IMS Worldwide
IMS Worldwide is a boutique consulting firm specializing in Foreign-Trade Zone applications, industrial real estate logistics, supply chain security, and air cargo consulting, serving Fortune 500 importers, REITs, airport authorities, and industrial developers since 1967.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersWebster, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What IMS Worldwide does
IMS Worldwide, Inc. (IMSW) is a privately held consulting firm headquartered in Webster, Texas, founded in 1967 by F.J. Spencer as the Foreign-Trade Zone Division of International Management Services. The company specializes in Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) consulting and has applied for and secured nearly 425 FTZ projects across the United States with an activation ratio exceeding 85%. IMSW serves FTZ grantees (municipalities and authorities), zone operators, zone users (importers and manufacturers), third-party logistics providers, industrial real estate developers, REITs, and airport and seaport authorities.
IMSW's core offerings include FTZ applications and activations, operator training, compliance auditing, and managed services, alongside adjacent practices in supply chain security consulting (including C-TPAT compliance), industrial park consulting, air cargo consulting, and real estate and logistics trends analysis. The company has developed proprietary methodologies including the Logistics Value Proposition Paradigm, which converts site logistics advantages into dollar-per-square-foot metrics for industrial real estate clients. IMSW is led by CEO Curtis D. Spencer, a nationally regarded expert who speaks at 55+ conferences annually, with company-wide speaking engagements totaling 80+ per year at venues including IWLA, RILA, JOC TPM, ULI, NAIOP, SIOR, AAEI, NAFTZ, AAAE, CSCMP, WERC, and ICSC.
The firm operates an enterprise field sales and event-driven go-to-market model in which all consulting engagements are sold directly by executive team members at conferences, through referrals, and via inbound leads from a free cost-benefit analysis tool. Revenue is generated through professional services fees billed per engagement or as ongoing managed services retainers, supplemented by book sales ($20.91 per PDF copy of Curtis Spencer's "How to Multiply Yourself"). The company holds SBA Minority 8A certification, is 100% owned by Indian/Asian Americans, and has maintained no public funding history, operating as a profitable boutique consultancy since its founding.
IMS Worldwide firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IMS Worldwide
- Legal name
- IMS Worldwide, Inc.
- Website
- https://imsw.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- IMS Worldwide is a boutique consulting firm specializing in Foreign-Trade Zone applications, industrial real estate logistics, supply chain security, and air cargo consulting, serving Fortune 500 importers, REITs, airport authorities, and industrial developers since 1967.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IMS Worldwide industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Foreign-Trade Zone & Logistics Consulting
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Intermodal Network Operators & Marketing Companies (IMCs) (TLADAFAF)
Keywords
Where IMS Worldwide is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Webster
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
IMS Worldwide business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- FTZ Consulting Services: Fees for Foreign-Trade Zone consulting including applications, activations, operator training, zone managed services, feasibility studies, and compliance reviews. Services billed per engagement or as ongoing managed services retainer.
- Book Sales: Sale of the business book 'How to Multiply Yourself' by Curtis Spencer for $20.91 per PDF copy via PayPal.
- Speaking and Keynote Engagements: Revenue from keynote speeches, panel moderation, and speaking opportunities at national industrial, trade, logistics and real estate organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | How To Multiply Yourself Book |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Cost-Benefit Analysis |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
IMS Worldwide product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IMS Worldwide is a boutique consulting firm that helps U.S. importers, manufacturers, REITs, developers, and airport/seaport authorities establish, activate, and operate Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs). The firm has secured nearly 425 FTZ projects with an activation ratio over 85%, and complements its FTZ practice with industrial real estate logistics advisory, supply chain security and C-TPAT consulting, industrial park development support, and air cargo facility consulting.
Product overview
IMS Worldwide is a consulting firm offering specialized logistics and global trade advisory services. The core offerings include Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) Consulting Services (applications, activations, operator training, and managed services), Real Estate & Logistics Trends Analysis, Supply Chain Security Consulting, Industrial Park Consulting, Air Cargo Consulting, and a Free Cost-Benefit Analysis tool for import operations. The company also publishes a business book titled 'How to Multiply Yourself'. IMSW has successfully completed nearly 425 FTZ projects across the U.S. with an activation ratio over 85%.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IMSW Security: A division of IMSW providing supply chain security consulting services with over 36 years of experience.
Products and services
- Foreign-Trade Zone Consulting Services End-to-end FTZ consulting for Grantees, Zone Operators, Zone Users, and 3PL providers, covering FTZ feasibility studies, applications, CBP activations, operator training, compliance audits, and ongoing managed services.
