ROWA
ROWA Huwiler AG is a Swiss third-generation family-owned B2B distributor supplying professional hairdressers and barbers across Switzerland with premium scissors, cosmetics, electrical tools, consumables, sharpening services, and training seminars.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersAffoltern Am Albis, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ROWA does
ROWA Huwiler AG is a Swiss family-owned B2B distributor and service provider for professional hairdressers and barbers, founded around 1985 and now in its third generation of Huwiler family ownership. Headquartered in Affoltern am Albis, the company operates exclusively in Switzerland, distributing premium international brands including KASHO Japanese scissors, C:EHKO and SONO hair cosmetics, KENT brushes, ABOVE scissors, Gamma+ electrical equipment, FOX barber tools, BioCoiff plant-based colors, and Dr. Niedermaier hair health products. Its product portfolio spans professional scissors (including ergonomic Migiwa sub-line), electrical styling devices, brushes, combs, hair color and care lines, salon furniture, textiles, consumables, and apprentice training equipment.
The business runs a dual-channel go-to-market: a proprietary login-protected e-commerce shop (rowa-hair.ch) paired with field sales representatives (Aussendienst) who travel to salons across Switzerland for in-person consultations. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time B2B product transactions, supplemented by an in-house Japanese scissors sharpening service (Japanischer Schleifservice) offered for over 40 years, and a programme of paid professional seminars covering men's haircutting, coloring, updo styling, PIVOT POINT techniques, and online marketing. Publicly listed seminar pricing ranges from CHF 155–800 per participant/course, while product pricing is gated behind login authentication. No external funding, subsidiaries, or M&A activity is recorded; the company is privately held by the Huwiler family without institutional investors.
The company serves two primary customer segments: professional hairdressing and barbering salons (core segment), and hairdressing apprentices (Coiffeuse/Coiffeur EFZ) who purchase starter sets and training materials. Its customer base is fragmented across Swiss SMB salons, with no enterprise anchor accounts disclosed. Marketing channels include the company website, WhatsApp Business support, email newsletter, and seminar events. The company does not offer a public API, mobile application, or documented digital integrations, and shows no AI/ML capability investment.
ROWA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ROWA
- Legal name
- ROWA Huwiler AG
- Website
- https://rowa-hair.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ROWA Huwiler AG is a Swiss third-generation family-owned B2B distributor supplying professional hairdressers and barbers across Switzerland with premium scissors, cosmetics, electrical tools, consumables, sharpening services, and training seminars.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ROWA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Hairdressing Supplies Distribution
- NAICS
- Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Health and Personal Care Retailers (4561)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Salon Hair Tools & Electricals (Dryers, Irons, Clippers) (CRABALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Professional Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Treatments) (CRABALAB), Professional/Salon Haircare (Backbar & Retail) (CRABABAK), Hair Styling Tools (Dryers, Straighteners, Curlers) (CRABAKAF), Hair Styling & Cutting (EDAOALAB)
Keywords
Where ROWA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Affoltern Am Albis
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ROWA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Product Sales (B2B hairdresser supplies): ROWA sells professional hairdresser equipment and consumables through its online shop, targeting professional salons and barbers. Revenue is generated through one-time product transactions, with no recurring subscription component visible.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Modern Herren Haarschnitt Workshop - at salon |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Modern Herren Haarschnitt Workshop - at Kriens |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Hochsteckfrisuren Seminar |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | PIVOT POINT Salon Trend Seminar (Step 1 & 2) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | C:EHKO Haarfarben Seminar |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Super Cuzz 1 & 2+ workshops by Alex Kübler |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
ROWA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ROWA Huwiler AG is a Swiss family-owned B2B distributor and supplier of professional hairdresser products, offering premium hair scissors (KASHO, ABOVE, Migiwa), hair cosmetics (C:EHKO, SONO), electrical styling equipment (Gamma+, Fox), brushes (Kent, Olivia Garden), barber supplies, and salon consumables through its online shop and field sales force. The company complements product sales with an in-house Japanese scissor sharpening service (over 40 years of expertise) and a programme of professional seminars and workshops for hairdressers.
Product overview
ROWA Huwiler AG operates as a specialized B2B e-commerce platform and supplier of professional hairdressing equipment and cosmetics. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized across multiple product categories: high-end hair scissors (with flagship brands Kasho Japanese scissors and Above), electrical styling equipment (Gamma+, Fox), professional brushes (Kent since 1777, Olivia Garden), hair cosmetics (C:EHKO, SONO, Dr. Niedermaier Regulatpro, BioCoiff), barber supplies, and training equipment for apprentices. The offering also includes an in-house scissor sharpening service and professional seminars/workshops. The product portfolio spans from professional-grade cutting tools and electrical devices to consumables, textiles, and education materials for the hairdressing industry. ROWA serves as a distributor for multiple international brands alongside their own ROWA Family brand, operating exclusively in the Swiss market with personal consultation and field sales services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Kasho Japanese Hair Scissors
Quantifiable outcome
- Satisfied customers on Google with Trustindex verification (rating above 4.5 based on reviews from the last 12 months)
Companies that use ROWA
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ROWA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
ROWA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KASHO (kai corporation)coreKASHO is the flagship scissors brand represented by ROWA. KASHO scissors are manufactured by kai corporation (Japan) combining 100+ years of tradition with innovative techniques. ROWA is an authorised distributor of KASHO products in Switzerland.
- SONOcoreSONO is the exclusive hair care line distributed by ROWA, specifically designed for professional hair care in hairdressing salons. Product range includes Argan, Detox, Color, Blonder, Gold, Keratin, Volumen, and Style sub-lines.
