Thompson Enamel
Thompson Enamel is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of vitreous enamel formulations for metal and glass, serving hobbyist artisans, educational institutions, and commercial enamelers via direct-to-consumer e-commerce and workshops.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1907
- HeadquartersBellevue, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Thompson Enamel does
Thompson Enamel is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of vitreous (glass-based) enamels for application on metal and glass substrates, operating continuously for over 119 years and headquartered at 650 Colfax Ave in Bellevue, Kentucky. The company's core technology is the formulation of specialty glass frits and prepared enamels organized into a matrix of numbered series tuned for specific base materials and firing profiles — including medium-temperature enamels for copper, gold, and silver (1000/2000 series, with G-series premium colors reaching $806.50), high-temperature enamels for stained glass (7000/8000 series), medium-temperature low-expansion enamels for window glass and 400-series magnetic stainless steel (5000/6000 series), and 9000-series enamels formulated for Effetre (Moretti) glass. The catalog also spans liquid-form water-activated enamels, acrylic and overglaze painting enamels, pre-enameled steel plates (28 gauge) and iron substrates (18/22 gauge), raw copper forms (bowls, trays, flat sheet, stamped pieces, switch plates), kilns/furnaces, tools, and a content library (books, the TEP-001 technical workbook, DVDs, and workshops).
Thompson Enamel monetizes exclusively through direct-to-consumer e-commerce on a WooCommerce storefront, with no intermediary distributors, no third-party retail, and no API or integration surface. Revenue streams are (1) one-time product sales spanning powder and liquid enamels, pre-enameled metals, firing equipment, and consumable tools; (2) one-time sales of publications and educational media; and (3) professional-service fees for in-person workshops. Pricing is unit-based per SKU, transparent on the website, and most individual SKUs sit in the $3-$50 range with premium SKUs and large-format sizes stretching above $800. The company has announced a broad 10% price increase effective May 1, 2026, the first reset since September 2023, citing rising global diesel, packaging, and upstream costs.
The customer base is segmented horizontally across hobbyist and professional artisans (primary), educational institutions, and industrial/commercial enamelers, with use cases spanning jewelry, decorative art, stained glass, architectural elements, and instructional settings. Thompson Enamel is privately financed with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors, and operates with a headcount in the 11-50 range from a single Kentucky site.
Thompson Enamel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Thompson Enamel
- Legal name
- Thompson Enamel
- Website
- https://thompsonenamel.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1907
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Thompson Enamel is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of vitreous enamel formulations for metal and glass, serving hobbyist artisans, educational institutions, and commercial enamelers via direct-to-consumer e-commerce and workshops.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Thompson Enamel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Enameling Supplies
- NAICS
- Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (33991)
- SIC
- Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware (3910)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Artisan/Hand-Fabricated One-of-a-Kind Jewelry (CRAKAHAI)
Keywords
Where Thompson Enamel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bellevue
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Thompson Enamel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales of enamel products, metal substrates, tools, and equipment. Products include enamels in various forms (powder, liquid, acrylic), pre-enameled metals, firing tools, trivets, kilns/furnaces, and publications/books.
- Educational Materials: Sale of publications, books, videos, and instructional materials for enameling techniques. Includes titles like 'Introduction to Kiln Fired Glass' and 'Kiln-Fired Glass'.
- Workshops and Training: In-person workshops for enameling techniques and skill development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Enamel Products (Powder Form) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Liquid Form Enamel Colors |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tools and Supplies |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Firing Equipment |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sample Sets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Publications |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Thompson Enamel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Thompson Enamel manufactures and sells vitreous enamel products for application to metals (copper, gold, silver, steel) and glass substrates. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio including powdered enamels by series (1000-9000), liquid form enamels, acrylic enamels, overglaze painting enamels, pre-enameled metal substrates, firing equipment (kilns/furnaces), application tools, and educational publications. Products are sold primarily direct-to-consumer through a WooCommerce-powered e-commerce website.
