What K5 International does

K5 International is an Australian privately held manufacturer and direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer of professional barber, hairdressing, and pet grooming supplies. The company operates from Wollert, Victoria, with a workforce of 101–250 employees, and runs a Shopify storefront at k5international.com.au that ships free within Australia and tracked internationally. Its catalog centers on cutting tools — barber scissors, hairdressing scissors, thinning scissors, scissor sets, and pet grooming scissors — manufactured in-house using Japanese stainless steel (including 440C grade) with convex and beveled blades, ergonomic handles, and Damascus-pattern finishing on premium SKUs. K5 also distributes third-party branded electric hardware (Wahl, BaBylissPRO, Andis, Denman) and has begun launching own-branded cordless clippers and trimmers.

The business model is a fully integrated manufacturer-to-consumer pipeline: K5 produces its own scissor lines, imports and resells complementary branded tools, and sells everything direct at "factory rate" pricing with no third-party retail or distribution layer. Pricing is unit-based per SKU (ranging from roughly $5.50 for small accessories to $359.90 for premium clippers), with no subscription or recurring component. The primary customer persona is the professional barber or hairdresser, supplemented by professional pet groomers and a long tail of home/DIY users. Customer acquisition relies on Shopify-native SEO, a content blog targeting long-tail keywords, and active social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. The company offers a 1-year warranty on own-branded products, a 14-day satisfaction guarantee, and 30-day returns. There are no disclosed funding rounds, institutional investors, parent companies, or executive team members in the public record, indicating a founder-owned and bootstrapped operating profile.

Name

K5 International

Legal name

K5 International

Website

https://k5international.com.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

K5 International is an Australian manufacturer and direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer selling professional barber scissors, hairdressing tools, clippers, and pet grooming supplies at factory-direct prices via its Shopify storefront k5international.com.au.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Barber and Grooming Supplies

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

akta.pro primary industry

Salon Hair Tools & Electricals (Dryers, Irons, Clippers) (CRABALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Barber & Professional Men’s Grooming Products (CRABAGAK), Hair Styling Tools (Dryers, Straighteners, Curlers) (CRABAKAF)

Keywords

• Barber scissors
• Hairdressing scissors
• Pet grooming tools
• Professional hair clippers
• Barber accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Glenroy

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Product Sales: K5 International generates revenue by selling barber and hairdressing supplies directly to consumers and professionals through its e-commerce website. Products are sold at one-time purchase prices with no recurring subscription component. The company sells a wide range of products including scissors, clippers, trimmers, razors, barber accessories, and pet grooming tools. Pricing ranges from approximately $5 to $350+ per item. The company also resells third-party branded products including Wahl, BabylissPRO, and Andis clippers and blades.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

K5 International manufactures and supplies professional barber and hairdressing tools, including scissors, hair clippers, trimmers, straight razors, and shaving kits, alongside pet grooming scissors and clippers. The company sells its own K5-branded manufactured products as well as third-party branded items (Wahl, BaBylissPRO, Andis, VGR, Denman) directly to consumers and professionals through its e-commerce website at factory-direct pricing.

