Specialty Warehouse, Ltd.

What Specialty Warehouse, Ltd. does

Specialty Warehouse, Ltd. is a family-owned third-party logistics (3PL) warehouse and distribution company headquartered in the Seattle metropolitan area along Interstate 5. Founded in March 1991 by Jim Sweiberg and now operationally managed by his grandson Rian Hicks, the company operates an 84,000 sq. ft. primary facility in Seattle with a secondary location in Renton, Washington. The facility features heated and ESFR sprinkler-equipped space, gated security, protect-from-freeze storage, and Crown TSP 6500 electric wire-guided forklifts enabling narrow-aisle operations. The company holds food-grade and Red Label hazmat certifications, allowing it to serve regulated industries including pharmaceutical/healthcare, cosmetic, electronics, food and beverage, chemical/industrial, and automotive sectors.

The company's core service offerings span public, contract, and dedicated warehousing, complemented by value-added services including cross-docking, order fulfillment, inventory management, compliance labeling, repackaging, reverse logistics, import/export documentation, freight claims management, and just-in-time delivery. Technology infrastructure includes warehouse management systems (WMS), RFID real-time tracking, IoT sensors, bar coding, and EDI integration. Specialty Warehouse operates its own trucks for local Seattle-area delivery and extends national distribution reach through a logistics affiliate partner. A wholly-owned subsidiary, Coatings Plus, addresses adjacent industrial coatings storage needs.

Revenue is generated primarily through warehousing contracts (per-pallet or per-square-footage pricing) with additional per-transaction revenue from value-added services. Specialized hazmat and food-grade storage command premium pricing due to regulatory compliance requirements. Customer acquisition is relationship-based, driven by direct sales, phone inquiries (425-255-3555), and a website with SEO-optimized content targeting Seattle-area warehousing searches. The company maintains no external institutional investors and operates as a private, family-controlled enterprise.

Name

Specialty Warehouse, Ltd.

Legal name

Specialty Warehouse LTD

Website

https://specialtywarehouseltd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Specialty Warehouse, Ltd. is a family-owned 3PL warehouse and distribution company operating 84,000 sq. ft. of food-grade and hazmat-certified storage along Interstate 5 in the Seattle metro area, serving pharmaceutical, food/beverage, chemical, and industrial clients across the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Third-Party Logistics & Warehousing

NAICS

General Warehousing and Storage (49311), Warehousing and Storage (493)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

Ambient General Merchandise Warehousing (Dry Storage) (TLAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Secure / High-Value Warehousing (Cage/Vault/Controlled Access) (TLAIACAG), E-commerce & Omnichannel Fulfillment Centers (Non-Temp Controlled) (TLALAAAC)

Keywords

• Third-party logistics
• Warehousing services
• Distribution and fulfillment
• Cross-docking services
• Value-added logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 3PL Warehousing and Storage Services: Specialty Warehouse LTD generates revenue primarily through 3PL warehousing contracts. Revenue is derived from providing public warehousing, contract warehousing, and dedicated warehousing services. Pricing is likely volume- and duration-based (per pallet/per square footage). The company also offers local delivery using its own trucks and national distribution through a logistics affiliate, adding ancillary revenue from transportation services. Chemical storage, hazmat-compliant storage, and food-grade storage command premium pricing due to specialized certifications and compliance requirements.
2. Fulfillment and Logistics Services: Order fulfillment, inventory management, cross-docking, repackaging, compliance labeling, and just-in-time delivery services are offered as part of integrated logistics. These value-added services generate additional per-transaction or per-service revenue on top of base storage fees.
3. Specialized Storage (Chemical and Food): Specialized storage for hazardous materials (Red Label), bulk food commodities, and protect-from-freeze items commands premium pricing due to regulatory compliance requirements, specialized facilities, and handling protocols.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Specialty Warehouse, Ltd. is a Seattle-based third-party logistics (3PL) provider that offers public and contract warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, cross-docking, container drayage, freight consolidation, and value-added services such as pick-and-pack, kitting, labeling, and shrink wrapping. The company serves manufacturers, distributors, and retailers across the Pacific Northwest, with two facilities in Seattle (SODO) and Renton (Springbrook).

Product overview

Specialty Warehouse, Ltd. is a family-owned 3PL (third-party logistics) warehouse company offering a comprehensive suite of warehousing and logistics services. The core offering consists of public, contract, and dedicated warehousing for general storage, food-grade, hazmat, and chemical materials. These storage services are supported by value-added capabilities including order fulfillment, inventory management, cross-docking, compliance labeling, reverse logistics, import/export services, repackaging, and freight claims management. The company also provides local and national distribution services. The 84,000 sq. ft. facility is located along Interstate 5 near Seattle and includes climate control (protect from freeze), ESFR sprinklers, gated security, and advanced inventory tracking systems. Specialty Warehouse positions itself as a full-service warehousing provider serving pharmaceutical, cosmetic, electronics, retail, industrial, and automotive industries across the Pacific Northwest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coatings Plus: A coatings-focused subsidiary operating at specialtycoatingsplus.com, serving industrial coatings storage and related logistics needs.

