Uline

Uline was founded in 1980 by Elizabeth "Liz" and Richard "Dick" Uihlein. Richard Uihlein is a descendant of the brewers of Schlitz beer.{{cite news|last1=Saul|first1=Stephanie|last2=Hakim|first2=Danny|date=June 7, 2018 |title=The Most Powerful Conservative Couple You've Never Heard Of|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/07/us/politics/liz-dick-uihlein-republican-donors.html|access-date=August 31, 2019 }} With start-up funds from his father, Edgar Uihlein, Richard and Elizabeth founded the company from their basement after recognizing a local need for a shipping supply distributor.{{Cite web |date=2013-09-27 |title=How this billionaire CEO became the biggest contributor to GOP conservatives |url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130928/ISSUE01/309289966/uline-ceo-richard-uihlein-is-biggest-tea-party-donor-in-illinois |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=Crain's Chicago Business |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Savchuk |first=Katia |title=The Little Known CEO Spending Millions To Elect Far-Right Republicans |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2014/11/04/the-little-known-ceo-spending-millions-to-elect-far-right-republicans/ |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=Forbes |language=en}} The company's first product was the H-101 carton sizer.{{Cite web|title=Our History|url=https://www.uline.jobs/|access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=Uline Careers }} Its success enabled the Uihleins to move into a new headquarters in Waukegan, Illinois.{{Cite web|last=Burke|first=Michael|date=January 3, 2008 |title=Uline to move corporate headquarters to new Pleasant Prairie campus|url=https://journaltimes.com/news/local/uline-to-move-corporate-headquarters-to-new-pleasant-prairie-campus/article_05c94d57-7e79-53cd-b29b-3aee44d87928.html|access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=The Journal Times }}

Over the 1980s and 1990s, operations began in Minnesota, California and New Jersey. In the 2000s, Uline began operations in Mexico and Canada and opened distribution centers in Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. The Uline catalog grew to 450 pages, offering over 17,000 products.

In 2008, Uline announced it was constructing a new headquarters in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The move was partially motivated by the Uihleins' ties to Wisconsin; Richard Uihlein's family had lived in Milwaukee and founded the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, and the couple owns a home and restaurant in Manitowish Waters. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle expected 1,000 jobs would move to Southeastern Wisconsin, and pledged $6 million to support the move. The 200-acre headquarters opened in the summer of 2010, featuring offices for Uline staff and a 1-million square foot warehouse which supplies products to distribution centers.{{Cite web|title=About Uline - Corporate Headquarters Warehouse|url=https://www.uline.ca/Corporate/Headquarters|access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=www.uline.ca}} Due to increasing growth, an expansion consisting of a second office building and warehouse was announced in 2014.{{Cite web|last=Cole|first=David|date=June 3, 2014 |title=Uline Announces Plan To Expand Facilities And Workforce|url=https://www.wpr.org/uline-announces-plan-expand-facilities-and-workforce|access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=Wisconsin Public Radio }} Construction began in early 2016{{Cite web|last=Daykin|first=Tom|date=January 26, 2016 |title=Uline to begin building offices after getting final local approval|url=http://www.jsonline.com/business/uline-to-begin-building-offices-after-getting-final-local-approval-b99658630z1-366569221.html|access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel }} and was completed in 2017. The expansion brought about 800 additional jobs to Pleasant Prairie.

