What Packaging Distribution Services does

Packaging Distribution Services (PDS) is a wholesale distributor of corrugated boxes, specialty cartons, and packing supplies headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, operating as a division of Brady Plus of Iowa, LLC. Founded in 1955 and pivoting into corrugated-box warehousing in 1968, PDS has grown to operate three warehouses in Des Moines, Omaha, and Minneapolis, serving customers across the Midwest. The company carries 20,000+ items sourced from 10 primary vendors and 25-50 specialty vendors, with a product portfolio spanning custom-manufactured boxes (RSC, FOL, HSC, Die Cut, and other styles), stock boxes in standard sizes, and a full line of packing supplies (peanuts, bubble wrap, tape, stretch film, V-board, etc.).

PDS sells to small local businesses, national manufacturers, distributors, and e-commerce retailers operating pick-pack-ship fulfillment, with e-commerce identified as one of its fastest-growing segments. The company operates a 'Boxes on Demand' just-in-time warehousing program where it stores customer materials and delivers on demand, with a secure customer portal for inventory visibility and reordering. PDS generates revenue through product sales with quote-based pricing for custom boxes and unit pricing on stock boxes ($25 minimum order, bundle quantities). Go-to-market is primarily inside sales via toll-free phone, website quote forms, and email, with no field sales or marketing automation evident. Sister entities Custom Made Boxes and Serenity Packaging share the same parent company and customer portal, functioning as a multi-brand packaging distribution ecosystem.

Name

Packaging Distribution Services

Legal name

Packaging Distribution Services, a division of Brady Plus of Iowa, LLC

Website

https://pdspack.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Packaging Distribution Services (PDS) is a Midwest wholesale distributor of corrugated boxes, specialty cartons, and packing supplies, founded in 1955 and operating three warehouses in Des Moines, Omaha, and Minneapolis. It serves small businesses, national manufacturers, distributors, and e-commerce retailers with custom and stock boxes plus a just-in-time warehousing program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Box and Packaging Distribution: PDS generates revenue through the wholesale distribution of corrugated boxes, specialty cartons, and packaging materials. The company purchases in high volumes from manufacturers and resells to distributors, manufacturers, and retailers. Revenue is earned on product sales with pricing based on volume and order size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Packaging Distribution Services (PDS), a division of Brady Plus of Iowa, LLC, is a wholesale distributor of corrugated boxes, specialty cartons, and packaging materials. The company operates from its headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa with branch offices and warehouses in Omaha, Nebraska and Minneapolis, Minnesota. PDS sells custom-manufactured boxes, pre-made stock boxes, and a broad range of packing supplies, with just-in-time inventory management and direct delivery from three strategically located warehouses.

Product overview

Packaging Distribution Services (PDS) is a packaging distribution company offering a unified portfolio of custom and stock corrugated boxes combined with packing supplies and design services. The core offering consists of Custom Boxes (manufactured to any size/shape with styles including RSC, FOL, HSC, Telescoping Tray, Double Cover, One-Piece Folder, and Five Panel Folder) and Stock Boxes (pre-made standard sizes P-03 through P-40 in bundle quantities). These are complemented by Packing Supplies (peanuts, bubble wrap, tape, stretch film, chipboard, corrugated rolls, V-board, and more) and Design Services (custom design, just-in-time inventory management, labeling, and partial assembly). A key differentiator is the Boxes on Demand warehousing program, where PDS stores materials in its three warehouses (Des Moines, Omaha, Minneapolis) and delivers when customers need them, with inventory viewable via a secure web portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Boxes
• Stock Boxes
• Packing Supplies
• Design Services
• Boxes on Demand / Warehousing

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Custom Made BoxescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCustom Made Boxes is a related entity operating under the same parent company (Brady Plus of Iowa, LLC). They specialize in custom made boxes in any size and quantity. They share the same customer portal as PDS and Serenity Packaging.
• Serenity PackagingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSerenity Packaging is a related entity operating under the same parent company (Brody Plus of Iowa, LLC). They offer packaging solutions for all packaging needs. They share the same customer portal as PDS and Custom Made Boxes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Uline: Largest North American distributor of shipping, industrial, and packaging materials including corrugated boxes, packing supplies, and custom packaging — direct competitor to PDS in stock boxes and packing supplies, but at a vastly larger national scale with extensive e-commerce ordering and same-day shipping.
• PackagingSupplies.com: Online-first packaging distributor offering stock boxes, custom boxes, and packing supplies with transparent online pricing. Comparable as a direct competitor on stock/custom corrugated SKUs and packing supplies, but with a more e-commerce-native ordering model.

Broad incumbents

• International Paper: One of the world's largest pulp, paper, and packaging companies with significant U.S. corrugated operations. Comparable as a major upstream supplier whose direct enterprise sales channel competes with regional distributors on large accounts.
• WestRock: Major global provider of paper and packaging, including corrugated boxes and consumer packaging solutions. Comparable as a vertically integrated packaging incumbent with direct relationships to many of the same end customers PDS serves.
• Grainger: Broad-line industrial distributor serving facilities, manufacturing, and commerce customers with packaging supplies among many other MRO categories. Comparable because it sells similar packing and shipping materials to overlapping business customers, though packaging is a small slice of a much broader catalog.
• Smurfit Kappa: Global paper-based packaging leader operating across containerboard, corrugated, and consumer packaging. Comparable as a vertically integrated upstream player whose direct relationships with large manufacturers can bypass regional distributors like PDS.
• Packaging Corporation of America: One of the largest U.S. producers of containerboard and corrugated products, selling into many of the same manufacturer and distributor accounts PDS serves. Comparable as an upstream supplier competitor that increasingly engages in direct sales, squeezing mid-sized distributors like PDS.
• Pratt Industries: Largest U.S. privately held producer of 100% recycled corrugated packaging, with extensive converting operations. Comparable as a corrugated supplier whose growing direct-to-customer motion competes for the same manufacturer accounts PDS relies on.
• Bunzl: Global distribution and outsourcing group with significant packaging and shipping supplies distribution in North America through multiple operating companies. Comparable as a B2B packaging distributor serving retailers, manufacturers, and e-commerce with logistics and category-management services similar to PDS's JIT warehousing.

Regional players

• Midwest Box Company: Regional corrugated and custom packaging manufacturer/distributor serving the Midwest U.S. with custom boxes and packaging supplies. Comparable as a same-region competitor targeting overlapping SMB and mid-market manufacturer customers in the same geographies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Packaging Distribution Services