Dovo
DOVO Stahlwaren GmbH is a 116-year-old Solingen, Germany-based manufacturer of premium hand-forged straight razors, safety razors, shavettes, and grooming tools, sold direct-to-consumer through localized online storefronts in Germany, the UK, and the US to individual enthusiasts, professional barbers, and B2B/private-label customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1906
- HeadquartersSolingen, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Dovo does
DOVO Stahlwaren GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of premium straight razors, safety razors, shavettes, and related grooming tools, founded in 1906 and headquartered at Norbertstraße 3, Solingen, Germany. Its core product is the hand-forged straight razor, each unit requiring more than 20 trained craftspeople and steel forged in Solingen — a legally protected geographic designation for cutlery quality. The portfolio extends into shaving accessories (strops, brushes, soap bowls, stands, etuis), professional scissors (beard, hair, cuticle), nail clippers, and the Klipette nose trimmer, with premium SKUs such as the Bergischer Löwe, Bismarck Ebony, Barbarossa, and EDO lines priced up to EUR 340.
DOVO operates almost exclusively as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business through dovo.com, with localized storefronts for Germany, the UK, and the US and shipping to approximately 25 European countries. Revenue is generated from one-time product sales at unit prices ranging from EUR 9 (Leather Balm) to EUR 340 (premium straight razors), supplemented by an OEM/private-label manufacturing service, paid and free shaving courses run from DOVO Studio, and a professional sharpening service. The company also supports a small B2B/corporate channel serving barbershops, hotels, and bulk buyers. Payment infrastructure is built on PayPal, Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Klarna.
The customer base spans three segments: individual premium-grooming enthusiasts (primary), professional barbers and grooming professionals, and B2B/private-label corporate buyers. The company is led by CEO and Managing Director Jens Grudno, has 51-100 employees, has no disclosed external investors or parent entity, and shows no public funding, M&A, or restructuring activity in the source material. Marketing is multi-channel and content-led, anchored on the 116-year craftsmanship narrative and a Solingen-manufactured badge of origin.
Dovo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dovo
- Legal name
- DOVO Stahlwaren GmbH
- Website
- https://dovo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1906
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- DOVO Stahlwaren GmbH is a 116-year-old Solingen, Germany-based manufacturer of premium hand-forged straight razors, safety razors, shavettes, and grooming tools, sold direct-to-consumer through localized online storefronts in Germany, the UK, and the US to individual enthusiasts, professional barbers, and B2B/private-label customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dovo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Handcrafted Shaving Razors
- NAICS
- Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing (332216), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Barber & Professional Men’s Grooming Products (CRABAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Brow & Facial Hair Tools (Tweezers, Razors, Trimmers) (CRABAKAD)
Keywords
Where Dovo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Solingen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dovo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales - Razors: One-time purchase revenue from straight razors, safety razors, shavettes, and grooming tools. Products range from entry-level to premium handcrafted pieces.
- Product Sales - Accessories: Sales of complementary grooming accessories including strops, blades, brushes, soap bowls, stands, cosmetics, and etuis (cases).
- Product Sales - Grooming Tools: Sales of professional grooming scissors, nail clippers, beard scissors, and body care tools.
- OEM Private Label Services: Private label manufacturing services for business customers wanting custom branded versions of DOVO products.
- Shaving Courses: Revenue from in-person and online shaving courses taught by Master Barber Stijn at DOVO Studio.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level razors and grooming tools |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-range straight razors and safety razors |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium handcrafted straight razors |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shaving accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Dovo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DOVO Stahlwaren GmbH manufactures and sells premium handcrafted straight razors, safety razors, and shavettes forged in Solingen, Germany, alongside complementary shaving accessories (strops, brushes, soap bowls, stands, etuis) and grooming tools (beard scissors, hair scissors, cuticle scissors, nail clippers, Klipette nose trimmer). The portfolio is sold primarily direct-to-consumer through dovo.com to individuals and professional barbers across 25+ European countries, supplemented by OEM Private Label manufacturing, shaving courses at the DOVO Studio, and a sharpening service.
