Kirby Company
Kirby Company is a privately held Cleveland, Ohio-based American manufacturer of premium multi-functional home cleaning systems (Kirby Avalir Platinum flagship), founded in 1914. It sells globally via independent authorized distributors conducting in-home demonstrations and direct-to-consumer e-commerce to residential homeowners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1914
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kirby Company does
The Kirby Company, founded in 1914 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a privately held American manufacturer of premium multi-functional home cleaning systems. Its flagship is the Kirby Avalir Platinum (launched March 2024), with the prior generation Avalir 2 (model G10D, March 2018) still in the lineup; both use an upright vacuum architecture integrated with a Multi-Surface Shampoo System, die-cast aluminum construction, TechDrive power assist, and Micron Magic HEPA filtration rated to capture 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns. The product line spans accessories and consumables — including brush rolls for carpet, hard floor, tile & grout, and pet owners; HEPA filter bags; carpet shampoos; and specialty tools (Zippbrush, Turbo Accessory, Portable Sprayer) — plus a fee-based Factory Rebuild Program that restores older units to like-new condition. Kirby monetizes through three streams: one-time hardware sales of the cleaning system, recurring replacement parts and supplies, and professional rebuild services.
The company sells primarily through a global network of independent authorized distributors who conduct in-home demonstrations (including delivery, installation, and tutorial), supplemented by direct-to-consumer e-commerce at kirby.com, phone ordering, and factory-authorized service centers. Pricing on flagship systems is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with a premium positioning supported by a "buy once" lifetime-durability narrative and documented customer ownership of 20–50+ years. Marketing is driven by content (news.kirby.com blog, knowledge center, how-to videos), social media (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube), email, and an Owner Resources mobile app on iOS and Android. Distribution spans North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania. The company is family-owned, with no parent, subsidiaries, public ticker, venture funding, or disclosed leadership team in the source data.
Kirby Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kirby Company
- Legal name
- The Kirby Company
- Website
- https://kirby.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1914
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Kirby Company is a privately held Cleveland, Ohio-based American manufacturer of premium multi-functional home cleaning systems (Kirby Avalir Platinum flagship), founded in 1914. It sells globally via independent authorized distributors conducting in-home demonstrations and direct-to-consumer e-commerce to residential homeowners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kirby Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Home Vacuum Cleaners
- NAICS
- Small Electrical Appliance Manufacturing (335210), Household Appliance Manufacturing (3352), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Appliance Repair and Maintenance (811412)
- SIC
- Electric Housewares & Fans (3634), Household Appliances (3630), Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services (7600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Home Cleaning Appliances Retail (Vacuums, Steam Mops) (CRACADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Appliance & Specialty Hard Surface Cleaners (Oven/BBQ/Cooktop) (CRAJACAH), Heavy-Duty/Industrial-Strength All-Purpose Cleaners (Consumer) (CRAJAMAG), Small Appliance Deep Cleaning (Toaster Oven/Air Fryer/Coffee Maker) (HSAEAKAG)
Keywords
Where Kirby Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Kirby Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Vacuum Cleaner Hardware Sales: Primary revenue from selling Kirby home cleaning systems (upright vacuum cleaners) including the Avalir Platinum and Avalir 2 models. Sold through independent distributors with in-home demonstrations or direct online purchase.
- Replacement Parts & Supplies: Recurring revenue from consumables including HEPA filter bags, vacuum belts, carpet shampoo, hard floor cleaners, brush rolls, hoses, power cords, and metal polish. Sold online, via phone, or through local distributors.
- Factory Rebuild Program: Fee-based service to completely rebuild Kirby systems to 'like new' condition. Includes disassembly, cleaning, repair/replacement of parts, sandblasting, polishing of metal parts, and testing to original manufacturing standards. Average turnaround of 45 days.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Main vacuum systems sold at distributor-determined pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Flitz Metal Polish - $16.99 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kirby Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Kirby Company manufactures and sells premium multi-functional upright home cleaning systems, currently the Avalir Platinum (launched March 2024) and Avalir 2 / G10D (launched March 2018), that combine vacuuming, carpet shampooing, hard floor mopping, tile and grout scrubbing, and polishing in a single die-cast aluminum machine with HEPA filtration. The company also sells branded replacement parts, consumables, and accessories, and offers a Factory Rebuild Program that restores older units to like-new condition with an average 45-day turnaround.
