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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Japan's drugstore sector is in the midst of consolidation through organic expansion and M&amp;A but who are the leaders and how do they compare?</li>
<li>We provide snapshot profiles on each of the key players, their current strategies and future outlook.</li>
<li>With the sector increasingly threatening the supermarket and convenience store sectors, many of these names will come to dominate Japanese retailing in the next decade.</li>
</ul>


Japan's drugstore sector is in the midst of consolidation through organic expansion and M&amp;A but who are the leaders and how do they compare?
We provide snapshot profiles on each of the key players, their current strategies and future outlook.
With the sector increasingly threatening the supermarket and convenience store sectors, many of these names will come to dominate Japanese retailing in the next decade.


<ul>
<li>The big merger between Welcia and Tsuruha is part of a wider concentration of market share in the drugstore sector as the leaders take on supermarkets and even convenience stores.</li>
<li>Japan's drugstores have morphed into multiple sub-formats, selling food and other FMCG products in ever higher ratios, creating massive pressure for other sectors. </li>
<li>The net effect is the emergence of a powerful new retail sector that is impacting all other FMCG retail formats and even lifestyle categories like cosmetics.</li>
</ul>


The big merger between Welcia and Tsuruha is part of a wider concentration of market share in the drugstore sector as the leaders take on supermarkets and even convenience stores.
Japan's drugstores have morphed into multiple sub-formats, selling food and other FMCG products in ever higher ratios, creating massive pressure for other sectors. 
The net effect is the emergence of a powerful new retail sector that is impacting all other FMCG retail formats and even lifestyle categories like cosmetics.


Japan Drugstores: More M&A as Sector Attacks Supermarkets and Conbini

Equity Bottom-Up

GOLDWIN INC. manufactures and markets sportswear for skiing, snowboarding, soccer, tennis, swimming, and other outdoor activities.

<ul>
<li>As expected, Goldwin posted another record year of sales and profits in FY2023.</li>
<li>The sports firm is now narrowing its focus on a smaller number of high profile brands to maximise sales and investment spending.</li>
<li>The big promise is its own brand, Goldwin, which is proving as popular overseas as in Japan and looks set to become a global premium sports brand longer-term.</li>
</ul>


As expected, Goldwin posted another record year of sales and profits in FY2023.
The sports firm is now narrowing its focus on a smaller number of high profile brands to maximise sales and investment spending.
The big promise is its own brand, Goldwin, which is proving as popular overseas as in Japan and looks set to become a global premium sports brand longer-term.


Goldwin Focusing on Core Brands, Aims for Global Success

UNITED ARROWS LTD., operates fashion stores, specializing in casual clothing and accessory for men and women.  The Company has stores nationwide.  Main forces are United Arrows, Green Label Relaxing and Chrome Hearts.

<ul>
<li>The premium fashion market in Japan is growing again and it is not just department stores.</li>
<li>One of the leader is United Arrows, whose main urban chains are on a roll, up double digits, but is being held back by lower priced suburban chains.</li>
<li>It will now focus more  on the premium market through aggressive category expansion, new brands and M&amp;A.</li>
</ul>


The premium fashion market in Japan is growing again and it is not just department stores.
One of the leader is United Arrows, whose main urban chains are on a roll, up double digits, but is being held back by lower priced suburban chains.
It will now focus more  on the premium market through aggressive category expansion, new brands and M&amp;A.


Event-Driven

LAWSON, INC. operates a chain of convenience stores in Japan. The Company sells a variety of products including fast food, beverages, snacks, magazines, newspapers, and sundry goods.

<ul>
<li>KDDI will complete its acquisition of a 50% share in Lawson this month and the chain will then delist.</li>
<li>KDDI is promising a rapid introduction of services and fresh ideas to leverage its new retail arm.</li>
<li>It will begin by unifying premium loyalty point membership under the Ponta brand and offer new services that it hopes will help boost share. What out LY.</li>
</ul>


KDDI will complete its acquisition of a 50% share in Lawson this month and the chain will then delist.
KDDI is promising a rapid introduction of services and fresh ideas to leverage its new retail arm.
It will begin by unifying premium loyalty point membership under the Ponta brand and offer new services that it hopes will help boost share. What out LY.


KDDI and Lawson: Loyalty Points Just the Start