Uline
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping and business supplies |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Richard Uihlein, Elizabeth Uihlein |
| Headquarters | Pleasant Prairie , United States |
Area served | North America |
Key people | Elizabeth Uihlein (President and CEO), Richard Uihlein (Chairman) |
| Products | Shipping containers, packing supplies, warehouse tools, janitorial products |
| Owner | Uihlein family |
Number of employees | 9,000+ (2021) |
Uline, Inc. is a privately held, family-operated enterprise that provides shipping and business supplies throughout North America. Established in 1980 by Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, the company employs more than 9,000 individuals and is based in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
History
Elizabeth "Liz" and Richard "Dick" Uihlein founded Uline with initial funding from Richard’s father, Edgar Uihlein. The business started in their basement to meet a local need for shipping materials. Their first product, the H-101 carton sizer, spurred early expansion and prompted relocation of their headquarters to Waukegan, Illinois.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Uline broadened its footprint by opening operations in Minnesota, California, and New Jersey. The following decade marked entry into Mexico and Canada markets, accompanied by the establishment of distribution hubs in Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. The product offering expanded to include over 17,000 items such as shipping containers, packing supplies, warehouse tools, and janitorial products.
In 2008, Uline declared plans for a new headquarters in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin—a decision aligning with the Uihleins’ familial ties and expansion objectives. This development was supported by state incentives totaling $6 million provided by Governor Jim Doyle. The 200-acre site opened in 2010, featuring office space alongside a one-million-square-foot warehouse that services regional distribution centers. A significant enlargement completed in 2017 introduced an additional office building and warehouse facility, generating roughly 800 new employment opportunities.
By 2019, further growth was planned through the addition of two more distribution centers near existing Pleasant Prairie facilities, collectively exceeding 1.7 million square feet to accommodate rising demand. In 2021, Uline launched a warehouse in Reno, Nevada to better serve markets in Nevada and Northern California.
Uline’s focused investments in its headquarters and distribution network have been fundamental to enhancing its market position and operational effectiveness within the industrial supply sector.
Company overview
The Uihlein family maintains ownership of the company, which functions as a passthrough corporation. As of August 2021, majority shares are held by Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein. Elizabeth acts as president and CEO while Richard serves as chairman of the board. Their three children occupy senior management roles: Duke Uihlein leads the Minnesota division, Freddy Goldenberg directs corporate planning, and Brian Uihlein is vice president of merchandising. Additionally, Richard’s brother Steve holds a vice presidential position.
Situated on a 200-acre campus in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, the headquarters comprises two buildings each approximately 279,000 square feet in size. In January 2024, plans were unveiled for constructing a third building measuring 325,000 square feet. The company moved its main offices from Waukegan, Illinois to Wisconsin in 2010 after securing up to $18.6 million in state incentives.
Uline frequently hosts recruitment events at its warehouses and employs individuals on H1B as well as temporary work visas. The company enforces drug testing focused on follicle analysis and adheres to a conservative dress policy—requiring men to wear ties; women must wear pantyhose and skirts during colder seasons; tattoos are discouraged.
Operations and marketing
Elizabeth Uihlein frequently incorporates her political perspectives into Uline’s catalog content, discussing issues such as competition from China, the health implications of marijuana, and Federal Reserve policies.
Beginning in 2015, Uline expanded its deployment of hydrogen-powered forklifts beyond its Pleasant Prairie site to five additional warehouses, with plans announced in 2024 to introduce them at four more locations. This move underscores the company’s commitment to environmentally sustainable practices.
In late 2024, The Guardian revealed that Uline utilized tourist and occupational training visas to bring Mexican warehouse workers into the United States for labor purposes, a program known to senior executives including Elizabeth Uihlein. Reports indicated these workers received substantially lower wages than their American counterparts and were subject to restrictive workplace conditions, such as inadequate winter clothing compared to permanent employees.
Elizabeth Uihlein has raised concerns regarding cannabis use affecting safety in warehouse operations, particularly due to its residual effects on employees working at elevated heights. As a result, Uline enforces follicle drug screening within its workplace policies.
The company’s product catalog remains a central marketing tool. Issued twice yearly since the company’s inception, it encompasses 800 pages featuring over 37,500 items. In addition to the catalog, Uline invests significantly in digital advertising but maintains a minimal presence on social media platforms and reportedly does not have a dedicated communications team.
COVID-19 pandemic
On August 25, 2020, top executives of Uline, including founder Elizabeth Uihlein, traveled by company jet to Toronto to inspect a warehouse. Despite border closures mandating a two-week quarantine, they were granted exemptions for "non-discretionary travel," typically reserved for essential personnel such as truck drivers and flight crews. During their brief two-day stay, local authorities responded to complaints about gatherings without mask usage. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair later acknowledged that granting the exemption was an error by border officials.
In February 2021, The Guardian reported that Uline’s COVID-19 infection rate reached 14%, considerably higher than Kenosha County’s rate of 8.7%. Multiple employees filed federal complaints alleging that the company exposed workers to avoidable health risks.
Financial information
In 2014, Uline’s revenue was estimated at approximately $2 billion. By 2018, ProPublica approximated profits nearing $1 billion. As of February 2020, the company reported employing over 6,700 individuals with revenues totaling $5.8 billion.
Corporate philanthropy
In 2023, Uline contributed $3 million toward workforce housing projects in Kenosha. The company also manages scholarship programs benefiting both employees’ children and the broader public pursuing higher education opportunities.
Political activities
Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein are prominent contributors to conservative and Republican causes. Both the corporation and its workforce have collectively donated more than $31 million to conservative political action committees prior to June 2020 during the election cycle that year.
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Uline conducted an employee survey regarding voting preferences; Elizabeth Uihlein emphasized that participation was voluntary and anonymous. The company has also hosted conservative political figures at its facilities for employee engagement.
Elizabeth Uihlein regularly conveys her political opinions through the company catalog on subjects including Chinese competition, marijuana consumption, and Federal Reserve policies. In March 2025, she authored a column expressing concern about elevated turnover rates among younger staff members, attributing this trend to factors such as prolonged parental insurance coverage, COVID-19 stimulus payments, remote work patterns, and generational attitudes toward responsibility.
Following revelations that the Uihleins financially supported the rally preceding the January 6 Capitol events, Northwestern University reviewed its contract with Uline but ultimately decided to maintain the partnership.
Due to the company’s political affiliations, some clients within creative industries have sought alternative vendors for their shipping and packaging needs.