Unishippers opens in Anchorage.

• Position: Transportation - Alaska - Brief Article

Unishippers, a franchise system offering shipping solutions via 300 franchises in 49 states, recently opened local operations in Anchorage. Unishippers provides shipping services for oversized freight to express letters.

Unishippers was founded in 1987 and reported sales of more than $250 million, yet establishing a franchise in Alaska took longer than expected. Unishippers vice president of sales, Tom Gyuro said, "Part of the reason was because Alaska, like Hawaii, which was the second-to-last U.S. market Unishippers entered, has separate service guarantees, rate structures, and modes of transportation from the rest of the country. We were just unable to find the right person, with the right background to make this market successful."

That was until Matt Johnston, who previously owned the Spokane, Wash., franchise, decided he was ready for a change. "I enjoy outdoor activities and. had been visiting Alaska a couple dines a year for several years," he said. "During a trip last June...