Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Equity Bottom-Up

ITOCHU Corporation is a general trading firm handling textiles, wood, machinery, metals, food, chemicals, construction materials, commodities, and energy related products such as oil and gas. The Company operates around the world. Itochu diversifies by operating in satellite communication and data communication businesses.

<ul>
<li>Warren Buffett is investing more in Japan's trading companies for a variety of reasons but Itochu stands alone in its dominance of Japan's fashion sector.</li>
<li>Itochu continues to emphasise investment in consumer brands, particularly fashion and sports, but will now adjust its decades-old playbook, introducing more direct oversight of subsidiaries and affiliates.</li>
<li>This will include a big new push to turn Vivienne Westwood into a luxury brand, upgrading Paul Smith and bringing <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/descente-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8225:1" rel="noopener">Descente Ltd (8114 JP)</a> in-house</li>
</ul>


Warren Buffett is investing more in Japan's trading companies for a variety of reasons but Itochu stands alone in its dominance of Japan's fashion sector.
Itochu continues to emphasise investment in consumer brands, particularly fashion and sports, but will now adjust its decades-old playbook, introducing more direct oversight of subsidiaries and affiliates.
This will include a big new push to turn Vivienne Westwood into a luxury brand, upgrading Paul Smith and bringing Descente Ltd (8114 JP) in-house


Itochu the Fashion Giant Doubles Down on Brand Business

WORKMAN CO., LTD. designs, produces, and retails work uniforms and related goods including work gloves and safety shoes.  The Company operates its own stores and franchise stores located throughout eastern Japan.

<ul>
<li>Workman’s slower same-store growth can be blamed on its shift to mass market fashion and the choice of Workman Joshi as a banner, putting off male customers. </li>
<li>The outdoor and workwear retailer has now acknowledged the misstep and will rebrand the chain as Workman Colors while adjusting merchandise back to more apparel basics.</li>
<li>This will take time to implement but could mean a return to form for the apparel retailer.</li>
</ul>


Workman’s slower same-store growth can be blamed on its shift to mass market fashion and the choice of Workman Joshi as a banner, putting off male customers. 
The outdoor and workwear retailer has now acknowledged the misstep and will rebrand the chain as Workman Colors while adjusting merchandise back to more apparel basics.
This will take time to implement but could mean a return to form for the apparel retailer.


Workman Fixes the Big Problem: Colors Replaces Workman Joshi

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. is a holding company which was established through the merger of Ito-Yokado Co., Seven Eleven Japan Co., and Denny's Japan. The Company plans, manages, and operates mainly convenience stores, supermarkets, and department stores.

<ul>
<li>Seven &amp; I continues to seek shareholder approval for its own path, offering not just improved efficiency but a massive ¥2 trillion buyback albeit one over a long time frame.</li>
<li>This is a lot, especially when the core Seven Eleven chain in Japan is still struggling to keep up with its peers on monthly growth rates.</li>
<li>But this forgets retail media which is set to become a major new income stream for CVS and, judging by forecasts, would help pay for a chunk of that buyback.</li>
</ul>


Seven &amp; I continues to seek shareholder approval for its own path, offering not just improved efficiency but a massive ¥2 trillion buyback albeit one over a long time frame.
This is a lot, especially when the core Seven Eleven chain in Japan is still struggling to keep up with its peers on monthly growth rates.
But this forgets retail media which is set to become a major new income stream for CVS and, judging by forecasts, would help pay for a chunk of that buyback.


Retail Media Can Help Pay for a ¥2 Trillion Buyback

Private Capital Markets

FamilyMart Co Ltd / Private Capital Markets

FamilyMart Co., Ltd. operates convenience store chains. The Company provides rice balls, hot snacks, stews, beverages, and other products. FamilyMart conducts businesses in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, and other countries and regions.

