On October 20, PBD Worldwide celebrates 50 years in business.
What began in 1976 as Professional Book Distributors has grown into a nationwide third-party logistics (3PL) and fulfillment company serving organizations across a wide range of industries.
Over five decades, a lot has changed. We've expanded our footprint, embraced new technology, broadened our capabilities and continually evolved to meet the changing needs of our clients and the fulfillment industry.
But through every stage of that growth, the foundation of PBD has remained remarkably consistent: great people, strong relationships and a commitment to exceptional service.
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we're looking back at five chapters that shaped PBD Worldwide and the people, decisions and milestones that brought us here.
Chapter One: 1976–1985
Professional Book Distributors
In 1976, James E. Dockter founded Professional Book Distributors in Columbus, Ohio.
As the name suggests, our story began with books. PBD was founded to provide publishers and organizations with reliable distribution backed by personal service and strong relationships.
The company quickly gained momentum. Just six years after its founding, PBD was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in the USA in 1982.
Those early years established more than a distribution business. They established the values that would continue to shape PBD for the next 50 years.
Photo 1: PBD founder James E. Dockter in one of the earliest photos from Professional Book Distributors. / Photo 2: An early illustration of Professional Book Distributors’ first facility in Columbus, Ohio, originally used in company marketing materials.
Chapter Two: 1986–1995
A New Home and New Opportunities
In 1986, PBD relocated its headquarters from Columbus, Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia, beginning a new chapter of rapid growth.
The company quickly outgrew its 30,000-square-foot facility and moved into a larger 40,000-square-foot space. By 1991, PBD had outgrown that facility as well, prompting another move to its new headquarters on Bluegrass Parkway.
The timing also placed PBD at the center of Atlanta's growing logistics industry. UPS established its headquarters in Atlanta in 1991, strengthening an important carrier relationship as the city developed into a major transportation and logistics hub. PBD would go on to become the largest UPS shipper in the Southeast.
The move to Atlanta gave PBD room to grow, greater access to an expanding logistics network and a foundation for the nationwide fulfillment footprint that would follow.
Chapter Three: 1996–2005
A New Generation and Continued Growth
PBD entered its third decade with continued growth. In 1997, the company opened its second facility in the Atlanta area, expanding its capacity to serve a growing client base.
In 2000, PBD reached another important milestone as the company transitioned to its second generation of family ownership. Just one year later, PBD celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter century of growth from its beginnings as Professional Book Distributors in Columbus, Ohio.
The company's longstanding commitment to service earned national recognition in 2003, when PBD was named a finalist in the Best Customer Service Organization category of the American Business Awards.
By the close of this chapter, PBD had expanded its footprint, entered a new generation of family ownership and celebrated 25 years in business, while continuing to build on the service and relationships that had been central to the company since 1976.
Chapter Four: 2006–2015
Evolving for a New Era of Fulfillment
The next decade brought significant change, both for PBD and for the fulfillment industry. Ecommerce was rapidly changing the way consumers shopped, technology was transforming how orders and inventory were managed, and expectations for faster, more cost-effective delivery were rising.
PBD recognized that continued success meant evolving alongside the businesses we served. We worked to diversify our client portfolio and expand our capabilities to support a broader range of industries, products and fulfillment needs. At the same time, PBD expanded beyond its Georgia operations, establishing additional distribution centers across the United States to move inventory closer to customers, shorten delivery times and help clients better manage transportation costs.
Technology became an increasingly important part of that strategy. PBD continued investing in systems and solutions that provided greater visibility, efficiency and flexibility as ecommerce and increasingly connected supply chains changed the way orders were received, processed and delivered.
But growth wasn't only about facilities, technology or services. PBD continued investing in the experienced team and client-focused culture that had been central to the company from the beginning. New tools and a larger footprint allowed us to do more, while our people and commitment to service remained the foundation behind it.
Together, these strategic investments positioned PBD to enter its next decade with a more diverse client base, a broader national footprint and the technology and expertise needed to support an entirely new era of fulfillment.
Chapter Five: 2016–2026
Growing Forward Without Losing What Matters
As fulfillment continued to evolve, so did PBD. Our focus remained on understanding what our clients needed and finding new ways to serve them better.
In 2017, PBD opened its first West Coast distribution center in Las Vegas, Nevada, extending our nationwide footprint and giving clients greater flexibility to position inventory closer to their customers. Today, PBD operates five strategically located distribution centers across the United States with approximately 550,000 square feet of warehouse space.
Our capabilities have evolved just as significantly. What began with book distribution now includes DTC ecommerce, B2B and retail fulfillment, kitting and assembly, subscription programs, returns management, transportation solutions and integrations with leading ecommerce and ERP platforms. Continued investments in technology, automation and data have helped us provide the speed, visibility and flexibility today's businesses require.
Along the way, PBD's growth, leadership and workplace culture have earned recognition both within our industry and beyond. CEO Scott Dockter was named a Glassdoor Top CEO in 2018, PBD was recognized as a Top 3PL Provider by Multichannel Merchant in 2020, and the company has been recognized multiple times among Atlanta's Best Places to Work and the nation's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.
But even as fulfillment has become increasingly technology-driven, PBD has remained committed to something that has defined us since the beginning: personal service backed by experienced people. Technology helps us serve our clients better, but it doesn't replace the relationships behind that service. Our clients continue to have people who know their business, understand their needs and are invested in their success.
That commitment is also reflected in the experience of our team, with many PBD employees building careers here that span decades. It's a philosophy that can be traced all the way back to our founder, James E. Dockter, who believed, “You win with good people who share your values.”
Fifty years later, those words still resonate. Many of the tools we use, services we provide and products moving through our distribution centers would have been difficult to imagine in 1976. But the foundation that allowed PBD to grow from a book distributor into a nationwide 3PL remains remarkably familiar.
We continue to listen. We continue to adapt. We continue to invest in what's next. And through it all, we continue to believe that great people, strong relationships and exceptional service are what make the difference.
Chapter Six Starts Now
Fifty years is a milestone worth celebrating, and one we couldn't have reached without the employees, clients, partners and friends who have been part of PBD's story.
Some have been with us for decades. Others have joined us more recently. All have played a role in helping a small book distribution company founded in 1976 become the nationwide 3PL and fulfillment partner PBD Worldwide is today.
If the past 50 years have taught us anything, it's that fulfillment will continue to change. Technology will advance, client needs will evolve and new challenges and opportunities will emerge. Just as we have since 1976, PBD will continue listening to our clients, investing in our capabilities and finding new ways to serve them better.
And as we look ahead, we'll carry with us the same foundation that brought us here: great people, strong relationships and a commitment to exceptional service.
On October 20, we celebrate 50 years of the people, relationships and milestones that have shaped PBD.
Then, we start writing the next chapter.
Here's to the next 50 years!
