# Uline
**Uline** is a privately held, family-owned distributor of shipping, packaging, and industrial supplies headquartered in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, and describes itself as North America's leading distributor in its category.[1](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_History) Founded in 1980 by Liz and Dick Uihlein from their basement, the company now sells more than 43,000 products through a catalog of roughly 900 pages and a network of distribution centers across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with estimated annual revenue near $8 billion.[2](https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-uihlein/) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/uline-trump-mega-donors-underpaid-mexican-workers) Because Uline is private and discloses no financials, all revenue, employee, and facility counts in this article are outside estimates that differ across sources.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980, by Liz and Dick Uihlein from their basement, starting with the H-101 carton sizer (still sold, at $17 each)[1](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_History) • [4](https://www.businessinsider.com/uline-uihlein-cardboard-box-billionaires-reshaping-us-politics-2023-8) |
| Revenue | $6.5 billion in 2020 (internal report); $8 billion in 2024 (Guardian); $8.1 billion Forbes estimate[5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/uline-trump-mega-donors-underpaid-mexican-workers) • [2](https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-uihlein/) |
| Catalog | 890+ pages (company figure), more than 43,000 products, boxes in more than 1,700 sizes[1](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_History) • [2](https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-uihlein/) • [5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) |
| Network | 13 distribution centers and more than 9,000 employees across the US, Mexico, and Canada; company cites over 10,000 North American employees[3](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/uline-trump-mega-donors-underpaid-mexican-workers) • [1](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_History) |
| Shipping promise | 99.5% of orders ship the same day with no backorders, for orders placed by 6 PM; ordering open 24/7/365[6](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_Company) |
| Ownership | Uihlein family; Liz Uihlein is CEO and president, Dick Uihlein chairman; a dynasty trust appears to hold a majority of shares[7](https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.uline_inc.c373d9a63f5748a4ecf572179c1a81ad.html) • [5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) |
| Political spending | Over $450 million backing conservative federal candidates per FEC filings (Forbes); OpenSecrets counts $250+ million federal since 2016 plus $83.8 million state and local since 2022[2](https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-uihlein/) • [8](https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/09/billionaire-megadonor-couple-funding-election-denial-with-extensive-influence-machine-dark-money-network-uihlein/) |
## History
Uline began in 1980 when Liz and Dick Uihlein, recognizing a local need for a shipping supply distributor, started the company from their basement in [Lake Forest, Illinois](https://www.edgepedia.org/lake-forest-illinois) with the H-101 carton sizer as its first product; startup capital came from Richard's father, Edgar Uihlein, of the Schlitz brewing family.[1](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_History) • [9](https://www.anglera.com/blog/uline-distributor-playbook) The H-101 remains in the catalog today at $17 each.[4](https://www.businessinsider.com/uline-uihlein-cardboard-box-billionaires-reshaping-us-politics-2023-8)
**Growth milestones.** The company built a 279,000-square-foot headquarters in Pleasant Prairie in 2010 and a second 300,000-square-foot office on the same campus in 2017, aided by state and local tax incentives.[10](https://archive.ph/phzx7) Tax records obtained by [ProPublica](https://www.edgepedia.org/propublica) show the Uihleins' income from Uline rose from about $18 million in 2002 to $712 million in 2018, a roughly fortyfold increase.[5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) In 2020, as other businesses shut down during the pandemic, sales rose 14% to $6.5 billion according to an internal report.[5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial)
## Business model and operations
Uline sells to businesses rather than consumers, through a large print catalog and e-commerce site. Its stated service promise is speed and availability: order by 6 PM and the order ships the same day, with 99.5% of orders shipping same day and no backorders; ordering is accepted 24/7/365 by phone, fax, or online, and locations across North America speed delivery and minimize shipping costs.[6](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_Company) Warehouses total more than 30 million square feet and support same- or next-day ground delivery to most of the US and Canada.[9](https://www.anglera.com/blog/uline-distributor-playbook)
