Industry · municipality
Knitting Industry in Klepp: Key Figures, Companies, and Outlook
Analysis of the Knitting Industry in Klepp Municipality Based on Operational Data, Company Structure, and Market Development (2016–2025). This is a SmartGrunder analysis for entrepreneurs and local decision-makers in Klepp, Rogaland, Norway.
Executive Summary
Industry Overview
Klepp has an active knitting industry with 3 companies registered in the municipality. This industry shows both strengths and challenges: Yarnmania As (Klepp Station) has strong financial results with NOK 190.3 million operating income and NOK 12.1 million EBITDA, while Unikt Garn As (Kleppe) and Ragnhild Roalkvams handicraft shop have no operating income. There is a clear difference in the scale and stability of the business.
Development Trends
Sales in the industry have grown strongly since 2018, with an increase from NOK 47 million in 2018 to NOK 190.7 million in 2024. Employee development has been more uneven, with a peak of 34 employees in 2019 and a decline to 16 employees in 2025. The EBITDA margin for Yarnmania As is 6%, indicating good cost control.
Parent Industry Comparison
The industry is part of the broader creative, arts, and entertainment activities group, which has 28 companies in Klepp. This group has a higher sales growth (NOK 260.6 million in 2024) compared to the knitting industry. Peer companies such as Match Jærhagen Avd 222 (NOK 8.8 million sales) and Kappahl As Avd 350 Klepp (NOK 13.4 million sales) show that there are larger players in the area.
Economic Overview
Sales and Employee Development
| Year | Sales (NOK) | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1.8 million | 7 |
| 2017 | 0.7 million | 2 |
| 2018 | 47.0 million | 14 |
| 2019 | 101.2 million | 34 |
| 2020 | 139.3 million | 15 |
| 2021 | 160.2 million | 15 |
| 2022 | 164.0 million | 18 |
| 2023 | 157.8 million | 19 |
| 2024 | 190.7 million | 23 |
| 2025 | 185.6 million | 16 |
Key Figures:
- Largest Sales Growth: +6664.9% from 2017 to 2018
- Largest Decline: -30.4% from 2024 to 2025
- Average EBITDA Margin: 6% (Yarnmania As)
- Average Operating Margin: 5% (Yarnmania As)
Companies in the Industry
Yarnmania As (Møllevegen 22, Klepp Station):
- Company Type: AS
- Founded: 2008
- Employees: 15
- Operating Income: NOK 190.3 million
- EBITDA: NOK 12.1 million
- Debt: NOK 28.9 million
Unikt Garn As (Torgvegen 2A, Kleppe):
- Company Type: AS
- Founded: 2020
- Employees: 2
- Operating Income: 0
- EBITDA: 0
Ragnhild Roalkvams handicraft shop (Selevegen 270, Voll):
- Company Type: ENK
- Founded: 1995
- Employees: 0
- Operating Income: 0
- EBITDA: 0
Company Type Statistics:
- AS: 2 companies, 17 employees, NOK 190.3 million operating income
- ENK: 1 company, 0 employees, NOK 0 operating income
Business Geography
| Location | Number of Companies | Number of Employees | Operating Income (NOK) | Sales (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klepp Station | 1 | 15 | 190.3M | 187.2M |
| Kleppe | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Key Figures for Klepp Station:
- Operating Income per Employee: NOK 12.8 million
- EBITDA Margin: 6%
- Average Gross Margin: 46%
Key Figures for Kleppe:
- Operating Income per Employee: 0
- EBITDA Margin: 0%
- Average Gross Margin: 0%
Business Dynamics
Bankruptcies: No bankruptcies registered in the knitting industry in Klepp.
Unstable Companies:
- Unikt Garn As and Ragnhild Roalkvams handicraft shop have no operating income and no sales.
- Yarnmania As has a high debt level (NOK 28.9 million) compared to equity (NOK 16.4 million).
Employee Fluctuations:
- Largest Growth: +600% from 2017 to 2018
- Largest Decline: -55.9% from 2019 to 2020
- Average Number of Employees: 17 (2016–2026)
Outlook
Outlook for Entrepreneurs
Opportunities:
- Yarnmania As shows that it is possible to achieve high sales levels (NOK 190.3 million) and good cost control (6% EBITDA margin) in the industry.
- Larger market share in the broader creative industry (NOK 260.6 million sales in 2024) can provide synergies.
Challenges:
- Two of the three companies have no operating income, showing the industry's uncertainty.
