Uline, a family-owned business, is the leading distributor of shipping, industrial and packaging materials to businesses throughout North America.Depend on Uline to build your business we won't let you down. Walter E. Nelson started the company while home on leave from the navy during World War II. The original name was I and I Supply. After the war, Walter and Carl Roes were the first employees with Walter's father Emil doing deliveries part time. The name of the company was later changed to the Walter E. Nelson Co. The company sold primarily Janitorial Supplies.