Coleman/Harrison

What Coleman/Harrison does

Coleman/Harrison is a privately-held manufacturer sales representative firm serving the U.S. professional beauty industry. Founded in 2000 in Dallas, Texas by Charlie Coleman and Tom Harrison — former competitors in the Southwest territory — the firm operates as a "Beauty Brand Agent," representing beauty product manufacturers (spanning hair care, nail care, skin care, spa, cosmetics, fragrances, and salon supplies) and earning pre-negotiated commissions on sales routed through wholesale distributors and retail channels. The company covers 37 U.S. states plus Canada and selected international markets, with a direct field sales team in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southwest, supplemented by a strategic alliance with J. White & Associates for Southeast coverage. Coleman/Harrison's customer-facing relationships include national professional beauty distributors (Sally Beauty, Beauty Systems Group, CosmoProf, Salon Centric), major beauty retailers (Ulta Beauty, Bluemercury), specialty retail accounts (Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Aerie, JCPenney), and the Amazon marketplace.

The firm's core technology is Nectar, a proprietary 24/7/365 online sales portal that provides up-to-date product information, pricing, availability, and ordering across more than 60 product categories for represented brands. Nectar features daily updates on new products and promotions, saved favorites, and repeat-order functionality, and is complemented by EDI compliance systems that enable seamless transaction processing with retail and distributor partners. Beyond digital tooling, Coleman/Harrison positions itself as a consultative partner rather than a transactional rep, offering brand manufacturers pricing strategy, promotional planning, packaging optimization, brand-awareness campaigns, and channel placement advice before and after market entry. The firm also operates the Nectar portal as a sub-brand under the Coleman-Harrison Company, Inc. legal entity.

Coleman/Harrison generates revenue exclusively through commission-based sales representation. Beauty Brand Agents work as independent contractors, and when a sale is secured on behalf of a manufacturer, the order is routed to the manufacturer who ships directly to the distributor; Coleman/Harrison then receives a pre-negotiated commission rate set under an Independent Sales Representative Agreement. Commission terms are not publicly disclosed. The firm is privately held by its two co-founders, has not raised external capital, and employs between 11 and 50 people including four VPs (Business Development, Sales & Strategic Growth, Canada & International, Operations), a Director of Sales, regional sales agents, and operational support staff covering EDI compliance, accounting, customer service, and account management.

Name

Coleman/Harrison

Legal name

Coleman-Harrison Company, Inc.

Website

https://colemanharrison.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coleman/Harrison is a Dallas-based, commission-based manufacturer sales representative firm representing beauty product brands to professional distributors and retailers across 37 U.S. states, Canada, and international markets, supported by its proprietary Nectar online ordering portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Beauty Sales Representation

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional/Salon Beauty Distribution (CRAOAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beauty & Salon Professional Supply Marketplaces (CRAFAHAH), Beauty & Personal Care Omnichannel (CRAFAEAB), Private Label & Contract/White-Label Beauty Distribution (CRAOAEAO)

Keywords

• Professional beauty distribution
• Manufacturer sales representation
• Beauty brand agents
• Wholesale beauty products
• Beauty distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Commission-based Sales Representation: Coleman/Harrison Beauty Brand Agents work exclusively on commission. When a sale is secured on behalf of a manufacturer, the company sends the order to the manufacturer who ships goods directly to the distributor. The manufacturer then pays a pre-negotiated commission rate, providing manufacturers with a fixed selling cost and clear budget control.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Coleman/Harrison operates as a Beauty Brand Agent — a commission-based manufacturer sales representative that introduces beauty product manufacturers to its established network of professional beauty distributors and retailers. The firm provides consultative support on pricing, promotions, packaging, and placement, and enables ordering through its proprietary Nectar 24/7/365 online sales portal across 37 U.S. states plus national and specialty beauty accounts.

