The Clothing Retail Industry in Bjørnafjorden: Current Status and Future Prospects

The clothing retail industry in Bjørnafjorden has a complex history with both strong growth and challenges. In 2020, the industry experienced extreme sales growth (NOK 77.3M), but this has since declined by 27.4% from 2024 to 2025. The employment trend shows a similar pattern, with a peak of 103 employees in 2021 and a decline to 50 employees in 2026. One of the most notable developments is the bankruptcy of Keepfit As in Strandvik, which had an EBITDA margin of -4% in 2026. This indicates that the industry has both potential and risk, especially in a municipality where 26 companies are registered, but only 16 are listed in public registers.

The most dramatic change in sales occurred in 2020, with an increase of 1133.1% from 2019 to 2020. This may be due to the pandemic and changed consumer behavior. However, sales have since declined continuously, with a decrease of 27.4% from 2024 to 2025. The employment trend shows a similar pattern, with an increase of 4350% from 2019 to 2020, but a decline of 3.8% from 2025 to 2026. This suggests an unstable industry with significant variations from year to year.

In Bjørnafjorden, 26 companies are registered in the clothing retail industry, but only 16 are listed in public registers. The most notable companies include:

• Kappahl As Avd 381 Os (11 employees, EBITDA NOK 1.9M)
• Lindex As Avd Os (9 employees, EBITDA NOK 485.1K)
• Dressmann Thon Senter Os Avd 205 (8 employees, EBITDA NOK 1.1M)
• Cubus Thon Senter Os Avd 81d (6 employees, EBITDA NOK 1.4M)
• Instinct Os As (6 employees, EBITDA NOK 655.0K)

Most companies are organized as AS (7 companies), while some are DA or ENK. One of the most interesting observations is that several companies have 0 employees, which may indicate registrations without activity or companies in the startup phase.

Clothing retail activity in Bjørnafjorden is strongest in Os, where 7 companies are registered and 50 employees are employed. This is a clear contrast to Strandvik, where only one company (Keepfit As) is registered and is in bankruptcy. The geographical concentration in Os suggests that the municipality plays an important role as a commercial and business area, especially with centers such as Amfi and Thon Senter.

The industry has been marked by both growth and decline. The most dramatic event is the bankruptcy of Keepfit As in Strandvik, which had an EBITDA margin of -4% in 2026 and 0 employees. This shows that the industry can be vulnerable to economic downturns. Although 26 companies are registered, only 16 are listed in public registers, which may indicate that many companies have low activity or are in the startup phase. This is an important observation for entrepreneurs considering starting a clothing retail business in the municipality.

Future Outlook for the Clothing Retail Industry

The industry shows signs of instability, with a declining sales curve since 2020 and a decrease in employment numbers. This may be due to several factors, including the bankruptcy of Keepfit As and a general decline in consumer interest. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider focusing on the strengths of the municipality, such as existing commercial areas in Os and potential collaboration opportunities with existing companies. At the same time, they should be aware of the economic challenges, as illustrated by the bankruptcy of Keepfit As.

The broader creative, arts, and entertainment activities sector in Bjørnafjorden has a more stable development than the clothing retail industry. In 2020, the sector reached a sales optimum of NOK 99.9M, with a decline of 24.1% from 2024 to 2025. The employment trend shows a similar pattern, with a peak of 157 employees in 2022 and a decline to 121 employees in 2026. Peer companies in the sector include shoe stores such as Kl Moberg Skotøyforretning As Avd Eurosko Flåten (NOK 7.5M in sales) and second-hand stores such as Det Gule Hus Os (0 employees, 0 sales). This shows that the sector has a wide variation in activity, but the clothing retail industry is part of a larger, more dynamic sector.

The clothing retail industry in Bjørnafjorden has both potential and challenges. With 26 registered companies and an important role in Os, the municipality is an interesting place for entrepreneurs. However, data on bankruptcy and declining sales indicate that the industry is unstable. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider focusing on the strengths of the municipality, such as existing commercial areas and potential collaboration opportunities. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal addresses in Bjørnafjorden for clothing retail activities, based on both economic and geographic factors.