BJ Sherriff

What BJ Sherriff does

BJ Sherriff is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer of premium beekeeping protective apparel and equipment, founded in 1968 in Cornwall, England, by Brian and Pat Sherriff. The company designs and hand-sews beekeeping suits, jackets, hoods, smocks, trousers, and gloves, all built around its proprietary ClearView™ black nylon mesh veil and a patented twin-zip detachable hood system. Products are engineered for durability, with an average stated garment lifespan of 15 years, and are sold in standard, bespoke, and made-to-measure formats priced from £14.95 (Cornish J hive tool) to £579 (BeePro AirGap professional suit). The core customer base spans individual hobbyist and amateur beekeepers, professional bee farmers, beekeeping associations and courses, and a secondary audience of outdoor users of the Midge Master insect-protection product line.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce through bjsherriff.com (with phone-based sizing and trade support), a network of 11+ named UK and Republic of Ireland stockists, and trade show presence. Revenue streams include one-time sales of apparel, equipment, and bee-themed gifts, supplemented by a UK-only repair and refurbishment service (re-veiling from £45, zip replacement from £25, with a 5-year warranty on zips). Registered sub-brands include Apiarist™, BeePro™, Honey Rustler™, ClearView™, QueenSafe™, Midge Master™, Countryman, Bee Farmer, Hive Ranger, Handy Hood, and PollenMaid. The company remains under family ownership, now led by Angela Sherriff, with no external institutional investment, no public revenue disclosure, and a small specialist manufacturing footprint in Mylor Downs, Falmouth, Cornwall.

Name

BJ Sherriff

Legal name

BJ Sherriff

Website

https://bjsherriff.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BJ Sherriff is a family-owned UK manufacturer (founded 1968, Cornwall) of premium beekeeping suits, jackets, and protective apparel, featuring proprietary ClearView™ veil and twin-zip hood technology, selling to hobbyist and professional beekeepers via DTC e-commerce, UK/Ireland stockists, and trade shows.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beekeeping Protective Apparel and Equipment

NAICS

Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (315250), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)

SIC

Women's, Misses', And Juniors Outerwear (2330)

akta.pro primary industry

Beekeeping Equipment Manufacturing & Supply (Hives, Frames, Tools, PPE) (AFAEAHAI)

Keywords

• Beekeeping protective clothing
• Beekeeping suits and jackets
• Beekeeping equipment
• Bee veils and hoods
• Made-to-measure beekeeping apparel

Headquarters

HQ city

Mylor Bridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Beekeeping Apparel Sales: Primary revenue from selling beekeeping suits, jackets, smocks, hoods, trousers, and gloves. Products available in standard, bespoke, and made-to-measure options in various colours.
2. Beekeeping Equipment Sales: Sale of equipment including smokers, hive tools, queen cages, wax melters, transit nets, and starter kits.
3. Bee Gifts and Accessories: Sale of bee-themed gifts including jewellery, glassware, candles, and bee-themed merchandise.
4. Repair and Refurbishment Services: Skilled machinists repair and refurbish garments including re-veiling, zip replacement, and other repairs. UK-only service with 5-year warranty on zips.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BJ Sherriff manufactures and sells premium beekeeping protective apparel, including suits, jackets, smocks, hoods, trousers, and gloves, all hand cut and sewn in Cornwall, England, and featuring the proprietary ClearView™ veil and twin-zip detachable hood system. The company also sells beekeeping equipment (smokers, hive tools, queen cages, wax moulds, transit nets), bee-themed gifts and accessories, and offers made-to-measure, bespoke, and repair/refurbishment services. Products are offered in standard, bespoke, and made-to-measure formats across a variety of colours.