- C:EHKOcoreC:EHKO is a highly professional hair cosmetics brand distributed by ROWA. The range includes colour (Color Explosion, Color Vibration, Color eye shades, Blond, Peroxan, C:42 Color Gel), care (intense-care, CARE prof., CARE BASICS), BEI HAARAUSFALL, FORMING, and STYLE lines.
- ABOVEcoreABOVE is a brand of professional, handcrafted scissors sold exclusively through ROWA, offering highest quality and precision for professional hairdressers.
- Dr. Niedermaier Pharma GmbHminorDr. Niedermaier Pharma GmbH is an international market leader in the field of multiple fermented dietary supplements. ROWA distributes their Regulatpro Hair products (capsules and serum) in the Swiss hairdresser market.
- KENT BrushescoreKENT Brushes has stood for highest quality and craftsmanship in hair brush manufacturing since 1777. ROWA distributes KENT products, including the Kent-Salon-Line, exclusively in Switzerland.
- BioCoiffminorBioCoiff is the specialist for plant-based hair colours, distributed by ROWA. Products include hair care products (BioCoiff Nature) and plant dyes (BioCoiff Pflanzenfarben).
- FOX / FOX Barber ExpertcoreFOX and FOX Barber Expert offer professional hairdressing and barbering tools as well as salon equipment. Distributed by ROWA in Switzerland.
- ProcareminorProcare produces foils, balayage products and dispensers made in Great Britain, valued by colourists. Distributed exclusively by ROWA in Switzerland.
- Gamma+coreGamma+ is a professional hair styling equipment brand (clippers, trimmers, hair dryers, straighteners, curlers) distributed by ROWA in Switzerland.
- Olivia GardenminorOlivia Garden is a professional hair brush and styling tools brand distributed by ROWA in Switzerland.
- Migiwa (by KASHO/kai)coreMigiwa is a sub-brand of KASHO featuring innovative ergonomic scissors with new grip design. Distributed by ROWA in Switzerland.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ROWA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Eurostil: Spanish/Catalan distributor and brand of professional hairdresser products. Comparable multi-brand pro-hairdresser distributor serving a single national/regional market in Southern Europe.
Broad incumbents
- CosmoProf (Beauty Systems Group): Largest professional beauty distributor in North America (subsidiary of Sally Beauty/Regis). Comparable multi-brand B2B distribution of professional hair colour, tools and education to salons, but at significantly larger scale and broader geography than ROWA.
- Schwarzkopf Professional (Henkel): Global professional hair care brand operated by Henkel. Comparable on the haircare-product side where ROWA distributes C:EHKO and SONO; a major incumbent in the same end-market and a potential direct-to-salon competitor.
- Wella Professional: Global professional hair colour and care brand owned by Coty. Overlaps with ROWA's professional haircare portfolio (C:EHKO, SONO); a key upstream brand partner and a potential channel-disruption risk if Wella expands direct-to-salon.
Direct peers
- Salon Services: UK and Ireland B2B distributor serving professional salons with tools, colour, consumables and education. Comparable as a multi-brand hairdresser supply specialist with a sales-led plus e-commerce GTM.
- Hagemann Friseurbedarf: German B2B distributor of professional hairdresser tools, cosmetics and salon equipment. Closest comparable model to ROWA in terms of curated multi-brand portfolio, training offerings and field-sales distribution to salons in a single national market.
- Salon Equipment Direct: UK-based online retailer of professional hairdressing tools, scissors, electricals and salon furniture. Comparable business model to ROWA's e-commerce-first distribution of professional hairdressing supplies.
- Friseur-Versandhaus Müller: German family-run online and mail-order distributor of hairdresser supplies. Similar in being a multi-brand pro-hairdresser catalog/online distributor serving a single national market, with comparable product breadth.
Others
- Olivia Garden: International manufacturer of professional hair brushes and styling tools, currently distributed by ROWA in Switzerland. Comparable as an upstream brand partner and category leader within ROWA's catalogue.
- Gamma+ (Gamma Più): Italian manufacturer of professional electrical styling equipment (clippers, dryers, straighteners) currently distributed by ROWA. Comparable as an upstream brand partner and category competitor to ROWA's electro-device line.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ROWA social profiles
Digital presenceROWA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ROWA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ROWA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ROWA 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 ROWA
What does ROWA do?
ROWA Huwiler AG is a Swiss family-owned B2B distributor and supplier of professional hairdresser products, offering premium hair scissors (KASHO, ABOVE, Migiwa), hair cosmetics (C:EHKO, SONO), electrical styling equipment (Gamma+, Fox), brushes (Kent, Olivia Garden), barber supplies, and salon consumables through its online shop and field sales force. The company complements product sales with an in-house Japanese scissor sharpening service (over 40 years of expertise) and a programme of professional seminars and workshops for hairdressers.
Is ROWA a public or private company?
ROWA is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was ROWA founded?
ROWA was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ROWA based?
ROWA is headquartered in Affoltern Am Albis, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does ROWA make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Sales (B2B hairdresser supplies).
Who are ROWA's main competitors?
Eurostil is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are CosmoProf (Beauty Systems Group), Schwarzkopf Professional (Henkel) and Wella Professional. Direct peers are Salon Services, Hagemann Friseurbedarf, Salon Equipment Direct and Friseur-Versandhaus Müller. Others are Olivia Garden and Gamma+ (Gamma Più).
Does ROWA have an API?
No public API is recorded for ROWA.
What industry is ROWA in?
ROWA's product category is Professional Hairdressing Supplies Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABALAD, Salon Hair Tools & Electricals (Dryers, Irons, Clippers), with a secondary code of CRABALAB, Professional Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Treatments). Its NAICS code is 456120 and its SIC code is 2844.