Product overview
DOVO is a premium traditional grooming equipment manufacturer offering a focused portfolio of hand-crafted straight razors, safety razors, and shavettes made in Solingen, Germany since 1906. The product line centers on straight razors as the core offering, complemented by safety razors and shavette alternatives, sold individually or as curated sets. Supporting the razor portfolio, DOVO offers essential shaving accessories including leather strops for blade maintenance, shaving brushes, soap bowls, and razor stands and etuis for storage and transport. The grooming category extends to professional-grade scissors (beard, hair, cuticle), nail clippers, and the Klipette nose trimmer. The company also operates a DOVO Studio offering shaving courses taught by Master Barber Stijn, both online and in-person, as well as a professional sharpening service for straight razor maintenance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DOVO Straight Razors Hand-forged traditional straight razors made in Solingen, Germany since 1906, DOVO's signature product line crafted by more than 20 trained hands using steel forged over 70 years ago; sold to individual consumers, collectors, and professional barbers.
- DOVO Safety Razors Premium double-edge safety razors offering a traditional shaving experience with modern safety features, including the Primo I and Primo II models; for consumers and professional users seeking a durable reusable alternative to disposable razors.
- DOVO Shavette Professional straight razor alternative using disposable replaceable blade segments, designed for barbers and precise shaving; sold as the standard Shavette line and the premium Shavette Titan model for professional groomers.
- Razor Sets
- DOVO Razor Strops Leather stropping accessories (including the DOVO Razor Strop Leather at EUR 65) used to maintain and hone straight razor edges between shaves.
- DOVO Shaving Brushes Premium shaving brushes for creating rich lather and preparing skin for traditional wet shaving, sold alongside DOVO razors.
- DOVO Soap Bowls Soap bowls for holding and using shaving soap during traditional wet-shaving routines.
- DOVO Razor Stands Stands for displaying and storing straight razors, maintaining proper hygiene and presentation.
- DOVO Razor Etuis Protective cases and pouches, including the DOVO Razor-Etui at EUR 25, for safely transporting and storing straight razors.
- DOVO Beard Scissors Professional-grade scissors (EUR 65) for trimming and shaping facial hair, sold as a best-selling DOVO grooming tool.
- DOVO Hair Scissors 6 Inch Professional 6-inch hair cutting scissors for salon and barber use.
- DOVO Cuticle Scissors Precision scissors (EUR 39) for cuticle care and nail trimming, sold as a best-selling DOVO grooming tool.
- DOVO Nail Clippers Compact nail clippers for personal grooming, available in small (EUR 29) and large (EUR 35) sizes, sold as best-selling DOVO grooming tools.
- DOVO Klipette Nose hair trimmer (EUR 50) for precision facial grooming, sold as a best-selling DOVO grooming tool.
- DOVO Leather Balm Conditioning balm (EUR 9) for maintaining the longevity of DOVO leather strops and other leather accessories, sold as a best seller.
- DOVO Shaving Courses Professional shaving instruction courses taught by Master Barber Stijn, available both online and in-person at the DOVO Studio, for consumers and barbers learning traditional wet-shaving technique.
- DOVO Sharpening Service Professional razor sharpening and restoration service for maintaining DOVO straight razors, supporting long-term ownership of handcrafted blades.
- OEM Private Label Manufacturing Private label manufacturing service for business customers that want custom-branded versions of DOVO razors and grooming products, sold on a licensing/royalty basis.
Quantifiable outcome
- Products forged in Solingen, Germany - a legally protected geographic designation for cutlery excellence
Companies that use Dovo
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Dovo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature2 records
Dovo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Dovo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Puma-Solingen: Puma-Solingen is a Solingen-based cutlery and straight razor manufacturer with a similar heritage profile to DOVO. It competes directly in the same handcrafted German straight razor category and shares the Solingen geographic designation.
