Industry · municipality
The Clothing Store Industry in Grimstad: Current Status and Outlook
Analysis of the clothing store industry in Grimstad, focusing on companies, economic trends, and opportunities for new actors in the municipality.
Brief overview of the clothing store industry in Grimstad
The clothing store industry in Grimstad has shown both stability and variations over the past few years. In 2025, there are 44 companies registered in the industry, with 93 employees and annual revenues of 24.5 million NOK. A key characteristic is that the activity is concentrated in Grimstad itself, with only one store in Fevik. The most prominent companies include Familiebutikken As, Snefrids Hus Ltd, and Cubus Grimstad, which have been active in the municipality for several years. At the same time, several new companies have been registered, such as Grimstad Retail As (founded 2025) and Alfabeta As (founded 2023), showing that the industry remains dynamic. Prospects for new actors will depend on both market positioning and economic stability, as shown by data from both the clothing store industry and the broader creative sector.
Economic trends in the clothing store industry
Economic trends
Annual revenues and employees:
| Year | Annual Revenue (NOK) | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 69.6M | 98 |
| 2025 | 24.5M | 93 |
Annual revenues have shown a significant decline from 2022 to 2025, with a reduction of 54.3%, while the number of employees has increased by 5.4% from 2025 to 2026. This shows that the industry has been affected by external factors, but has simultaneously managed to maintain or increase the number of employees. There is also some variation in EBITDA margins, with both positive and negative values among the companies, which may indicate different competitiveness and operational strategies.
Yearly development:
- 2022: Annual revenues fell by 39.3% compared to 2021, but had a strong increase of 34.7% in 2023.
- 2024: Annual revenues increased by 8.2%, but fell drastically by 54.3% in 2025.
- The number of employees has shown a stable increase since 2022, with a rise of 14.3% from 2021 to 2022 and 11.2% from 2022 to 2023.
Companies in the clothing store industry in Grimstad
Companies in the industry
There are 16 companies registered in the clothing store industry in Grimstad, with a mix of different organizational forms. The most common forms are AS (13 companies) and NUF (1 company). Some prominent companies include:
- Familiebutikken As (Gleden 16, Grimstad): 13 employees, EBITDA -288.0K, founded 2018.
- Snefrids Hus Ltd Nuf (Sandkjærveien 50, Grimstad): 12 employees, EBITDA 25.0K, founded 2009.
- Match Odden Avd 330 (Odden 1, Grimstad): 7 employees, EBITDA 1.9M, founded 2023.
- Dressmann As Avd 231 Grimstad (Odden 1, Grimstad): 5 employees, EBITDA 1.1M, founded 2015.
There are also several companies registered with zero revenue and employees, such as Grimstad Retail As (founded 2025) and Tekstil Sør As (founded 2022), which may indicate that they are in the start-up phase or have not been active yet.
Geographic distribution of clothing store activity
Geographic distribution of activity
Most companies in the clothing store industry are located in Grimstad, with 13 companies and 96 employees. Fevik has one store, Pandoras As, with 5 employees and annual revenue of 5.9 million NOK. Compared to Grimstad, Pandoras As has a higher EBITDA margin (17%) and operating margin (17%), which indicates better operational efficiency. Grimstad, however, has a higher total number of companies and employees, showing that there is a more developed clothing store sector in the city.
Operational efficiency and dynamics in the industry
Operational efficiency and dynamics
The industry has shown variations in operational results, with both companies having positive and negative EBITDA. For example, Match Odden Avd 330 had an EBITDA of 1.9 million NOK, while Familiebutikken As had a negative EBITDA of -288.0K. There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, showing that the companies have managed to maintain operations. This may be due to a combination of stable customers, good market positioning, and effective operational strategies. At the same time, data shows that some companies have managed to maintain or increase the number of employees, even though revenues have varied.
Prospects for new actors in the clothing store industry
Prospects for new actors
For entrepreneurs considering starting a clothing store in Grimstad, data shows that there are both opportunities and challenges. The industry has shown a stable increase in the number of employees since 2022, indicating that there is a need for labor in the sector. At the same time, some companies have shown good operational efficiency, such as Match Odden Avd 330 and Dressmann As Avd 231 Grimstad, which have high EBITDA margins. There are also opportunities to leverage the concentrated activity in Grimstad, which can provide better access to customers and partners. However, entrepreneurs should be aware of the variations in operational results and competitiveness, as shown by data from both the clothing store industry and the broader creative sector.
