The Clothing Retail Industry in Stavanger: An Analysis of Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks

The clothing retail industry in Stavanger is an important part of the local business community, with 185 registered companies in the municipality. This analysis provides an overview of the industry's economic development, company structure, geographic distribution, and future prospects. Stavanger plays a dominant role in the industry, with 72 companies and 645 employees in the city, compared to 13 companies and 118 employees in Hafrsfjord. The industry has been marked by a significant decline in sales and employees in recent years, with a decline of 79.2% from 2025 to 2026. This shows considerable instability, which entrepreneurs must take into account. At the same time, the broader creative and entertainment industry in Stavanger shows a somewhat more stable development, which can provide opportunities for companies wishing to differentiate themselves through creative offerings.

The clothing retail industry in Stavanger has been marked by a significant decline in sales and employees in recent years. According to data from 2026, sales figures show a decline of 79.2% compared to 2025, from NOK 512.3 million to NOK 106.8 million. This is an extreme decline showing considerable instability in the industry. Employee numbers have also been unstable, with a decline of 4.8% from 2025 to 2026, from 722 to 757 employees. This may be due to several factors, including economic pressure, competitiveness, and changes in customer behavior. Although there has been a decline in recent years, the industry has shown a certain degree of stabilization in some periods, such as from 2021 to 2022, where employee numbers increased by 4.0%.

In Stavanger, there are 185 companies registered in the clothing retail industry, with AS organizations playing a dominant role. There are 84 companies registered as AS, with 751 employees and a combined sales of NOK 825.8 million. There is also one company registered as ENK, but this company has no sales or employees. The most well-known companies in the industry include H&M, Inditex, Rolfsen, and Lindex, all of which have significant sales figures and a good number of employees. For example, H&M Hennes & Mauritz As Avd 778 Stavanger Storsenter has sales of NOK 85.9 million and 53 employees, while Inditex Norge As Avd Stavanger has sales of NOK 108.6 million and 37 employees. These companies show a relatively stable business operation, even though there is a general decline in the industry.

The clothing retail industry in Stavanger is heavily concentrated in the city, with 72 companies and 645 employees in Stavanger, compared to 13 companies and 118 employees in Hafrsfjord. Sales figures show that Stavanger has significantly higher sales than Hafrsfjord, with NOK 724.7 million in Stavanger and NOK 101.2 million in Hafrsfjord. EBITDA margins are also higher in Stavanger, at 8% compared to 11% in Hafrsfjord. This shows that Stavanger has a more stable and competitive business environment for clothing stores. Hafrsfjord, however, has a higher EBITDA margin, which may be due to less competitiveness and lower operating costs. There is also a significant difference in the number of employees, with 645 employees in Stavanger and 118 employees in Hafrsfjord, showing that Stavanger has a more developed business environment for clothing stores.

The clothing retail industry in Stavanger has been marked by a significant decline in sales and employees in recent years, with a decline of 79.2% from 2025 to 2026. This shows considerable instability in the industry, which may be due to several factors, including economic pressure, competitiveness, and changes in customer behavior. There has also been one bankruptcy registered in the industry, namely Layan Style As in Hafrsfjord, which has no sales, no employees, and no operating income. This shows that there is a significant risk of bankruptcy in the industry, especially in smaller companies. This can be a challenge for entrepreneurs considering starting a new clothing store in Stavanger, as there is a significant risk of bankruptcy and instability in the industry.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a clothing store in Stavanger, it is important to take into account the significant decline in sales and employees in recent years. This shows that there is considerable instability in the industry, which may be due to several factors, including economic pressure, competitiveness, and changes in customer behavior. Although there has been a decline in recent years, the industry has shown a certain degree of stabilization in some periods, such as from 2021 to 2022, where employee numbers increased by 4.0%. This shows that there may be opportunities for companies wishing to start a new clothing store in Stavanger, especially if they can differentiate themselves through creative offerings or unique products. It is also important to take into account the dominant role played by AS organizations in the industry, which can provide opportunities for companies wishing to start a new clothing store in Stavanger.

The broader creative, art, and entertainment industry in Stavanger has a somewhat more stable development compared to the clothing retail industry. According to data from 2026, sales figures show a decline of 83.4% from 2025 to 2026, from NOK 644.6 million to NOK 106.8 million. This is an extreme decline, but it is less severe than in the clothing retail industry. Employee numbers have also been unstable, with a decline of 5.0% from 2025 to 2026, from 978 to 1027 employees. This shows that the broader creative, art, and entertainment industry in Stavanger has a somewhat more stable development compared to the clothing retail industry. This can provide opportunities for companies wishing to start a new clothing store in Stavanger, especially if they can differentiate themselves through creative offerings or unique products. It is also important to take into account the dominant role played by AS organizations in the industry, which can provide opportunities for companies wishing to start a new clothing store in Stavanger.

The clothing retail industry in Stavanger is an important part of the local business community, with 185 registered companies in the municipality. This analysis shows that the industry has been marked by a significant decline in sales and employees in recent years, with a decline of 79.2% from 2025 to 2026. This shows considerable instability, which entrepreneurs must take into account. At the same time, the broader creative, art, and entertainment industry in Stavanger shows a somewhat more stable development, which can provide opportunities for companies wishing to differentiate themselves through creative offerings. It is also important to take into account the dominant role played by AS organizations in the industry, which can provide opportunities for companies wishing to start a new clothing store in Stavanger. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Stavanger for clothing stores, where it is natural to start a new business venture.