Walter E. Nelson started the company while home on leave from the navy during World War II. The original name was I & 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.

During 1970, the company had outgrown its original location and moved to the corner of Mason & Interstate Avenue. The Mason location was expanded twice to accommodate the burgeoning business. Lines were expanded to include industrial paper and packaging. In 1976, Michael Nelson joined the business full time after graduating from the University of Portland with a degree in Accounting. Mike brought his new ideas and energy in to grow the company into what it has become today.

1995 brought the acquisition of property and the construction of a state of the art Corporate Office and Warehouse facility on Swan Island. Since that time, branches have opened in Medford, North Bend, Seattle, Bend, Walla Walla, Spokane, Astoria, Eugene, Salem, and Bellingham.

The company currently employs over 700 employees – and growing.

We lost our founder Walter E. Nelson in 2001. He built a reputation on excellent service and top quality products offered at reasonable prices. Walter was a true visionary and a gentleman. This family owned business carries on Walter's traditions to this day.