Industry · municipality
Optical Store Industry in Sogndal: Current Status and Outlook
An analysis of the optical store sector in Sogndal municipality, including companies, statistics, and future prospects for founders and local decision-makers.
Brief overview of the optical store industry in Sogndal
The optical store industry in Sogndal is a small but stable sector with two registered companies. In recent years, the industry has shown variations in sales and employees, but has remained afloat without serious bankruptcies. With an average EBITDA margin of 28% and high sales growth figures in certain periods, the industry shows potential for growth. However, data from 2024 indicates a decline in both sales and number of employees, which could be a challenge for new entrants.
Economic data for the optical store industry
Sales development
From 2016 to 2023, the optical store industry in Sogndal had an average annual sales growth of 8%, reaching a peak of 14.5 million NOK in 2023. However, there was a decline of 14.8% in 2024, bringing sales down to 12.3 million NOK. This is a significant drop from the highest level, but there was an increase of 2.4% in 2025.
Employee numbers
The number of employees grew from 3 in 2016 to 7 in 2021, before declining to 5 employees in 2024. This shows some instability in the labor market in the industry, although there have been no serious declines in the number of employees.
Economic indicators
The industry has high EBITDA margins (28%) and good operational results, indicating that companies have good control over costs and high sales revenues relative to operating costs.
Companies in the optical store industry
Registered companies
There are two companies registered in the optical store industry in Sogndal:
| Company | Address | Number of employees | EBITDA (NOK) | Sales (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sogn Synssenter As | Fjellvegen 4, Sogndal | 4 | 4.4M | 9.9M |
| Optiker Kjell M Talleraas As Sogn | Fjørevegen 19, Sogndal | 1 | 355.0K | 5.4M |
Organizational forms
Both companies are registered as AS (limited liability company), indicating that they have a formal structure with owners and employees. No companies are registered with other organizational forms in the industry.
Geographic distribution of activity
Distribution of activity
All companies in the optical store industry in Sogndal are registered in the Sogndal district. There is no activity registered in other districts or municipalities in the Vestland county. This indicates that the industry is concentrated in a small geographic area, which can be an advantage for local customers, but also a challenge in terms of market development outside the municipality.
Bankruptcies and industry dynamics
Bankruptcies and dynamics
There are no bankruptcies registered in the optical store industry in Sogndal between 2016 and 2025. This shows that the industry has been stable and has managed to avoid serious economic challenges. However, there was a decline in sales and employees in 2024, which could be an indicator of a temporary challenge for companies.
Outlook for founders in the optical store industry
Development trends for founders
For founders considering starting a company in the optical store industry in Sogndal, it is important to be aware of the recent decline in sales and employees. This may indicate a temporary challenge in the market, but the industry has proven to be resilient with high EBITDA margins and good operational efficiency. It may be advantageous to focus on quality and local connections to ensure stability in a competitive market.
Comparison with agriculture
Agriculture is a broader industry category in Sogndal with 12 companies, compared to the two companies in the optical store industry. Agriculture has a higher sales volume (up to 110.7 million NOK in 2020) but lower EBITDA margins (average 12%) compared to the optical store industry (28%). This shows that the optical store industry has better economic results per sales, even though it is smaller in scope.
Peer companies in agriculture
Current peer companies in agriculture include, among others:
| Company | Industry | Sales (NOK) | EBITDA (NOK) | Number of employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sogn Elektromarked As | Electronics store | 34.4M | 1.9M | 8 |
| Elkjøp Stormarked Sogn As | Electronics store | 43.8M | 1.8M | 11 |
These companies have higher sales, but lower EBITDA margins compared to the optical store industry.
Other companies in landbruk (not in optical store)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sogn Elektromarked As | electronics store | Hovevegen 6, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 34.4M | 8 | NOK 1.9M |
| Elkjøp Stormarked Sogn As | electronics store | Kloppavegen 1, 6854 Kaupanger | NOK 43.8M | 11 | NOK 1.8M |
| Ecom Norge As | computer store | Dalavegen 1, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 6.9M | 3 | NOK 645.0K |
| Erling Røysum As | computer store | Lundevegen 21, 6863 Leikanger | NOK 3.2M | 0 | NOK 144.0K |
| Kunstberg Maleri Ans | audio equipment / musical instruments store | 0, 6899 Balestrand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Lunden Data | computer store | Dalsvegen 20, 6863 Leikanger | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Lunden Data | computer store | Dalsvegen 20, 6863 Leikanger | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Offbeat Hauge | audio equipment / musical instruments store | Fjørevegen 8A, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Zelda Holding As | computer store | c/o Ole-Marius Anhanger Solberg|Bryggjegota 12, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Xs Invest As | electric goods store | Kongabergvegen 15, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK -38.0K |
Conclusion
The optical store industry in Sogndal has proven to be a stable, but small sector with good economic results. Although there was a decline in sales and employees in 2024, the industry has shown resilience with high EBITDA margins. For founders, this could be an opportunity, but it is important to be aware of the recent variations in the market. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and strategies to ensure success in this industry.