Argile
Argile is a French manufacturer of premium bio-sourced and acrylic decorative paints, primers and varnishes, selling 256 nature-inspired colours across four collections through a UK e-commerce site and professional showrooms in London and Paris to homeowners, architects, interior designers and painting contractors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersHerblay, France
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Argile does
Argile is a French decorative paint manufacturer, headquartered in Herblay (Val-d'Oise) under the legal entity ARGILE SAS (RCS Pontoise 482 157 484), with a UK subsidiary, ARGILE LONDON Ltd, and a separate international storefront at argile-peinture.com. The company develops and sells interior and exterior architectural paint ranges, primers, ceiling paints and clear varnishes, alongside a suite of sample tools (colour charts, sample boxes, A4 repositionable paint stickers and 125 ml tester pots) and a professional colour-consultation service. Its core product technology centres on two resin platforms: a standard acrylic range and a bio-sourced "Nature" range formulated with vegetable oil resins (linseed, rapeseed, sunflower seed) that the company states is 95% bio-sourced. Argile organises its offer around 256 nature-inspired colours grouped into the collections Terre, Végétal and Ciel, plus a Les Inédits limited-edition line; key SKUs (Argile Blanc Plafond, Argile Vernis Mat) carry EU Ecolabel certification and A+ indoor-air-quality ratings.
The company operates a dual go-to-market: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel via argile-peinture.co.uk (1–3 day UK delivery, free delivery on samples and orders above £1,500) combined with two professional showrooms — at 555 King's Road in London's interior-design district and at 34 rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin in Paris 10ème — that serve architects, interior designers, scenographers and painting contractors specifying for residential, luxury hospitality, museum and tertiary-sector projects. Revenue is generated through one-time unit purchases of paint (typical price band £30.40–£244.30 depending on finish and pack size), unit-priced sample products (£5 stickers, £6 tester pots), and bespoke colour-consultation services; named collaborations include the custom colour "Bleu Scala" created for architect Richard Peduzzi.
Ownership is private with no disclosed external investment, no headcount disclosed, and no public revenue figures; corporate representation is led by Jean Frédéric Nothomb as legal representative and Hugues de Chaignon as directeur de publication. Marketing presence is concentrated in organic social (Instagram ~3K+ followers under @argilepeinture, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube) and email newsletter, with no disclosed paid-acquisition infrastructure. The ARGILE® brand name and colour-chart designs are protected as registered intellectual property.
Argile firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Argile
- Legal name
- ARGILE
- Website
- https://argile-peinture.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Argile is a French manufacturer of premium bio-sourced and acrylic decorative paints, primers and varnishes, selling 256 nature-inspired colours across four collections through a UK e-commerce site and professional showrooms in London and Paris to homeowners, architects, interior designers and painting contractors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Argile industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Decorative Paints
- NAICS
- Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)
- SIC
- Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural & Decorative Paints (IMAEAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Architectural & Decorative Coatings (IMAEAGAA)
Keywords
Where Argile is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Herblay
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Argile business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Paint and Finishes Sales: Primary revenue from selling interior and exterior decorative paints available in multiple finishes including Mat Profond, Mat Velouté, Satin Couvrant, Laque satinée, and Nature range. Products sold in various pack sizes (0.75L, 2.5L, 5L, 10L).
- Colour Consultation Services: Professional colour consultation services offered to help customers achieve their interior design projects using nature-inspired colour palettes.
- Sample Products: Revenue from colour charts, sample boxes, A4 paint stickers, and 125ml tester pots that allow customers to validate colour choices before purchasing full paint products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paint products (various finishes) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sample products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Argile product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Argile develops and sells premium decorative paints for interior and exterior architectural surfaces, available in multiple finishes (Mat Profond, Mat Velouté, Satin Couvrant, Laque Satinée, Laque Mate) and a bio-sourced Nature range with 95% vegetable oil resins. The portfolio spans 256 nature-inspired colours across four collections (Ciel, Terre, Végétal, Les Inédits), supported by primers, specialty ceiling paint, clear varnish, physical sample tools (charts, sample boxes, A4 stickers, tester pots), and professional colour consultation services.
