Clothing Retail in Sandefjord: Key Data, Development, and Future

The clothing retail industry in Sandefjord is an important part of the municipality's economy, with 92 registered companies in the creative, arts, and entertainment activities sector. The industry has shown both strength and instability over time, with a significant sales decline of 33.2% in 2025. This underscores the need to analyze both current data and future development trends to provide a basis for fundamental decisions.

Sales in Sandefjord's clothing retail industry have grown from 372.4 million NOK in 2016 to a peak of 473.2 million NOK in 2023, followed by a sharp decline of 33.2% in 2025. Employment trends have been more stable, with an increase from 306 employees in 2021 to 366 employees in 2026. This shows that the industry has managed to retain staff even under economic pressure, but the 2025 sales decline is a serious warning.

Sixteen well-known companies operate in the clothing retail sector in Sandefjord, including Pepper Norge AS, H&M, and Lindex. These companies are primarily organized as AS, with 37 companies in this form. Some companies, such as Health Workers AS and Teammate AS, have negative EBITDA values, which may indicate economic challenges. None of the listed companies are bankrupt, but it is important to closely monitor economic indicators.

The clothing retail industry is highly concentrated in Sandefjord, with 36 companies and 369 employees. Stokke has a much smaller presence, with only 2 companies and 8 employees. This shows that Sandefjord is the main city for clothing retail, while Stokke plays a minor role in the industry.

The industry has shown some economic instabilities, with companies such as Health Workers AS and Teammate AS having negative EBITDA values. This may indicate economic challenges, but there are no reports of bankruptcy among listed companies. This shows that the industry has a certain degree of resilience, but it is important to closely monitor economic indicators.

The sharp sales decline of 33.2% in 2025 is a serious warning for entrepreneurs. This may be due to a combination of economic pressure, competitiveness, and changes in consumer behavior. Entrepreneurs should consider developing strategies that can give them an advantage in an unstable market environment, such as focusing on quality, unique products, and digital presence.

The creative, arts, and entertainment activities sector in Sandefjord is larger in scope than the clothing retail industry, with 136 companies. Sales in this sector have also shown a sharp decline of 28.4% in 2025, indicating that the entire sector is affected. Peer companies such as Eurosko Sandefjord and Shoeday Sandefjord have higher EBITDA than many clothing retailers, which may indicate that they have better economic strategies.

The clothing retail industry in Sandefjord has shown both strength and instability over time. With a sharp sales decline in 2025, it is important for entrepreneurs to analyze both current data and future development trends. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal locations in Sandefjord for clothing retail, with a focus on development and future opportunities.