The Stephan Company

What The Stephan Company does

The Stephan Company (OTC Pink: SPCO) is a U.S.-based distributor of professional barber, beauty, and personal-care products operating since 1897 and headquartered at 7901 4th St N Suite 300, St. Petersburg, Florida. The company sells a portfolio of seven heritage brands covering shave creams, lather systems, men's grooming and haircare, professional shears, hair polish, barber racks, and styling wax (Campbell's, Latherking, Stephan, BarberMate, Stix Fix, SuperCut, and FMS), and has assembled a wholly-owned distribution network of six acquired regional barber-supply subsidiaries (Morris Flamingo, Williamsport Bowman Barber Supply, MD Barber Supply, 614 Barber Supply, Appleton Barber Supply, and Norva Barber Supply), each of which retains its own brand, storefront, and regional customer base.

The business is structured as a holding and distribution company rather than a manufacturer of technology products. Its core technology footprint is a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront at thestephanco.com, supplemented by Shopify sites operated by individual subsidiaries (morrisflamingo.com, wbbarber.com, 614barbersupply.com, appletonbarbersupply.com). The company recruits new third-party distributors through a formal application process and sells both directly online and via its subsidiary wholesale network. Pricing follows standard unit-based retail pricing with no disclosed subscription, tier, or licensing model.

Revenue mechanics are concentrated in one-time product sales of consumer goods through three channels: (i) direct e-commerce via Shopify, (ii) six wholly-owned regional distributor subsidiaries selling to barbers and salons, and (iii) third-party independent distributors reaching customers worldwide. Customer segments are almost entirely SMBs — individual barber shops, salons, and barber professionals — with no disclosed enterprise accounts. On November 26, 2025, The Stephan Co filed a Voluntary Petition for Chapter 11 relief citing talc-related claims, and on March 25, 2026, the company proposed a reorganization plan to address those claims while continuing to operate its e-commerce platform and serve customers.

Name

The Stephan Company

Legal name

The Stephan Co.

Website

https://thestephanco.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Stephan Company is a U.S. distributor, founded in 1897, of professional barber, beauty, and personal-care products sold under seven heritage brands through six wholly-owned regional distributor subsidiaries and a Shopify e-commerce storefront, serving barber shops, salons, and consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Barber and Personal Care Supplies

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Barber & Professional Men’s Grooming Products (CRABAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Men’s Haircare (Beard, 2-in-1, Styling) (CRABABAI), Salon Hair Tools & Electricals (Dryers, Irons, Clippers) (CRABALAD), Waxing & Depilatory Professional Products (CRABALAH)

Keywords

• Professional barber supplies
• Men's grooming products
• Shaving creams and lather
• Hair care distribution
• Salon supply distributor

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: The company generates revenue through the sale of barber, beauty and personal care products including shaving creams, lather products, hair care items, grooming tools, and barber supplies. Products are sold under multiple brand names including Campbell's, Latherking, Stephan, BarberMate, Stix Fix, SuperCut, and FMS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Stephan Company is a premier U.S. distributor of professional barber, beauty, and personal care products, selling branded grooming items (shaving creams, lather systems, men's haircare, professional shears, barber racks, hair polish, and wax) under seven owned brands through its Shopify e-commerce site, six regional subsidiary distributors, and independent third-party distributors reaching barber shops and salons worldwide.

Product overview

The Stephan Company is a premier distributor of Barber, Beauty and personal care items, founded in 1897 and claiming to be the first professional men's hair care company and first distributor through the barber shop channel in the United States. The company operates as a multi-brand portfolio distributing professional barber supplies through its network of six subsidiary companies: Morris Flamingo, Williamsport Bowman Barber Supply, MD Barber Supply, 614 Barber Supply, Appleton Barber Supply, and Norva Barber Supply. Their product portfolio includes seven brands: Campbell's (liquid shave cream and Latherking machine cleaner), Latherking (push-button instant lather systems), Stephan (signature men's grooming and haircare line including shave creams, astringents, bay rum, styling gels, and dandruff removers), BarberMate (professional USA-made barber racks), Stix Fix (hair styling polish), SuperCut (#1 selling professional shears), and FMS (flat top wax and pocket hair brushes). The company sells directly to barber shops and salons worldwide, with their e-commerce store powered by Shopify.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Campbell's: Liquid Shave Cream and Latherking (Machine) Cleaner products
• Latherking
• Stephan
• BarberMate
• Stix Fix
• SuperCut
• FMS

Products and services

• Campbell's

Named customers7 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

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Prospective DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Stephan Co recruits new distributors through a formal application process. Interested distributors can complete an application to become part of the company's distribution network. The company offers access to their portfolio of professional barber and beauty products.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Oster Professional: Heritage brand of professional barber clippers, shears, and grooming tools. Direct peer to Stephan Co given its professional barber channel positioning, US manufacturing heritage, and overlapping customer base with Stephan's SuperCut and Latherking franchises.
• Andis Company: Family-owned US manufacturer of professional clippers, trimmers, and barber tools with a strong heritage brand. Direct peer to Stephan Co given overlapping professional barber customer base and complementary tool portfolio (analogous to Stephan's SuperCut shears and BarberMate racks).
• Murray's Worldwide: Heritage men's grooming brand known for pomades and hair products sold through barber shops and specialty beauty supply. Direct peer to Stephan Co in the professional men's haircare category with shared barber channel distribution and legacy brand positioning.
• Wahl Professional: Leading manufacturer of professional-grade clippers, shavers, and grooming tools for barbers and stylists. Direct peer as both sell professional men's grooming hardware and consumables to the same barber shop channel with comparable brand positioning.
• Beauty Systems Group (BSG): Wholesale distributor of professional beauty and barber supplies serving salons and barbershops across the US. Direct peer because both operate as B2B distributors of professional grooming and haircare products to licensed stylists and barbers through regional/branch distribution.

Emerging players

• Barbicide: Iconic sanitation brand for barbershops and salons. Comparable as a professional-channel barbershop staple brand serving the same independent barber customer base that Stephan's subsidiary distributors supply.
• Freeman Beauty (Freeman Manufacturing): Manufacturer and distributor of professional beauty, barber, and spa products with strong presence in independent salons and barbershops. Comparable to Stephan Co given overlap in haircare consumables, masks, and barber-channel distribution.
• Duke Cannon: Fast-growing men's grooming brand positioned around heritage barbershop cues. Emerging player peer because it targets overlapping professional men's grooming customers through DTC and mass retail, but lacks Stephan's wholesale distribution depth and is consumer (not professional) focused.

Broad incumbents

• American International Industries (AII): Diversified US manufacturer and distributor of professional beauty and personal care brands including hair care, skincare, and barber supplies. Broad incumbent peer given parallel multi-brand portfolio strategy and shared distribution through professional beauty channels.
• Sally Beauty Holdings: Largest US specialty retailer and distributor of professional beauty supplies including salon and barber products. Comparable to Stephan Co as both sell professional haircare, tools, and grooming items through a multi-brand portfolio and extensive distribution network, though Sally Beauty is a much larger incumbent with broader SKUs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheStephanCo
• Facebookfacebook.com/526126380760358
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-stephan-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Stephan Company