Empire Barber Supplies

What Empire Barber Supplies does

Empire Barber Supplies is a Canadian B2B trade-only retailer of professional barber supplies, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with a second retail location in Edmonton and a national e-commerce platform offering Canada-wide shipping. The company serves licensed professional barbers and barbershop owners exclusively, gating pricing behind a trade account login and marketing itself as Canada's #1 Barber Supply Store. Its catalog spans tools (clippers, trimmers, shavers, barber shears, hair dryers), shaving and men's grooming products, sanitation supplies, accessories, and salon furniture/equipment, distributed across an extensive portfolio of over 100 professional brands including Wahl, BaBylissPro, Andis, JRL Professional, StyleCraft, Gamma+, Cocco, Kasho, and Oster.

The business model is retail distribution to trade professionals, primarily through one-time product sales at wholesale-style pricing, with revenue derived from online and in-store purchases. The company also operates a customer loyalty program (Empire Loyalty Program), an annual industry event (Empire Barber Expo), and proprietary software (BARBER-OS) positioned as a barber management or point-of-sale system. Branded mobile applications are available on both iOS and Android, and the storefront includes a country/region selector indicating intent to serve the U.S. market alongside Canada. Partnerships with major brands, including an exclusive co-branded wireless charging product line with Tomb45 and BaBylissPro, deepen the company's integration with the professional barber tool ecosystem.

The underlying technology stack is a standard Shopify-based e-commerce platform with trade account functionality, a mobile app layer, and a separate POS/management software product (BARBER-OS). The company maintains an organic social presence on Instagram and TikTok under the @empirebarbersupply handle. Empire is privately held with no disclosed funding history, parent company, or executive leadership, and there is no publicly disclosed revenue figure. Ownership appears founder-controlled, and the company is actively operating with two physical retail stores and a national e-commerce operation.

Name

Empire Barber Supplies

Legal name

Empire Barber Supply

Website

https://empirebarber.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Empire Barber Supplies is a Canadian B2B trade-only retailer of professional barber supplies, serving licensed barbers and barbershops through two Alberta retail locations and a national e-commerce platform carrying over 100 professional brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Barber Supplies

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Barber & Professional Men’s Grooming Products (CRABAGAK)

Keywords

• Barber supplies
• Professional grooming tools
• Barber tools retail
• Salon equipment distribution
• Men's grooming products

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Revenue generated from selling professional barber supplies including tools (clippers, trimmers, shavers), styling products, furniture, equipment, and accessories to licensed trade professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Empire Barber Supplies is a trade-only distributor and retailer of professional barber supplies, serving licensed barbers and barbershops across Canada. It operates physical retail locations in Calgary (headquarters) and Edmonton, plus a Canada-wide e-commerce platform carrying 100+ professional brands of clippers, trimmers, shavers, styling products, shaving supplies, salon furniture, and accessories. The company also offers its proprietary BARBER-OS platform and an Empire Loyalty Program for repeat trade customers.

Product overview

Empire Barber Supply is Canada's leading B2B barber supply retailer operating an e-commerce platform exclusively for trade/professional customers. The company distributes an extensive portfolio of professional grooming tools, styling products, shaving supplies, salon furniture, and accessories from over 100 professional brands including Wahl, JRL, Andis, BaBylissPro, StyleCraft, and Gamma+. Core product categories include clippers, trimmers, shavers, hair dryers, barber shears, and furniture/equipment. The company also offers its proprietary BARBER-OS system and operates a loyalty program. Products are sold primarily through the e-commerce platform with physical store locations in Calgary (headquarters) and Edmonton.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Empire Barber Expo: Annual barber industry event organized by Empire Barber Supply
• BARBER-OS
• Empire Loyalty Program

Products and services

• Professional Barber Tools Professional barber tools including trimmers, clippers, shavers, hair dryers, barber shears, massagers, charging stands, clipper/trimmer blades, and replacement parts from brands such as Wahl, BaBylissPro, Andis, JRL, StyleCraft, and Gamma+. Sold exclusively to licensed barbershop professionals.
• Men's Grooming Products Styling products including hair pomade, wax, creams, clays, sprays, gels, powders; beard care products; hair color; and general hair/skin care items for barbershop use.
• Shaving Products Wet shaving supplies including aftershaves, shaving creams/soaps, straight and safety razors, shaving brushes, and related accessories for professional barber services.
• Barber Essentials Sanitation and salon supplies including gloves, disinfectants, neck strips, towels, station mats, coloring foils, and mannequins for daily barbershop operations.
• Barber Accessories Barber shop accessories including capes, apparel, combs, brushes, mirrors, spray bottles, travel cases, and station accessories.
• Barber Furniture and Equipment Salon furniture and equipment including barber chairs, shampoo units, barber poles, towel warmers, trolleys, stations, and lighting for barbershop fit-out.
• BARBER-OS Proprietary barber operating system platform/service developed by Empire Barber Supply for managing barbershop operations.
• Empire Loyalty Program Customer loyalty program offering rewards and discounts for repeat trade customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free shipping on orders over $99 Canada-wide