- Real Estate & Logistics Trends Analysis
Quantifiable outcome
- Weekly entry processing fee savings of $200,000–$1,000,000 annually for large distribution center operators
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use IMS Worldwide
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
IMS Worldwide technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
IMS Worldwide partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bloodhound Tracking Device Inc.coreBloodhound Tracking Device Inc. (BTD) was co-founded by IMSW CEO Curtis Spencer and Sr. VP Steve Schellenberg along with two ex-NASA satellite communications specialists. BTD received $5 million in Round 1 funding on January 31, 2023. IMSW principals serve as CEO (Curtis Spencer) and are actively involved in the venture. BTD is a related operating company, not a formal client/vendor relationship.
- Michael Baker InternationalminorIMSW served as sub-contractor to Michael Baker International for two years, acting as lead consultant on air cargo forecast, facilities requirements, and infrastructure to support cargo operations at LCK (Rickenbacker) and HSV (Huntsville) airports as part of Master Plan updates.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
IMS Worldwide competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- KPMG (Trade & Customs practice): KPMG's Global Trade & Customs practice offers FTZ feasibility, implementation, and compliance services to multinationals — a Big 4 incumbent that overlaps IMSW's enterprise FTZ advisory work.
- C.H. Robinson: C.H. Robinson is one of the largest U.S. 3PLs with global forwarding, customs, and trade compliance capabilities, including FTZ support for enterprise importers — a broad incumbent that increasingly bundles the niche advisory IMSW specializes in.
- Deloitte (Trade & Customs practice): Deloitte's Global Trade Advisory practice advises large multinationals on FTZ strategy, customs valuation, and trade compliance as part of broader tax and consulting mandates — a broad incumbent that competes for Fortune 500 FTZ engagements.
- Cushman & Wakefield (Global Logistics): Cushman & Wakefield's industrial real estate and global logistics advisory practices serve REITs, developers, and port/airport authorities on logistics-driven site selection and value proposition work — directly comparable to IMSW's industrial real estate and FTZ-enabled property advisory.
- JLL (Industrial & Logistics): JLL's Industrial & Logistics group advises developers and occupiers on port-adjacent, intermodal, and FTZ-enabled industrial sites — competing with IMSW for the same REIT and developer-level logistics consulting mandates.
Direct peers
- A.N. Deringer: A.N. Deringer is a U.S.-based customs broker and trade compliance services firm offering import/export clearance, FTZ operations support, and trade consulting — directly overlapping IMSW's FTZ applications, activations, and operator training practice.
- BDP International: BDP International is a global logistics and trade services provider with customs brokerage, FTZ consulting, and supply chain security offerings — competing for the same importer, zone operator, and 3PL buyer that IMSW serves.
- Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg is a leading international trade and customs law firm that advises importers on FTZ establishment, compliance, and tariff optimization — a direct competitor for FTZ regulatory advisory work.
- Trans-Border Global Services: Trans-Border is an FTZ-focused consulting and customs services firm providing zone applications, activations, and operator training — closely matching IMSW's core FTZ consulting practice for importers and zone operators.
Emerging players
- project44: project44 is a supply chain visibility platform offering real-time shipment tracking and security insights for containers, trailers, and rail cars — overlapping thematically with the co-founded Bloodhound Tracking Device venture and adjacent to IMSW's supply chain security consulting.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IMS Worldwide social profiles
Digital presenceIMS Worldwide compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
IMS Worldwide financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IMS Worldwide leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
IMS Worldwide funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IMS Worldwide M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IMS Worldwide
What does IMS Worldwide do?
IMS Worldwide is a boutique consulting firm that helps U.S. importers, manufacturers, REITs, developers, and airport/seaport authorities establish, activate, and operate Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs). The firm has secured nearly 425 FTZ projects with an activation ratio over 85%, and complements its FTZ practice with industrial real estate logistics advisory, supply chain security and C-TPAT consulting, industrial park development support, and air cargo facility consulting.
Is IMS Worldwide a public or private company?
IMS Worldwide is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was IMS Worldwide founded?
IMS Worldwide was founded in 1967. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is IMS Worldwide based?
IMS Worldwide is headquartered in Webster, United States, in the North America region.
How does IMS Worldwide make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. FTZ Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are book Sales and speaking and Keynote Engagements.
Who are IMS Worldwide's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are KPMG (Trade & Customs practice), C.H. Robinson, Deloitte (Trade & Customs practice), Cushman & Wakefield (Global Logistics) and JLL (Industrial & Logistics). Direct peers are A.N. Deringer, BDP International, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg and Trans-Border Global Services. project44 is listed as an emerging player.
Does IMS Worldwide have an API?
No public API is recorded for IMS Worldwide.
What industry is IMS Worldwide in?
IMS Worldwide's product category is Foreign-Trade Zone & Logistics Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLADAFAF, Intermodal Network Operators & Marketing Companies (IMCs). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7373.