KORES

What KORES does

KORES is a fourth-generation, family-owned Austrian stationery manufacturer founded in 1887 in Vienna by Wilhelm Koreska, currently led by Clemens Koreska (CEO since 2013). The company develops, manufactures and distributes school, office and creative products — including adhesive sticks and liquid glues (including patented Eco formulations made from 75–100% renewable resources), correction products (the patented Scooter and 2Way correction tapes), writing instruments (K-Pen ballpoints, K-Marker permanent markers, K-Liner fineliners, Grafitos graphite pencils), colouring and art supplies (Kolores coloured pencils, Korellos felt-tip pens, Krayones wax crayons, Temperas, Dedi Kolor finger paints), and cutting tools (kids and office scissors). Its technical capabilities centre on adhesive formulations, correction tape mechanisms, marking inks and art-supply pigments, with multiple patents covering eco-friendly formulations, industrial design of writing instruments and correction-tape architecture.

The company operates a vertically integrated, multi-region manufacturing and distribution footprint. Core production runs from the Kores Europe s.r.o. facility in Strmilov, Czech Republic (established 1996, expanded with glue-stick production in 2009), with additional manufacturing for Latin America through Industrias Kores de México (1949) and Industrias KORES in Colombia. Sales and distribution are served through wholly-owned subsidiaries in Austria, Germany, Switzerland (Kores Holding Zug AG, the group holding), Czech Republic, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela, plus Amazon storefronts in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Mexico and South Africa, a network of stationery/office/educational retail distributors, and the company's own online shop. The portfolio exceeds 585 active SKUs and is available in more than 85 countries.

KORES generates revenue through the wholesale and retail sale of physical stationery products under multiple brand names (KORES, Kolores, Grafitos, Korellos, Krayones, SPOOKY, K-Marker, K-Liner, Dedi Kolor). Pricing is unit-based and varies by product format (e.g., glue sticks from 8g to 40g, white glue from 60ml to 1000g, coloured-pencil packs of 6 to 36), with no subscription or SaaS model. Customer segments span pre-school, learn-and-study, office and hobby/crafts buyers, served primarily through long-tail consumer and SMB retail channels rather than enterprise contracts. The company has received the Austrian Ecolabel (2014) and EN71 toy-safety certification on its child-facing products, and has held Superbrands status in the Czech Republic across multiple years.

Name

KORES

Legal name

KORES GmbH

Website

https://kores.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Short description

KORES is a fourth-generation, family-owned Austrian stationery manufacturer founded in 1887, producing school, office and creative supplies — adhesives, correction products, writing instruments, colouring and art materials, and scissors — sold in 85+ countries through retail distributors, wholly-owned subsidiaries and Amazon storefronts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

School and Office Stationery

NAICS

Stationery Product Manufacturing (32223), Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing (339940), Office Supplies and Stationery Retailers (45941)

SIC

Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)

akta.pro primary industry

Stationery & Office Paper Products (notebooks, pads, forms) (IMAMAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Supplies Retail (CRALABAF), Ink, Toner & Printer Supplies Retail (CRALABAH), Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts Retail (CRALACAD)

Keywords

• School stationery supplies
• Office adhesives
• Correction products
• Writing instruments
• Art supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Zug

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. School and Office Supplies Sales: KORES generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of school and office supplies including adhesives, correction products, writing instruments, art supplies, and office accessories. The company operates globally through multiple distribution channels including retail, wholesale distributors, and e-commerce marketplaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KORES develops, manufactures, and distributes school, office, and creative stationery products including adhesives (glue sticks, white glue, wood glue, eco universal glue), correction products (correction tape, correction pens), writing instruments (graphite pencils, fineliners, permanent markers), coloring products (colored pencils, felt tip pens, wax crayons, temperas, finger paints), and cutting tools (scissors). The company serves consumers, students, educators, offices, and hobbyists across more than 85 countries through retail, e-commerce, and distributor channels.

