Footwear Store Industry in Ålesund: A Comprehensive Analysis

Industry Overview

In Ålesund, there are 12 companies registered within the footwear and clothing store industry. The industry has shown variation in both sales and number of employees over time, with a significant increase in sales in 2018–2019 (up to 157.9 million NOK), followed by a decline in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2025, sales had reached 133.1 million NOK, indicating a gradual recovery. The number of employees has been more unstable, decreasing from 108 in 2016 to 55 in 2025, although there have been small upturns in certain years.

Sales and Employee Development:

• Sales:
• 2016: 75.5 million NOK
• 2017: 73.0 million NOK
• 2018: 155.6 million NOK
• 2019: 157.9 million NOK
• 2020: 85.7 million NOK
• 2021: 91.3 million NOK
• 2022: 104.1 million NOK
• 2023: 110.2 million NOK
• 2024: 124.9 million NOK
• 2025: 133.1 million NOK

• Number of Employees:
• 2016: 108
• 2017: 109
• 2018: 86
• 2019: 77
• 2020: 68
• 2021: 63
• 2022: 67
• 2023: 70
• 2024: 67
• 2025: 55

Characteristics:

• Sales experienced a strong increase in 2018–2019, but fell sharply in 2020 (down 45.7%). There has been a gradual recovery since 2021.
• The number of employees has been more unstable, with a decline of 21.1% from 2017 to 2018 and a further decline of 17.9% from 2024 to 2025.

In Ålesund, there are 12 companies registered within the footwear and clothing store industry. The most represented organizational forms are AS (8 companies) and NUF (1 company). Some of the most well-known companies in the industry include:

• Monark Skomagasin AS (branch: Spjelkavik and Kongens Gate)
• Larssen Sko AS
• Din Sko NUF
• Magnussen Spesialsko AS
• Ieu's Boutique Regalo (with 0 employees)

Financial Status:

• Most companies have positive EBITDA, but some have negative values, such as Larssen Sko AS (EBITDA: -2%) and Morris Kremmergarden AS (EBITDA: -1%).
• Din Sko NUF has a negative EBITDA (0%), but high sales growth (5%).
• Magnussen Spesialsko AS has a high EBITDA margin (10%) and positive operating result.

All companies in the footwear and clothing store industry in Ålesund are registered in Ålesund. There are 9 companies with a total of 59 employees, and they report the following economic data:

• Sales: 134.5 million NOK
• Wages: 35.6 million NOK
• Operating Result: 2.1 million NOK
• EBITDA: 3.8 million NOK
• Gross Margin: 1078%
• Operating Margin: 1%

Concentration:

• The activity is concentrated in Ålesund, with no sub-registration of companies in other city districts or municipalities.

Bankruptcies and Financial Stability:

• There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry in Ålesund.
• Some companies have negative EBITDA values, such as Larssen Sko AS (EBITDA: -176.6 thousand NOK) and Morris Kremmergarden AS (EBITDA: -47.8 thousand NOK), which may indicate economic challenges.
• Din Sko NUF has a negative EBITDA (66.1 thousand NOK), but high sales growth (5%).

Stability:

• Although some companies have negative EBITDA, there are no bankruptcies, which indicates a certain degree of financial stability in the industry.

Outlook for Founders

Opportunities and Challenges:

• The industry has shown a gradual recovery after the pandemic, with increasing sales from 2021 onward.
• There is a certain level of competitiveness, with several companies having positive EBITDA and high sales growth.
• Some companies have negative EBITDA values, which may indicate economic challenges for new entrants.
• Recommendation: Founders should consider focusing on efficient operations and marketing to ensure financial stability.

SmartGrunder:

• SmartGrunder can help founders find suitable addresses in Ålesund for the footwear and clothing store industry, based on natural business opportunities and competitiveness.

Creative, Arts, and Entertainment Activities:

• There are 152 companies in this broader industry sector in Ålesund, with total sales of 9.2 million NOK in 2026 (a significant decline from 762.3 million NOK in 2025).
• Number of Employees: 601 in 2026, indicating a certain level of stability.

Comparison with the Footwear and Clothing Store Industry:

• The footwear and clothing store industry has fewer companies (12) compared to the broader industry sector (152), but shows more stable sales growth.
• Peer companies in the broader industry sector:
• New Yorker 80011 Ålesund (sales: 30.3 million NOK, EBITDA: 5.9 million NOK)
• Modo AS (sales: 49.6 million NOK, EBITDA: 4.0 million NOK)
• Dressmann Thon Senter Moa Avd 222 (sales: 22.1 million NOK, EBITDA: 3.6 million NOK)

Conclusion:

• The footwear and clothing store industry is part of a larger broader industry sector with a higher number of companies, but shows a more stable development in sales and EBITDA.

Summary:

• The footwear and clothing store industry in Ålesund has shown a gradual recovery after the pandemic, with increasing sales and a certain level of financial stability.
• There is a certain level of competitiveness, with several companies having positive EBITDA and high sales growth.
• Recommendation: Founders should consider focusing on efficient operations and marketing to ensure financial stability.

SmartGrunder:

• SmartGrunder can help founders find suitable addresses in Ålesund for the footwear and clothing store industry, based on natural business opportunities and competitiveness.