The Cosmetics Retail Industry in Bodø: Current Status and Future Prospects

The cosmetics retail industry in Bodø has proven to be a stable and growing sector with 15 registered companies in the municipality. The most prominent players are Rituals Cosmetics Norway AS, Fredrik & Louisa AS, and Kicks Norge AS, which together constitute a significant portion of the market. The industry has experienced both strong growth and periods of stagnation, but shows a generally positive trend in recent years. With an average labor cost of 7.3 million NOK and an EBITDA of 3.3 million NOK, the figures indicate relatively high efficiency in the sector. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in Bodø for a new cosmetics store, based on data about market dynamics and potential.

Economic data shows that sales in the cosmetics retail industry in Bodø have grown from 12.7 million NOK in 2016 to 63.6 million NOK in 2025, with a significant increase of +106.6% from 2023 to 2024. The number of employees has varied between 25 and 43 during the period, with an increase of +34.4% from 2022 to 2023. Although there was a decline in 2025, the number of employees has stabilized again in 2026. The industry has therefore shown a generally positive development, even though there have been variations from year to year.

In Bodø, there are 15 companies registered in the cosmetics retail industry, of which 6 are ASs (limited liability companies) and 9 are ENKs (single-person enterprises). The most well-known companies include:

• Fredrik & Louisa AS (City Nord Shopping Centre, Stormyra) with 15 employees and a sales volume of 26.3 million NOK.
• Rituals Cosmetics Norway AS (Stormyrveien 20 and Storgata 14) with a total of 17 employees and a combined sales volume of 16.8 million NOK.
• Kicks Norge AS (Stormyra) with 12 employees, but with zero sales and operating income.

Most companies are ASs, but there is also a significant share of ENKs, which often have zero employees and income. This suggests that the industry includes both established businesses and single-person enterprises that may be less stable.

All 15 companies in the cosmetics retail industry in Bodø are registered in the municipality, and the activity is concentrated in Bodø. There is no registered activity in other city districts or municipalities. The most active locations are:

• Stormyra (City Nord Shopping Centre) with 3 companies.
• Storgata 14 (Rituals Cosmetics Norway AS).
• Stormyrveien 20 (Rituals Cosmetics Norway AS).

This shows that the industry is concentrated in central areas of Bodø, which can be an advantage for new players wishing to position themselves in a well-known and trafficked area.

The industry has proven to be relatively stable with no registered bankruptcies during the period. Nevertheless, there are several companies with negative assets or high debt levels, such as Isabella Beauty AS (assets: -576,000 NOK) and Kremen AS (assets: -237,000 NOK). This may indicate that some companies have faced economic challenges, even though they have not gone bankrupt. There are also companies like Kicks Norge AS that have zero sales and operating income, which may be an indication of inactivity or recent establishment without operations.

Data suggests that the cosmetics retail industry in Bodø has potential for further growth, especially after the significant increase in sales from 2023 to 2024 (+106.6%). This may be an indication of increased ownership or improved marketing. Entrepreneurs should, however, be aware of the periodic declines in the number of employees and sales experienced in 2025. It is also important to consider the competition from established players such as Rituals and Fredrik & Louisa, which have established themselves in central locations. A good advantage for new players could be to utilize existing infrastructure and the market's high average labor costs (7.3 million NOK) together with high gross capital returns (3120%).

The cosmetics retail industry in Bodø shows a generally positive development with strong growth in sales and the number of employees in recent years. Although there have been variations in activity, there is a clear trend towards stabilization and growth. With good development potential and established players in central locations, the industry can be an attractive choice for entrepreneurs wishing to establish themselves in a stable and growing sector. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and strategies for a new cosmetics store in Bodø.