**Pricing without rebates.** Uline offers volume price breaks on large orders but does not run the rebate and special-pricing programs that distributors typically use to win large accounts, competing on speed and availability rather than discount depth.[9](https://www.anglera.com/blog/uline-distributor-playbook) [Customer retention](https://www.edgepedia.org/customer-retention) is supported by a 30-day guarantee allowing returns for credit or a refund, and by free products such as sports apparel and appliances offered to customers who spend above a certain amount.[11](https://cleverism.com/company/uline/)
## By the numbers
| Measure | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $6.5 billion (2020, +14%); $8 billion (2024); $8.1 billion (Forbes estimate) | ProPublica internal report; Guardian; Forbes[5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/uline-trump-mega-donors-underpaid-mexican-workers) • [2](https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-uihlein/) |
| Products | 43,000+ (Forbes, D&B); 34,000+ in 2018 (NYT) | [2](https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-uihlein/) • [10](https://archive.ph/phzx7) |
| Catalog | 890+ pages (company); 800+ (ProPublica); 900+ (Forbes, D&B) | [1](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_History) • [5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) • [2](https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-uihlein/) |
| Box sizes | More than 1,700 | [5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) |
| Distribution centers | 13 (Guardian, Business Insider); 12 (ProPublica); about 15 US DCs (D&B) | [3](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/uline-trump-mega-donors-underpaid-mexican-workers) • [7](https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.uline_inc.c373d9a63f5748a4ecf572179c1a81ad.html) |
| Warehouse space | More than 30 million square feet | [9](https://www.anglera.com/blog/uline-distributor-playbook) |
| Employees | 9,000+ (Guardian); 10,000+ North American (company) | [3](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/uline-trump-mega-donors-underpaid-mexican-workers) • [1](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_History) |
Distribution centers sit near Chicago, Minneapolis, Allentown, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, Reno, Miami, Columbus, and Boston, plus locations in Mexicali and [Monterrey](https://www.edgepedia.org/monterrey), Mexico, and near Toronto and Edmonton, Canada.[1](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_History)
## How it compares with other distributors
In Modern Distribution Management's JanSan (janitorial and sanitation) distribution rankings, Uline ranks first, ahead of Imperial-Dade with more than $5 billion in 2024 revenue and BradyPlus; W.W. Grainger ranks eighth in JanSan, though its total 2024 revenue of $17.2 billion is more than twice Uline's estimated sales across all categories.[9](https://www.anglera.com/blog/uline-distributor-playbook) The structural difference is pricing: Grainger and comparable broadline distributors commonly use rebate and special-pricing programs for large accounts, while Uline relies on volume price breaks plus its same-day shipping promise.[9](https://www.anglera.com/blog/uline-distributor-playbook) [Business Insider](https://www.edgepedia.org/business-insider) notes that the Uihleins minimized delivery times roughly a decade before Amazon launched.[4](https://www.businessinsider.com/uline-uihlein-cardboard-box-billionaires-reshaping-us-politics-2023-8)
## Ownership and political spending
Uline is owned and operated by the Uihlein family, from which it takes its name.[7](https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.uline_inc.c373d9a63f5748a4ecf572179c1a81ad.html) Liz Uihlein serves as CEO and president and Dick Uihlein as chairman of the board, with family members Brian, Freddy, Steve, and Duke serving as vice presidents.[1](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_History) ProPublica reports that the couple has gradually transferred Uline shares into a "dynasty trust" that appears to hold a majority of the company, a structure designed to avoid estate and transfer taxes.[5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial)
**Scale of giving.** The figures differ by counting method and period. ProPublica reports at least $121 million spent on state and federal politics in the two years before the 2022 elections, making the Uihleins the top federal campaign donors for Republicans.[5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) OpenSecrets counts more than $250 million to federal candidates and groups since the 2016 cycle, over $233 million of it from Richard Uihlein, plus $83.8 million to state and local candidates since the start of the 2022 cycle.[8](https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/09/billionaire-megadonor-couple-funding-election-denial-with-extensive-influence-machine-dark-money-network-uihlein/) Forbes, citing FEC filings, puts the couple's total backing of conservative federal candidates at over $450 million, including more than $140 million in the 2023–2024 cycle.[2](https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-uihlein/) OpenSecrets separately shows $146,027,201 in 2024-cycle contributions associated with Uline Inc, ranking 3 of 40,455 organizations.