Products and services

• Public Warehousing Storage of customers' palletized and floor-loaded goods in Specialty Warehouse's owned facilities, with online inventory visibility and flexible space commitments. Offered to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers needing Pacific Northwest warehouse capacity without owning real estate.
• Contract Warehousing Dedicated warehouse space and dedicated personnel assigned to a single customer under a longer-term contract, with service levels, KPIs, and reporting tailored to that customer's supply chain. Designed for manufacturers and distributors with sustained, predictable volume in the Pacific Northwest.
• Cross-Docking Flow-through distribution service where inbound freight is received, sorted, and loaded onto outbound trailers with minimal dwell time, reducing storage costs and accelerating delivery. Used by distributors and retailers moving high-velocity SKUs through the Pacific Northwest.
• Fulfillment and Pick-and-Pack Order fulfillment service that picks, packs, and ships individual customer orders to retail or end-consumer destinations, using WMS-driven inventory and EDI integration with major retailers. Designed for retail, e-commerce, and brand-owned fulfillment operations.
• Value-Added Services Bundle of in-warehouse services including kitting, labeling, and shrink wrapping, performed alongside storage and fulfillment to meet retail compliance and merchandising requirements. Used by manufacturers and brand owners preparing products for retail or direct-to-consumer shipment.
• Container Drayage Short-haul trucking of ocean containers between the Port of Seattle and Specialty Warehouse's facilities for unloading, storage, or cross-dock. Supports import flows for customers needing import drayage paired with warehousing.
• Freight Consolidation Combining less-than-truckload shipments from multiple customers or origins into full-truckload deliveries to reduce per-unit freight costs and improve routing. Used by mid-sized shippers seeking cost-efficient outbound freight from the Pacific Northwest.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cross docking reduces storage costs by up to 70%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Coatings PlusminorOthersCoatings Plus is a related entity under the same ownership/affiliation as Specialty Warehouse. The partnership is referenced via a cross-link on the Specialty Warehouse website (specialtywarehouseltd.com/coatings-plus). Rian Hicks and Jim Sweiberg are shared between both entities. The connection signals a broader family of companies operating in the industrial coatings and warehousing/logistics space.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• XPO Logistics: Large North American 3PL offering warehousing, last-mile, and dedicated transportation services. Operates at a scale Specialty Warehouse cannot match but competes for the same enterprise customer relationships.
• DHL Supply Chain: Global 3PL leader providing warehousing, contract logistics, and value-added services across multiple verticals. Represents the incumbent competition for enterprise customers considering Specialty Warehouse for overflow storage.
• NFI Industries: Family-owned, large-scale 3PL providing dedicated warehousing, transportation, and intermodal services across North America. Demonstrates the scale ceiling for a family-owned 3PL and represents a potential acquirer or competitive threat.
• C.H. Robinson: Global logistics platform with North American 3PL and warehousing operations. Provides a broader business model benchmark for specialty 3PLs seeking to expand into integrated supply chain services.
• Ryder System: Public, large-scale 3PL offering dedicated warehousing, supply chain solutions, and transportation management. Competes for large enterprise contracts that Specialty Warehouse would also target as a regional provider.

Direct peers

• Dependable Supply Chain Services: Pacific Northwest-based 3PL providing warehousing, fulfillment, and transportation services for food-grade and consumer goods customers. Highly comparable regional competitor with a similar multi-vertical B2B customer base.
• Barrett Distribution Centers: Multi-site 3PL operator providing contract warehousing, fulfillment, and value-added services to consumer goods and industrial customers. Comparable multi-vertical service model with similar specialty storage capabilities.
• MD Logistics: Specialty 3PL offering warehousing and fulfillment with strength in regulated, high-value, and cold-chain-adjacent storage. Comparable scale and specialized vertical expertise including life sciences and consumer goods.
• Saddle Creek Logistics Services: Multi-site 3PL offering warehousing, fulfillment, and omnichannel distribution. Comparable value-added services including cross-docking, compliance labeling, and order fulfillment for B2B and B2C customers.

Regional players

• Estenson Logistics: Pacific Northwest 3PL offering warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment services. Comparable geographic footprint and SMB-to-mid-market customer base within the Seattle/Portland logistics corridor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/specialty-warehouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Specialty Warehouse, Ltd.