Industry · municipality
Footwear Store Industry in Ullensvang: A Comprehensive Overview
Analysis of Sales, Companies, and Outlook for Footwear Store Businesses in Ullensvang Municipality, Norway (2016–2025) with Comparison to the Broader Creative, Art, and Entertainment Sector (industry2: kreative, kunst og underholdningsaktiviteter). Includes Peer Companies and Eco
Executive Summary
Industry Overview
The footwear store industry in Ullensvang is a small but stable sector with a single company: As Ragnar Karlsen in Odda. Over the past few years, the industry has shown variations in sales and number of employees, with a decline in 2020 and a gradual increase since 2021. Although the number of employees has decreased over time, the company has shown improvement in 2025, which may indicate a gradual stabilization. The industry has not recorded any bankruptcies, but it is important to note that the broader creative, art, and entertainment activities sector has a more dynamic development.
Economic Overview
Sales and Employees in the Industry (2016–2025):
| Year | Sales (NOK) | Employees | Year-over-Year Change (Sales) | Year-over-Year Change (Employees) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 13.9M | 30 | - | - |
| 2017 | 13.5M | 25 | -2.7% | -16.7% |
| 2018 | 10.2M | 21 | -24.8% | -16.0% |
| 2019 | 15.0M | 19 | +47.3% | -9.5% |
| 2020 | 9.6M | 12 | -35.8% | -36.8% |
| 2021 | 10.6M | 13 | +10.5% | +8.3% |
| 2022 | 10.5M | 13 | -0.9% | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 8.4M | 12 | -20.4% | -7.7% |
| 2024 | 8.6M | 8 | +2.5% | -33.3% |
| 2025 | 9.0M | 8 | +4.9% | 0.0% |
Key Figures for As Ragnar Karlsen (2025):
- Sales: NOK 9.2M
- EBITDA: NOK 1.4M (14% margin)
- Gross Profit: NOK 4.9M (52% margin)
- Total Equity: NOK 9.6M
- Total Debt: NOK 1.8M
- Wages: NOK 2.2M
- Sales Growth: 6% in 2025
The industry has shown a weak positive development in 2025, but there is a clear decline in the number of employees since 2016. This may indicate an increase in efficiency or a reduction in scale.



Companies in the Industry
In Ullensvang, one company is registered in the footwear store industry:
- As Ragnar Karlsen (Røldalsvegen 18, Odda)
- Legal Form: AS
- Founded: 1982-05-31
- Number of Employees: 10
- Bankruptcies: Not registered
- Postal Code: 5750
- EBITDA: NOK 1.4M
- Gross Profit: NOK 4.9M
- Total Equity: NOK 9.6M
- Total Debt: NOK 1.8M
- Wages: NOK 2.2M
- Sales Growth: 6% in 2025
Legal Form Statistics:
- AS: 1 company, 10 employees, NOK 9.2M operating income, NOK 9.2M sales, NOK 2.2M wages, NOK 1.4M operating profit, NOK 1.4M EBITDA, NOK 4.9M gross profit, NOK 9.6M equity, NOK 1.8M debt, 6% sales growth, 14% EBITDA margin, NOK 1.0M operating income per employee, NOK 149.7K EBITDA per employee, 52% gross margin, 14% operating margin.
The company is stable and has not been involved in bankruptcy, but there is only one company in the industry, which shows a small market share.
Business Geography
Activity Distributed Across Cities/Places in Ullensvang:
| City/Place | Number of Companies | Number of Employees | Operating Income (NOK) | Sales (NOK) | Wages (NOK) | Operating Profit (NOK) | EBITDA (NOK) | Gross Profit (NOK) | Equity (NOK) | Debt (NOK) | Sales Growth | EBITDA Margin | Gross Margin | Operating Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odda | 1 | 10 | 9.2M | 9.2M | 2.2M | 1.4M | 1.4M | 4.9M | 9.6M | 1.8M | 6% | 14% | 52% | 14% |
Conclusion: All businesses in the industry are located in Odda, with one company and 10 employees. Odda is therefore the only place in Ullensvang with activity in this industry.

