Industry · municipality
The Clothing Retail Industry in Melhus: Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks
A detailed analysis of the clothing retail industry in Melhus municipality based on market data and business statistics from 2016–2026.
Brief Overview of the Clothing Retail Industry in Melhus
The clothing retail industry in Melhus is a small but dynamic sector with 12 registered companies. In recent years, the industry has been marked by significant variations in sales and number of employees, with a sharp decline in 2020 due to the pandemic. Although there have been some improvements since 2021, data shows that sales and number of employees still remain below pre-2020 levels. There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, but several companies report negative EBITDA values or zero sales, which may indicate economic challenges for certain businesses.
Economic Trends and Statistics
Sales in the clothing retail industry in Melhus fell sharply by 62% from 2019 to 2020, from NOK 18.8 million to NOK 7.1 million. There has been a gradual improvement since, with an increase of 28.1% from 2024 to 2025. The number of employees has been more stable, with a decline of 17.4% from 2023 to 2024, but an increase of 14.3% from 2025 to 2026. The EBITDA margin stands at 3%, indicating that the industry has a relatively low profit margin compared to other sectors.
Companies in the Clothing Retail Industry
In Melhus, there are 12 companies registered in the clothing retail industry. The key companies include:
- Wagner Savoy Melhus As (Rådhusvegen 7, Melhus): 16 employees, but reports zero sales and operating income.
- Cicelia As Avd Melhus (Melhustorget, Melhus): 4 employees, with a sales optimization of 10% and EBITDA of NOK 352,400.
- Ekksa As (Skysstasjonen, Melhus): 4 employees, with a sales optimization of 16% and EBITDA of NOK 250,000.
- Pilus As (Hølondvegen 217, Melhus): 1 employee, with a sharp decline of 95% in sales compared to 2023.
Most companies are organized as AS, with four such companies collectively employing 25 people and generating combined sales of NOK 10.2 million.
Distribution of Business Activity in the Municipality
Clothing retail activity in Melhus is primarily concentrated in the city center. There are 4 companies and 25 employees registered in Melhus, while other districts such as Gimse, Ler, and Hovin have companies without employees or sales. This may indicate that clothing stores in Melhus mainly operate in central areas with high population density.
Dynamics and Stability in the Industry
The industry has been marked by significant variations in sales and number of employees, but there are no registered bankruptcies in the clothing retail industry in Melhus. Some companies, such as Pilus As, have reported negative EBITDA values, which may indicate economic challenges. At the same time, companies such as Cicelia As Avd Melhus and Ekksa As have shown better economic results with positive EBITDA and higher sales optimization.
Outlook for New Businesses
For entrepreneurs considering starting a clothing store in Melhus, it is important to be aware of the variations in sales and number of employees in recent years. Although there has been a gradual improvement since 2020, data shows that the industry still remains below pre-pandemic levels. There may be opportunities to establish oneself in central areas of Melhus, where there is already a visible presence of clothing stores. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and assess potential challenges in the industry.
Outlook for the Broader Creative Sector
The broader creative, arts, and entertainment activities sector in Melhus has 24 companies, showing that the clothing retail industry is part of a larger industry. Sales in this sector fell by 47.6% from 2019 to 2020, but improved by 41.8% from 2020 to 2021. Compared to the clothing retail industry, this sector has a somewhat more stable development, with fewer large declines. Peer companies in the sector include shoe stores, knitwear stores, and second-hand stores, showing a diversified industry with variations in economic results.
Other companies in kreative, kunst og underholdningsaktiviteter (not in clothing store)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falkanger Sko As Avd Melhus | footwear store | Melhus-Torget, 7224 | NOK 4.0M | 8 | NOK 295.2K |
| Buklev Garn Innehaver Ida Marie Røttum | knit store | Tømmesdalsvegen 1083, 7236 Hovin I Gauldal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Buklev Garn Innehaver Ida Marie Røttum | knit store | Tømmesdalsvegen 1083, 7236 Hovin I Gauldal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Butik Delic Adrovic | second-hand goods store | Grinnisvegen 104, 7232 Lundamo | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Flåøien Brukt Og Antikk Hovin | second-hand goods store | Hovinsgardan 112, 7236 Hovin I Gauldal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Flåøien Brukt Og Antikk Hovin | second-hand goods store | Hovinsgardan 112, 7236 Hovin I Gauldal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Langørgen Varehandel | second-hand goods store | Tjurrupynten 10, 7227 Gimse | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Langørgen Varehandel | second-hand goods store | Tjurrupynten 10, 7227 Gimse | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Laugsand Solutions Og Handel | knit store | Røsslyngvegen 36, 7227 Gimse | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Mee Nordvik | knit store | Melhusvegen 342, 7224 | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Småbrukt Bollingmo | second-hand goods store | Stasjonsvegen 2, 7228 Kvål | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Stoff Og Sting Da | knit store | Melhustorget, 7224 | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
Conclusion and Future Perspectives
The clothing retail industry in Melhus is a small but dynamic sector with both challenges and opportunities. In recent years, the industry has been marked by variations in sales and number of employees, but there are no registered bankruptcies. For entrepreneurs, there may be opportunities in central areas of Melhus, where there is already a visible presence of clothing stores. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and assess potential challenges in the industry.