Toy Shop Industry in Namsos: A Comprehensive Analysis

Overview of the Toy Shop Industry in Namsos

The toy shop industry in Namsos is a small but active sector with three registered companies. The most significant player is Merlin Kids Namsos As, which operates with 7 employees and reports sales volume of 3.2 million NOK. Two other companies, Alekan As, are registered, but have no employees or income. The industry shows a mix of stability and uncertainty, with a recent sales increase (12.4% from 2024 to 2025) but also negative operating margins (EBITDA margin of -4%).

Sales and Employee Development (2016–2025):

Sales have been volatile, with a decline of 5.5% from 2016 to 2017, but an increase of 12.4% from 2024 to 2025. The number of employees has increased from 4 in 2016 to 9 in 2023, before declining back to 5 in 2025. The most recent data shows a positive trend, but operating margins remain negative (EBITDA -4%).

Registered Companies in Namsos (Toy Shop):

1. Merlin Kids Namsos As (founded 2005-04-20, AS, 7 employees, address: Søren R Thornæs veg 19, Namsos)

• Sales: 3.2M NOK
• Operating profit: -127,000 NOK
• EBITDA: -127,000 NOK
• EBITDA per employee: -25,200 NOK

1. Alekan As (founded 2023-04-13 and 2023-04-24, AS, 0 employees, address: Kjell Hals veg 19, Namsos)

• Sales: 0 NOK
• Operating profit: 0 NOK
• EBITDA: 0 NOK

Organizational Form: All companies are registered as AS. There are no companies in other organizational forms (e.g. Sole proprietorship, partnership, etc.).

Distribution of Activity in the Municipality:

• Namsos (1 location): 1 company, 7 employees, sales of 3.2M NOK, operating profit of -127,000 NOK, EBITDA of -127,000 NOK.

The industry is concentrated in Namsos, with no activity reported from other districts or locations within the municipality. There is no data on distribution across smaller districts or specific areas within Namsos.

Bankruptcies and Financial Economics:

• Bankruptcies: No companies in the industry are registered as bankrupt (all are marked as not bankrupt).
• Financial Economics: Merlin Kids Namsos As has negative operating margins (EBITDA -4%), but is still operational. Alekan As has no income or operating profit, which may indicate that the company is new, non-operational, or in an early stage.

Key Financial Metrics (Merlin Kids Namsos As):

• Gross margin: 45%
• Operating margin: -4%
• EBITDA margin: -4%
• Sales growth: 11%
• Operating profit per employee: 628,600 NOK

Outlook for Founders

Opportunities and Challenges:

• Opportunities: Sales have increased by 12.4% from 2024 to 2025, indicating potential market growth. There are also opportunities to develop new companies in the industry, especially if it is possible to achieve positive operating margins.

• Challenges: Recent data still shows negative EBITDA margins (Merlin Kids Namsos As has EBITDA -4%). There is also a small number of companies (3), which may indicate a small market size or low competitiveness.

Recommendations for Founders:

• Consider focusing on financial economics and cost control to achieve positive margins.
• Develop unique offerings or differentiation to increase market share.
• Consider collaborating with existing companies (e.g. Merlin Kids Namsos As) to share resources and risk.

The toy shop industry in Namsos is a small but active sector with potential for growth. The most significant player, Merlin Kids Namsos As, has shown a recent increase in sales, but still has negative operating margins. Two other companies, Alekan As, are registered, but have no income or employees. Founders should consider the opportunities in the industry, but also the challenges that come with small market sizes and negative operating margins. SmartGrunder can help founders find suitable addresses in Namsos for this industry, based on data and development trends.