Product overview

KORES is a traditional Austrian stationery company founded in 1887, operating as a family-owned business now in its fourth generation. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of school and office supplies organized across multiple product categories: gluing products (glue sticks, white glue, wood glue, eco universal glue, ECO Gumfix), coloring/artistic products (Kolores colored pencils, Korellos felt tip pens, Krayones wax crayons, Temperas, Dedi Kolor finger paints), writing instruments (Grafitos graphite pencils, K-Liner fineliners, K-Marker permanent markers), and cutting tools (Kids Scissors, Office Scissors). The products span multiple use cases including school/education, office work, and hobby/crafts activities. The company emphasizes environmentally friendly products with items like Eco Universal Glue (100% renewable resources) and ECO Gumfix (95% natural ingredients). The portfolio also includes style-focused premium lines like Kolores Style and Metallic Style products targeting design-conscious consumers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kolores: Coloured pencils range including Kolores Style premium colored pencils with metallic and neon color options
• Grafitos
• Korellos
• K-Marker
• K-Liner
• SPOOKY
• Dedi Kolor

Products and services

• Kores Glue Stick White glue sticks available in 8g, 10g, 15g, 20g, and 40g sizes with glycerin for smooth application. Suitable for paper, cardboard, and photo paper. Contains 60% renewable raw materials. For school, office, and home use.
• Metallic Style Glue Stick Trendy metallic-effect glue sticks with white glue formula containing glycerin. Strong adhesion after 60 seconds. Washable with cold water. For office, home, and school use.
• ECO Gumfix Adhesive Gum Adhesive putty made from over 95% naturally sourced sustainable ingredients with 75% recycled cardboard packaging. Solvent-free, acid-free, non-toxic. For posters, photo albums, scrapbooks and collages on smooth surfaces.
• Kores White Glue (PVA) White PVA craft glue in ergonomic bottle with dispenser cap. Bonds paper, cardboard, textiles, leather, wood, cotton, felt, Styrofoam, and rubber foam. Available in 60ml to 1000g sizes.
• Kores Wood Glue White wood glue in ergonomic bottle with drip-free dispenser cap. Bonds paper, cardboard, wood, cork, cotton, felt, ceramic, and foam. Three hours water-resistant, transparent drying. Solvent-free and non-toxic. 125ml.
• Eco Universal Glue Transparent universal glue in ergonomic bottle with drip-free dispenser. Made from 100% renewable resources. Bonds paper, cardboard, photos, plywood, wood, cork, fabric, felt, Styrofoam, rubber foam. Extra strong adhesive. 60ml/125ml.
• Kolores Colored Pencils Colored pencils available in 6, 12, 24, and 36-piece packs. Made from FSC-certified wood for splinter-free sharpening. Break-resistant bonded leads, triangular shape, high pigment content for vibrant colors.
• Kolores Style Colored Pencils Premium uniquely designed colored pencils with metallic and neon color options. Available in 15-piece (2 metallic + 1 neon) and 26-piece (6 metallic + 4 neon + 4 pastel) sets. Special metal shiny design finish and extra color pigments.
• Korellos Felt Tip Pens Fine Fine-tip felt pens for drawing lines and contours. 24 intense colors. Washable with water and soap from all materials. 48-hour cap-off protection. Ventilated child-safe cap. Solvent-free, non-toxic. Suitable for children from 3 years.
• Korellos Felt Tip Pens Conic Broad-tip felt pens for large-area painting and drawing with variable line widths 1mm-4mm. 24 intense colors. Washable with water and soap from all materials and surfaces.
• Krayones Wax Crayons Jumbo Wax crayons in two sizes with 12 intense colors for various drawing techniques. Triangular and round ergonomic shapes. Jumbo size ideal for toddlers and pre-school. Promotes fine motor skills development.
• Kores Temperas Tempera paints in 12 intense, mixable colors. Integrated mixing areas in lid. For paper, cardboard, and canvas. Washable at 40 degrees. For school, hobby, and home use.
• Dedi Kolor Finger Paints Finger paints in 4 intense, opaque colors. Available in squeeze bottles or 30ml pots. Stimulates creativity and improves fine motor skills. Odorless, washable, non-toxic, EN71 certified. Ideal for toddlers.
• Grafitos Graphite Pencils Graphite pencils with soft HB lead for silky writing. Available in triangular and hexagonal shapes. With white eraser or black finish. Super-resistant leads.
• Grafitos Style Pencils Graphite pencils with HB lead for silky writing and eraser. 6 bright metallic trend colors. Triangular shape for ergonomic use. Super-resistant lead.
• Grafitos Different Grades Set Graphite pencils in 12 different grades (8B to 2H). Ergonomic triangular shape. Premium metal case with matte black design. High-quality wood for easy sharpening.
