Rainier’s Story
The Rainier Legacy
Rainier Industries began in 1896 during the Alaskan Gold Rush. The company started in downtown Seattle, producing tents for prospectors traveling north to the Klondike for the Gold Rush. After the Gold Rush, the company diversified and began selling awnings to the growing Seattle population.
Today, Rainier is a diverse and unique manufacturing company with plants on both the east and west coasts. Many of our over 250 employees have been with Rainier Industries for decades; Scott Campbell, CEO of Rainier Industries, has worked for Rainier for most of his lifetime. In his words: “At the end of the day, what really gets me excited about coming to work in the morning is the people I work with, and we have a lot of fun taking care of our customers.”
Rainier Industries
1896 - 1916
In 1896, Rainier was established by Henry Carstens, under the name Puget Sound Tent & Duck. The company was located on the Seattle waterfront and sold tents and camping equipment to goldminers heading north to Alaska for the Gold Rush.
1917 – 1962
George Schaffer bought Puget Sound Tent & Duck in 1917 following World War I. He sold tents to the military during World War II.
1963 - 1983
In 1962, Bob Campbell and Al Cox bought Puget Sound Tent & Duck. The name was changed to Puget Sound Tent & Awning.
1984 – 2021
In 1983, Scott purchased the company from Bob Campbell and became the fourth owner. The company name was changed to Rainier Industries in 1992.
2021 - Present
In 2021, Rainier Industries announces the promotion of Chris Inverso to CEO. Scott Campbell, Rainier’s long-time CEO, will continue as an owner and board member. Simultaneously, Rainier announces its partnership with Nashville-based investment firm LFM Capital. LFM is a private equity firm focused on U.S.-based manufacturing companies.
Learn More About Rainier
Read more about what is going on with Rainier Industries from our diverse blog catalog. Stay up to date on new projects, company news, teammate recognition, and more.