In 2019, Uline began considering a second major expansion with two more distribution centers with a combined area of over 1.7 million square feet.{{Cite web|last=Flores|first=Terry|date=March 29, 2020 |title=Uline expanding its footprint in Kenosha County|url=https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/business/uline-expanding-its-footprint-in-kenosha-county/article_f55c0b23-cc08-5662-81d0-cc891e313235.html|access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=Kenosha News }} The distribution centers would complement two existing Uline distribution centers in Pleasant Prairie.{{Cite web|last=Romell|first=Rick|date=June 3, 2019 |title=Uline Inc. plans yet another big warehouse in Kenosha near Amazon fulfillment center|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2019/06/03/uline-inc-plans-yet-another-big-warehouse-kenosha/1327804001/|access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel }}

The company is owned by the Uihlein family and set up as a passthrough corporation.{{Cite web |last=Faturechi |first=Justin Elliott, Robert |title=Secret IRS Files Reveal How Much the Ultrawealthy Gained by Shaping Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Tax Cut' |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/secret-irs-files-reveal-how-much-the-ultrawealthy-gained-by-shaping-trumps-big-beautiful-tax-cut?token=Xu-HTzTcl3pqctpNvL9ycrJNwSIu-Fdn |access-date=August 11, 2021 |website=ProPublica}} ProPublica stated that as of August 2021, Richard and Elizabeth own a majority of the company. Elizabeth Uihlein serves as president and chief executive officer, her husband Richard Uihlein is chairman of the board of directors.{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Arthur |date=February 17, 2020 |title='I love product': Liz Uihlein…on running a $5.8 billion family business |url=https://biztimes.com/i-love-product-liz-uihleinon-running-a-5-8-billion-family-business/ |access-date=February 18, 2020 |website=BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News}} All three of their children are company executives; Duke Uihlein is the Minnesota branch manager, Freddy Goldenberg is the corporate planning manager, and Brian Uihlein is the vice president of merchandising.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=BizTimes |date=2014-12-22 |title=Uline |url=https://biztimes.com/uline/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last=Savchuk |first=Katia |date=November 4, 2014 |title=The Little Known CEO Spending Millions To Elect Far-Right Republicans |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2014/11/04/the-little-known-ceo-spending-millions-to-elect-far-right-republicans/#1e5704c35cad |access-date=June 3, 2018 |work=Forbes}} Richard Uihlein's brother Steve also serves as a vice president.

The Uline headquarters is located on {{convert|200|acres|ha}} in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The headquarters consists of two buildings: a {{convert|279000|sqft}} facility, and a newer (2017) building of about the same size. Plans to begin work on a third building for its corporate campus that would be 325,00 square feet in size where announced in January of 2024.{{Cite web |last=Smart |first=Ashley |date=2024-01-12 |title=Uline plans to build a third office building, near its Pleasant Prairie HQ campus |url=https://biztimes.com/uline-plans-to-build-a-third-office-building-at-its-pleasant-prairie-hq-campus/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News |language=en-US}}

The company was previously headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, but moved to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, in 2010, in return for up to $18.6 million in state incentives.

The company regularly holds career fairs at its warehouses.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=2 News Nevada Digital |date=2025-02-07 |title=Uline Warehouse hosts first hiring event of 2025 |url=https://www.2news.com/news/local/uline-warehouse-hosts-first-hiring-event-of-2025/article_48343e82-e56e-11ef-afcd-8b154d72e1e6.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=2 News Nevada |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-15 |title=Uline hiring event; warehouse workers sought, starting pay $29/hour |url=https://www.fox6now.com/news/uline-hiring-event-warehouse-workers-starting-pay |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=FOX6 News Milwaukee |language=en-US}} The company uses workers on H1B and temporary work visas.{{Cite web |last=Pearson |first=Jake |date=2019-10-07 |title=While Trump Cracked Down on Immigration, a Republican Megadonor Sued for a Special Visa |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/while-trump-cracked-down-on-immigration-a-republican-megadonor-sued-for-a-special-visa |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}

Uline performs follicle drug testing on its employees.{{Cite news |last1=Kirchgaessner |first1=Stephanie |last2=Herman |first2=Alice |date=2024-12-20 |title=Major Trump donors who complained of immigrant 'invasion' used Mexican workers illegally, sources allege |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/20/uline-mexican-workers-trump |access-date=2025-03-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The company has a conservative dress code, with ties mandatory for men, pantyhose and skirts for women between November and April, and tattoos discouraged.{{Cite web |last=Kirchgaessner |first=Stephanie |date=February 28, 2021 |title=Workers at Firm Owned by Top Trump Donors Exposed to Higher COVID Rates |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/28/uline-dick-liz-uihlein-workers-covid-safety |access-date=March 1, 2021 |website=The Guardian}}

