Salon Supplies

What Salon Supplies does

Salon Supplies (legal entity K.B. Salon Supplies Limited) is a UK-based B2B trade-only wholesaler and retailer of professional hair, beauty, and barbering supplies, operating for over 50 years and headquartered in Southampton with a flagship furniture showroom. The company's catalogue spans more than 4,928 SKUs across over 100 professional brands (including ghd, Wella, Schwarzkopf, Matrix, L'Oreal Professionnel, Olaplex, Goldwell, Dyson, Takara Belmont, and Pietranera) and is organised into product categories such as Hair Colour, Hairdressing, Nails and Beauty, Barbering, Salon Hygiene/PPE, Electricals, Scissors, and Salon Furniture. Underlying technology is a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront at salonsupplies.co.uk, with payment processing handled via Shopify Payments, Sagepay, and Klarna, plus trade-account registration that requires verification of industry profession (Salon Owner, Salon Employee, Freelance Hairdresser, Beautician, Barbershop Owner, Barber, or Other Hair/Beauty Professional).

The business monetises primarily through one-time wholesale/retail product sales (consumables, tools, electricals, furniture) executed across multiple channels: a sales force of 7 Sales and Business/Sales Consultants providing expert advice, an e-commerce trade-only storefront, a phone sales operation, and 9 owned Cash and Carry retail stores across the South and Midlands of England (Southampton, Isle of Wight, Rustington, Gloucester, Exeter, Cornwall, Northampton, Trowbridge, Milton Keynes). Pricing is restricted to verified trade professionals, with free delivery on orders over £50, a 10% off first-order discount (code NEW10), and recurring multi-buy promotions (e.g., Buy 4 Get 1 Free, 3 for £25.50). Higher-value salon furniture is sold through a dedicated consultation funnel offering virtual appointments, video calls, in-person showroom visits, finance/leasing, hire and rental, and bespoke fittings, which functions as a project-based sales layer on top of the core recurring consumable business.

Customer segments concentrate on SMB hair salons and freelance hairdressers (primary), barbershops, beauty salons, beauty colleges/training institutions, and salon owners undertaking furniture fit-outs. The company enhances its offering with value-added services such as a Try Before You Buy scissors programme, a Recycle My Salon environmental initiative, and a Business Support Hub covering social media, loyalty programmes and operations. Salon Supplies is privately held with no parent company, no public ticker, no funding rounds disclosed, and no institutional investor information available; ownership structure is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Salon Supplies

Legal name

K.B. Salon Supplies Limited

Website

https://salonsupplies.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

K.B. Salon Supplies Limited is a UK-based, trade-only B2B wholesaler of professional hair, beauty, and barbering supplies, serving verified salon owners, freelancers, barbers, beauticians, and colleges through an e-commerce platform and 9 Cash and Carry stores across South and Midlands England with a 4,928+ SKU catalogue spanning 100+ professional brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Hair & Beauty Supplies Wholesale

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Health and Personal Care Retailers (4561)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional/Salon Beauty Distribution (CRAOAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beauty & Salon Professional Supply Marketplaces (CRAFAHAH), Professional/Salon Haircare (Backbar & Retail) (CRABABAK), Professional Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Treatments) (CRABALAB), Salon Retail & Backbar Consumables (Disposables, Capes, Towels, Sanitizers) (CRABALAJ), Salon Hair Tools & Electricals (Dryers, Irons, Clippers) (CRABALAD)

Keywords

• Professional hair supplies
• Salon furniture wholesale
• Barbering equipment supplier
• Beauty products distributor
• Trade-only hair colour

Headquarters

HQ city

Southampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Wholesale/Trade: B2B trade-only sales of professional hair, beauty, and barber supplies. Products sold at trade prices exclusively to verified industry professionals. Revenue generated through direct product markup on branded cosmetics, equipment, furniture, and accessories.
2. Cash and Carry Retail: 9 physical retail locations across South and Midlands allowing trade customers to purchase products directly with immediate availability.
3. Furniture Consultations and Sales: High-value furniture sales with consultation services including virtual appointments, phone/video/in-person showroom consultations for salon refits and furniture purchases.
4. Hire and Rental Services: Furniture rental and hire options for events or temporary needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Salon Supplies is a UK-based B2B trade-only wholesaler that sells professional hair, beauty, and barbering supplies (including hair colour, hair care, electricals, scissors, salon furniture, nails/beauty products, and salon hygiene/PPE) from 100+ leading brands to verified industry professionals. It combines an online trade-only e-commerce platform (salonsupplies.co.uk) with 9 physical Cash and Carry stores across South and Midlands England, complemented by furniture consultation services and finance/leasing options on high-value salon furniture purchases.

