James
James B.V. is a Dutch specialty cleaning products manufacturer, founded in 1927, that formulates stain removers, cleaners, and protective coatings for hard floors and textiles in its own laboratory and sells them to consumers, resellers, and B2B accounts (manufacturers, facility managers, professional cleaners, architects, and hospitality) across multiple European countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersVenlo, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What James does
James B.V. is a privately held Dutch specialty cleaning products manufacturer founded in 1927 and headquartered in Venlo, Netherlands. The company formulates and sells a focused portfolio of cleaning, stain-removal, and protective products for hard floors (vinyl, PVC, LVT, laminate, linoleum, cork, lacquered parquet, and stone) and textile surfaces (carpet, rugs, upholstery, and artificial leather), developed in its own laboratory. The product range is organized around two systems: a hard-floor care protocol (daily cleaner, deep cleaner, stain remover, and matte/satin protective polishes such as James Extra Mat and James Zijdemat) and a textile care range (oil/grease stain spray, water-based stain remover, deep cleaners for synthetic and wool textiles, an ECO fibre protector, and an interior cleaner), supplemented by starter kits, premium sets, a stain-guide wheel, application accessories, and an entry into cleaning hardware via the James Home Butler Pro system. All products carry the CleanRight ECO label and are positioned as vegan and biodegradable.
James operates a hybrid go-to-market model: direct-to-consumer sales through its multilingual e-commerce webshop (james.eu, with Dutch, English, German, and French storefronts), distribution through a network of resellers, and direct B2B relationships with manufacturers, professional cleaners, facility managers, architects/project designers, and hospitality accounts. Revenue is generated through one-time unit sales across consumer-sized bottles (500ml–1L, typically €14.50–€24.50) and bulk canisters (5L–10L, €110–€299). A distinctive element of the model is the mutual referral ecosystem with leading European flooring, carpet, textile, and furniture manufacturers — including Moduleo, Interfloor, Coretec, Therdex, Desso, Louis de Poortere, Brink & Campman, Leolux, and Kvadrat — who recommend James maintenance products to their own end-customers. The company has accumulated 470,000+ satisfied customers over its nearly century-long history and serves markets across the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, Poland, and Switzerland, with content marketing (a stain search engine and maintenance advice library) used to drive organic acquisition.
James firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- James
- Legal name
- James B.V.
- Website
- https://james.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- James B.V. is a Dutch specialty cleaning products manufacturer, founded in 1927, that formulates stain removers, cleaners, and protective coatings for hard floors and textiles in its own laboratory and sells them to consumers, resellers, and B2B accounts (manufacturers, facility managers, professional cleaners, architects, and hospitality) across multiple European countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
James industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Household and Professional Cleaning Products
- NAICS
- Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (3256), Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing (325612), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)
- SIC
- Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hard Surface & Multi-Purpose Cleaners (All-purpose, Floor, Bathroom, Kitchen) (CRADAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Carpet & Upholstery Foam/Shampoo Cleaners (CRAJALAB), Leather & Suede Stain/Odor Removal & Decontamination (HSAJAHAG), Wood & Laminate Surface Cleaners & Polishes (CRAJACAD)
Keywords
Where James is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Venlo
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
James business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Cleaning Product Sales: James generates revenue through selling specialized cleaning and maintenance products for floors and furniture fabrics. Products include stain removers, floor cleaners, fabric protectors, and deep cleaning solutions. Available in standard bottles (500ml-1L) and bulk containers (5L-10L canisters).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual cleaning products for consumers and professionals |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
James product offering
Product offeringCore offering
James B.V. manufactures and sells specialised cleaning, stain-removal, and protective products for hard floors (vinyl, PVC, LVT, laminate, linoleum, cork, stone, parquet), carpets, rugs, upholstery, and artificial leather. The company sells directly to consumers through its multilingual e-commerce platform and to business customers (flooring and furniture manufacturers, professional cleaners, facility managers, hospitality, and resellers) via a dedicated business portal and partner channels, supported by maintenance advice, a stain search engine, and a physical reference tool (James Vlekkenschijf).