<ul>
<li>Ever since Itochu Shoji acquired Familymart, it has tried to leverage the more than 16,000 stores to sell product from its many other interests, including clothing. </li>
<li>With Convenience Wear a clear hit, it is now going further, adding new cosmetics and other products for the young.</li>
<li>It is also bringing in The Bathing Ape’s founder to turn Familymart into a new kind of Conbini-Variety store.</li>
</ul>


Ever since Itochu Shoji acquired Familymart, it has tried to leverage the more than 16,000 stores to sell product from its many other interests, including clothing. 
With Convenience Wear a clear hit, it is now going further, adding new cosmetics and other products for the young.
It is also bringing in The Bathing Ape’s founder to turn Familymart into a new kind of Conbini-Variety store.


Familymart Adding Variety Flavour to Chain Under Nigo

Rakuten Group, Inc. provides Internet services. The Company offers Internet finance services which including "Rakuten Card" and "Rakuten Bank". Rakuten Group also provides digital content services including electronic book services.

<ul>
<li>Amazon’s growing lead in Japan’s e-commerce market looks increasingly inexorable. </li>
<li>While growth in Japan was slower than some other Amazon markets, it still outpaced Rakuten. LY Corp did better but partly in reaction to poor results the year before. </li>
<li>Meanwhile, a recent survey suggests growing interest in brand-operated online stores, particularly to read more in-depth content and use brand-based points.</li>
</ul>


Amazon’s growing lead in Japan’s e-commerce market looks increasingly inexorable. 
While growth in Japan was slower than some other Amazon markets, it still outpaced Rakuten. LY Corp did better but partly in reaction to poor results the year before. 
Meanwhile, a recent survey suggests growing interest in brand-operated online stores, particularly to read more in-depth content and use brand-based points.


The Big 3: Amazon’s Lead Grows as Rakuten Stumbles

JapanConsuming
Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

Itochu the Fashion Giant Doubles Down on Brand Business

Warren Buffett is investing in Japan's trading companies for good reason but only Itochu has a big share of the fashion sector through Itochu...

Michael Causton

Workman Fixes the Big Problem: Colors Replaces Workman Joshi

Workman has posted slower and more inconsistent growth due to a shift to mass market fashion and a confused choice of banner but a rebranding as...

Michael Causton

Retail Media Can Help Pay for a ¥2 Trillion Buyback

Seven & I seeks shareholder approval for ¥2 trillion buyback despite Seven Eleven's struggles, but retail media could potentially help fund a...

Michael Causton

Familymart Adding Variety Flavour to Chain Under Nigo

Familymart offerings beyond Convenience Wear now include cosmetics and other products for the young, with plans to create a Conbini-Variety store...

Michael Causton

The Big 3: Amazon’s Lead Grows as Rakuten Stumbles

Amazon continues to dominate Japan's e-commerce market, outpacing Rakuten in growth despite slower progress compared to other markets.

Michael Causton

Itochu the Fashion Giant Doubles Down on Brand Business

​Warren Buffett is investing in Japan's trading companies for good reason but only Itochu has a big share of the fashion sector through Itochu...

Michael Causton

Workman Fixes the Big Problem: Colors Replaces Workman Joshi

​Workman has posted slower and more inconsistent growth due to a shift to mass market fashion and a confused choice of banner but a rebranding as...

Michael Causton

Retail Media Can Help Pay for a ¥2 Trillion Buyback

​Seven & I seeks shareholder approval for ¥2 trillion buyback despite Seven Eleven's struggles, but retail media could potentially help fund a...

Michael Causton

Familymart Adding Variety Flavour to Chain Under Nigo

Familymart offerings beyond Convenience Wear now include cosmetics and other products for the young, with plans to create a Conbini-Variety store...

Michael Causton

The Big 3: Amazon’s Lead Grows as Rakuten Stumbles

​Amazon continues to dominate Japan's e-commerce market, outpacing Rakuten in growth despite slower progress compared to other markets.

Michael Causton

Warren Buffett is investing in Japan's trading companies for good reason but only Itochu has a big share of the fashion sector through Itochu...

Workman has posted slower and more inconsistent growth due to a shift to mass market fashion and a confused choice of banner but a rebranding as...

Seven & I seeks shareholder approval for ¥2 trillion buyback despite Seven Eleven's struggles, but retail media could potentially help fund a...

Amazon continues to dominate Japan's e-commerce market, outpacing Rakuten in growth despite slower progress compared to other markets.