What Associated Bag does

Associated Bag is a privately held, Milwaukee-based wholesale distributor of packaging, shipping, and workplace supplies, founded in 1938 and operating with 101-250 employees. The company sells millions of SKUs across core categories including bags (poly, zipper, gusseted, specialty), boxes (corrugated, gaylord, insulated, foam-lined), bubble and cushioning materials, business envelopes and mailers, static and moisture control (ESD) products, tape and adhesives, stretch wrap and strapping, safety and medical supplies, janitorial supplies, and office products. Specialized sub-lines include anti-corrosion (VCI/VpCI), eco-friendly, foodservice, lockout/tagout, and cannabis dispensary packaging. The company also offers Custom Products with up to 8-color printing on bags, boxes, tape, labels, and envelopes.

The business is operated through a single e-commerce platform at associatedbag.com, supplemented by phone-based inside sales (M-F 8am-8pm ET at 800-926-6100) and a free physical and online catalog. Distribution is fulfilled from a Pennsylvania distribution center offering same-day shipping for orders placed by 6pm ET and from its primary location with same-day shipping cutoff at 7pm CT. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales with volume-tiered pricing, with supplementary revenue from custom product orders and a free bulk storage service with scheduled releases (a recurring-style revenue mechanism). The company supports B2B procurement with EDI compliance, annual pricing agreements, instant credit up to $1,000 for qualified buyers, a 365-day return policy, and free samples.

Associated Bag serves a horizontally segmented customer base spanning SMBs, mid-market and enterprise buyers, and nonprofits (e.g., Sussex Outreach Services). Its customers rely on the company for one-stop procurement of packaging, shipping, and workplace consumables with fast fulfillment, volume discounts, and the option for custom branding. Geographic reach is confined to the United States, with a noted capability to fulfill international orders via the catalog platform.

Name

Associated Bag

Legal name

Associated Bag

Website

https://associatedbag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Associated Bag is a privately held Milwaukee-based wholesale distributor of packaging, shipping, and workplace supplies, serving SMB and mid-market US businesses through e-commerce, phone sales, and catalogs with millions of SKUs and same-day shipping.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: One-time product sales across wholesale packaging, shipping, and workplace product categories. Revenue generated through individual and volume orders with tiered pricing based on quantity.
2. Custom Product Orders: Custom printed bags, labels, envelopes, tape, boxes, and specialty products with unique styles, colors, sizes, and large volume requirements. Custom sales department handles these specialized orders.
3. Bulk Storage and Release Services: Free storage of bulk orders with scheduled releases. Customers pay only for each release while the remainder is stored at no charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Associated Bag is a wholesale distributor of packaging, shipping, and workplace supplies offering millions of stock items across categories such as poly bags, corrugated boxes, bubble and cushioning materials, ESD/static control products, tape, stretch wrap, strapping, janitorial supplies, and personal protective equipment. The company sells to businesses through its e-commerce storefront, phone sales, and catalogs, with same-day shipping from U.S. distribution centers and value-added services including custom printing, bulk storage with scheduled releases, EDI compliance, and volume-based pricing.

