The Clothing Store Industry in Steinkjer: Current Status and Outlook

The clothing store industry in Steinkjer is a stable, yet varied sector with 15 registered companies and 141 employees. The industry has shown both growth and decline in sales and employment over the years, with a significant drop of 40.6% in 2025. Although none of the registered companies have gone bankrupt, some companies show negative EBITDA values, indicating potential challenges. The industry is dominated by AS companies, and the most well-known names include H&M, Brn Best Retail, and Match. Outlooks for entrepreneurs are mixed, with opportunities in existing infrastructure, but also a need for differentiation and adaptation to market changes.

Sales and employee development:

• Sales: The industry had total sales of NOK 162.1 million in 2026, with an annual growth of 2% compared to 2025. However, there was a significant decline of 40.6% in 2025 compared to 2024.
• Employees: The number of employees decreased from 153 in 2024 to 141 in 2026, with an annual decline of 5.4%.

Key figures:

• EBITDA margin: 7%, indicating relatively good operational efficiency.
• Gross margin: 5572%, suggesting that the industry has high profit margins due to low cost of goods.

Conclusion: The industry has shown stable operational efficiency, but there is a clear decline in sales and employees in 2025 that should be considered in relation to market development and competition.

The industry in Steinkjer consists of 15 companies, all registered as AS. The most well-known companies include:

• H&M Hennes & Mauritz As Avd 771 Zebra Senteret Steinkjer – 19 employees, EBITDA of NOK 1.5 million.
• Brn Best Retail Norge As Avd Steinkjer – 11 employees, EBITDA of NOK 484,300.
• Match Steinkjer Avd 253 – 10 employees, EBITDA of NOK 2.9 million.
• Floyd Butikkdrift As Avd Steinkjer – 8 employees, EBITDA of NOK -579,100.

Organizational form: All companies are registered as AS, indicating a standardized structure in the industry.

Conclusion: The industry has a wide variation in company size and operational results, with both positive and negative EBITDA values. This shows that there are both successful and challenged companies in the industry.

Location:

• Steinkjer: All companies in the industry are registered in Steinkjer, with a main location at Sjøfartsgata 6 and Sjøfartsgata 2. These are main locations for Zebra Senteret and Thon Senter Steinkjer, which are well-known commercial areas in the municipality.

Conclusion: The industry is strongly concentrated in central areas of Steinkjer, indicating good customer access and existing infrastructure for commerce.

Bankruptcies and operational results:

• Bankruptcies: None of the registered companies in the industry have gone bankrupt, indicating a relatively stable industry.
• Operational results: Some companies have negative EBITDA values, such as Mattis Steinkjer As (NOK -139,000) and Bik Bok Thon Senter Steinkjer Avd J04 (NOK -417,900). This shows that there are challenges for some companies, even though they are not bankrupt.

Conclusion: The industry has proven to be relatively stable, but there are several companies with negative operational results. This may be an indication of competitive pressure or economic challenges.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

Outlook for new companies:

• Stable market: The industry has proven to be stable with existing infrastructure and well-known companies such as H&M and Match.
• Competitive pressure: There is clear competitive pressure, especially with the large chains present. This can be a challenge for new companies.
• Market changes: The significant decline in sales in 2025 (40.6%) shows that there may be market changes affecting the industry, which must be considered.

Conclusion: For entrepreneurs, there may be opportunities in existing infrastructure, but there is also a need for differentiation and adaptation to market changes. It is important to analyze the competition and find a unique position in the market.

Overall industry: Creative, art, and entertainment activities have 40 companies in Steinkjer, showing that the industry is larger than the clothing store industry. There is a clear connection between the two industries, but there is also variation in operational results and sales.

Peer companies:

• B Røthe As Avd Skotøy Zebra Senteret – Sales of NOK 14.1 million, EBITDA of NOK 986,500.
• Husfliden As – Sales of NOK 8.7 million, EBITDA of NOK 239,000.
• Euro Sko Steinkjer – Sales of NOK 5.0 million, EBITDA of NOK 281,400.

Conclusion: The overall industry has a greater variation in company size and operational results. There are opportunities for collaboration and development in a broader industry, but there is also competitive pressure from both clothing stores and other creative businesses.

The clothing store industry in Steinkjer is a stable, yet varied sector with both successful and challenged companies. There are opportunities for entrepreneurs in existing infrastructure, but there is also a need for differentiation and adaptation to market changes. The overall industry (creative, art, and entertainment activities) has a greater variation in company size and operational results, which can provide opportunities for collaboration and development. It is important to analyze the competition and find a unique position in the market.