DHL launches program in US with independent shipping stores

In the spirit of the holidays and its promise to bring competition to the U.S. express delivery market, DHL, the world’s leading global express delivery and logistics company, today announced the launch of a new nationwide program with independent mail and parcel centers. Under DHL’s new Preferred Provider Program, participating retail shipping stores will adopt DHL as their preferred transportation provider for express delivery and shipping services, and promote DHL services to their customers.

Already more than 1,200 independent retail mail and parcel centers have signed up to participate in the program, the latest initiative launched by DHL as part of an ongoing commitment to better serve consumers and businesses throughout the country.

DHL’s Preferred Provider Program is a voluntary, opt-in program that is open to all independent retail mail and parcel centers that are members of the Associated Mail & Parcel Centers (AMPC) and current licensees of the group’s cooperative buy program and consumer brand, the Neighborhood Postal Center (NPC). Under the terms of the program, DHL provides participating retailers with express and ground shipping services.

“This program demonstrates DHL’s commitment to fostering a new kind of relationship with independent retail mail and parcel stores across the nation while at the same time continuing the expansion of our consumer access points in the U.S. domestic market,” said Rich Corrado, Executive Vice President of Business Development at DHL Americas. “It’s a win-win situation. DHL is delivering on the promise of bringing more choice and more competition to the shipping business in the U.S., while helping independent postal centers retain their independence and continue to grow their business.”

As part of the program, a dedicated toll-free store location number has been established for consumer use, 1-866-WE-GO-DHL. Through this number, consumers across the country can identify the street address of the nearest Neighborhood Postal Center, phone number and hours of operation. DHL is also supporting the program and its retail partners through a number of other marketing efforts, including:

— Holiday television advertising for the program stores in major national markets

— Radio advertising for program stores in major markets during the holiday season

— Inclusion in the DHL drop-off locator

— In-store promotional materials, including full window banners

AMPC is an association of independently owned and operated retail mail and parcel centers that sell transportation services to members of the public, as well as photocopying services, box rentals, notary services, and various other services.

As DHL prepares for the holiday season, these stores will provide customers with easier and more convenient access to DHL services. The Preferred Provider Program, together with 16,000 newly constructed drop boxes that will be added to the DHL network over the coming year, will significantly enhance the company’s street level footprint. DHL’s current network of U. S. customer access points includes DHL Service Centers, DHL drop boxes, and retail shipping locations. DHL’s drop box investment program is expected to significantly increase DHL’s customer access points to over 37,000 throughout the U.S. by the end of 2005. DHL already services every ZIP code in the country.