Product overview

BJ Sherriff is a manufacturer of premium beekeeping protective apparel and equipment, founded in 1968 and now led by the founders' daughter Angela. The core product line centres on beekeeping suits (Apiarist™, BeePro™, Honey Rustler™ jackets, Countryman Smocks), jackets, hoods, trousers, and gloves—all featuring the proprietary ClearView™ veil technology and twin-zip detachable hood system. The company also produces beekeeping equipment including smokers, hive tools, queen cages, and wax-working tools for candle making. Products are hand-cut and sewn in Cornwall, England, with an emphasis on durability (15-year average lifespan) and include a Repair and Refurbish service. The product portfolio spans three main categories: beekeeping clothing (suits, jackets, hoods, trousers, gloves), beekeeping equipment (smokers, hive tools, queen rearing supplies), and bee gifts/merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ClearView™: Unique black nylon mesh veil technology with hundreds of tiny holes to reduce glare and provide clear vision when working with bees, plus excellent ventilation.
• Apiarist™
• BeePro™
• Honey Rustler™
• Countryman
• Bee Farmer
• Hive Ranger
• Handy Hood
• PollenMaid
• Midge Master

Products and services

• Apiarist™ Beekeeping Suit Flagship all-in-one beekeeping suit featuring the ClearView™ veil and twin-zip system, available in multiple colours including white, khaki, and limited edition Sun, with an average lifespan of 15 years. Targeted at hobbyist and professional beekeepers.
• BeePro AirGap™ Professional Pest Control Suit Professional-grade beekeeping suit with net-lined polycotton construction designed for pest control professionals working with bees, priced at £539–£579.
• BeePro™ Beekeeping Suit Premium beekeeping suit with durable polycotton construction and detachable hood system, available in khaki and other colours, priced at £539–£579.
• Honey Rustler™ Beekeeping Jacket Lightweight beekeeping jacket with attached hood offering all-day protection and comfort, priced at £210.00.
• Countryman Smock & Hood Versatile smock with integrated hood available in khaki, mocha, and white colours, priced at £179.00–£189.00.
• PollenMaid Bee Suit Bee suit specifically designed for women, featuring a buttermilk colour and tailored fit, priced at £375.00.
• Midge Master NoBite NoSting Protective Veil and Vest Protective veil and vest combination designed to protect against midges, mosquitoes, and other biting insects in outdoor settings beyond beekeeping.
• Repair and Refurbishment Service UK-only repair and refurbishment service offering re-veiling from £45 and zip replacement from £25 (free within 5-year warranty), executed by BJ Sherriff's skilled machinists.
• Beekeeping Trousers Protective trousers available in white, khaki, and mocha, designed to be worn with beekeeping jackets, priced at £75.00–£85.00.
• Beekeeping Gloves Range Range of beekeeping gloves including Washable Leather Gloves (£41.20–£44.20), Blue Latex Gloves with Gauntlet (£14.50–£15.50), Sheepskin Grey Leather Gloves (£24.00), and Gator Gripz Nitrile Gloves box of 50 (£16.99).
• Beekeeping Smokers and Equipment Beekeeping equipment including the Large Stainless Smoker with Guard (£47.50), Smoker with Guard and Domed Lid (£29.45), Cornish 'J' Hive Tool with Star Emblem (£14.95), and Bee Suit Storage Bag (£29.95).
• QueenSafe™ Bag and Queen Rearing Equipment QueenSafe™ Bag for safely transporting queen bees (£39.00), Queen Cages (pack of 10), Hive Transit Net, hexagonal moulds, skep shape moulds, wax blocks moulds, WBC hive shape moulds, wax pan for candle making, and Bain-Marie wax melter for candle making.
• Beekeepers Starter Kit Complete starter kit including a khaki bee suit for beginners entering beekeeping, priced at £325.00.
• Bee Gifts Collection Gift items including bee-themed glassware (Silver Enamel Bee Necklace £40.00, Silver Bee with Zircon Pendant £44.99, Rose Gold Zirconia Stud Earrings £25.00, Posy Vase £15.00, Glow Pot with Tea Light £12.00, Beanie hat £18.00).
• Made-to-Measure and Bespoke Service Bespoke measurement service requiring detailed body measurements with non-returnable garments as they are custom-made, available at premium pricing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 15-year garment lifespan, with suits from 1980s still in use
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered standard.

