents and Submitting SED Online
The new Unishippers.com also allows you to print all the documents you will need for your international shipments. Once you have entered all the shipping information, you can go to the "Print Documents" section and then click the "Print" button next to the Waybill, Commercial Invoice and Certificate of Origin documents.

Since the U.S. government allows Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) documents be submitted online, Unishippers.com makes it easy to do so. (Note: An SED must accompany most international shipments with a single commodity valued above $2,500 or containing validated licensed materials as well as to certain countries.) The site can help you create an account with AES Direct, the government site through which electronic SEDs are filed. Once you have your username and password from AES Direct, you can input that information into Unishippers.com which will store it for future shipments. For additional detailed information on international shipping, you may wish to access the following websites: AESDirect.gov and www.Export.gov.

The inclusion of international shipping capabilities in the new Unishippers website is especially important since DHL is the global market leader in international express, overland transport and air freight. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. More than 300,000 DHL employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services to 120,000 destinations.

A special online tutorial, now available on the homepage of Unishippers.com, serves as an easy guide to navigating the new site and its international capabilities. Simply go to www.unishippers.com and click on the tour link. Click here to view the tutorials.

Customer Chronicles
Woodpro Cabinetry Creates Beautiful Custom Products

Woodpro Cabinetry began in January 1977 as two-man custom cabinet shop in Cabool, Missouri. In April 1978, company founders Glen and LeRoy Walls bought the Sunny Hill Poultry Plant building, and after removing the chicken plucking equipment, they went to work building cabinets. Although the building was dimly lit and in need of repair, the brothers were extremely proud of their newly acquired 15,000 square feet building. Having started their business in a very small shop, they thought they would never run out of space. Over the years, however, demand for the company's excellent products grew, and the company expanded the building to 80,000 square feet. Woodpro's management team attributes its dramatic growth to the manufacture of quality, personalized cabinetry, built-to-order in a two-week production cycle.

While hundreds of companies make bath cabinetry and furniture, what sets Woodpro apart are its dedicated employees and its ingenious workflow systems which allow it to dramatically shorten the time it takes to make custom orders. Woodpro is totally committed to delivering on its promise of quality products delivered in record time. For example, in December 1993, a fire destroyed 5% of the company's manufacturing space and dramatically limited material flow and the finish operation. Woodpro work teams arranged for around-the-clock operation and the following week's load was only slightly delayed.

This attention to quality and production speed has created significant customer loyalty over the years. "My greatest satisfaction is the long list of customers who bought from us years ago, and still continue to buy from us," says Glen Walls, co-founder and current vice president of sales at Woodpro.

Naturally, shipping is a crucial part of the company's success, and it has partnered with Unishippers since 2003 to help with its shipping needs. Unishippers assists Woodpro with less-than-truckload shipments of their quality bathroom cabinetry, as well as express and ground DHL shipping of smaller items such as replacement parts, samples and marketing materials.

Woodpro's purchasing manager Lisa Chronister says that Unishippers does a great job of helping them find carriers that fit the company's unique shipping needs. She adds that the customer service provided by her Unishippers office is wonderful. "Being able to go to Unishippers if we have any problem makes my job a lot easier," she says.

Unishippers franchise owner Terrell Barkett agrees that the Unishippers-Woodpro partnership is very positive. "We really value the idea of partnership — that they are committed to us and we're committed to them," says Terrell. "We want to help their business grow by helping them save time, trouble and money."

Did U Know?
What is a Fuel Surcharge?

It is possible that you have heard the fuel surcharge and have seen it appear on your invoice. You may have wondered what it was and what caused the rate fluctuations. In a time of volatile fuel costs, shipping companies are faced with rapidly fluctuating prices. Fuel prices can vary by time of year, region of the country and international events. Rather than trying to react to these factors in their overall pricing structure on a daily basis, most shipping companies have instituted a fuel surcharge based upon national or regional averages.

DHL utilizes an indexed fuel surcharge based on the monthly rounded average of the U.S. Gulf Coast (USGC) price for a gallon of kerosene-type jet fuel as published by the U.S. Department of Energy. DHL applies the industry standard of using this USGC monthly rounded average from the period two months prior to calculate the applicable fuel surcharge percentage. For example, the March 2008 fuel surcharge percentage as calculated by DHL will be based on the USGC monthly rounded average from January 2008. (Research has shown this index is highly correlated with other major fuel price indices worldwide.)

Fuel surcharge for ground shipping is figured similarly, but it is linked to the National U.S. Average On Highway Diesel Fuel Prices reported by the U.S. Department of Energy for the month that is two months prior to the adjustment. For this reason, the fuel surcharge rates for ground shipping may lag behind falling prices consumers pay at the gas pump today.

Since understanding your invoice is important, please feel free to ask us about the current fuel surcharge or any other item you wish to better understand.

Saving U Time, Trouble and Money
DHL Adds Convenience with Walgreens Partnership

Unishippers is pleased to announce that its partner DHL has entered into a strategic agreement with Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, which will more than double the number of retail outlets offering DHL Express shipping services nationally. Walgreens is projected to expand to more than 6,500 locations by the end of 2008 with more than 1,600 stores open 24 hours a day. The Walgreens/DHL agreement brings an unprecedented strategic retail partnership to the express delivery industry with the highest level of convenience and accessibility for small businesses and consumers.

The new agreement is designed to readily service shippers sending and dropping off their packages via DHL for overnight, ground or international delivery. The DHL Shipping Spot will be staffed by Walgreens associates at Walgreens photo counters to weigh, label and ship customer packages to U.S. or international destinations, creating a simple and easy shipping experience.

"DHL's success partnering with a retailer to offer in-store shipping services has proven that American businesses and consumers want the convenience of shipping where they shop, and Walgreens is the perfect partner," said Hans Hickler, CEO of DHL Express (USA). "Expanding DHL's retail presence is an important next step in our U.S. retail strategy, as well as our small to mid-size business growth plans. The combination of shipping within the corner drugstore environment on a national basis is unprecedented and allows both DHL and Walgreens to provide even more convenience to customers in unparalleled ways," continued Hickler.

Walgreens customers will have access to DHL's core express products and services. Shippers will benefit from the convenience of a DHL location "down the street" and "around the corner" that provides access to a global shipping network serving over 220 countries and territories.

"We've seen strong customer response to DHL in-store shipping in test markets," said Walgreens Executive Vice President of Marketing George Riedl. "The service addresses an important need for our time-crunched customer base. This new offering will be another powerful addition to our overall strategy of making life easier for customers."

By end of 2008, DHL will have more than doubled its retail presence with retail shipping locations, including Walgreens and OfficeMax locations. Unishippers customers who use DHL will certainly benefit from the convenience that will result from the Walgreens partnership. And Unishippers customers will continue to receive much more competitive rates due to Unishippers' partnership with DHL. It's just another way Unishippers and its partners are showing their commitment to making the shipping process easier.