Product overview

Coleman/Harrison operates as a unified manufacturer representation offering centered on its Beauty Brand Agent Services — a consultative sales partnership that connects beauty product manufacturers with distributors and retailers. The portfolio includes the proprietary Nectar 24/7/365 Sales Portal (an online ordering and product information platform), EDI compliance services, and brand awareness campaigns. The company serves the professional beauty industry across Midwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast U.S. territories through a network of regional sales agents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nectar: A 24/7/365 online beauty sales resource portal offered by Coleman/Harrison, providing up-to-date product information, pricing, availability, and ordering capabilities for beauty manufacturers and distributors. Features include daily product updates, quick-order options, saved favorites, and access to over 60 product categories.

Products and services

• Beauty Brand Agent Services Consultative manufacturer representation services for the professional beauty industry. Beauty Brand Agents serve as independent contractors working as an extension of manufacturers' sales and marketing teams, connecting products with distributors and retail stores through consultative partnerships that cover pricing strategy, promotions, packaging optimization, and placement across retail channels.
• Nectar Sales Portal A proprietary 24/7/365 online sales portal connecting Coleman/Harrison customers with beauty products, pricing, and availability. Offers up-to-date product information, pricing and availability, along with the convenience to place orders anytime using web-enabled devices. Access spans 60+ product categories with daily updates on new products and promotions.
• EDI Compliance Services Electronic Data Interchange compliance support enabling seamless transaction processing with retail partners and distributors for beauty product manufacturers represented by Coleman/Harrison.
• Brand Awareness Campaigns Marketing campaigns designed to build brand visibility and recognition in the professional beauty marketplace for the manufacturers Coleman/Harrison represents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37 states covered plus national distributors through combined team and strategic alliances

Named customers14 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• J. White & AssociatescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic alliance in the Southeast region with J. White & Associates, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Led by Jeff White and Kristel White, the partnership brings exceptional business expertise and aligns with Coleman/Harrison's values and approach to sales. The alliance extends Coleman/Harrison's coverage to the Southeast region, adding Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia to their territory. Combined, the sales team now spans 37 states plus national and regional specialty beauty accounts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• RangeMe: B2B product discovery and sourcing platform used by beauty brands to connect with retail buyers and distributors. Comparable to Nectar as a B2B portal solution, though broader in scope and digital-first rather than field-rep-led.

Broad incumbents

• Salon Service Group: Professional beauty products distributor that operates its own direct sales force and also represents third-party brands. Comparable because it is both a customer (distribution partner) of Coleman/Harrison and a competing route-to-market for manufacturers.
• Marlo Beauty Supply: Mid-sized professional beauty distributor serving salons, currently a Coleman/Harrison distribution partner. Comparable as an alternative channel for manufacturers evaluating rep vs. direct distribution.
• Marianna Beauty: Professional beauty distributor with field sales coverage; current Coleman/Harrison distribution partner. Comparable as a competing direct sales force and an alternative route-to-market for manufacturers.
• Beauty Systems Group (BSG): Sally Beauty-owned professional beauty distributor serving salons with its own in-house sales force and external manufacturer rep partners including Coleman/Harrison. Comparable as the channel through which Coleman/Harrison-placed brands ultimately reach the salon.
• SalonCentric: L'Oréal-owned professional beauty distributor with national field sales. Comparable as a distribution customer of Coleman/Harrison but also a competitor for manufacturer representation mandates given its parent company's brand portfolio.
• CosmoProf (Sally Beauty): Largest US professional beauty distributor and a Coleman/Harrison distribution partner. Comparable as the dominant incumbent route-to-market that manufacturers can use either through Coleman/Harrison's rep services or via direct relationships.

Direct peers

• Beauty Alliance: Cooperative of independent professional beauty distributors serving salons across the US. Comparable to Coleman/Harrison as an aggregated route-to-market for manufacturers seeking regional distribution with a relationship-led sales model.
• Kema Sales & Marketing: Independent beauty and personal care sales representative agency serving manufacturers across US territories. Comparable to Coleman/Harrison for its commission-based model and manufacturer-representation focus.
• Beacon Beauty Group: Independent beauty products sales representative agency covering US territories for manufacturers seeking distribution through professional and retail channels. Operates with a similar commission-based model and field agent structure as Coleman/Harrison.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CH_BBA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColemanHarrisonBBA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coleman-harrison

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

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 Coleman/Harrison