Product overview
James B.V. is a specialist in cleaning and maintenance products for floors and upholstery, operating since 1927. The product portfolio consists of specialized cleaning solutions organized into two main categories: (1) Floor Care Products including daily cleaners (James Vloerreiniger Schoon & Snel Droog, James Basisreiniger), protective polishes (James Extra Mat, James Zijdemat), stain removers (James Remover), and specialized cleaners (James Parketreiniger for oiled wood); and (2) Textile Care Products including stain removers (James Vlekkenspray for oil/grease, James Vlekkenwonder for water-based stains), deep cleaners (James Cleanmaster for synthetic materials, James Cleansoft for wool), protectors (James Vezelbeschermer Eco), and interior cleaners (James Interieurreiniger). Products are available as individual items, starter kits, premium sets, and bulk packaging. All products carry the CleanRight ECO label and are vegan and biodegradable.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- James Vloerreiniger Schoon & Snel Droog Daily hard-floor cleaner that lifts dirt and grease, does not cause re-soiling, and is quick-drying; intended for vinyl, PVC, LVT, laminate, linoleum, cork, stone, and similar hard floors.
- James Vloerreiniger Schoon & Snel Droog Pods Single-dose pod format of the James Schoon & Snel Droog alcohol-based hard-floor cleaner, offering pre-measured dosing for daily mopping.
- James Vloerreiniger Beschermt & Herstelt Deep-cleaning and surface-refreshing hard-floor treatment for periodic use, restoring appearance and preparing the floor for protective coatings.
- James Basisreiniger Foundational cleaning solution for hard floors, used as a preparatory step before applying polishes or coatings.
- James Parketreiniger Wood-floor cleaner formulated specifically for parquet, suitable for cleaning sealed and oiled wooden floors without damaging the finish.
- James Remover Specialised stain remover for use on hard floors, designed to lift a broad range of household stains identified via the James stain database.
- James Vlekkenspray Ready-to-use spray stain remover for textiles such as carpets, rugs, and upholstery, designed for spot treatment of fresh and older stains.
- James Vlekkenwonder Liquid stain-removal treatment for textile and upholstery use, paired with the James stain search engine to identify appropriate stain-handling procedures.
- James Extra Mat Extra-matte protective polish applied after deep cleaning to protect hard floors and provide a natural, non-glossy finish.
- James Zijdemat Silk-matte protective polish for hard floors that refreshes the surface and provides a soft satin finish.
- James Vezelbeschermer Eco Eco-friendly fluorocarbon-free fibre protector for carpets, rugs, and upholstery that creates an invisible barrier against dirt and stains.
- James Interieurreiniger Multi-surface interior cleaner for artificial leather, vinyl, and other hard interior surfaces; suitable for furniture, dashboards, doors, and kitchen fronts.
- James Cleanmaster Spray-and-wipe cleaner for textiles and carpets, formulated for spot treatment of fresh stains.
- James Cleansoft Gentle textile cleaner for sensitive fabrics and carpets, designed for routine maintenance without aggressive chemistry.
- James Home Butler Pro Compact cleaning machine designed for textile and upholstery cleaning, used together with James Home Butler liquid cleaning solution for deeper stain and dirt removal.
- James Home Butler Liquid Liquid cleaning solution formulated for use with the James Home Butler cleaning machine for deeper cleaning of carpets, rugs, and upholstery.
- Set James Harde Vloeren Bundled product set combining the essential James hard-floor cleaning products for routine maintenance of hard floors.
- Set James Textiel Bundled product set combining essential James textile cleaning and protection products for routine maintenance of carpets, rugs, and upholstery.
- Premium Set James Textiel Premium bundled textile-care set combining James textile cleaning, stain-removal, and protection products for comprehensive maintenance.
- James Starterset Tapijt & Meubelstof
Quantifiable outcome
- 470,000+ satisfied customers
Companies that use James
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
James technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
James partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ModuleocoreFlooring manufacturer that intensively collaborates with James and recommends James products to customers. Part of a network of manufacturers providing mutual business support.
- InterfloorcoreFlooring manufacturer partner that works closely with James. Part of extensive network of floor covering manufacturers.
