Optical Store in Notodden: An Analysis of Companies, Statistics, and Prospects

Optical store in Notodden is a small but dynamic industry with three registered companies. In recent years, the industry has shown both strengths and challenges, with a combination of stable sales growth and challenges related to competition and operational economics. This analysis provides an overview of the industry, with a focus on companies, economic trends, and future perspectives.

Economic Trends

Sales and Employees:

• Sales: In 2025, the optical industry in Notodden achieved total sales of NOK 12.7 million, with an annual growth of +2.9% compared to 2024. The most significant increase was recorded in 2021, with +29.8%.
• Employees: The number of employees has varied between 10 and 14 over the past few years, with a current level of 11 employees in 2026.

Operational Economics:

• The industry's average EBITDA margin is 15%, with the highest margin of 18% for Synsam Notodden Tuvensenteret.
• Sales growth has been most stable during the period 2017–2018, while 2020–2021 marked a significant increase.

Table: Sales and Employees per Year

Operational Key Figures:

• Average operational margin: 8%.
• Average gross margin: 8368% (high because the optical industry has high product value).

Registered Companies in the Industry

In Notodden, there are three registered companies in the optical industry, with the following details:

1. Synsam Notodden Tuvensenteret (Tuvenbøygen 2)

• Organizational form: AS
• Founded: 2015
• Employees: 8
• Operating result: NOK 742.2K
• EBITDA: NOK 1.4M
• Bankrupt: No

1. Notodden Optikk As (Telegata 4)

• Organizational form: AS
• Founded: 2012
• Employees: 4
• Operating result: NOK 331.0K
• EBITDA: NOK 476.0K
• Bankrupt: No

1. Karl Larsen Optikk (Telegata 17)

• Organizational form: AS
• Founded: 1965
• Employees: 0
• Operating result: NOK 0
• EBITDA: NOK 0
• Bankrupt: No

Organizational Form:

• All companies are registered as AS (limited liability company), which is common for small and medium-sized companies in Norway.

Operational Status:

• Two of the companies have positive operational economics, while Karl Larsen Optikk has no operating result and no employees. This may indicate that the company is in a transitional phase or has ceased operations.

All three companies in the optical industry in Notodden are registered in Notodden. There is no sub-counting of activity in other districts or parts of the municipality.

Table: Distribution per District

Conclusion:

• The activity is concentrated in the Notodden center, indicating that it is an important commercial area in the municipality.

Bankruptcy and Operational Economics:

• Synsam Notodden Tuvensenteret and Notodden Optikk As have not been bankrupt, but Karl Larsen Optikk has no operating result and no employees. This may indicate that the company has ceased operations or is in a transitional phase.

Operational Challenges:

• Karl Larsen Optikk has no sales, operating result, or EBITDA, which could be a challenge for the industry. This may be due to a decline in the customer base or competition from other optical stores.

Conclusion:

• The industry has proven to be relatively stable, but there is a risk that companies with low operational economics may go bankrupt. It is important to monitor the operational economics of the existing companies.

For entrepreneurs considering starting an optical store in Notodden, there are several important aspects to consider:

1. Market Size: With 3 companies and 12 employees, the market size is relatively small, but there is potential for growth.
2. Operational Economics: The EBITDA margin is 15%, indicating that it is possible to achieve good operational economics.
3. Competitiveness: There are two active companies in the industry, which can provide good competitiveness.
4. Bankruptcy Risk: There is no bankruptcy in the industry, but there is a risk for companies with low operational economics.

Recommendation:

• Entrepreneurs should consider starting an optical store in Notodden, but it is important to monitor operational economics and competitiveness.
• It may be beneficial to collaborate with existing companies to achieve better market size and operational economics.

Agriculture is a broader industry in Notodden with 18 companies, compared to 3 companies in the optical industry. This indicates that agriculture is an important industry in the municipality.

Economic Trends:

• Sales: Agriculture had total sales of NOK 216.7 million in 2025, with an annual growth of +15.5%.
• Employees: The number of employees in agriculture has increased from 55 in 2016 to 56 in 2025.

Operational Economics:

• The EBITDA margin for agriculture is 12.8%, which is lower than for the optical industry.
• Agriculture has higher sales growth but a lower EBITDA margin.

Peer Companies:

• In agriculture, we find companies such as Power Norge As Avd Notodden (electrical goods store) and Elkjøp Notodden (electronics store), which have higher sales and more employees.

Conclusion:

• Agriculture is an important industry in Notodden, but the optical industry has a better EBITDA margin. Entrepreneurs should consider starting an optical store in Notodden, but it is important to monitor operational economics and competitiveness.

The optical industry in Notodden has proven to be a stable and potentially growth-friendly industry, with three companies and an average EBITDA margin of 15%. Although there is a risk of bankruptcy, it is possible to achieve good operational economics. Entrepreneurs should consider starting an optical store in Notodden, but it is important to monitor operational economics and competitiveness. At the same time, it is important to compare with agriculture, which is an important industry in the municipality but has a lower EBITDA margin. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Notodden for the optical industry, with a focus on natural conditions and operational economics.