Product overview
Argile is a French decorative paint company offering a comprehensive range of interior and exterior paints with 256-268 nature-inspired colours across four collections (Ciel, Terre, Végétal, and Les Inédits). The product portfolio includes core paint finishes (Mat Profond, Mat Velouté, Satin Couvrant, Laque Satinée, Laque Mate) in both standard acrylic and bio-sourced formulations (Nature Mat, Nature Velours, Nature Satin) made with 95% vegetable oil resins. Supporting products include specialty ceiling paint (Blanc Plafond), clear varnish (Vernis Mat), primers (Primaire Universel, Impression Nature, Sous Couche de Preparation), and sample tools (Colour Charts, Sample Boxes, A4 Paint Stickers, 125ml Tester Pots). Argile also provides professional colour consultation services through its showrooms in Paris and London.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Terre: One of three Argile paint collections - nature-inspired earth tones palette
- Végétal
- Ciel
- Les Inédits
Products and services
- Interior Decorative Paint Finishes Range of interior decorative paints offered in multiple finishes — Mat Profond (deep matte), Mat Velouté (velvet matte), Satin Couvrant (satin covering), Laque Satinée (satin lacquer), and Laque Mate (matte lacquer). Available in all 256 Argile colours and pack sizes 0.75L, 2.5L, 5L, and 10L for residential and professional interior projects.
- Exterior Decorative Paint Finishes Exterior-rated decorative paints including Mat Velouté Extérieur (velvet matte, weather-resistant) and Laque Satinée Extérieure (satin lacquer for durable outdoor surfaces). Designed to extend the Argile colour palette to outdoor applications.
- Bio-Sourced Nature Range Natural range paints formulated with vegetable oil resins (linseed, rapeseed, sunflower seed) that are 95% bio-sourced. Available in three interior finishes: Nature Mat, Nature Velours, and Nature Satin. Marketed as technical, high-performance and durable products.
Quantifiable outcome
- Fast delivery within 1-3 days
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Argile
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Argile technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Argile partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Argile competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Tollens: Established French decorative paint manufacturer with broad retail distribution; comparable on French decorative paint category and interior/exterior product scope, but positioned mass-market rather than premium-niche.
Broad incumbents
- Benjamin Moore: Major North American premium architectural paint manufacturer with a large colour library; comparable at the architectural decorative paint category level but far broader and more diversified than Argile.
- Zoffany Paints (Crown Paints): Premium designer paint range from a large UK paint manufacturer; overlaps with Argile's designer/specifier audience but sits inside a much broader mass-market portfolio.
Direct peers
- Edward Bulmer Natural Paint: UK-based maker of natural and mineral-based paints for high-end residential and heritage projects; directly comparable on eco-credentials and premium design-led positioning.
- Ressource Peinture: French premium decorative paint company offering curated colour ranges with strong interior designer following, closely comparable to Argile in geography, premium positioning, and specifier channel.
- Annie Sloan: Premium decorative paint brand with strong DIY and interior designer communities; comparable on premium colour-led positioning and direct-to-consumer sales model.
- Farrow & Ball: Premium UK-based decorative paint maker renowned for its colour library and heritage positioning; the closest comparable to Argile in terms of curated colour systems, specifier-driven GTM, and DTC plus showroom distribution.
- Pure & Original: Belgian premium decorative paint brand offering eco-friendly interior paints with curated colour palettes; comparable on European premium positioning and bio-friendly formulations.
- Little Greene: British heritage decorative paint brand with historically-inspired colour collections and a similar premium, specifier-led sales motion through showrooms and trade channels.
Emerging players
- Bauwerk Colour: Premium lime-wash and natural decorative paint brand with strong design-led identity; comparable on natural-credentials positioning and curated colour story, with a smaller distribution footprint than Argile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Argile social profiles
Digital presenceArgile compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Argile financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Argile leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Argile funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Argile 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 Argile
What does Argile do?
Argile develops and sells premium decorative paints for interior and exterior architectural surfaces, available in multiple finishes (Mat Profond, Mat Velouté, Satin Couvrant, Laque Satinée, Laque Mate) and a bio-sourced Nature range with 95% vegetable oil resins. The portfolio spans 256 nature-inspired colours across four collections (Ciel, Terre, Végétal, Les Inédits), supported by primers, specialty ceiling paint, clear varnish, physical sample tools (charts, sample boxes, A4 stickers, tester pots), and professional colour consultation services.
Is Argile a public or private company?
Argile is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Argile founded?
Argile was founded in -1.
Where is Argile based?
Argile is headquartered in Herblay, France, in the Europe region.
How does Argile make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Paint and Finishes Sales are the primary driver. The others are colour Consultation Services and sample Products.
Who are Argile's main competitors?
Tollens is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Benjamin Moore and Zoffany Paints (Crown Paints). Direct peers are Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, Ressource Peinture, Annie Sloan, Farrow & Ball, Pure & Original and Little Greene. Bauwerk Colour is listed as an emerging player.
Does Argile have an API?
No public API is recorded for Argile.
What industry is Argile in?
Argile's product category is Decorative Paints. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAHAA, Architectural & Decorative Paints, with a secondary code of IMAEAGAA, Architectural & Decorative Coatings. Its NAICS code is 32551 and its SIC code is 2851.