Product overview
Thompson Enamel operates as a traditional e-commerce platform (built on WooCommerce) selling a comprehensive portfolio of vitreous enamel products and related supplies for metal and glass enameling. The core product offerings center on various enamel formulations organized by base material application: Enamels for Copper/Gold/Silver (1000-2000 series), Enamels for Stained Glass (7000-8000 series), Enamels for Window Glass (5000-6000 series), and Enamels for Effetre Glass (9000 series). Supporting product lines include Liquid Form Enamel Colors, Copper Products, Enameled Steel Plates, Enameling Iron, Furnaces/Kilns, Tools, Trivets & Stilts, Enamel Supplements, Publications & Videos, and Gift Certificates. The company also offers technical resources like the Thompson Enamel Workbook and product-specific instructions (e.g., P-1 Overglaze Painting Enamel instructions). The business model is purely transactional e-commerce without any API access, AI/ML capabilities, or third-party integrations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Enamels for Copper, Gold, & Silver Medium temperature, medium expansion vitreous enamels in the 1000 and 2000 series designed for use with copper, gold, silver, low carbon steel, and metal clay. Includes opaque and transparent color options for jewelry making and decorative metalwork.
- Enamels for Stained Glass High temperature, medium expansion enamels in the 7000 series (opaque) and 8000 series (transparent) formulated for stained glass applications.
- Enamels for Window Glass Medium temperature, low expansion enamels in the 5000 series (opaque) and 6000 series (transparent) for use with window glass and 400 series magnetic stainless steel.
- Enamels for Effetre (Moretti) Glass 9000 series enamels specifically formulated for Effetre (Moretti) glass, including opaque and transparent options for lampworking and glass bead applications.
- Liquid Form Enamel Colors Water-based liquid enamels containing a blend of glass, clay, and electrolytes that activate with water. Applied by spraying, dipping, pouring, or brushing. Available in multiple colors including Maroon, White, Peacock Blue, and Goldenrod Yellow.
- Enameled Steel Plates (28 ga.) Thin steel substrates (0.015 inch, 28 gauge) pre-coated with ground coat and white finish on the face side. Approximately 60% thinner than enameled iron tiles. Available in squares and rectangles.
- Copper Products Copper substrates for enameling projects including bowls, trays, flat sheet copper, stamped copper pieces, and switch plates.
- Enameling Iron (Low Carbon Steel) Low carbon steel substrates for enameling, available in 18 and 22 gauges in circles, squares, and rectangles. Requires ground coat application before firing.
- Furnaces and Kilns Industrial furnaces and kilns for enamel firing applications, including hotplate-type furnaces and accessories for completing the enameling process.
- P-1 Overglaze Painting Enamel Black overglaze painting enamel available in dry powder or pre-mixed oil base. Compatible with A-1 Klyr-fire, A-13 Acrylic Medium, or oil base mediums. Applied with crow quill pen or brush, fired at 1450 degrees F.
- Three Point Trivets Versatile trivets for supporting jewelry-sized to small panel-sized pieces during firing. Available in diameters from approximately 1 1/4 inch to 6 inches.
- Publications and Videos Educational materials including books, catalogs, and videos/DVDs on enameling techniques and kiln-fired glass projects, such as 'Introduction to Kiln Fired Glass - 17 Projects' and 'Kiln-Fired Glass' (2nd Edition).
- Enameling Workshops In-person workshops for enameling techniques and skill development, offered through the company's Bellevue, KY location and online via the workshops page.
Companies that use Thompson Enamel
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Thompson Enamel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Thompson Enamel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Thompson Enamel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Thompson Enamel social profiles
Digital presenceThompson Enamel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Thompson Enamel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Thompson Enamel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Thompson Enamel 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 Thompson Enamel
What does Thompson Enamel do?
Thompson Enamel manufactures and sells vitreous enamel products for application to metals (copper, gold, silver, steel) and glass substrates. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio including powdered enamels by series (1000-9000), liquid form enamels, acrylic enamels, overglaze painting enamels, pre-enameled metal substrates, firing equipment (kilns/furnaces), application tools, and educational publications. Products are sold primarily direct-to-consumer through a WooCommerce-powered e-commerce website.
Is Thompson Enamel a public or private company?
Thompson Enamel is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Thompson Enamel founded?
Thompson Enamel was founded in 1907. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Thompson Enamel based?
Thompson Enamel is headquartered in Bellevue, United States, in the North America region.
How does Thompson Enamel make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are educational Materials and workshops and Training.
Does Thompson Enamel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Thompson Enamel.
What industry is Thompson Enamel in?
Thompson Enamel's product category is Enameling Supplies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKAHAI, Artisan/Hand-Fabricated One-of-a-Kind Jewelry. Its NAICS code is 33991 and its SIC code is 3910.