Product overview

Salon Supplies operates a B2B e-commerce platform serving professional hairdressing, beauty, and barbering businesses across the UK. The product offering consists of a unified e-commerce retail platform combined with extensive physical retail presence through 9 Cash and Carry stores. The core product portfolio includes Hair Colour Products (permanent, semi-permanent colours, developers, lighteners, toners), Hair Care Products (shampoos, conditioners, treatments), Salon Essentials (brushes, combs, tools), Electricals (dryers, straighteners, tongs), Scissors, Texture Products (perms, straightening), Styling Products, Salon Hygiene and PPE, Nails and Beauty Products, Barbering Supplies, and comprehensive Salon Furniture ranges. Additional services include Furniture Consultations, Business Support Hub education resources, Recycle My Salon environmental programme, and a Try Before You Buy service for scissors. The company differentiates through professional trade-only pricing, expert consultation services, and the combination of online purchasing with physical store collection options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hair Colour Products Professional hair colouring products including permanent colours, semi-permanent tones, direct dyes, developers, peroxides, lighteners, bleaches, toners, colour correctors, and additives for professional salon use.
• Hair Care Products Professional hair care and cleansing products including shampoos, conditioners, treatments, thinning hair solutions, hair oils, gift sets, and hair care packs from top industry brands.
• Electricals Professional hair styling electrical equipment including dryers, straighteners, tongs, wands, and accessories for professional salon use.
• Scissors Professional hairdressing scissors including regular scissors, thinners, accessories, and Try Before You Buy options for stylists.
• Texture Products Chemical texture products including perms, straightening treatments, setting solutions, and neutralisers for creating curls or straightening hair.
• Styling Products Hair styling products including dry shampoo, gels, hairsprays, heat styling products, mousses, setting products, shaping, shine, smoothing, texturising, volumising, and wax products.
• Salon Hygiene and PPE Salon hygiene and personal protective equipment including gloves, masks, visors, washable gowns, capes, disposables, cleaning solutions, soaps, and hand sanitiser.
• Nails and Beauty Products Professional nail and beauty supplies including nail polishes, gels, treatments, pedicure products, skin care, waxing and hair removal products, and enhancement machines.
• Barbering Supplies Professional barber supplies including clippers, trimmers, barbering kits, blades, razors, combs, hair care, skin care, and styling products specifically for barbershops.
• Salon Furniture Professional salon furniture including styling chairs, backwash chairs, Japanese Head Spa Beds, styling units, reception furniture, trolleys, stools, storage, dryers, barber chairs, barber units, beauty chairs, couches, nail stations, pedi spas, and steamers, plus bespoke options, packages, hire and rental, and clearance lines.
• College Kits College hairdressing kits and student bundles for training institutions including styling kits and educational packages.
• Colouring Tools and Equipment Professional hair colouring tools and equipment including brushes, bowls, foil, meche, applicators, tint brushes, shade charts, and staining accessories.
• Salon Essentials Essential salon tools and sundries including brushes, combs, pins, grips, clips, rollers, perm rods, spray bottles, stationery, towels, and other hair care accessories.
• Furniture Consultations Expert consultation service for salon furniture purchases including phone, video, or in-person consultations at the Southampton showroom, plus finance and leasing options.
• Cash and Carry Stores Same-day pickup retail service across 9 locations (Southampton, Isle of Wight, Rustington, Gloucester, Exeter, Cornwall, Northampton, Trowbridge, Milton Keynes) allowing trade customers to purchase professional salon supplies immediately without delivery wait times.
• Try Before You Buy Scissors Programme allowing professionals to trial scissors before purchasing to ensure the right fit and quality.
• Recycle My Salon Environmental initiative allowing salons to responsibly dispose of aluminium tubes, foil, and hair through a recycling programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free delivery on orders over £50
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Hair CouncilminorOthersIndustry body association membership. Logo displayed on website as recognized professional industry organization.
• National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF)minorOthersAssured Trade Member of NHBF. Industry federation membership demonstrating professional trade credentials.
• Fellowship HairminorOthersFellowship membership. Industry organization for hair professionals.
• Hairdressing Suppliers Association (HBSA)minorOthersAssociation membership. Industry trade association for hairdressing suppliers.
• Hairdressing Industry (HJI)minorOthersIn association with HJI. Industry publication/media partnership.
• Federation of Hairdressing (FHA)minorOthersIn association with FHA. Federation membership for the hairdressing industry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Takara Belmont: Manufacturer of premium salon furniture that Salon Supplies distributes — a supplier/partner relationship that could become disintermediating if the manufacturer expands direct sales.

Direct peers

• Ellisons Hair & Beauty: Long-established UK distributor of professional salon products and furniture with nationwide delivery and trade pricing — a direct peer competing in the same product categories and customer segments.
• Beauty Express: UK-based trade supplier of professional hair, beauty and nail products serving salons and freelancers with a comparable e-commerce-first distribution approach.
• Affinity Hair & Beauty: UK trade-only distributor of professional hairdressing and beauty supplies operating online and through showroom locations with comparable premium brand portfolio and trade pricing model.
• Salon Services (Sally Beauty UK): The largest UK trade-only salon supply distributor with nationwide Cash & Carry stores, online trade platform, and a comprehensive multi-brand professional catalogue — Salon Supplies' most direct national competitor.
• Hair & Beauty Solutions (formerly Pro-Duo UK): Trade-only multi-brand distributor serving UK hair and beauty professionals via e-commerce and Cash & Carry locations with overlapping brand ranges and customer base.
• Capital Hair & Beauty: UK-wide trade-only distributor of professional hairdressing, barbering and beauty supplies operating both Cash & Carry stores and a strong e-commerce platform across similar premium brand ranges.

Emerging players

• Salon Scale UK: Trade-only online beauty supplies retailer focused on professional-grade products with strong digital customer acquisition — overlapping competitor for Salon Supplies' e-commerce trade customers.

Regional players

• Salon Services Ireland: Ireland-focused trade salon supply distributor with the same trade-only Cash & Carry model — a comparable peer in a different geography that illustrates regional replication of the model.

Broad incumbents

• Amazon Business UK: Generalist B2B procurement platform increasingly listing professional salon products — broad incumbent competing on price transparency and delivery rather than trade expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salon-supplies-ltd

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 Salon Supplies