Product overview
Kirby Company offers the Kirby Home Cleaning System as a single unified product line with multiple generations. The current flagship is the Kirby Avalir Platinum (launched March 2024), a multi-functional upright vacuum system that also serves as a carpet shampooer, hard floor mop, tile & grout scrubber, and floor polisher. The previous generation model is the Kirby Avalir 2 (model G10D, launched March 2018). Both systems accept a range of accessories including the Multi-Surface Shampoo System, various brush rolls (standard, hard floor, tile & grout, pet owner), HEPA filter bags, carpet shampoos, and specialty tools like the Zippbrush and Turbo Accessory. The company also provides consumables (belts, filter bags, cleaning solutions) and a Factory Rebuild Program to restore older units to like-new condition. An Owner Resources mobile app supports customers on iOS and Android devices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Avalir Platinum: Flagship home cleaning system - can function as vacuum, shampooer, mop, and scrubber for multiple surfaces including carpets, hard floors, and tile & grout.
- Avalir 2
- Micron Magic HEPA
- TechDrive
- Multi-Surface Shampoo System (MSSS)
Quantifiable outcome
- HEPA filtration captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Kirby Company
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kirby Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Kirby Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- S & B AssociatesminorIndependent authorized Kirby distributor and factory-authorized service center located in Greensboro, NC. Provides local sales, service, and support for Kirby products in the region. Contact: (336) 763-4725.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kirby Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- iRobot (Roomba): Leading robotic vacuum brand that shifted the category toward automation. A direct substitute for traditional upright vacuums and a structural competitor for the same household cleaning budget.
- Shark (SharkNinja): Major consumer vacuum and cleaning appliance brand offering uprights, cordless sticks, and robotic vacuums. Specifically referenced on Kirbys website as a comparison, competing head-to-head for multi-surface cleaning households.
- Dyson: Global premium vacuum manufacturer with cordless stick vacuums, robotic vacuums, and air purifiers. Directly named in Kirbys comparison pages (Kirby vs Dyson), competing for the high-end cleaning appliance buyer.
- Bissell: Major vacuum and carpet cleaning brand including uprights, carpet shampooers (LifterClean), and hard floor cleaners. Strong portfolio overlap on the multi-surface cleaning use case Kirby targets.
- Miele: German premium appliance manufacturer with high-end upright and canister vacuums. Explicitly compared on Kirbys website (Kirby vs Miele), competing for durable, premium-positioned cleaning products.
- Rainbow ( Rexair): Direct competitor using a similar in-home demonstration sales model for water-based filtration vacuum systems. Compared on Kirbys website and a near-twin in GTM motion and target customer.
Broad incumbents
- Hoover: Legacy American vacuum brand with broad mass-market upright, stick, and carpet cleaner portfolio. Competes in the same category but serves a wider, more mass-market price tier than Kirby.
- Electrolux: Global appliance conglomerate producing vacuums alongside broad kitchen and laundry lines. Overlaps with Kirby on home cleaning hardware but operates across many categories.
Emerging players
- Roborock: Fast-growing robotic vacuum and wet-dry cleaning brand with strong smart features and mid-premium pricing. Represents the next-generation competitive threat to traditional upright vacuum models.
- Riccar: American-made premium vacuum brand with a similar durability/heritage positioning and direct-sales emphasis. Smaller scale than Kirby but a credible niche competitor in the premium upright vacuum segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kirby Company social profiles
Digital presenceKirby Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kirby Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kirby Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kirby Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kirby Company
What does Kirby Company do?
The Kirby Company manufactures and sells premium multi-functional upright home cleaning systems, currently the Avalir Platinum (launched March 2024) and Avalir 2 / G10D (launched March 2018), that combine vacuuming, carpet shampooing, hard floor mopping, tile and grout scrubbing, and polishing in a single die-cast aluminum machine with HEPA filtration. The company also sells branded replacement parts, consumables, and accessories, and offers a Factory Rebuild Program that restores older units to like-new condition with an average 45-day turnaround.
Is Kirby Company a public or private company?
Kirby Company is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Kirby Company founded?
Kirby Company was founded in 1914. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Kirby Company based?
Kirby Company is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kirby Company make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Vacuum Cleaner Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are replacement Parts & Supplies and factory Rebuild Program.
Who are Kirby Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are iRobot (Roomba), Shark (SharkNinja), Dyson, Bissell, Miele and Rainbow ( Rexair). Broad incumbents are Hoover and Electrolux. Emerging players are Roborock and Riccar.
Does Kirby Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kirby Company.
What industry is Kirby Company in?
Kirby Company's product category is Home Vacuum Cleaners. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACADAG, Home Cleaning Appliances Retail (Vacuums, Steam Mops), with a secondary code of CRAJACAH, Appliance & Specialty Hard Surface Cleaners (Oven/BBQ/Cooktop). Its NAICS code is 335210 and its SIC code is 3634.