- High debt level (NOK 28.9 million) at Yarnmania As can be a risk.
- Unstable employee numbers (from 2 to 34) make it difficult to plan resources.
Recommendation:
- Focus on digitalization and quality products to stand out in a competitive market.
- Collaborate with peer companies in the creative industry (e.g., Match Jærhagen Avd 222) to utilize social capacities.
Parent Industry Outlook
Parent Industry Comparison
The creative, arts, and entertainment activities group in Klepp has:
- 28 companies (vs. 3 in the knitting industry)
- NOK 260.6 million sales in 2024 (vs. NOK 190.7 million in the knitting industry)
- 91 employees in 2024 (vs. 23 in the knitting industry)
Peer Companies with High EBITDA:
| Company | EBITDA (NOK) | Sales (NOK) | Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match Jærhagen Avd 222 | 1.9M | 8.8M | 8 |
| Kappahl As Avd 350 Klepp | 1.5M | 13.4M | 12 |
| Cubus Jærhagen Avd 87d | 1.2M | 12.7M | 7 |
Conclusion: The broader creative industry has both larger volume and more stable companies, which can provide entrepreneurs with better opportunities for collaboration and resource sharing.
Other companies in kreative, kunst og underholdningsaktiviteter (not in knit store)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match Jærhagen Avd 222 | clothing store | Jærhagen|Solavegen 25, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 8.8M | 8 | NOK 1.9M |
| Kappahl As Avd 350 Klepp | clothing store | Solavegen 25, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 13.4M | 12 | NOK 1.5M |
| Cubus Jærhagen Avd 87d | clothing store | Solavegen 25, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 12.7M | 7 | NOK 1.2M |
| Dressmann As Avd 107 Jærhagen | clothing store | Solavegen 25, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 6.8M | 6 | NOK 1.1M |
| Spotlight Fashion As | clothing store | Solavegen 25|Jærhagen, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 9.5M | 12 | NOK 1.0M |
| City Outlet As | clothing store | Solavegen 25, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 5.5M | 6 | NOK 466.0K |
| Christins As | clothing store | Jærvegen 536, 4350 Kleppe | NOK 4.6M | 1 | NOK 453.0K |
| Anita Mathiassen | clothing store | Kjøttmeisvegen 3, 4353 Klepp Stasjon | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Anita Mathiassen | clothing store | Kjøttmeisvegen 3, 4353 Klepp Stasjon | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Box Of Trinkets, Hovland | clothing store | Høyvegen 68, 4350 Kleppe | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Eurosko Jærhagen | footwear store | Solavegen 25, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 0 | 5 | NOK 0 |
| Goe Møbler Dysjaland | second-hand goods store | Turnvegen 10, 4350 Kleppe | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Horpestad Gjenbruk | second-hand goods store | Bjørkestubben 4, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Hyrhrokkin As | clothing store | Orstadbakken 36, 4355 Kvernaland | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Mamma Og Mini Da | clothing store | Bøkevegen 15D, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Maråk Butikkdrift Enk | clothing store | Eskervegen 3C, 4341 Bryne | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Millixn Clothing Salomonsen | clothing store | Vesleforen 7, 4353 Klepp Stasjon | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| R.e. Trading Rosette Inoc | footwear store | Pollestadmyra 10C, 4343 Orre | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Ret Vest As | second-hand goods store | Pollestadmyra 10C, 4343 Orre | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Shaycray Kaeola | clothing store | Kjelvene 22, 4350 Kleppe | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Simply Iris'istable Fashion By Smg Ferrer | clothing store | Kvednadalen 30, 4353 Klepp Stasjon | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Snos Jærhagen As | footwear store | Solavegen 25, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 0 | 5 | NOK 0 |
| Tsokiev | clothing store | Sandmyrvegen 62, 4341 Bryne | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Zavanna Jærhagen Avd 820 | clothing store | Solavegen 25, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 1.0M | 0 | NOK -116.8K |
| Solid Klepp As | clothing store | Solavegen 25, 4351 Kleppe | NOK 1.3M | 0 | NOK -621.0K |
Conclusion
Klepp has a potentially interesting knitting industry with Yarnmania As as a stable player. However, there are challenges with the other two companies and the high debt. Entrepreneurs should consider strengths in the broader creative industry and collaborate with players such as Match Jærhagen and Kappahl As. SmartGrunder can help find optimal locations in Klepp for a new knitting activity, with a focus on digitalization and quality focus.