The Optician Industry in Bærum: A Detailed Analysis of Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks

The optician industry in Bærum has a complex history with both strengths and challenges. In 2023, the industry reached a sales peak of NOK 236.9 million, but since then there has been a sharp decline, with only NOK 30.0 million in 2026. The employment trend shows a similar pattern, with a peak of 181 employees in 2022 and a decline to 168 employees in 2025. This indicates that the industry has been affected by major market changes in recent years. Nevertheless, there are areas with positive development, such as Vøyenenga, where a store achieved 12% sales growth and an 18% EBITDA margin in 2024. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs identify development opportunities in Bærum for this industry.

The sales development for the optician industry in Bærum has been volatile. In 2023, the industry reached a peak of NOK 236.9 million, but since then there has been a sharp decline, with only NOK 30.0 million in 2026. This is a decline of over 90% from 2023 to 2026. The employment trend shows a similar pattern, with a peak of 181 employees in 2022 and a decline to 168 employees in 2025. This indicates that the industry has been affected by major market changes in recent years. Although there is a general decline, it is important to note that certain areas, such as Vøyenenga, have shown positive development.

There are 16 registered optician stores in Bærum, but there are a total of 20 companies in the area. Most companies are organized as AS (17 companies). Some of the most well-known companies in the industry include Synoptik Servicekontor, Brilleland Avd 998, Sandvika Specsavers As, and Bekkestua Optikk As. There are also several companies with negative EBITDA values, such as Alliance Optikk Kolsås As and Lysaker Optikk As. These companies have negative results and high debt levels, which can be a challenge for the industry.

The optician industry in Bærum is distributed across several neighborhoods, with Sandvika being the most active area. Here, there are 7 companies, with 139 employees and a sales volume of NOK 62.4 million. Bekkestua has 5 companies, with 33 employees and a sales volume of NOK 26.0 million. Rykkinn has 1 company, with 9 employees and a sales volume of NOK 12.9 million. Vøyenenga has 1 company, with 7 employees and a sales volume of NOK 6.0 million. Kolsås has 1 company, with 4 employees and a sales volume of NOK 2.0 million. Lysaker and Stabekk also have one company each, with lower sales volumes and negative results.

The industry has been affected by some bankruptcies and negative results. For example, Alliance Optikk Kolsås As has a negative EBITDA of -622,000 NOK and a negative operating profit of -634,000 NOK. Lysaker Optikk As also has a negative EBITDA margin of -9%. These companies have high debt levels and negative results, which can be a challenge for the industry. However, there are not many bankruptcies in the industry, and most companies are still in operation.

For entrepreneurs considering starting an optician store in Bærum, it is important to be aware of the significant declines in sales and number of employees in recent years. This may indicate a highly competitive market area with high costs and low margins. Nevertheless, there are areas with positive development, such as Vøyenenga, where a store achieved 12% sales growth and an 18% EBITDA margin in 2024. This may indicate that there are opportunities for new companies in certain areas. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs identify development opportunities in Bærum for this industry.

When comparing the optician industry with the broader agriculture industry in Bærum, we see that agriculture has more companies (67) and higher sales (NOK 828.0 million in 2023). However, agriculture has also been affected by a sharp decline in sales in 2026, from NOK 680.4 million to NOK 30.0 million. This shows that both the optician industry and agriculture have been affected by major market changes. Peer companies in agriculture include, for example, Telia Norge As, Power Norge As, and Elkjøp Fornebu, which have higher sales and more employees. This may indicate that there are opportunities for companies in agriculture, but the optician industry has its own challenges.

The optician industry in Bærum has been affected by major market changes in recent years, with a sharp decline in sales and number of employees. Nevertheless, there are areas with positive development, such as Vøyenenga, where a store achieved 12% sales growth and an 18% EBITDA margin in 2024. This shows that there are opportunities for new companies in certain areas. Entrepreneurs should be aware of the significant declines in the industry, but there may also be opportunities for companies that can adapt to market changes. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs identify development opportunities in Bærum for this industry.