Business Dynamism
Bankruptcies in the Industry:
- There are no registered bankruptcies in the footwear store industry in Ullensvang.
Bankruptcies in the Broader Sector (Creative, Art, and Entertainment Activities):
- Some companies in the broader sector have negative EBITDA values, but there are no bankruptcies in the footwear store industry.
Conclusion: The footwear store industry in Ullensvang has shown a stable development without bankruptcies, but there is a small market share. The broader sector has a more dynamic development, with both positive and negative EBITDA values.
Outlook
Outlook for Founders
Challenges and Opportunities:
- Stability: The only company in the industry has shown a gradual stabilization in sales and EBITDA since 2021, which may indicate a gradual improvement.
- Small Market Share: With only one company in the industry, there is a small market share, which may provide opportunities for new actors who want to expand the market.
- Bankruptcy-Free: There are no bankruptcies in the industry, which shows a stable sector.
- Necessary Innovation: To compete in a small market share, founders may need to focus on innovation, quality, or unique sales channels.
Recommendation: Founders should consider leveraging the existing stability in the industry, but also be aware of the challenges of the small market share. A focus on unique sales strategies or digital presence may be necessary to compete effectively.
Outlook for the Broader Sector
Outlook for the Broader Sector (Creative, Art, and Entertainment Activities)
Economic Overview for the Broader Sector (2016–2025):
| Year | Sales (NOK) | Employees | Year-over-Year Change (Sales) | Year-over-Year Change (Employees) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 46.8M | 70 | - | - |
| 2017 | 47.1M | 60 | +0.6% | -14.3% |
| 2018 | 41.6M | 55 | -11.6% | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 43.4M | 50 | +4.1% | -9.1% |
| 2020 | 40.2M | 43 | -7.2% | -14.0% |
| 2021 | 45.7M | 47 | +13.7% | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 45.6M | 48 | -0.3% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 47.6M | 52 | +4.3% | +8.3% |
| 2024 | 49.5M | 50 | +4.0% | -3.8% |
| 2025 | 49.5M | 42 | -0.0% | -16.0% |
Peer Companies in the Broader Sector (Top 3 by EBITDA):
| Name | Address | Sales (NOK) | Employees | EBITDA (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terje As | Røldalsvegen 19, 5750 Odda | 23.9M | 12 | 1.4M |
| Økonom Storhaug As | Røldalsvegen 21, 5750 Odda | 4.2M | 4 | 548.0K |
| Hanevik Invest As | Eitrheimshaugen 4, 5750 Odda | 2.6M | 6 | -47.0K |
Conclusion: The broader sector has a more dynamic development than the footwear store industry, with both positive and negative EBITDA values. There are more companies in the broader sector, which shows a larger market share. Founders should consider comparing their proposals with these peer companies to find possible strategies.



Other companies in kreative, kunst og underholdningsaktiviteter (not in footwear store)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terje As | clothing store | Røldalsvegen 19, 5750 Odda | NOK 23.9M | 12 | NOK 1.4M |
| Økonom Storhaug As | clothing store | Røldalsvegen 21, 5750 Odda | NOK 4.2M | 4 | NOK 548.0K |
| Aga Kreative | second-hand goods store | Åkre|Fjordavegen 2046, 5776 Nå | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Cubus Odda Avd 88c | clothing store | Kremarveien 10, 5750 Odda | NOK 0 | 6 | NOK 0 |
| Dartnorge As | clothing store | Freimsvegen 11, 5750 Odda | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Lothepus As | clothing store | Hjøllovegen 12, 5750 Odda | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Malli As | clothing store | Almenningsvegen 5, 5750 Odda | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Malli As Konkursbo | clothing store | Almenningsvegen 5, 5750 Odda | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Mb Haga Enk | knit store | Freimsvegen 1, 5750 Odda | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Nina Bay Reistad | second-hand goods store | Eitrheimsvegen 27, 5750 Odda | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Skulehuset, Silje Solvi | second-hand goods store | Tømmervikvegen 10, 5627 Jondal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Skulehuset, Silje Solvi | second-hand goods store | Tømmervikvegen 10, 5627 Jondal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Esco As | clothing store | Jordalsvegen 15, 5750 Odda | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK -41.0K |
| Hanevik Invest As | clothing store | Eitrheimshaugen 4, 5750 Odda | NOK 2.6M | 6 | NOK -47.0K |
| Odda Husflidsutsal As | national clothing store | Gamlevegen 206, 5777 Grimo | NOK 135.0K | 1 | NOK -47.0K |
Conclusion
The footwear store industry in Ullensvang is a small but stable sector with one company, As Ragnar Karlsen, which has shown a gradual stabilization in sales and EBITDA since 2021. The industry has not recorded any bankruptcies, but there is a small market share, which may provide opportunities for new actors who want to expand the market. The broader sector (creative, art, and entertainment activities) has a more dynamic development, with both positive and negative EBITDA values. Founders should consider leveraging the existing stability in the industry, but also be aware of the challenges of the small market share. A focus on innovation, quality, or unique sales strategies may be necessary to compete effectively. SmartGrunder can help founders find suitable addresses in Ullensvang for this industry, based on natural conditions and development trends.