Paracord.eu

What Paracord.eu does

Paracord.eu, operated by Meitrade B.V. from Krimpen aan den IJssel in the Netherlands, is an online specialty retailer of paracord, webbing, leather, hardware, tools, and DIY kits serving European and international makers, pet-product manufacturers, leather workers, and outdoor/survival enthusiasts. The company self-describes as Europe's largest supplier of paracord and coloured rope, holding 3.6 million metres of cord, over 3.5 million items in stock, 200+ product categories, and 3,500+ colour combinations. Founded by Ruben van Duin and Sander Kwantes and operating for 8+ years, it runs on a Magento storefront with SSL-secured transactions, payments via PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, and SEPA, and ships worldwide through DPD, UPS, DHL, and FedEx.

The business model combines a self-serve DTC e-commerce channel with a custom cut-to-length ordering system (1m to 300m+), free in-house spooling on orders of 30+ metres, bulk quantity discounts, and a dedicated wholesale channel offering package-deal pricing for pet and equestrian manufacturers. Supporting monetisation includes Academy Courses on Teachable, an Outdoor & Travel category, DIY kits, and a SALE section. Marketing is content-led through a blog, YouTube (ParacordEurope), MatchMaker App, Community Section, seasonal inspiration pages, and Trustpilot reviews. The company is bootstrapped, founder-owned, Webshop Keurmerk certified, and holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating; no external investors, no funding rounds, and no API, app, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Name

Paracord.eu

Legal name

Meitrade B.V.

Website

https://paracord.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Paracord.eu (Meitrade B.V., Netherlands) is Europe's largest online retailer of paracord, coloured rope, webbing, leather, hardware, and DIY kits, serving individual makers, pet-product manufacturers, leather workers, and outdoor enthusiasts via a self-serve Magento storefront and wholesale channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft and DIY Cordage Supplies

NAICS

Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (45913)

SIC

Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Fabric, Sewing & Needlecraft Retail (CRALAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hobby & Model Kits Distribution (RC, Scale Models, Miniatures) (CRAOAMAD), Notions & Sewing Accessories Retail (Thread, Needles, Zippers, Buttons) (CRALADAG), Pattern & Sewing Instruction Retail (Patterns, Books, Classes) (CRALADAH)

Keywords

• Paracord retail
• Rope and webbing
• Leather craft supplies
• Diy craft materials
• Pet product hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Krimpen Aan Den Ijssel

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Retail Sales: Direct-to-consumer and B2B online sales of paracord, webbing, leather, hardware accessories, tools, and DIY kits through the paracord.eu e-commerce platform. Individual product pricing with bulk quantity discounts available.
2. Wholesale Bulk Orders: Custom made wholesale orders for large spools, cut-to-length orders, various colors and patterns. Wholesale price concept with volume-based discounts through package deals.
3. DIY Tools and Hardware Accessories: Sale of leather working tools, spindle hand presses, rivet punches, eyelets, buckles, and other hardware components for DIY projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Paracord.eu is an online retailer supplying paracord, webbing (BioThane® and PawTex®), leather, hardware accessories, DIY tools, and ready-to-make DIY kits to makers, pet product manufacturers, and equestrian businesses. Orders can be placed in custom cut-to-length quantities from 1 m to 300+ m, with free in-house spools provided on orders of 30 m and above. The company also runs a wholesale channel for custom-made bulk production through worldwide production partners.