• K-Liner Fineliner Fineliner with fine, metal-capped tip. Ergonomic triangular pen design. Ideal for sketching, writing, and drawing. 0.4mm line width. Available in 4, 10, and 12 color sets.
• Permanent K-Marker Patented high-quality permanent marker with stable tip for smooth writing. Nearly odorless, quick-drying. Smudge, water, and UV-resistant. Does not dry out for 10 days without cap. For almost all surfaces. 10 intense colors. With round or wedge tip. Made in Europe.
• Kids Scissors with Soft Grip High-quality, rustproof scissors for children from 4 years. Ergonomic grip with soft zone. Child-safe with rounded tip. Special grinding for consistent cutting of thicker materials. 5-year warranty. Available in 130mm and 140mm.
• Office Scissors High-quality stainless steel scissors with ergonomic handles. Special grinding for durable performance even on thicker materials like cardboard. 5-year warranty. Available in 170mm and 210mm sizes.
• SPOOKY Glow-in-the-Dark Sharpeners Ghost-shaped sharpeners with glow-in-the-dark effect, extra hardened steel blades, large container, and cap to prevent shavings. Targets design-loving children and students.
• Scooter Dry Correction Tape Patented wheel-guided dry correction tape sold under the Radex brand. Offers clean, precise correction coverage for office and school use.
• 2Way Correction Tape Patented bidirectional correction tape design enabling 2-way application. Allows flexible correction in two directions for office and school use.
• Kores Correction Pen Line Liquid correction pens for precise correction of writing errors. For office and school use.
• Pastel Line Stationery Collection Pastel-colored stationery product line including glue sticks, K-Marker, correction pens, and colored pencils. Targets design-conscious consumers with candy colors.
• Eco Glue Stick Patented glue stick made of 75% renewable resources. Awarded the Austrian Ecolabel in 2014 for environmentally friendly production.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BiroluxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Moldavian distribution partner for KORES products. Kores Beaver participated in International Marathon in Chisinau together with Birolux in 2018, demonstrating local market partnership activities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Faber-Castell: German family-owned global manufacturer of pencils, colored pencils, and art supplies (founded 1761). Directly comparable to Kores in core categories such as graphite pencils, colored pencils, and creative/artist materials, with a much larger global footprint.
• Stabilo: German family-owned maker of highlighters, pens, and writing instruments (Schwan-Stabilo). Closely comparable product overlap with Kores in writing instruments, markers, and school/office stationery across Europe.
• Henkel (Pritt): Henkel's Pritt brand is the global category leader in glue sticks and correction rollers. Direct head-to-head competitor with Kores Glue Stick, Eco Glue Stick, and correction products in schools and offices worldwide.
• Staedtler: German manufacturer of writing, drawing, and creative instruments with a 185-year heritage. Directly comparable to Kores in pencils, fineliners, markers, and art supplies, especially in European school markets.
• BIC: French-listed global manufacturer of ballpoint pens, markers, correction products, and stationery. Directly overlaps Kores in ballpoint pens, correction tape, and school/office supplies at mass-market price points.
• Maped: French family-owned stationery and art supplies manufacturer. Comparable product mix in school supplies, coloring products, correction items, and craft tools, with strong European distribution.
• Pelikan: German heritage brand in writing instruments, fountain pens, and school/office supplies. Comparable to Kores in writing instruments and school stationery, particularly across German-speaking and Latin American markets.
• Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth: Czech manufacturer of fine art and stationery products (founded 1790). Particularly comparable to Kores given shared Czech/Central European production heritage and overlapping portfolio in graphite pencils, colored pencils, and art materials.
• Crayola: Hallmarks/owned subsidiary focused on crayons, markers, and children's art supplies. Directly comparable to Kores in Krayones wax crayons, Korellos felt pens, and Temperas/Dedi Kolor finger paints targeting the pre-school and school segments.
• Pentel: Japanese manufacturer of writing instruments including markers, fineliners, and correction products. Overlaps Kores in K-Liner fineliners, K-Marker, and correction tape, particularly in professional and school channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KoresGmbH
• Facebookfacebook.com/kores.group
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kores
• Instagraminstagram.com/kores_group/?hl=de

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 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 KORES