- Mühle (Hans-Jürgen Müller GmbH & Co. KG): Mühle is a German manufacturer of premium safety razors, shaving brushes, and traditional wet-shaving products, with a strong DTC e-commerce presence across Europe. It directly competes with DOVO in safety razors, brushes, and shaving accessories, sharing a similar premium positioning and target customer of wet-shaving enthusiasts.
- Edwin Jagger: Edwin Jagger is a UK-based manufacturer of premium safety razors, shaving brushes, and traditional wet-shaving products. It overlaps directly with DOVO in safety razors and shaving accessories, targeting a similar premium enthusiast customer base across Europe.
- Böker Manufaktur Solingen: Böker is a Solingen-based manufacturer with a 150+ year heritage producing straight razors, pocket knives, and grooming tools. It is the most direct competitor to DOVO in handcrafted Solingen straight razors, sharing the same geographic designation, premium positioning, and DTC + specialty retail distribution model.
- Wacker Solingen: Wacker is a Solingen manufacturer of straight razors and traditional shaving tools. It is a direct German craft peer to DOVO in the same niche, with comparable product range, price points, and Solingen heritage positioning.
- Thiers Issard: Thiers Issard is a French straight razor manufacturer with a comparable heritage to DOVO, producing premium handcrafted straight razors for wet-shaving enthusiasts. It competes in the same premium international niche and serves overlapping collector and enthusiast customer segments.
Emerging players
- Geo F Trumper: Geo F Trumper is a UK heritage men's grooming brand with a product range overlapping DOVO's traditional shaving customer. It serves the same premium wet-shaving and barbering segment with complementary products such as colognes, shaving soaps, and brushes.
- Taylor of Old Bond Street: Taylor of Old Bond Street is a UK-based traditional men's grooming brand producing shaving creams, soaps, and colognes. It addresses a similar premium wet-shaving customer as DOVO and is a relevant adjacent peer in the traditional men's grooming ritual category, though it is product-line complementary rather than a direct razor competitor.
- Proraso: Proraso is an Italian traditional men's shaving brand with a strong international presence in shaving creams, soaps, and aftershaves. It overlaps with DOVO in the traditional wet-shaving category and serves a similar enthusiast and barber customer base across European and global markets.
Broad incumbents
- Zwilling J.A. Henckels: Zwilling is a much larger Solingen-based cutlery and grooming products company with a broad portfolio including straight razors, kitchen knives, and beauty tools. It competes with DOVO in the premium Solingen straight razor category but at a far larger scale and broader category footprint.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Dovo social profiles
Digital presenceDovo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dovo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Dovo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dovo 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 Dovo
What does Dovo do?
DOVO Stahlwaren GmbH manufactures and sells premium handcrafted straight razors, safety razors, and shavettes forged in Solingen, Germany, alongside complementary shaving accessories (strops, brushes, soap bowls, stands, etuis) and grooming tools (beard scissors, hair scissors, cuticle scissors, nail clippers, Klipette nose trimmer). The portfolio is sold primarily direct-to-consumer through dovo.com to individuals and professional barbers across 25+ European countries, supplemented by OEM Private Label manufacturing, shaving courses at the DOVO Studio, and a sharpening service.
Is Dovo a public or private company?
Dovo is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Dovo founded?
Dovo was founded in 1906. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Dovo based?
Dovo is headquartered in Solingen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Dovo make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - Razors are the primary driver. The others are product Sales - Accessories, product Sales - Grooming Tools, OEM Private Label Services and shaving Courses.
Who are Dovo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Puma-Solingen, Mühle (Hans-Jürgen Müller GmbH & Co. KG), Edwin Jagger, Böker Manufaktur Solingen, Wacker Solingen and Thiers Issard. Emerging players are Geo F Trumper, Taylor of Old Bond Street and Proraso. Zwilling J.A. Henckels is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Dovo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dovo.
What industry is Dovo in?
Dovo's product category is Premium Handcrafted Shaving Razors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABAGAK, Barber & Professional Men’s Grooming Products, with a secondary code of CRABAKAD, Brow & Facial Hair Tools (Tweezers, Razors, Trimmers). Its NAICS code is 332216 and its SIC code is 2844.