Elizabeth Uihlein frequently includes her writings in the catalog, many of which reflect her political views.{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Michelle Ye Hee |last2=Scherer |first2=Michael |date=2018-04-30 |title=Meet the little-known ‘big fish’ megadonor setting the tone for GOP primary races |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/meet-the-little-known-big-fish-megadonor-setting-the-tone-for-gop-primary-races/2018/04/29/2e784d76-3215-11e8-94fa-32d48460b955_story.html |access-date=2025-06-09 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} Past column topics have included "the danger of Chinese competition, the negative health effects of marijuana use and the detriments of the Federal Reserve's low interest rate policy."{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Michelle Ye Hee |last2=Scherer |first2=Michael |date=2018-04-30 |title=Meet the little-known ‘big fish’ megadonor setting the tone for GOP primary races |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/meet-the-little-known-big-fish-megadonor-setting-the-tone-for-gop-primary-races/2018/04/29/2e784d76-3215-11e8-94fa-32d48460b955_story.html |access-date=2025-06-09 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

In 2015, Uline began using hydrogen powered forklifts in its Pleasant Prairie facility and between then and 2024, their use expanded to five other facilities.{{Cite web |title=Uline expands “hydrogen footprint” in bid to cut carbon {{!}} DC Velocity |url=https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/60136-uline-expands-hydrogen-footprint-in-bid-to-cut-carbon |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.dcvelocity.com |language=en}} In 2024, it was announced that they would begin using them in four more facilities.

In December 2024, The Guardian reported that Uline was bringing in workers from its Mexico warehouses on tourist and occupational training visas to illegally work shifts in the United States in a program known by senior executives including Elizabeth Uihlein.{{Cite news |last=Kirchgaessner |first=Stephanie |last2=Herman |first2=Alice |date=2024-12-20 |title=Major Trump donors who complained of immigrant ‘invasion’ used Mexican workers illegally, sources allege |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/20/uline-mexican-workers-trump |access-date=2025-06-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Further reporting by the Guardian alleges seeing pay stubs for a Mexican worker who was paid roughly $38 per day, a weekly bonus of about $225, and a daily food allowance.{{Cite news |last=Herman |first=Alice |last2=Kirchgaessner |first2=Stephanie |date=2025-02-12 |title=Uline turned to Mexico to staff warehouses, but paid them a fraction of US workers, sources say |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/uline-trump-mega-donors-underpaid-mexican-workers |access-date=2025-06-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Reporting by the Guardian alleges that in its warehouses, temporary workers, who are majority Hispanic, have uniforms that are limited to fleece vests as winter attire and are prohibited from wearing hats, gloves, or jackets regardless of temperature, while permanent workers where allowed hats and a fleece jacket.

Elizabeth believes that cannabis "stays in your system for at least 5 days" and that its lingering effects during this period could adversely effect Uline warehouse employees "who go up 30 feet in the air to pick products off the shelves."{{Cite web |last=Market |first=The Evergreen |date=2017-03-21 |title=ULINE Attacks Cannabis Industry & We Respond {{!}} The Evergreen Market |url=https://evergreenmarket.com/ulineattackscannabisindustry/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=evergreenmarket.com |language=en-US}} Uline performs follicle drug testing on its employees.

An important marketing tool for Uline is its product catalog, which has been produced since its founding. Mailed twice a year, the catalog is 800 pages long and advertises over 37,500 products. Uline also relies on extensive online advertising. The company is not believed to have a communications department, and maintains a low profile on social media.