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WahlcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor brand partnership - Empire Barber Supply distributes Wahl professional barber tools including clippers, trimmers, shavers, and accessories. Featured brand prominently displayed on homepage and throughout product catalog.
• BaBylissProcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey brand partnership for professional barber tools including clippers, trimmers, shavers, and styling equipment. Featured as top brand with extensive product range.
• AndiscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Andis professional grooming equipment including clippers, trimmers, and shavers for the barber trade.
• JRL ProfessionalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distributor for JRL Professional hair clippers, trimmers, and accessories. Featured brand with new product releases.
• StyleCraftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes StyleCraft professional barber tools including the S|C Rebel, S|C Instinct, and S|C Ergo product lines. Prominent featured brand.
• Gamma+coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCarries Gamma+ professional trimmers, shavers, and accessories. Featured brand with positive customer reviews.
• CoccocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian brand partnership for Cocco professional barber tools including clippers, trimmers, shavers, and accessories. Featured brand with new arrivals.
• OsterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Oster professional clipper blades and accessories for professional barbers.
• American CrewminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCarries American Crew professional men's grooming and styling products for barbershops.
• ProrasominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian brand partnership for Proraso shaving creams, soaps, and grooming products.
• KashominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium Japanese shear partnership - distributes Kasho professional barber shears and scissors.
• ELV8minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCarries ELV8 professional barber shears and styling tools including the Katana Series and Akari product lines.
• SpadaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian barber tool brand partnership featuring Spada professional grooming products.
• Tomb45coreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive collaboration with Tomb45 for BabylissPro x Tomb45 wireless charging clipper and trimmer products - a co-branded product line.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• The Modern Barber: Emerging digital-first barber supply brand focused on modern professional barbers, offering curated tools and styling products online. Represents a younger, digitally native competitor competing for the same next-generation barber demographic Empire targets.

Broad incumbents

• SalonCentric: L'Oréal-owned professional beauty distributor serving licensed stylists and barbers in the U.S. and Canada. Competes with Empire across professional product categories including clippers, styling products, and salon supplies.
• CosmoProf: Professional-only beauty supply distributor owned by Beauty Systems Group (BSG/Sally Beauty). Serves licensed cosmetologists and barbers with a broad product assortment and national distribution footprint across North America, directly competing with Empire's B2B trade model.
• Burmax: Long-standing wholesale distributor of professional beauty, barber, and spa supplies with a broad multi-brand catalog. Empire distributes multiple Burmax-affiliated brands, indicating Burmax as both a supplier and a competitive wholesale channel in the same market.
• Sally Beauty Holdings: Largest specialty retailer of professional beauty supplies in North America, with both consumer-facing Sally Beauty stores and the BSG/CosmoProf professional wholesale channel. Competes with Empire on breadth, pricing power, and supplier relationships.
• Amazon (Professional Beauty & Barber Category): The dominant e-commerce platform carries most of the same brands Empire distributes (Wahl, BaBylissPro, Andis, etc.) and competes on price, convenience, and shipping speed. While not a trade-only specialist, Amazon's reach represents the largest competitive threat to Empire's e-commerce business.

Direct peers

• Marq Pro Beauty Supply: Professional-only distributor of barber and beauty supplies serving licensed professionals online. Competes with Empire on product categories including clippers, trimmers, and styling products, with overlapping brand portfolios (Wahl, BaBylissPro, Andis).
• DannyCo: One of Canada's largest wholesale beauty and barber supply distributors, operating physical stores and an e-commerce platform serving professional salons and barbershops. Empire even carries DannyCo-branded products, indicating direct competitive overlap in the Canadian trade supply market.
• Elevate Beauty Supply: Online professional beauty and barber supply retailer serving licensed stylists and barbers across North America. Comparable to Empire in its trade-only e-commerce model and product breadth across professional tools and styling products.

Regional players

• State Beauty Supply: U.S.-based professional beauty and barber supply distributor with strong regional presence and an e-commerce platform. Highly comparable to Empire in product mix and trade-only orientation, and a potential cross-border competitor if Empire expands into the U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/empirebarbersupply
• TikToktiktok.com/@empirebarbersupply
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empire-barber-supplies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Empire Barber Supplies