The Hair Salon Industry in Skien: Industry Analysis and Outlook

Overview of the Hair Salon Industry in Skien

The hair salon industry in Skien is an important part of the local economy, with 16 registered companies in 2025. The industry has a total of 128 employees and achieved sales revenue of NOK 95.7 million in the same year. There is a clear concentration of activity in Skien, with 28 companies and 128 employees in the municipality. The industry has shown variations in sales and employees over time, with strong growth up to 2022, followed by a decline after 2023. The EBITDA margin stands at 7%, indicating a relatively stable income structure for the most active companies.

Key Figures for 2025:

• Number of companies: 16
• Number of employees: 128
• Sales revenue: NOK 95.7 million
• EBITDA margin: 7%

Trend Analysis:

• Sales reached its highest level in 2022 (NOK 98.4 million), but fell by 28.6% in 2025.
• The number of employees peaked in 2020 (157), but fell to 126 in 2026.

Economic Overview

The hair salon industry in Skien has shown dynamic development over the past few years, with both rising and falling trends. Sales experienced strong growth up to 2022, followed by a sharp decline after 2023. The same applies to the number of employees, which peaked in 2020 before declining in 2026.

Annual Sales Development (NOK):

Annual Development for Employees:

Conclusion: The industry experienced strong growth up to 2022, but has since been marked by a sharp decline in both sales and number of employees. This may be due to economic challenges or changes in customer behavior.

Companies in the Industry

There are 16 companies registered in the hair salon industry in Skien, with a mix of AS and Enk forms. The most represented companies are AS, with 25 companies and 122 employees. The Enk form is less common, with only 3 companies and 6 employees.

Key Companies in Skien:

Organizational Form Statistics:

• AS: 25 companies, 122 employees, NOK 96.0M operating income, NOK 6.9M EBITDA.
• Enk: 3 companies, 6 employees, NOK 0 operating income, NOK 0 EBITDA.

Conclusion: The most active companies are AS entities, with relatively stable income and EBITDA. The Enk form is less common and shows lower activity.

Industry Geography

The hair salon industry in Skien is concentrated in the municipality's center, with 28 companies and 128 employees. There is no clear geographic spread, and the activity is mainly focused on Skien. This indicates a strong core in the municipality's center, with many companies located near each other.

Geographic Distribution:

• Skien: 28 companies, 128 employees, NOK 96.0M operating income, NOK 6.9M EBITDA.

Conclusion: The industry is strongly concentrated in Skien, with a focus on the city center. This can be an advantage for companies wishing to establish themselves in an already established industry core, but can also lead to competition pressure between companies.

Industry Dynamics

The hair salon industry in Skien has shown variations in activity over time, with some companies experiencing a decline in sales and operating income. There is no official data on bankruptcies, but there are several companies showing signs of inactivity, such as Tango Halvstrøm, HC Skien As, and Gulset Fades As. These companies have zero sales and operating income, which may indicate that they no longer operate.

Inactive Companies:

• Tango Halvstrøm: 0 sales, 0 operating income, 10 employees.
• HC Skien As: 0 sales, 0 operating income, 7 employees.
• Gulset Fades As: 0 sales, 0 operating income, 6 employees.

Conclusion: The industry has shown variations in activity, with some companies experiencing decline or inactivity. This can be a challenge for new companies wishing to establish themselves in a competitive market.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the hair salon industry in Skien, it is important to take into account the recent decline in sales and number of employees. The industry experienced strong growth up to 2022, but has since been marked by a sharp decline. This may be due to economic challenges or changes in customer behavior.

Possible Challenges:

• Competition Pressure: There are many companies in Skien, which can lead to competition pressure.
• Decline in Sales: Sales experienced a sharp decline after 2022, which can affect the income of new companies.
• Inactive Companies: There are several companies showing signs of inactivity, which can be a challenge for new companies.

Possible Opportunities:

• Stable Market: The industry has a relatively stable income and EBITDA margin for the most active companies.
• Concentrated Market: There is a strong core in Skien, which can be an advantage for companies wishing to establish themselves in an already established industry core.

Conclusion: The industry has both challenges and opportunities for new companies. Entrepreneurs should consider carefully analyzing the market and finding a unique position in a competitive market.

Outlook for the Broader Hair and Beauty Salon Industry

The hair and beauty salon industry in Skien is a broader category than the hair salon industry, with 176 companies in the municipality. This shows that the hair and beauty salon industry is more developed and has more companies than the hair salon industry. Sales experienced strong growth up to 2022, followed by a sharp decline after 2023. The same applies to the number of employees, which peaked in 2020 before declining in 2026.

Key Figures for the Hair and Beauty Salon Industry in Skien:

• Number of companies: 176
• Number of employees: 142
• Sales Revenue: NOK 54.7 million in 2016, NOK 62.8 million in 2025.
• Annual Growth: +6.1% in 2017, -28.6% in 2025.

Peer Companies in the Hair and Beauty Salon Industry:

Conclusion: The hair and beauty salon industry is more developed than the hair salon industry, with more companies and a broader category. Entrepreneurs should consider carefully analyzing the market and finding a unique position in a competitive market.

The hair salon industry in Skien is an important part of the local economy, with 16 companies and 128 employees. The industry has shown variations in sales and number of employees over time, with strong growth up to 2022, followed by a sharp decline after 2023. The EBITDA margin stands at 7%, indicating a relatively stable income structure for the most active companies.

Conclusion: The industry has both challenges and opportunities for new companies. Entrepreneurs should consider carefully analyzing the market and finding a unique position in a competitive market. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Skien for the hair salon industry, based on data and analysis.