On August 25, 2020, Elizabeth Uihlein and two other Uline executives flew to Toronto on the company's jet to visit a Uline warehouse.{{Cite news |last=Cecco |first=Leyland |date=2020-09-18 |title=Outcry as super-rich Trump donor given permission to avoid Canada quarantine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/18/trump-donor-liz-uihlein-canada-quarantine |access-date=2025-03-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} At that point in time, border crossings necessitated a two week quarantine period, unless travelers were issued exemptions for engaging in "non-discretionary travel", a designation usually given to truckers and flight crews -- Elizabeth and her colleagues where granted such exemptions.{{Cite news |title=U.S. execs reportedly granted quarantine exemption for trip to Canada in August |url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/u-s-execs-reportedly-granted-quarantine-exemption-for-trip-to-canada-in-august |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20201224012300/https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/u-s-execs-reportedly-granted-quarantine-exemption-for-trip-to-canada-in-august |archive-date=2020-12-24 |access-date=2025-03-15 |work=torontosun |language=en-CA}}{{Cite news |last=Gatehouse |first=Jonathon |date=2020-09-17 |title=Border agency made a mistake in issuing U.S. billionaire a quarantine exemption: Blair |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bill-blair-uihlein-no-permission-1.5728355}} During their two day visit, it was noted that there where calls to local police over group meetings held by "three Americans" at the company where no one was wearing masks. Bill Blair, Public Safety Minister, called the classification of their travel as nondiscretionary a mistake on the part of border agents acting on information given to them at the border.

In February 2021, The Guardian reported the company had experienced a Covid infection rate of 14% compared to an overall rate of 8.7% in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, where the company is headquartered; multiple employees filed workplace safety complaints with the federal government claiming that the company was exposing them to unnecessary risk.

In 2014, the company was estimated to have $2 billion in revenue. ProPublica estimates the company made nearly a billion dollars in profit in 2018. {{As of|2020|02|df=US|post=,}} the company reported having over 6,700 employees and over $5.8 billion in revenue.

The company donated $3 million to the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, to help it build housing in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Turpin |first=Hunter |date=2023-09-11 |title=Uline, city of Kenosha team up on workforce housing |url=https://biztimes.com/uline-city-of-kenosha-team-up-on-workforce-housing/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News |language=en-US}} The company operates a scholarship fund for the children of employees pursuing post-secondary education and a scholarship open to the general public.{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon |date=2013-05-09 |title=Uline Children Of Employees Scholarship Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/465719179 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}

File:Vice President Pence in Wisconsin (48955077563).jpg listen to US Vice President Mike Pence speak on the USMCA free trade agreement in 2019]]

Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein are major donors to conservative and Republican causes.{{Cite web|last=Severns|first=Maggie|date=March 19, 2018|title=The biggest Republican megadonor you've never heard of|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/19/republican-megadonor-uihlein-470268|access-date=December 10, 2020 |website=Politico }} The company and its employees have also extensively donated to conservative and Republican-affiliated political action committees; they were among the largest contributors to political campaigns during the 2020 election cycle, contributing over $31 million before June 2020.{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Trump Mega-Donor, a Shipping Magnate, Pushes to End a Shutdown |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-21/trump-mega-donor-a-shipping-magnate-pushes-to-end-a-shutdown |access-date=September 23, 2020 |website=www.bloomberg.com}}

Prior to the 2024 presidential election, the company sent out a survey to its employees asking who they planned to vote for in the election.{{Cite news |last=Kirchgaessner |first=Stephanie |date=2024-11-04 |title=Republican mega-donors asked their employees who they will vote for in survey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/04/election-republican-uline-survey |access-date=2025-03-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Elizabeth Uihlein said that the survey was optional and anonymous.

