Gieseke Cosmetic International

What Gieseke Cosmetic International does

Gieseke Cosmetic International (legal entity: Gieseke cosmetic GmbH) is a family-owned B2B wholesale distributor founded in 1983 and headquartered in Wedemark, Germany, with a secondary office in Salzburg, Austria. The company supplies professional hair salons and cosmetic institutes across Germany and Austria with a portfolio spanning hair color, care, styling, permanent wave, barber supplies, extensions, salon equipment, tools, clothing, and cosmetics. It distributes over 25 exclusive professional brands, including flagship partners Moroccanoil (Germany and Austria exclusive), Selective Professional, CHI, L'ANZA, artego, and KIS, supplemented by non-exclusive lines such as A.DORA, Barbicide, CBD Daily, Danger Jones, and Guinot. Self-described as Germany's largest hairdresser wholesaler, the company serves more than 35,000 customers.

The company operates an omnichannel distribution model. Its core technology is a Magento-based B2B e-commerce shop (shop.gieseke.com) that supports account login, order history, and multiple payment options including 14-day invoice, credit card, PayPal, and cash on delivery, with free shipping above €80 (Germany) or €100 (Austria). Distribution is complemented by 18 physical Care for Hair Shops across Germany, a regional field sales force (Außendienst) providing in-person consultation, inside sales via a service hotline and WhatsApp ordering, and the Unique Way Akademie training academy for professional development. Marketing is multi-channel, spanning social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify), content marketing, community engagement (#communityfriday), and industry events including Top Hair Messe and CHI Red Night.

Revenue mechanics are pure B2B wholesale: the company earns margin on the resale of branded professional products to SMB salon and institute customers, with payment terms of invoice within 14 days, minimum order value of €30, and shipping fees of €4 below the free-shipping threshold. The company is privately held and family-run, with Managing Directors Sven-Otto Rumpfkeil and Hendrik Rumpfkeil, and has not disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or detailed financial figures. Geographic scope is explicitly restricted to Germany and Austria, with international shipping unavailable.

Name

Gieseke Cosmetic International

Legal name

Gieseke cosmetic GmbH

Website

https://gieseke.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Gieseke Cosmetic International is a family-owned B2B wholesale distributor serving 35,000+ professional hair salons and cosmetic institutes across Germany and Austria, distributing 25+ exclusive professional brands through a Magento-based online shop, 18 retail locations, and a regional field sales force.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Beauty Supply Distribution

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Haircare & Hair Color Distribution (CRAOAEAE)

Keywords

• Professional hair products
• B2B wholesale distribution
• Salon supplies wholesale
• Cosmetic institute supplies
• Hairdressing equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale distribution of professional hair and cosmetic products: B2B wholesale of professional hair care products, cosmetics, tools, equipment and supplies to Friseursalons (hair salons) and Kosmetikinstitute (cosmetic institutes). Products include hair color, care, styling, perms, barber supplies, extensions, tools, equipment, clothing, and cosmetics. Revenue generated through product sales with various payment terms including invoice (14 days), credit card, PayPal, and cash on delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gieseke Cosmetic International is a B2B wholesale distributor that supplies professional hair care, hair color, styling, permanent wave, barber supplies, extensions, salon tools, equipment, clothing, and cosmetic products to hairdressing salons (Friseursalons) and cosmetic institutes (Kosmetikinstitute) in Germany and Austria. The company operates an exclusive-brand portfolio of over 25 brands (notably Moroccanoil, CHI, L'ANZA, Selective Professional, artego, KIS) alongside non-exclusive partner brands, distributed via a Magento-based B2B online shop, 18 Care for Hair retail locations, a regional field sales force, and the Unique Way Akademie training program.