Product overview

Associated Bag is a wholesale packaging, shipping, and workplace products distributor offering a comprehensive catalog of over 3,700 Made in USA items and millions of products total. The company operates as a single unified e-commerce platform with product categories organized around core packaging needs: Bags (poly bags, zipper bags, specialty bags), Boxes (corrugated, specialty), Bubble & Cushioning (protective packaging), Business Envelopes & Mailers, Static & Moisture Control (ESD products), Tape & Adhesives, Stretch Wrap & Strapping, Safety & Medical Supplies, Janitorial Supplies, and Office Products. The portfolio also includes specialized lines like Eco-Friendly Products, Dispensary Products, and Foodservice Packaging. Value-added services include Custom Products (custom printing with up to 8 colors), bulk storage with release scheduling, same-day shipping, volume discounts, EDI compliance for electronic ordering, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bags Comprehensive line of bags including poly bags, flat bags, zipper bags, gusseted bags, garment bags, gift bags, t-shirt bags, reusable grocery bags, and specialty bags for various industries. Customers can purchase bags directly online through the catalog.
• Boxes Corrugated and cardboard boxes for shipping, moving, and storage, including gaylord boxes, gift boxes, insulated boxes, pizza boxes, and foam-lined protective boxes. Suitable for e-commerce fulfillment, moving, and industrial packaging.
• Bubble & Cushioning Protective packaging materials including bubble wrap, foam rolls, packing peanuts, air pillows, Instapak Quick RT foam systems, and cushioning solutions for protecting items during shipping.
• Business Envelopes & Mailers Shipping and mailing envelopes including bubble mailers, corrugated mailers, Tyvek envelopes, padded mailers, and specialized security envelopes for documents and goods.
• Anti-Rust / Anti-Corrosion Products VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor) and VpCI products that protect metal items from rust and corrosion during storage and shipping, including flat bags, gusseted bags, kraft paper, stretch wrap, tubing, and emitters. Targeted at manufacturers and shippers of metal goods.
• Static & Moisture Control Products ESD-safe products including anti-static bags, static shielding bags, desiccants, humidity indicators, oxygen absorbers, and clean room products. Designed for electronics and clean room environments.
• Tape & Adhesives Packaging and industrial tapes including carton sealing tape, duct tape, masking tape, filament tape, double-sided tape, and specialty tapes including 3M branded products.
• Stretch Wrap, Pallets & Strapping Pallet securing materials including stretch wrap, strapping (polyester, polypropylene, steel), edge protectors, dunnage bags, and palletizing tools for warehouse and shipping operations.
• Safety & Medical Supplies Personal protective equipment and medical packaging including gloves, first aid supplies, sharps containers, biohazard disposal containers, safety bags, and pharmacy bags.
• Janitorial Supplies Cleaning and facility maintenance products including trash can liners, hand soaps, sanitizers, wipers, towels, and janitorial cleaning supplies.
• Industrial & Shipping Supplies Warehouse and shipping room equipment including hand trucks, dollies, industrial scales, drum pumps, utility carts, and shipping container seals.
• Personal Protection Equipment PPE including coveralls, gowns, lab coats, eye protection, face masks, hearing protection, high visibility wear, rainwear, and shoe covers.
• Shrink Materials Shrink packaging supplies including shrink bags, shrink film, heat guns, heat sealers, shrink bands, and shrink packaging systems for retail and product packaging.
• Liners & Covers Industrial and commercial liners including trash bags, drum liners, pallet covers, furniture covers, and specialty protective covers in various materials.
• Labeling Products Labeling solutions including custom printed labels, badge holders, tag accessories, laminators, and tagging guns with fasteners.
• Office Products General office supplies including labels, file folders, envelopes, paper, markers, staplers, tape, and office organization products.
• Dispensary Products Specialized packaging for dispensaries including cannabis bags, exit bags, and compliant product packaging solutions for cannabis retailers.
• Foodservice & Packaging Foodservice packaging including food bags, bakery supplies, containers, tableware, insulated packaging, and kitchen supplies for foodservice operations.
• Eco-Friendly Products Environmentally responsible packaging options including biodegradable packing peanuts, compostable bags, eco recycling bags, reusable bags, and eco-friendly shipping products.
• Moving Boxes & Supplies Complete moving supplies including corrugated moving boxes, bubble and foam rolls, stretch wrap, moving blankets, floor protection tape, and hand trucks for residential and commercial relocations.
• Lockout & Tagout Products Safety lockout/tagout equipment including valve lockouts, circuit breaker lockouts, padlocks, lockout tags, and safety padlock stations for industrial safety compliance.
• Document & Media Protectors Document storage and protection including sheet protectors, 3-ring binders, laminators, multimedia cases, and routing envelopes for office and archival use.
• Custom Products Custom printing and manufacturing services for bags, boxes, tape, labels, envelopes, and specialty products with custom sizes, colors, and printing up to 8 colors. Handled through a dedicated custom sales department at 800-945-3800.
• Bulk Storage and Scheduled Release Service Free storage of bulk customer orders at the company's facility with scheduled releases; customers pay only for each release while the remainder of the order is stored at no charge. Targets enterprise and mid-market buyers with high-volume procurement needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Same-day shipping for orders placed by 7pm CT (6pm ET from Pennsylvania distribution center)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Quill: Office products and packaging supplies distributor with a strong focus on small-and-mid business customers. Comparable in product mix (boxes, mailers, tape, janitorial) and inside-sales, custom-printing service offerings.
• McMaster-Carr: Iconic broad-line industrial supplier known for exceptional catalog, fast shipping, and massive SKU breadth. Highly comparable to Associated Bag in customer experience, sales-led model, and one-stop-shop value proposition for B2B buyers.
• Global Industrial: Multi-category industrial and packaging supplies distributor serving B2B customers with catalogs, e-commerce, and inside sales. Directly overlaps in product categories (bags, boxes, stretch wrap, tape) and target customer profile.
• Webstaurant Store: Largest online distributor of foodservice packaging and supplies, with strong overlap in foodservice bags, containers, and janitorial lines. Comparable sales-led e-commerce model and broad-catalog strategy targeting B2B buyers.
• ULINE: The dominant North American distributor of industrial and shipping packaging supplies with a 750+ page catalog and same-day shipping. Closest direct competitor to Associated Bag in product mix, customer base, and service-oriented distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Grainger: Massive industrial MRO distributor with a significant packaging and shipping supplies category. Overlaps with Associated Bag in B2B procurement, custom packaging offerings, and EDI-enabled ordering, though Grainger is far broader in scope.
• Amazon Business: Digital-native B2B procurement platform with rapidly growing share of packaging and shipping supplies spend. Competes on price, breadth, and convenience, and represents the primary disruption vector for traditional distributors like Associated Bag.
• Staples: Office supply chain with packaging and shipping supplies, janitorial, and breakroom categories. Overlaps with Associated Bag in boxes, mailers, labels, and cleaning supplies serving SMB and mid-market customers.
• Office Depot: Major office products retailer with substantial packaging and shipping supplies offering. Overlaps with Associated Bag in boxes, mailers, labels, and office/packaging categories serving small business and enterprise customers.

Emerging players

• Packlane: Digital-first custom packaging company specializing in printed boxes and mailers for e-commerce brands. Represents the digitally-native, custom-printing-focused segment that competes with Associated Bag's custom products service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associated-bag-company

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 Associated Bag