Product overview

K5 International is an Australian-based manufacturer and supplier of professional barber and beauty supplies, offering a comprehensive product portfolio centered on cutting tools (scissors, clippers, trimmers) complemented by shaving equipment, barber apparel, and pet grooming products. The core product lines include Barber Scissors, Hairdressing Scissors, Thinning Scissors, and Barber Scissors Sets—all manufactured by K5 using Japanese stainless steel (including 440C grade)—while also distributing professional tools from brands like Wahl, BaBylissPRO, Andis, and Denman. The product ecosystem spans cutting instruments, clippers/trimmers with accessories (blades, oil), straight razors and shaving kits, protective apparel (capes, aprons), storage solutions (bags, holsters), grooming accessories (combs, brushes, manicure tools), and dedicated pet grooming scissors and clippers. Products are sold directly to professionals and consumers at factory-direct rates through their e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Barber Scissors High-quality scissors crafted from stainless steel for professional barbers, available in various sizes (5.5-7.0 inches), colors, and patterns including Damascus, matte black, and crystal designs.
• Hairdressing Scissors Professional hairdressing scissors made from Japanese stainless steel (including 440C grade), featuring beveled or convex edge blades, ergonomic designs, and options for left-handed users.
• Thinning Scissors Hair thinning scissors designed for texturizing, bulk reduction, and seamless blending, featuring specialized teeth and blades for professional stylist use.
• Barber Scissors Sets Curated scissor sets typically including cutting scissors, thinning scissors, and accessories in coordinated designs for comprehensive barber toolkits.
• Pet Grooming Scissors Professional pet grooming scissors including straight, curved upward, curved downward, and thinning variants in various sizes (7.5-8.0 inches) made from Japanese stainless steel.
• Hair Clippers & Hair Trimmers Professional-grade hair clippers and trimmers from brands including Wahl, BaBylissPRO, Andis, and K5's own branded cordless options featuring brushless motors and adjustable blades.
• Pet Grooming Clippers Electric pet grooming clippers including cordless options with low-noise operation, USB rechargeable kits, and heavy-duty professional groomer models for dogs, cats, and other pets.
• Straight Razors (Cut Throat Razors) Traditional cut throat razors with various handle materials including wood, plastic, and metal, featuring single blade designs for professional barber use.
• Shaving Kits Complete shaving sets including safety razors, shaving brushes, soap bowls, and combination packages from Derby, Mens Shaving Set, and The Shave Factory.
• Barber Aprons Professional barber aprons including leather, denim jeans, and fabric options in various colors with adjustable straps and multiple pockets for tool storage.
• Barber Capes (Hairdressing Capes) Hairdressing and barber capes including luxury branded options (LV, Gucci patterns), plain colors, striped designs, and kids' capes with various closure types.
• Barber Bags & Holsters Professional leather holster bags and barber tool bags for convenient tool access and storage during grooming sessions.
• Hair Combs & Brushes Professional hairdressing combs including carbon aluminum, metal, wooden, and plastic variants; professional brushes from Denman, DIANE, and Wahl including neck dusters and fade brushes.
• Razor Blades Replacement razor blades including double edge and single edge options from brands like Astra, Gillette, Derby, Wilkinson Sword, Feather, Merkur, and Lord.
• Clipper Blades Replacement blades and cutting guides from Wahl, BabylissPRO, and Andis including ceramic cutter blades, adjustable blade sets, and color-coded cutting guides.
• Clipper Oil & Accessories Maintenance products for clipper care including Wahl Clipper Oil, Andis Cool Care Plus spray, and Andis Clipper Oil for blade lubrication and cleaning.
• Manicure & Pedicure Tools Professional manicure and pedicure tools including eyebrow tweezers, nail cutters, cuticle cutters, tip cutters, nose hair scissors, and nail files.
• Barber Accessories General barber accessories including hair shaper/thinning razors, barber neck brushes, water spray bottles, hair cutting clips, flexible mats, and knife sharpening strops.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free standard delivery Australia-wide; fast tracked delivery worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Denman: Iconic professional hair brush and tool brand; K5 resells Denman brushes and competes in the broader professional hairdressing tools category.
• Oster Professional: Heritage US brand of professional hair clippers and pet grooming clippers; competes in both verticals K5 serves and is frequently sold side-by-side in pro supply channels.
• Wahl: Global incumbent in professional hair clippers, trimmers, and blades, sold in K5's own catalog and competing directly in the same professional barber category.
• Andis: Established US manufacturer of professional hair and pet grooming clippers/trimmers; K5 resells Andis products while also competing for professional buyer attention.
• BaBylissPRO: Major professional haircare tool brand (clippers, trimmers, dryers) whose products K5 distributes, competing for the same professional end-customer.

Direct peers

• Jaguar Solingen: German manufacturer of premium professional hairdressing scissors and tools; competes with K5 in the high-end scissor category for stylists and barbers.
• Matsui Scissors: Manufacturer and DTC seller of professional hairdressing and barber scissors; overlaps almost entirely with K5's core scissors value proposition.
• Kamisori: Premium professional hairdressing scissors brand selling direct and through distributors to stylists; directly comparable to K5's core scissors manufacturing business.
• Shear Madness: US-based online retailer and distributor of professional barber and hairdressing scissors and tools; closely comparable DTC channel model to K5.

Regional players

• Twins Barber Supply: Regional (non-Australian) barber supply e-commerce retailer offering clippers, scissors, and accessories; comparable DTC motion but serves a different geographic base than K5.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/K5Australia
• Facebookfacebook.com/k5internationalau
• Instagraminstagram.com/k5internationalau
• Pinterestpinterest.com.au/k5international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 K5 International