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

The clothing retail industry in Narvik is an important part of the local business community, with 14 companies and 119 employees. The industry has been marked by variations in sales and operating results over the years, with both strong and weak periods. Large chains such as H&M and Dressmann dominate the market, while smaller companies such as Ung Mote As and Zavanna face challenges with negative EBITDA. At the same time, data shows that the industry has been stable in terms of bankruptcy, indicating a relatively robust structure. For entrepreneurs, this can be an opportunity, but it is important to be aware of the fluctuating market trends and competition from both local and national players.

Sales have shown a decline of 34.8% from 2024 to 2025, which is a significant drop. The number of employees has been relatively stable, with a slight increase in 2026. This indicates that the industry has been affected by both market conditions and internal challenges, but has managed to maintain a level with approximately 100-120 employees over the past few years.

The industry in Narvik consists of 16 registered companies, of which 14 are ASs and 2 are ENKs. The most well-known companies include:

• H&M Hennes & Mauritz As (17 employees, sales 28.6M NOK)
• Brn Best Retail Norge As (12 employees, sales 5.9M NOK)
• Match Narvik (12 employees, sales 8.8M NOK)
• Dressmann Thon Senter Narvik (10 employees, sales 18.7M NOK)
• Ung Mote As (12 employees, sales 7.6M NOK, but with negative EBITDA)
• Zavanna Amfi Narvik (7 employees, sales 4.5M NOK, negative EBITDA)

ENKs such as Bidne Superkjøp and Christiansen have not reported operating results, which may indicate a new start or less activity.

The industry is heavily concentrated in Narvik, with 14 companies and 119 employees. Bjerkvik has only one company, Bidne Superkjøp, with 3 employees. The most activity takes place in Bolagsgata 1 and Kongens gate 66, which are central business areas in Narvik. This indicates that clothing stores often choose to locate themselves in central locations with high traffic and customer access.

None of the registered companies in the industry have gone bankrupt, which shows a relatively stable structure. However, data shows that some companies have negative EBITDA, such as Ung Mote As and Zavanna Amfi Narvik. This may indicate economic challenges or high operating costs. At the same time, companies such as Dressmann Thon Senter Narvik and Match Narvik have shown strong results with high EBITDA margins. This shows that there are both opportunities and challenges in the industry, and that companies with efficient operating models can achieve good results.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs in Narvik, the clothing retail industry can be an opportunity, but it is important to be aware of the fluctuating market trends and competition from both local and national players. With 14 companies and 119 employees, the industry is relatively stable, but the large sales decline from 2024 to 2025 (34.8%) shows that there may be challenges ahead. Entrepreneurs should consider differentiating themselves through unique product campaigns, digital presence, and collaboration with local actors to create a strong market position. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations in Narvik for clothing stores seeking to establish themselves in a competitive market.

The overarching industry creative, arts, and entertainment activities has 35 companies in Narvik, showing that the clothing retail industry is part of a larger market. Sales in this industry have also been marked by variations, with a decline of 38.1% from 2024 to 2025. Nevertheless, the overarching industry has a slightly higher sales volume than the clothing retail industry, with 102.7M NOK in 2025. Peer companies in this industry include Narvik Hobby As (knitting store) and Østerberg Klær & Sko As (shoe store), which have higher EBITDA than many clothing stores. This shows that there may be opportunities for clothing stores to develop within a broader creative sector, but it is important to compete on unique value propositions.

The clothing retail industry in Narvik shows both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs. With a stable number of companies and employees, as well as a relatively robust structure, it can be a good market plus for new players. However, it is important to be aware of the fluctuating market trends, competition from both local and national chains, and the economic challenges shown in the data. Entrepreneurs should consider differentiating themselves through unique product campaigns, digital presence, and collaboration with local actors to create a strong market position. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations in Narvik for clothing stores seeking to establish themselves in a competitive market.