Product overview

Gieseke Cosmetic International is a B2B wholesale distributor serving professional hair salons and cosmetics institutes in Germany and Austria. The company operates as a multi-brand wholesale platform offering over 25 exclusive professional hair care brands alongside a B2B e-commerce shop, 18 Care for Hair retail locations, and the Unique Way Akademie training program. The portfolio comprises flagship exclusive partner brands (Moroccanoil, CHI, L'ANZA, Selective Professional, artego, KIS) distributed exclusively through Gieseke, supplemented by non-partnership brands (A.DORA, Barbicide, CBD Daily, Celeb Luxury, Danger Jones, Guinot, IdHair, Marc Weiss, Mary Cohr, PROFILINE, Biotop Professional, Crazy Color, 1821 Man Made, KARG, Unseen Realities) available through standard distribution. Product categories span hair color, care, styling, permanent wave, barber supplies, extensions, salon equipment, tools (scissors, brushes, combs), clothing, and cosmetics. The company's integrated offering combines wholesale distribution, an online ordering platform, physical retail locations, and professional training services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Moroccanoil Premium argan oil-based hair care and styling product line including the signature Moroccanoil Treatment and a comprehensive range of shampoos, conditioners, styling products, and body care. Distributed exclusively in Germany and Austria by Gieseke.
• CHI Professional hair care and styling line featuring proprietary keratin and ceramic technologies, including the CHI Color Master digital color mixing system and styling tools.
• L'ANZA Luxury hair care and color line featuring Healing Style Technology, with moisturizing and healing formulations that restore hair health while providing styling solutions.
• Selective Professional COLOREVO Professional hair color line including the COLOREVO color system (enhanced formula), ONCARE care line, and thePigments direct dyes. Bestseller category with exceptional price-performance ratio for German and Austrian salons.
• artego Professional hair care brand focused on natural ingredients and sustainable formulations for salon professionals.
• KIS Professional hair care product line offering quality styling and treatment solutions for salons.
• A.DORA Totally Smooth Long-lasting hair straightening treatment system; two-product, nine-step application achieves results lasting up to 12 months. Ammonia and formaldehyde free, suitable for natural and color-treated hair.
• Danger Jones Innovative hair color, styling, and care line developed by stylists for stylists; known for bold colors, creative freedom, and sustainable production without compromising performance.
• PROFILINE Professional hair care line developed jointly by Rufin cosmetic and Gieseke cosmetic, with over 50 years of combined industry experience. Made in Germany with sustainable production including an own renewable energy facility; products are paraben-free, largely silicone-free, and partially vegan.
• Gieseke B2B Online Shop B2B e-commerce platform for professional salon supply ordering, featuring account login, order history, product catalog browsing by category (hair cosmetics, extensions, supplies, electrical tools, instruments, clothing, cosmetics), order tracking, and multiple payment methods including invoice, credit card, PayPal, and cash on delivery.
• Care for Hair Shops 18 physical retail locations across Germany where customers can pick up orders and receive personal consultation. Part of the company's omnichannel approach alongside the B2B online shop.
• Unique Way Akademie Professional training academy offering seminars and workshops for hairstylists and salon teams; experienced trainers deliver current expertise, innovative techniques, and new trends. Training available at company facilities or on-site at salons.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• MoroccanoilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distributor of Moroccanoil products in Germany and Austria. Moroccanoil is a presenting partner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, where Gieseke accompanied 122+ customers to experience the event backstage.
• Selective ProfessionalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for Selective Professional hair color products, including the COLOREVO line which is described as a must-have for German and Austrian hairdressers.
• CHIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for CHI hair care and styling products. Gieseke supports CHI events like CHI Red Night with industry speakers.
• L'ANZAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for L'ANZA luxury hair care line for professional salons.
• artegocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for artego professional hair care products.
• Danger JonescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew exclusive distribution partner starting April 2025 for Danger Jones professional hair color and styling products. Brand was launched at TopHair Messe 2025.
• A.DORAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distributor of A.DORA Totally Smooth hair straightening products in Germany and Austria. Developed by Fadi Al Najjar, originally a Gieseke customer.
• ProfilinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Rufin cosmetic for Profiline Color Care products. Profiline is Made in Germany with sustainable production.
• KIScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for KIS professional hair care products.
• Eurovision Song Contest 2026flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMoroccanoil as presenting partner of Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Gieseke participated as exclusive distributor with 122+ customers attending the Vienna event, gaining backstage access and brand experience.
• Top Hair MesseflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual trade fair presence with exclusive brand booths. At Top Hair 2026, brands like Danger Jones, CHI were represented at individual stands.
• CHI Red NightflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual industry event featuring speakers from the hairdressing industry. Gieseke supports with customer invitations and participation.
• Viel Liebe (Agency)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative agency from Hannover that produced Gieseke's company image film.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Friseurwelt24: Germany-focused online retailer of professional hair salon supplies and equipment. Comparable product categories and target customer, though with a digital-only model rather than Gieseke's omnichannel footprint.

Direct peers

• Beauty Alliance: One of the largest German professional beauty wholesalers, distributing premium hair and cosmetics brands to salons and institutes across DACH. Directly comparable B2B wholesale model with similar exclusive brand strategy.
• SalonCentric (L'Oréal): L'Oréal-owned B2B distributor of professional beauty supplies in North America operating stores and online. Comparable business model (multi-brand professional beauty distribution to salons) though in a different geography.
• CosmoProf (L'Oréal Beauty Systems Group): L'Oréal's B2B professional beauty distribution arm in North America with stores, online ordering and salon-focused assortment. Closest direct analogue to Gieseke's multi-channel professional distribution model.

Regional players

• Salon Services: European professional beauty distributor operating across multiple countries with both physical stores and B2B online platforms. Comparable wholesale model focused on Benelux and broader Europe.
• Hairdreams: Austrian-headquartered specialist in professional hair extensions and related products sold through salons across DACH. Overlaps with Gieseke's premium salon supply model in a regional context.

Broad incumbents

• Wella Company: Major global professional hair care manufacturer (Wella, Sebastian, System Professional) with direct salon sales force and brand power. Competes with Gieseke's exclusive-brand portfolio at the brand-customer interface in DACH salons.
• Schwarzkopf Professional (Henkel): Henkel-owned professional hair brand portfolio (Igora, BlondMe, Osis+) sold directly to German salons. Comparable premium brand positioning and salon-channel distribution overlap with Gieseke's exclusive partners.
• L'Oréal Professionnel Paris: L'Oréal's professional division distributes global premium hair brands through a direct salon sales force across Europe, competing for the same premium salon customer segment that Gieseke serves.
• Goldwell (Kao Salon Division): Kao-owned professional hair care brand with dedicated salon sales force and academy programs in DACH. Comparable manufacturer-distributor hybrid serving the same independent salon channel.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Giesekecosmetic1
• Facebookfacebook.com/Giesekecosmetic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gieseke-cosmetic-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/gieseke_cosmetic
• Pinterestde.pinterest.com/gieseke_cosmetic
• TikToktiktok.com/@gieseke_cosmetic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Gieseke Cosmetic International