- CoreteccoreFlooring brand recommending James products for maintenance of their floors.
- TherdexcoreFlooring manufacturer with partnership for product recommendations.
- DessocoreLeading carpet manufacturer recommending James products for carpet care.
- Louis de PoorterecoreTextile manufacturer with close collaboration and product recommendations.
- Brink & CampmancoreCarpet manufacturer partner recommending James products.
- LeoluxcoreFurniture manufacturer recommending James for furniture fabric maintenance.
- KvadratcorePremium textile manufacturer with collaboration for fabric care recommendations.
- Scratch no MoreminorPartnership for floor protection products. Scratch no More provides furniture leg protectors that prevent scratches on floors. James recommends these products as complementary to their cleaning solutions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
James competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Ecover: Belgian pioneer in eco-friendly cleaning products with strong European retail presence. Comparable on eco/biodegradable positioning and Benelux origin, though broader household cleaning scope.
- Method Products: Eco-positioned cleaning brand (part of SC Johnson) competing in floor and surface cleaners. Comparable through eco/biodegradable product positioning and consumer D2C plus retail distribution.
- Kärcher: German global leader in cleaning equipment and complementary cleaning chemicals. Comparable through carpet/upholstery extraction machines and consumables, now extending deeper into floor care chemistry.
Direct peers
- BISSELL: Global specialist in carpet and floor care, including deep cleaning machines and consumable cleaning solutions. Comparable on carpet/upholstery cleaning product mix and overlapping customer base (consumers and professional cleaners).
- HG International: Dutch specialist manufacturer of cleaning products for floors, carpets, kitchens and bathrooms. Most directly comparable peer — same Dutch CPG DNA, similar specialty cleaning positioning, overlapping channel structure across Benelux and broader Europe.
- Dr. Schnell: German specialist in professional cleaning products for facility management and hospitality. Comparable on professional cleaning product focus and DACH-centric distribution.
- Dr. Beckmann: German specialist in stain removers and household cleaning products with deep European retail penetration. Directly comparable on stain-removal product category, specialty positioning, and DACH/European distribution footprint.
- Prochem: UK-based specialist manufacturer of professional cleaning products for carpets, upholstery, and hard floors. Highly comparable on specialty product positioning and professional cleaner customer segment.
Broad incumbents
- Henkel: Global CPG incumbent with broad floor and surface cleaning brands (Bref, Sidolin, Vernel). Overlaps in floor cleaners and CPG distribution, but operates at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
- Reckitt Benckiser: Global CPG incumbent with major cleaning brands (Cillit Bang, Mr. Clean, Finish). Overlaps with James in hard-surface and specialty cleaning categories but competes as a multinational platform player.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
James social profiles
Digital presenceJames compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
James financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
James leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
James funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
James 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 James
What does James do?
James B.V. manufactures and sells specialised cleaning, stain-removal, and protective products for hard floors (vinyl, PVC, LVT, laminate, linoleum, cork, stone, parquet), carpets, rugs, upholstery, and artificial leather. The company sells directly to consumers through its multilingual e-commerce platform and to business customers (flooring and furniture manufacturers, professional cleaners, facility managers, hospitality, and resellers) via a dedicated business portal and partner channels, supported by maintenance advice, a stain search engine, and a physical reference tool (James Vlekkenschijf).
Is James a public or private company?
James is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was James founded?
James was founded in 1927. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is James based?
James is headquartered in Venlo, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does James make money?
One revenue line is on record: cleaning Product Sales.
Who are James's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Ecover, Method Products and Kärcher. Direct peers are BISSELL, HG International, Dr. Schnell, Dr. Beckmann and Prochem. Broad incumbents are Henkel and Reckitt Benckiser.
Does James have an API?
No public API is recorded for James.
What industry is James in?
James's product category is Household and Professional Cleaning Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAKAG, Hard Surface & Multi-Purpose Cleaners (All-purpose, Floor, Bathroom, Kitchen), with a secondary code of CRAJALAB, Carpet & Upholstery Foam/Shampoo Cleaners. Its NAICS code is 3256 and its SIC code is 2840.