From niche brand to European market leader: how Knivesandtools scales seamlessly with Buckaroo
- Industry: Retail
- Solutions: Online & in-store
Knivesandtools is the go-to online specialist for anyone who values quality and precision. With a range spanning from kitchen knives and pans to torches, axes and outdoor gear, the brand serves thousands of enthusiasts across Europe every day. Founded in 1999 out of a passion for knives, the company has since grown into an international player operating in thirteen countries, under the umbrella of the Apeldoorn-based Kato Group.
A passion for product and customer
At Knivesandtools, everything revolves around high-quality gear, outstanding service, and a strong community mindset. Products are thoroughly tested, objectively described, and presented with in-house photography. Only when the team itself is genuinely enthusiastic does a product make it into the assortment. By developing exclusive products in-house and maintaining a strong focus on service and customer experience, Knivesandtools has built a loyal fanbase.
The international growth of Knivesandtools brought increasingly complex payment needs. Each market has its own preferences, such as iDEAL in the Netherlands, Bancontact in Belgium, or Cartes Bancaires in France. The goal? A payment partner that simplifies this complexity while offering scalability and stability.
Arnoud, CFO at Knivesandtools, explains: “As a brand delivering ‘Next Level Gear for Everyday Adventures,’ we wanted to reflect that promise in our payment experience as well. Buckaroo offered exactly what we were looking for: stability, guidance, scalability, and speed.” Thanks to Buckaroo’s smart routing, conversion rates in markets with local payment methods have increased significantly.
Knivesandtools works with Buckaroo as its central payment partner across all countries and channels. With one contract and one platform for all markets, the team has full control over the international payment process, regardless of channel or country.
“We want to turn customers into true enthusiasts. We do this by being honest, delivering quality, and showing genuine passion for the products we sell.”
Arnoud Rijpstra, CFO at Knivesandtools
One strategy for thirteen countries
Knivesandtools’ payment strategy is built around one central principle: every customer, in every country, should be able to pay easily, quickly, and reliably. In the thirteen countries where the brand operates, the relevant local payment methods are always offered. The front end of the payment process focuses on ease of use and trust, with familiar payment options and no hidden steps or surprises.
Behind the scenes, Buckaroo provides technical flexibility through an API-first platform, reliable reconciliation, and smart routing. Fraud prevention is also fully outsourced to Buckaroo. Knivesandtools relies on automated fraud checks, resulting in significant time savings. The internal “second line of defence” lies with the CX team, which only needs to intervene when truly necessary.
This robust infrastructure proves its value especially during peak moments. On busy days, Knivesandtools processes more than 3,000 orders per day. During Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the high season, everything ran flawlessly, without any disruptions to the payment process.
Arnoud adds: “There’s one golden rule: your PSP must not have any downtime. That has never happened to us. Buckaroo is truly reliable in that respect.” Thanks to real-time reporting and a multi-channel overview, Knivesandtools maintains control over processes, performance, and insights, regardless of the complexity of the international landscape.
“Our growth from start-up to European market leader has been made possible in part by stable, scalable, and smart payment solutions. Buckaroo is not a supplier, but a true partner that helps us grow faster and better.”
– Arnoud Rijpstra, CFO at Knivesandtools
From payment provider to strategic partner
Buckaroo’s payoff “paying attention” is clearly reflected in the partnership with Knivesandtools. It goes beyond simply facilitating payments and focuses on actively thinking along and looking ahead. Together, the teams continuously work on optimizing the payment mix. Buckaroo supports this with proactive monitoring, sparring on payment trends, and concrete advice per market. A recent example is the rollout of Apple Pay in multiple countries, which immediately led to a noticeable shift from PayPal usage to this faster payment option. The number of failed transactions with Apple Pay is demonstrably lower than with other payment methods. As a result, Knivesandtools sees conversion rates on Apple Pay that are up to five times higher than the average of other payment options.
The collaboration also extends beyond the online checkout. A concrete example is the Experience Center in Apeldoorn, where workshops, events, and product launches take place. Here, Buckaroo supports with suitable POS solutions for a seamless payment experience. The annual community day, “Have a Knives Day,” also runs on this infrastructure. Arnoud adds: “The hands-on support from Buckaroo goes far beyond the standard services we expect from a payment service provider: from contributing ideas about cash register configurations to quickly adapting to new initiatives or international expansions.
Future vision: from experience to loyalty
For the coming years, Knivesandtools aims to place even greater emphasis on experience, brand identity, and customer communities. The brand is positioning itself more clearly around three core audiences: EDC fans and collectors, home cooks and food lovers, and the bushcraft, survival, and outdoor community. At the same time, ease of payment remains crucial, both online and in-store.
This focus is also reflected in tangible growth. The peak season of 2025 closed with a 15% increase in orders. In January 2026, this momentum continues, with growth already reaching 20%.
Knivesandtools is also exploring innovative payment solutions, such as wallet-based methods and European initiatives like Wero, which can make repeat purchases easier and more cost-efficient across Europe. Buckaroo plays a leading role in this by providing proactive advice, market insights, and facilitating pilot projects.
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