Outlook in the broader creative sector
The broader creative, arts, and entertainment activities sector in Grimstad has 68 companies, with 133 employees in 2026. Annual revenues have shown a decline of 38.2% from 2024 to 2025, but have a stable increase since 2022. Compared to the clothing store industry, the broader sector has a more stable development, with less variation in revenues and employees. Some prominent companies in the broader sector include:
- Husflidstua As (Storgaten 32, Grimstad): 17 employees, EBITDA 516.0K, annual revenue 11.0M.
- Garnuniverset As (Odden 1D, Grimstad): 10 employees, EBITDA 321.0K, annual revenue 5.6M.
- Mørland Sko As Avd Oddensenteret (Vesterled 5, Grimstad): 6 employees, EBITDA 265.5K, annual revenue 5.2M.
These companies show that there are opportunities to develop in the broader creative sector, with good operational efficiency and stable revenues. This can be an important factor for entrepreneurs considering starting a clothing store in Grimstad, as the broader sector can provide access to a broader customer base and partners.
Other companies in kreative, kunst og underholdningsaktiviteter (not in clothing store)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nor Ice Trading As | second-hand goods store | Hasseldalen 28, 4878 Grimstad | NOK 2.4M | 0 | NOK 1.5M |
| Husflidstua As | national clothing store | Storgaten 32, 4876 Grimstad | NOK 11.0M | 17 | NOK 516.0K |
| Garnuniverset As | knit store | Odden 1D, 4876 Grimstad | NOK 5.6M | 10 | NOK 321.0K |
| Mørland Sko As Avd Oddensenteret | footwear store | Vesterled 5, 4876 Grimstad | NOK 5.2M | 6 | NOK 265.5K |
| Mormora Til Mauritz As | knit store | Storgaten 26, 4876 Grimstad | NOK 226.0K | 0 | NOK 81.0K |
| Bjørnshage Modello Classic | knit store | Vindveien 9, 4885 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Ei Hjelpende Hånd | second-hand goods store | Bergemoveien 25, 4886 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Eurosko Odden | footwear store | Vesterled 5, 4876 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 5 | NOK 0 |
| Fiskenerden.no As | knit store | Gleden 16, 4886 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Fjeld Kort Og Samling | second-hand goods store | Langhaven 1B, 4878 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Fjeld Kort Og Samling | second-hand goods store | Langhaven 1B, 4878 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Fjære | knit store | Vestregate 5, 4876 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Glory Center Al Shlian | second-hand goods store | Lillesandsveien 25, 4877 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Glory Center Al Shlian | second-hand goods store | Lillesandsveien 25, 4877 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Grimstad Salg & Service As | second-hand goods store | Morholt 58, 4887 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Grimstad Salg & Service As | second-hand goods store | Morholt 58, 4887 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Guldsmedkleiva Brukt & Antikk Østlien | second-hand goods store | Holbekkveien 27, 4886 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Heen Valinskas Gjenbruk | second-hand goods store | Sømsveien 25, 4870 Fevik | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Lekematten Olsen | knit store | Arendalsveien 150D, 4878 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Loppe Huset | second-hand goods store | Arendalsveien 40, 4878 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Ms Larssen Holding As | second-hand goods store | Morholt 58, 4887 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Svarstad Vintage | second-hand goods store | Øvre Ranviga 12, 4870 Fevik | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Tyra M. K. Nårstad | second-hand goods store | Tykkåsen 48, 4870 Fevik | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Veskehuset Høyer Odden | footwear store | Odden 1, 4876 Grimstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
Conclusion
The clothing store industry in Grimstad shows both stability and variations over the past few years. With 44 companies and 93 employees in 2025, as well as annual revenues of 24.5 million NOK, there is a clear concentration of activity in Grimstad. At the same time, data shows that the industry has been affected by external factors, but has simultaneously managed to maintain or increase the number of employees. For entrepreneurs considering starting a clothing store in Grimstad, it is important to be aware of both the opportunities and challenges in the industry. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses and locations in Grimstad for the clothing store industry, based on data and market analyses.