[12](https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/uline-inc/summary?id=D000030599)
**Reputation.** After a 2018 New York Times profile, some customers canceled accounts and a website, Refuse Uline, was launched listing alternatives to the company.[5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) In July 2021 Liz Uihlein emailed Wisconsin's Democratic governor urging him to cut off expanded federal unemployment benefits, noting Uline needed to fill 500 jobs.[5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) Critics, including ProPublica and OpenSecrets, frame the giving as funding election denial and a dark-money influence network; the family's own framing emphasizes support for conservative causes such as fighting taxes and unions.[5](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial) • [8](https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/09/billionaire-megadonor-couple-funding-election-denial-with-extensive-influence-machine-dark-money-network-uihlein/) The Guardian describes Liz and Richard Uihlein as two of the biggest donors to Maga Republicans in the 2024 election.[13](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/uline-maga-billionaires-mexican-labor)
## Recent developments
In 2024 Uline completed Wisconsin's largest warehouse, a 1.44 million-square-foot facility in Kenosha, bringing its [Kenosha County](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenosha-county) footprint past 10 million square feet.[14](https://www.wpr.org/news/citing-economic-uncertainty-uline-looks-to-pause-construction-plan-in-kenosha-county) In 2025 the company completed new sales offices in Boston and Mexico City and a new warehouse in [Columbus, Ohio](https://www.edgepedia.org/columbus-ohio).[14](https://www.wpr.org/news/citing-economic-uncertainty-uline-looks-to-pause-construction-plan-in-kenosha-county) In May 2026 Uline asked Kenosha for a 12-month extension of a conditional use permit, pausing construction of a planned 1.2 million-square-foot distribution center, the second of four planned on 350 acres acquired in 2022, citing economic uncertainty.[14](https://www.wpr.org/news/citing-economic-uncertainty-uline-looks-to-pause-construction-plan-in-kenosha-county)
Guardian reporting published in February 2026 describes a "shuttle" system involving Mexican labor at Uline warehouses in 2024 and says sources reported Mexican warehouse workers were paid a fraction of what US workers earned.[13](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/uline-maga-billionaires-mexican-labor)
## References
1. [About Uline – Company History, Uline corporate website](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_History)
2. [Richard Uihlein – Forbes profile](https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-uihlein/)
3. [Uline turned to Mexico to staff warehouses, but paid them a fraction of US workers, sources say – The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/uline-trump-mega-donors-underpaid-mexican-workers)
4. [Meet the Owners of Uline, the Cardboard Billionaires Transforming US Politics – Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/uline-uihlein-cardboard-box-billionaires-reshaping-us-politics-2023-8)
5. [How the Uline Box Empire Has Fueled Election Denial – ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial)
6. [About Uline – Why Uline, Uline corporate website](https://www.uline.com/Corporate/About_Company)
7. [Uline, Inc. – Dun & Bradstreet company profile](https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.uline_inc.c373d9a63f5748a4ecf572179c1a81ad.html)
8. [Billionaire megadonor couple funding election denial with extensive influence machine, dark money network: Uihlein – OpenSecrets](https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/09/billionaire-megadonor-couple-funding-election-denial-with-extensive-influence-machine-dark-money-network-uihlein/)
9. [Uline: How the JanSan Leader Wins Without Deals – Anglera](https://www.anglera.com/blog/uline-distributor-playbook)
10. [The Most Powerful Conservative Couple You've Never Heard Of – The New York Times (archive)](https://archive.ph/phzx7)
11. [Uline – Jobs, Benefits, Business Model, Founding Story – Cleverism](https://cleverism.com/company/uline/)
12. [Uline Inc Profile: Summary – OpenSecrets](https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/uline-inc/summary?id=D000030599)
13. ['They always gave us the heaviest work': how Maga billionaires relied on Mexican labor – The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/uline-maga-billionaires-mexican-labor)
14. [Citing economic uncertainty, Uline looks to pause construction plan in Kenosha County – Wisconsin Public Radio](https://www.wpr.org/news/citing-economic-uncertainty-uline-looks-to-pause-construction-plan-in-kenosha-county)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Business and work › Business and work overview › Companies and corporations › Consumer, retail, and media companies*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 10, 2026 · Edited: Oct 10, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 10, 2026*
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