The company has been known to invite conservative politicians to company facilities to speak with employees.{{Cite web |title=Pence appears at Uline Inc. to tout new trade deal |url=https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/money/business/2019/10/23/vice-president-mike-pence-makes-appearance-uline-corp-tout-new-trade-deal/4075343002/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hanson |first=Randy |date=2011-12-21 |title=UPDATED: Uline groundbreaking brings visit from the governor |url=https://www.republicaneagle.com/news/government/updated-uline-groundbreaking-brings-visit-from-the-governor/article_9d11743b-8b06-5c28-9c45-6332f976134b.html |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Republican Eagle |language=en}}

Elizabeth Uihlein frequently includes her writings in the company catalog, some of which reflect her political views. Past columns have had topics ranging from "the danger of Chinese competition, the negative health effects of marijuana use and the detriments of the Federal Reserve's low interest rate policy."{{Cite news |last=Kirchgaessner |first=Stephanie |date=2020-04-23 |title='It's overhyped': Trump mega-donor pushes to end Wisconsin's stay-at-home order |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/23/liz-uihlein-trump-donor-wisconsin-stay-at-home-order-coronavirus |access-date=2025-03-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} In March 2025, Elizabeth wrote and published a column in the Uline catalog lamenting the company's higher than desired turnover rate with young employees, whom she refers to as "The Nomads".{{Cite web |title=Is Job Hopping A Problem? This CEO Thinks So, But Not Everyone Agrees |url=https://www.news18.com/viral/is-job-hopping-a-problem-this-ceo-thinks-so-but-not-everyone-agrees-aa-9278182.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=News18 |language=en}} She identified the cause of this turnover as the Affordable Care Act allowing people to stay on their parent's insurance until the age of 26, Covid stimulus checks, a work-from-home "norm", and parents not teaching children personal responsibility.

Following the news that the Uihleins were a major financial backer for the rally that preceded the January 6 attack on the Capitol, Northwestern University reviewed their contract with Uline at the behest of a university donor.{{cite news |last1=Gorner |first1=Jeremy |last2=Pearson |first2=Rick |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Bailey declines to answer hot topic questions |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-darren-bailey-trump-kinzinger-20220727-7x2bjkt6xzeanjmu2amuiwfrp4-story.html |access-date=July 27, 2022 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago, IL |pages=7}}{{Cite web |last=Long|first=Waverly|date=2021-02-10 |title=NU alum calls for University to end contract with Uline |url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2021/02/09/campus/university-reviewing-uline-contract-after-ceo-funded-pac-that-supported-u-s-capitol-insurrection/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=The Daily Northwestern}} Upon conclusion of the review, the university elected to continue their contract with the company.{{Cite web |last=Long |first=Waverly |last2=Long |first2=Waverly |date=2021-03-22 |title=NU will continue doing business with Uline |url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2021/03/22/campus/nu-announces-it-will-continue-doing-business-with-uline/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=The Daily Northwestern}}

There has been movement in creative industries to attempt to find alternative suppliers of supplies.{{Cite web |last=Article |first=Janelle Zara ShareShare This |date=2022-08-25 |title=Why Is It So Hard to Find 'Ethical' Cardboard? A Monopoly in Art-World Shipping Leaves Some Galleries at a Loss |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/uline-galleries-shipping-2164722 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Artnet News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Corsillo |first=Liza |date=2022-07-20 |title=How Rachel Comey Broke With Uline |url=https://nymag.com/strategist/article/rachel-comey-quit-uline.html |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=The Strategist |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=PRINT |date=2020-12-01 |title=Gifts for Designers: Letterpress and LP Brilliance—With a Message |url=https://www.printmag.com/graphic-design/gifts-for-designers-letterpress-and-lp-brilliance-with-a-message/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=PRINT Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Simonette |first=Matt |date=2014-04-10 |title=Comic book publishers sever Uline ties over anti-gay ads |url=https://windycitytimes.com/2014/04/10/comic-book-publishers-sever-uline-ties-over-anti-gay-ads/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Windy City Times |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1980 establishments in Illinois

Category:American companies established in 1980

Category:Companies based in Wisconsin

Category:Industrial supply companies

Category:Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Category:Packaging companies of the United States

Category:Uihlein family