Industry · municipality
The Cosmetics Retail Industry in Alver: Companies, Statistics, and Outlook
A detailed analysis of the cosmetics retail industry in Alver municipality based on market data and company information.
Brief overview of the cosmetics retail industry in Alver
The cosmetics retail industry in Alver shows a mix of stability and variation. In 2026, there are 16 registered companies in the sector, with a total of 19 employees. Seller statistics show a weak upward trend following a decline in 2020, while the number of employees has continuously grown since 2016. The most activity-intensive part of the municipality is Isdalstø, where one of the two AS companies (Knarvik Parfymeri As) reports high sales and positive EBITDA. At the same time, several companies, especially in Alversund, show low or zero activity. The industry has no registered bankruptcies, but shows variation in financial health.
Economic overview of the cosmetics retail industry
Sales and employee development
| Year | Sales (NOK) | Employees | Year-over-year sales change | Year-over-year employee change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4.3M | 3 | - | - |
| 2017 | 4.1M | 3 | -4.4% | 0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.8M | 3 | -6.3% | 0.0% |
| 2019 | 4.0M | 5 | +3.9% | +66.7% |
| 2020 | 3.2M | 7 | -20.7% | +40.0% |
| 2021 | 3.8M | 7 | +19.0% | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 3.6M | 8 | -4.5% | +14.3% |
| 2023 | 3.9M | 10 | +9.7% | +25.0% |
| 2024 | 4.2M | 13 | +7.9% | +30.0% |
| 2025 | 4.1M | 15 | -3.8% | +15.4% |
| 2026 | - | 19 | - | +26.7% |
Sales experienced a significant decline in 2020, but have since grown back to 4.2M in 2024. The number of employees has continuously grown, with a strong increase from 2019 to 2020 (+40%) and a notable rise in 2024 (+30%).



Companies in the cosmetics retail industry
Registered companies in the sector
There are 16 registered companies in the cosmetics retail industry in Alver, with a total of 18 companies in the municipality. The main forms of organization are:
- AS (Anonyme selskaper): 2 companies, with a total of 19 employees and combined sales of 4.2M NOK.
- ENK (Enkeltmannsforetak): 14 companies, with 0 employees and 0 sales.
The two AS companies are:
- Nordic Cosmetics As (Manger) – 14 employees, negative EBITDA and high debt.
- Knarvik Parfymeri As (Isdalstø) – 5 employees, positive EBITDA and high equity.
Most of the ENKs have no activity, which may indicate newly established or inactive businesses.

Geographic distribution of activity
Distribution of activity in the municipality
Cosmetics retail activity is distributed across three main areas in Alver:
| Location | Number of companies | Employees | Sales (NOK) | EBITDA (NOK) | EBITDA margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manger | 1 | 14 | 133.0K | -307.0K | -230% |
| Isdalstø | 1 | 5 | 4.1M | 253.0K | 6% |
| Alversund | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Isdalstø clearly has the highest activity, with a company (Knarvik Parfymeri As) reporting positive EBITDA and high sales. Manger has a company with negative EBITDA and high debt, while Alversund shows no activity.

Operational dynamics and bankruptcy statistics
No companies in the cosmetics retail industry in Alver are registered for bankruptcy, which shows a certain level of stability. However, several companies show financial challenges:
- Nordic Cosmetics As (Manger) has negative EBITDA (-307.0K NOK) and high debt (617.0K NOK).
- Lillian Natås (Alversund) and several ENKs have 0 sales and 0 employees, which may indicate inactivity or newly established companies.
The bankruptcy statistics show no registered bankruptcies, but financial variation is clear. This may be a challenge for new players who must carefully assess market conditions and operational strategies.
Outlook for entrepreneurs and new players
The cosmetics retail industry in Alver shows both opportunities and challenges. The growing number of employees (from 3 in 2016 to 19 in 2026) and the positive EBITDA in Isdalstø indicate potential market opportunities, especially in areas with existing operations. However, it is important to note the financial challenges, such as negative EBITDA and high debt in some companies.
For entrepreneurs, Isdalstø could be an interesting area, with an existing company (Knarvik Parfymeri As) showing positive financing. At the same time, the many ENKs with zero activity may indicate potential vacant addresses or areas with low competition. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs explore vacant addresses and market conditions in Alver for this industry.
Conclusion
The cosmetics retail industry in Alver shows a mix of growth and variation. With an increasing number of employees and a positive EBITDA in Isdalstø, the industry can offer opportunities for new players. However, it is important to carefully assess financial challenges and market conditions. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs identify vacant addresses and develop strategies tailored to local conditions.