kt.COLOR
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersUster, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
kt.COLOR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- kt.COLOR
- Legal name
- kt.COLOR AG
- Website
- https://ktcolor.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
kt.COLOR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Paints
- NAICS
- Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Paint and Wallpaper Retailers (44412)
- SIC
- Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural & Decorative Paints (IMAEAHAA)
Keywords
Where kt.COLOR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Uster
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
kt.COLOR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Paint and Finish Products: Sale of handcrafted architectural paints including Emulsion, Satinée, Silikat, kt.LACK, Mate, Leimfarbe, Linum Ölfarbe, 2K-PUR-Decklack, Metallic colors, Öltempera, and Pigmentkalk. Products sold in various finishes and can be customized. Minimum order is typically 1 kg.
- Design Tools and Books: Sale of design tools including color fans, sample collections, books about color systems and iconic color concepts. Products like 'Working with Color: Library of 400 Combinations', '225 Farben' sample book, and specialized color reference materials.
- Color Consultancy Services: Professional color consulting services including Wonderful Wednesday free consultations (15 minutes), paid showroom consultations (60-90 minutes for multiple rooms), online color consultations with physical sample book delivery, and on-site consultations for larger projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sample Products - Small format samples for testing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Design Tools |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk Paint Orders |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
kt.COLOR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
kt.COLOR AG manufactures and sells 180 handcrafted architectural paint colors formulated from more than 120 natural and mineral pigments, including rare pigments such as Lapis Lazuli white, Wiener Rot, and Bernese sandstone. The portfolio spans wall, ceiling, facade, lime plaster, lacquer, metallic, oil, and silicate finishes, complemented by physical design tools (color fans, sample books, color concept tools) and professional color consultation services delivered through showrooms and online channels.
Product overview
kt.COLOR is a Swiss paint manufacturer offering a unified portfolio centered on 180 handcrafted architectural colors made from natural and mineral pigments. The product line is organized around multiple finish types (Emulsion, Satinée, kt.LACK, Silikat, Mate, Leimfarbe, Linum Ölfarbe, Öltempera, Pigmentkalk, Metallic) that apply these colors for different surfaces and applications. The portfolio also includes professional Designtools (color fans, sample books, color concept tools) and color consultation services. All products share the common thread of using high-quality natural pigments rather than synthetic alternatives, with finishes optimized for specific use cases from interior walls to facades to furniture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- kt.COLOR 180 Color Collection 180 handcrafted architectural colors made from natural and mineral pigments, including rare pigments like Lapis Lazuli white, Wiener Rot, and Bernese sandstone, sold in various finish types for architecture, interior spaces, and spaces with character.
- Emulsion (and Emulsion Titanfrei)
Quantifiable outcome
- 20-year guarantee on facade finishes
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use kt.COLOR
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
kt.COLOR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature4 records
kt.COLOR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Certified Partner Businesses (Meister der Farben)coreNetwork of certified painting contractors, joiners, and design firms across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein. Partners receive annual training at kt.COLOR facilities, access to complete sample collections, and certification to provide professional color consultation services. The company provides ongoing education and exclusive access to product expertise.
- Aronson's Floor Covering (USA)minorNew York-based floor covering specialist that introduced Le Corbusier paint palettes by kt.COLOR to the United States market in 2007. This was a strategic distribution partnership for bringing Swiss paint products to the American market through established design channels.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
kt.COLOR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Farrow & Ball: UK-based premium architectural paint manufacturer known for heritage color palettes, handcrafted formulations, and a design-conscious customer base. Closest direct competitor in positioning (premium, color-forward, designer-led) and product mix (emulsion, estate emulsion, modern emulsion, dead flat, etc.) targeting architects and high-end homeowners.
- Little Greene: British premium paint maker offering heritage-inspired colors and eco-friendly formulations. Competes directly with kt.COLOR in the design-conscious, color-rich premium segment with comparable distribution through showrooms and certified applicators across Europe.
- Bauwerk Colour: Australian-born premium natural-paint brand focused on mineral, lime, and clay-based interior finishes with earthy color palettes. Direct peer in product philosophy (natural pigments, breathable finishes) and customer segment (designers, architects, premium homeowners) expanding into European markets.
Others
- Zweihorn: German manufacturer of wood finishes, lacquers and coatings used by professional joiners and craftspeople. Adjacent peer relevant to kt.COLOR's kt.LACK and Linum Ölfarbe product lines and its Meister der Farben craft-business partner channel, though Zweihorn focuses on wood rather than wall paints.
Emerging players
- Earthborn Paints: UK eco-friendly paint brand offering natural, breathable interior finishes with a focus on sustainability credentials. Comparable to kt.COLOR's eco position but with greater emphasis on mass-market retail availability and lower price points.
- Annie Sloan: British decorative-paint brand famous for Chalk Paint and color-led DIY finishes with a global stockist network. Comparable in color-forward positioning and design-led brand but targets the decorative/DIY end of the market rather than kt.COLOR's high-end architectural segment.
- COAT Paints: UK-based DTC premium paint brand with a curated color palette and modern designer-led marketing. Overlaps with kt.COLOR on design-conscious customers and direct online sales, though COAT leans more on subscription/sample DTC mechanics rather than handmade pigment depth.
- Biofa: German manufacturer of natural, eco-certified paints, oils and waxes for interior and exterior use. Overlaps with kt.COLOR on natural-pigment positioning and DACH distribution, but serves a broader DIY/contractor base with a wider range of products.
Broad incumbents
- KEIM Farben: German manufacturer specializing in silicate/mineral paints for heritage and architectural applications. Larger established player overlapping with kt.COLOR's Silikat, Mate and Pigmentkalk lines, particularly for facade and historic-building applications across DACH.
Regional players
- Ressource Paints: French premium paint brand with strong design-led color collections and a network of partner showrooms. Comparable premium positioning and color-fan/sample-book distribution model, but primarily serves France rather than DACH directly.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
kt.COLOR social profiles
Digital presencekt.COLOR compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
kt.COLOR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
kt.COLOR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
kt.COLOR subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
kt.COLOR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
kt.COLOR 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 kt.COLOR
What does kt.COLOR do?
kt.COLOR AG manufactures and sells 180 handcrafted architectural paint colors formulated from more than 120 natural and mineral pigments, including rare pigments such as Lapis Lazuli white, Wiener Rot, and Bernese sandstone. The portfolio spans wall, ceiling, facade, lime plaster, lacquer, metallic, oil, and silicate finishes, complemented by physical design tools (color fans, sample books, color concept tools) and professional color consultation services delivered through showrooms and online channels.
Is kt.COLOR a public or private company?
kt.COLOR is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was kt.COLOR founded?
kt.COLOR was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is kt.COLOR based?
kt.COLOR is headquartered in Uster, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does kt.COLOR make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Paint and Finish Products are the primary driver. The others are design Tools and Books and color Consultancy Services.
Who are kt.COLOR's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Bauwerk Colour. Zweihorn is listed as an others. Emerging players are Earthborn Paints, Annie Sloan, COAT Paints and Biofa. KEIM Farben is listed as a broad incumbent. Ressource Paints is listed as a regional player.
Does kt.COLOR have an API?
No public API is recorded for kt.COLOR.
What industry is kt.COLOR in?
kt.COLOR's product category is Architectural Paints. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAHAA, Architectural & Decorative Paints. Its NAICS code is 32551 and its SIC code is 2851.