Knit Store Industry in Inner Østfold: A Comprehensive Analysis

Industry Overview

The knit store industry in Inner Østfold consists of 11 companies distributed across several municipalities in the area. The most active city is Askim, which hosts 10 of the 11 companies. The industry has a mix of organizational forms, with 2 AS companies and 9 ENK companies. The most well-known companies include Hobbyhjørnet As and Askim Garnhus Tre Varme Hjerter Julie Eikeland. Although some companies have negative EBITDA margins, there are no registered bankruptcies in the industry at the moment.

Sales and Employees:

• Sales: The industry had total sales of NOK 5.8 million in 2025, with an annual growth of +19% compared to 2024. This represents a significant decline from 2021 (NOK 2.3 million) to 2022 (NOK 4.1 million), but stabilization since then.
• Employees: The number of employees has varied significantly, peaking at 10 employees in 2020 and declining to 3 employees in 2021. In 2025, there are again 10 employees.

Margins and Operating Profit:

• Most companies have negative EBITDA margins, particularly Skandun As with an EBITDA margin of -1405%. Hobbyhjørnet As, however, has a positive EBITDA margin of 2%.
• The average gross profit is 61%, but the operating profit is negative for most companies.

Company List:

Organizational Form:

• AS: 2 companies, 8 employees, total sales of NOK 5.8M, EBITDA of -17.5M.
• ENK: 1 company, 2 employees, no sales or EBITDA.

Bankruptcy Statistics:

None of the companies in the industry are currently registered as bankrupt.

Company Distribution:

• Askim: 10 companies, 10 employees, sales of NOK 5.8M, EBITDA of -17.5M.
• Mysen: 1 company (Marit Og Lises Stoff Ans), no employees, no sales.
• Tomter: 1 company (Strikkdet Tonje Kristine Gran Gabrielsen), no employees, no sales.

Municipalities Outside Askim:

Companies in Mysen and Tomter have no sales or employees, indicating they are not actively operated. Most activities are concentrated in Askim.

Operating Profit and Stability:

• Most companies have negative EBITDA margins, particularly Skandun As with an EBITDA margin of -1405%. Hobbyhjørnet As, however, has a positive EBITDA margin of 2%.
• Bankruptcy: No companies in the industry are currently registered as bankrupt, despite some having negative operating profits.

Sales Development:

• Sales declined by -33.7% from 2016 to 2017, but increased by +78.6% from 2021 to 2022. In 2025, sales are NOK 5.8M, an increase of +19.2% compared to 2024.

Employees:

• The number of employees declined by -70.0% from 2020 to 2021, but increased by +80.0% from 2022 to 2023. In 2025, there are 10 employees, the same number as in 2020.

Outlook for Founders

Opportunities and Challenges:

• Niche Market: The knit store industry is relatively small, but there are opportunities to focus on local customers and craft culture in Inner Østfold.
• Bankruptcy Risk: Although no companies are bankrupt, several have negative EBITDA margins, which could be a challenge for new founders.
• Competition from Competitors: There are no bankruptcies in the industry, but there are competitors such as H&M and Cubus in the area, which could be a challenge.
• Trend: Increasing interest in crafts and DIY could be an opportunity to create unique products and services.

Recommendation:

Founders should consider differentiating themselves through unique products, strong local connections, and digital presence to compete with larger chains.

Broader Industry Grouping:

• Number of Companies: 91 companies in creative, arts, and entertainment activities, compared to 11 companies in the knit store industry.
• Sales: Total sales of NOK 97.0 million in 2025, a decline of -40.3% compared to 2024.
• Employees: 151 employees in 2026, a decline of -2.6% compared to 2025.

Peer Companies:

Bankruptcy Risk: There are no bankruptcies in creative, arts, and entertainment activities, but there are several companies with negative EBITDA margins.

The knit store industry in Inner Østfold has a mix of companies with both positive and negative economic results. The most actively operating companies are in Askim, and there are opportunities to develop in a niche market. Founders should consider focusing on local customers and unique products to compete with larger chains. SmartGrunder can help founders find suitable addresses in Inner Østfold for this industry.