• Becky's BeezzzsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based online and/or retail stockist of BJ Sherriff beekeeping products
• Bee-EquipmentstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based beekeeping equipment stockist offering BJ Sherriff products
• Paynes Bee FarmstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based beekeeping supplier and stockist of BJ Sherriff products
• Beekeeping Supplies UKstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based beekeeping supplies retailer distributing BJ Sherriff products
• National Bee SuppliesstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based national beekeeping supplies stockist for BJ Sherriff products
• 1 EnvstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based environmental/beekeeping product retailer stocking BJ Sherriff items
• Pest FixstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based pest control equipment supplier offering BJ Sherriff beekeeping products
• Buckley's BeesstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based beekeeping supplies retailer distributing BJ Sherriff products
• BarrettinestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based supplier offering BJ Sherriff beekeeping products
• Ben HardenstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepublic of Ireland-based beekeeping supplier and stockist of BJ Sherriff products
• Mac Eoin Honey FarmsstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepublic of Ireland-based honey farm and retailer distributing BJ Sherriff beekeeping products

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mann Lake Ltd: Mann Lake is one of the largest US beekeeping supply companies, offering suits, jackets, smokers, and full beekeeping kits. It is comparable to BJ Sherriff as a vertically integrated beekeeping equipment and apparel provider serving hobbyist and commercial beekeepers.
• GloryBee: GloryBee is a US beekeeping and honey products company selling beekeeping suits, hive equipment, and protective gear. It is comparable to BJ Sherriff as a multi-category beekeeping supplier serving hobbyists and commercial operations.
• Betterbee: Betterbee is a US-based beekeeping supply retailer offering suits, protective clothing, smokers, and hive equipment. It competes with BJ Sherriff's range in offering beekeeping apparel and equipment to hobbyist and sideliner beekeepers.
• Thorne Beekeeping: Thorne is a major UK beekeeping equipment supplier offering its own-brand hives, suits, and accessories alongside third-party brands. They overlap with BJ Sherriff in beekeeping apparel and equipment sold to UK hobbyist and professional beekeepers.
• BB Wear: BB Wear is a UK-based manufacturer of beekeeping suits, jackets, and gloves, directly competing with BJ Sherriff in the domestic beekeeping apparel market with similar product positioning (specialty suits, ventilating design, gloved options).
• Dadant & Sons: Dadant is a long-established US beekeeping supplier manufacturing and distributing suits, smokers, hive tools, and full apiary equipment. It is comparable to BJ Sherriff as a heritage, multi-category beekeeping equipment and apparel provider.
• National Bee Supplies: National Bee Supplies is a UK-based beekeeping equipment retailer that both stocks BJ Sherriff products and sells competing beekeeping apparel and hive equipment. It is a regional direct competitor in the UK beekeeping supplies market.
• Kelley Beekeeping: Kelley Beekeeping is a US beekeeping equipment company with a long history of supplying hives, suits, smokers, and tools. Its product mix and customer base overlap significantly with BJ Sherriff's beekeeping apparel and equipment range.
• Paynes Bee Farm: Paynes Bee Farm is a long-established UK beekeeping equipment supplier offering its own bee suits and associated gear. It is comparable to BJ Sherriff as a UK-based beekeeping apparel and equipment brand serving hobbyists and professionals.

Emerging players

• Humble Bee: Humble Bee is a US-based beekeeping apparel company specializing in ventilated and value-priced suits and jackets. It is comparable to BJ Sherriff as a specialty beekeeping apparel brand, though it competes more on price and accessibility than BJ Sherriff's premium heritage positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/B_J_Sherriff
• Facebookfacebook.com/BJSherriff
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b.j.-sherriff

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 BJ Sherriff