Product overview

Paracord.eu is Europe's largest supplier of paracord, webbing, leather, and related craft products, operating as an e-commerce platform built on Magento. The core product portfolio centers on Paracord in various types (Type I through Type V, Nano, Micro, and Survival variants) supplemented by BioThane® synthetic leather webbing, PPM Multicord, and specialized Dog Leash Ropes in Nylon, PPM, and rPET materials. The offering expands into full leather product lines (Greased Leather, Saddle Leather, Nappa), comprehensive Hardware Accessories (buckles, rings, snaps, rivets, eyelets, tri glides, studs), and professional-grade DIY Tools including the Spindle Hand Press system with interchangeable anvils and punches. The business model combines a standard e-commerce retail operation with custom-cut ordering (from 1 meter to 300+ meters), DIY Kits for popular projects, and a wholesale division serving bulk buyers. Additional revenue streams include Academy Courses via Teachable, Outdoor & Travel products, and a SALE section for remaindered inventory. With 3.6 million meters of cord and 3.5 million items in stock across 200+ product categories, the company positions itself as a one-stop 'Coloured Cord Paradise' for makers, crafters, and pet product manufacturers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MatchMaker App: A matching application for paracord projects

Products and services

• Paracord Type III (550)

Quantifiable outcome

• 3500+ coloured cord combinations available
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Chewy: Chewy is a leading US online retailer of pet products, including finished dog collars, leashes, and pet hardware. While not a craft-materials retailer, it is comparable to Paracord.eu's Pet Industry / Equestrian wholesale and DIY kit segments by serving pet product brands that source from Paracord.eu and overlapping on adjacent pet accessory demand.
• Michaels: Michaels is the largest North American specialty retailer of arts, crafts, and DIY materials, offering broad ranges of cordage, leather working, and hardware. It overlaps with Paracord.eu across hobby makers, DIY craft, and paracord-adjacent categories but as part of a much wider portfolio.
• Etsy: Etsy operates an online marketplace connecting independent makers with buyers of handmade goods, craft supplies, including cord, leather, and DIY kits. It overlaps with Paracord.eu's DIY maker and pet/equestrian segments, including competing seller channels for paracord bracelets, dog collars, and leather accessories.
• JOANN: JOANN is a large US-based specialty retailer focused on sewing, fabric, and needlework supplies, with a broad assortment of notions, threads, and craft materials. It is comparable to Paracord.eu's core fabric, sewing, and craft materials business, though it operates on a much broader scale and primarily serves North America.
• Hobby Lobby: Hobby Lobby is a major US-based hobby and craft retail chain offering fabric, notions, leather working, and DIY kits. Comparable to Paracord.eu's broad specialty retail footprint across sewing, leather working, and hobby categories, though it is a multi-category generalist rather than a paracord/rope specialist.
• AliExpress: AliExpress is a global low-cost e-commerce marketplace owned by Alibaba, carrying deep inventory of paracord, leather cord, hardware, and DIY craft supplies from third-party sellers. It competes with Paracord.eu across commodity SKUs, hardware (rivets, buckles, tri glides), and Chinese Polyester paracord at significantly lower price points.

Direct peers

• Tandy Leather: Tandy Leather is a long-standing specialty retailer of leather working tools, leather hides, hardware (rivets, eyelets, buckles), and DIY kits. It is directly comparable to Paracord.eu's leather working segment, serving leather crafters and pet/equestrian hardware makers with the same combination of materials and tools.
• R&W Cord Company: R&W Cord is an American manufacturer and retailer of paracord and specialty cordage supplying Type III Mil-Spec 550 cord. It competes with Paracord.eu directly on cordage specialty and similar end-customers (DIY makers, mil-spec users), though primarily in the North American market rather than Europe.
• Weaver Leather: Weaver Leather supplies leather, hardware, and finished products to the equestrian and pet industries, including horse tack, dog collars, and leashes. It directly overlaps with Paracord.eu's Pet Industry / Equestrian and Leather Workers segments and competes on bulk hardware and custom-cut leather/webbing offerings.

Regional players

• Action: Action is a Dutch-headquartered European discount variety retailer with stores across Europe selling craft supplies, basic cordage, and hobby materials at low price points. It is regionally comparable to Paracord.eu's European specialty position but at a much lower price point and broader assortment rather than paracord/rope depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ParacordEurope
• Facebookfacebook.com/Paracord.eu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paracord-eu

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Paracord.eu