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

ABC-MART, INC. plans, develops, wholesales, and retails shoes.  The Company also plans and develops brand name shoes such as VANS and G.T. HAWKINS.  ABC-Mart imports and wholesales shoes, apparel, bags, and sundries as well.

<ul>
<li>The disparity between the leading footwear retailers continues to widen.</li>
<li>ABC Mart is pulling so far ahead that it has the market almost to itself. </li>
<li>Chiyoda may have finally turned the corner but G-Foot may need further financial support from Aeon.</li>
</ul>


The disparity between the leading footwear retailers continues to widen.
ABC Mart is pulling so far ahead that it has the market almost to itself. 
Chiyoda may have finally turned the corner but G-Foot may need further financial support from Aeon.


ABC Mart Forges Further Ahead of Competitors

LY Corporation operates as an internet search engine "Yahoo! JAPAN". The Company provides electronic commerce and settlement finance services for small medium enterprises and individuals. LY also operates media business including search linked advertising and display advertising services.

<ul>
<li>There’s been something of a reversal of fortunes in online shopping malls, as Yahoo Shopping regains some of the losses of the past 18 months while Rakuten suffers a setback.</li>
<li>Much of Yahoo Shopping's bounce back has come on the back of marketing through loyalty point programmes.</li>
<li>Both companies expect further gains going forward from more cross-use and expansion of categories, including a new tie-up between Rakuten and Nihon L’Oreal.</li>
</ul>


There’s been something of a reversal of fortunes in online shopping malls, as Yahoo Shopping regains some of the losses of the past 18 months while Rakuten suffers a setback.
Much of Yahoo Shopping's bounce back has come on the back of marketing through loyalty point programmes.
Both companies expect further gains going forward from more cross-use and expansion of categories, including a new tie-up between Rakuten and Nihon L’Oreal.


Yahoo Shopping up and Rakuten Ichiba Down

Event-Driven

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>Recent reports suggest an MBO if firming up, with partial sale of US to ACT and even the Japan CVS business so a big value solution for all concerned.</li>
<li>Not so fast: an ACT purchase of 7-11 US looks more likely to be blocked given yesterday's ruling on the merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons.</li>
<li>The valuation of the Japan business may need a correction too if the last six months of poor numbers continue – given this is because of price perception, they may.</li>
</ul>


Recent reports suggest an MBO if firming up, with partial sale of US to ACT and even the Japan CVS business so a big value solution for all concerned.
Not so fast: an ACT purchase of 7-11 US looks more likely to be blocked given yesterday's ruling on the merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons.
The valuation of the Japan business may need a correction too if the last six months of poor numbers continue – given this is because of price perception, they may.


7&I (3382JP) - Spanners in the Works: FTC Blocks Another US Retail Merger and 7-11 Japan Sales Slump

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 was a purveyor of durable gear for workers in jobs like construction but then had the brilliant idea to transpose that expertise to create activewear like Decathlon.</li>
<li>This was working well but then it decided to take on the likes of Fast Retailing and Shimamura by moving into casual clothing.</li>
<li>Since then, same-store sales growth has been negative in many months and profits have fallen. The outlook is increasingly poor.</li>
</ul>


Workman was a purveyor of durable gear for workers in jobs like construction but then had the brilliant idea to transpose that expertise to create activewear like Decathlon.
This was working well but then it decided to take on the likes of Fast Retailing and Shimamura by moving into casual clothing.
Since then, same-store sales growth has been negative in many months and profits have fallen. The outlook is increasingly poor.


Adastria Co., Ltd. operates a chain of clothing stores in Japan. The Company also operates stores in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/adastria-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11895:1" rel="noopener">Adastria Co Ltd (2685 JP)</a> has rebuilt and renamed its online store as it aims to create a major fashion mall to rival the likes of Zozo and Rakuten Fashion.</li>
<li>Unlike those rivals, it has a chain of stores linked to the mall, an advantage in a market where omnichannel is well supported by customers.</li>
<li>To boost sales from younger Japanese with fewer savings, it has also tied with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/acom-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8897:1" rel="noopener">Acom Co Ltd (8572 JP)</a> to offer small loans.</li>
</ul>



Adastria Co Ltd (2685 JP) has rebuilt and renamed its online store as it aims to create a major fashion mall to rival the likes of Zozo and Rakuten Fashion.
Unlike those rivals, it has a chain of stores linked to the mall, an advantage in a market where omnichannel is well supported by customers.
To boost sales from younger Japanese with fewer savings, it has also tied with Acom Co Ltd (8572 JP) to offer small loans.


Adastria Targets Zozo with New Online Mall, ‘And ST’

JapanConsuming
Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

ABC Mart Forges Further Ahead of Competitors

ABC Mart is dominating the footwear retail market, leaving competitors like Chiyoda and G-Foot struggling to keep up. ABC also has a strong growth...

Michael Causton

Yahoo Shopping up and Rakuten Ichiba Down

Yahoo Shopping sees a resurgence with loyalty point programs, while Rakuten faces setbacks. Both companies anticipate growth through cross-use and...

Michael Causton

7&I (3382JP) - Spanners in the Works: FTC Blocks Another US Retail Merger and 7-11 Japan Sales Slump

Potential MBO of a firm may not be as straightforward as initially thought, with potential hurdles in the form of a blocked ACT purchase and a...

Michael Causton

Workman Under Pressure

Workman's shift from durable work gear to casual clothing has led to declining sales and profits, challenging its once successful business model.

Michael Causton

Adastria Targets Zozo with New Online Mall, ‘And ST’

Adastria Co Ltd aims to rival Zozo and Rakuten Fashion with a new online store and omnichannel strategy, targeting younger Japanese with small...

Michael Causton

ABC Mart Forges Further Ahead of Competitors

​ABC Mart is dominating the footwear retail market, leaving competitors like Chiyoda and G-Foot struggling to keep up. ABC also has a strong growth...

Michael Causton

Yahoo Shopping up and Rakuten Ichiba Down

​Yahoo Shopping sees a resurgence with loyalty point programs, while Rakuten faces setbacks. Both companies anticipate growth through cross-use and...

Michael Causton

7&I (3382JP) - Spanners in the Works: FTC Blocks Another US Retail Merger and 7-11 Japan Sales Slump

​Potential MBO of a firm may not be as straightforward as initially thought, with potential hurdles in the form of a blocked ACT purchase and a...

Michael Causton

Workman Under Pressure

​Workman's shift from durable work gear to casual clothing has led to declining sales and profits, challenging its once successful business model.

Michael Causton

Adastria Targets Zozo with New Online Mall, ‘And ST’

​Adastria Co Ltd aims to rival Zozo and Rakuten Fashion with a new online store and omnichannel strategy, targeting younger Japanese with small...

Michael Causton

ABC Mart is dominating the footwear retail market, leaving competitors like Chiyoda and G-Foot struggling to keep up. ABC also has a strong growth...

Yahoo Shopping sees a resurgence with loyalty point programs, while Rakuten faces setbacks. Both companies anticipate growth through cross-use and...

Potential MBO of a firm may not be as straightforward as initially thought, with potential hurdles in the form of a blocked ACT purchase and a...

Workman's shift from durable work gear to casual clothing has led to declining sales and profits, challenging its once successful business model.

Adastria Co Ltd aims to rival Zozo and Rakuten Fashion with a new online store and omnichannel strategy, targeting younger Japanese with small...