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

<ul>
<li>M&amp;A is now a core strategy for expansion among lifestyle retailers as depopulation shrinks the overall market. </li>
<li>Adastria is leading this trend, acquiring several businesses in the past year, and will now add variety stores from Welcome, the operator of Dean &amp; Deluca, and a restaurant chain.</li>
<li>It is also developing new product lines in categories as diverse as sexual wellbeing and home decor, all part of wider plans to become Japan’s “biggest general lifestyle retailer”.</li>
</ul>


M&amp;A is now a core strategy for expansion among lifestyle retailers as depopulation shrinks the overall market. 
Adastria is leading this trend, acquiring several businesses in the past year, and will now add variety stores from Welcome, the operator of Dean &amp; Deluca, and a restaurant chain.
It is also developing new product lines in categories as diverse as sexual wellbeing and home decor, all part of wider plans to become Japan’s “biggest general lifestyle retailer”.


Adastria Bets on Diversification for Future Growth

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The following is an in-depth review of the Japanese retail sector in 2021-22 and is designed to provide a complete overview for any investor in Japanese retail/consumer markets.</li>
<li>FY2021-22 proved a rebound year for retailers at the sector level. But on a company by company basis, there has been radical divergence between the best and the rest. </li>
<li>We look at the reasons for this divergence and the implications for Japanese retail and consumer firms in the years ahead.</li>
</ul>


The following is an in-depth review of the Japanese retail sector in 2021-22 and is designed to provide a complete overview for any investor in Japanese retail/consumer markets.
FY2021-22 proved a rebound year for retailers at the sector level. But on a company by company basis, there has been radical divergence between the best and the rest. 
We look at the reasons for this divergence and the implications for Japanese retail and consumer firms in the years ahead.


Japanese Retailing 2021-22: What's Really Going on and What's Next?

Honeys Holdings Co., Ltd. / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Low cost apparel retailers have enjoyed a significant uptick in the past few years as consumers look to polarise their spending further between cheaper basics and luxury treats. </li>
<li>But the real change is in improving profitability. One the biggest beneficiaries has been Honeys, a low cost womenswear retailer that has seen a revival in the past few years.</li>
<li>Operating profit has tripled since 2018. Can it last? Work on creating its own low cost manufacturing base suggests it can.</li>
</ul>


Low cost apparel retailers have enjoyed a significant uptick in the past few years as consumers look to polarise their spending further between cheaper basics and luxury treats. 
But the real change is in improving profitability. One the biggest beneficiaries has been Honeys, a low cost womenswear retailer that has seen a revival in the past few years.
Operating profit has tripled since 2018. Can it last? Work on creating its own low cost manufacturing base suggests it can.


<ul>
<li>Ryohin Keikaku's biggest weakness is its unwieldy and expensive supply chains, with hundreds of suppliers across its three main categories of household, apparel and food.</li>
<li>The Muji operator just acquired a large team from one of its principle clothing supply partners, Mitsubishi, to finally streamline its supply chains and improve cost performance in clothing. </li>
<li>This should have a positive impact on its cost of goods, margins and inventory levels, allowing for quicker responses to trends at a lower price at home and overseas.</li>
</ul>


Ryohin Keikaku's biggest weakness is its unwieldy and expensive supply chains, with hundreds of suppliers across its three main categories of household, apparel and food.
The Muji operator just acquired a large team from one of its principle clothing supply partners, Mitsubishi, to finally streamline its supply chains and improve cost performance in clothing. 
This should have a positive impact on its cost of goods, margins and inventory levels, allowing for quicker responses to trends at a lower price at home and overseas.


Ryohin Keikaku: Finally Fixing Its Biggest Weakness?

<ul>
<li>The clothing sections of GMS chains and supermarkets have declined so far in relevance that most assume the format will disappear entirely. </li>
<li>But new efforts by Aeon, as well as collaborations by the likes of Ito-Yokado, could lead to a new lease of life and higher margins.</li>
<li>This may impact on retailers like Shimamura but the more likely result will be new opportunities to takeover supermarket apparel floors as Adastria is doing already.</li>
</ul>


The clothing sections of GMS chains and supermarkets have declined so far in relevance that most assume the format will disappear entirely. 
But new efforts by Aeon, as well as collaborations by the likes of Ito-Yokado, could lead to a new lease of life and higher margins.
This may impact on retailers like Shimamura but the more likely result will be new opportunities to takeover supermarket apparel floors as Adastria is doing already.


Japan

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

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Adastria Co Ltd (2685 JP)

Adastria Bets on Diversification for Future Growth

Lifestyle retailers turn to M&A for growth amid depopulation, with Adastria leading the trend by acquiring new businesses and expanding product...

Michael Causton

Japanese Retailing 2021-22: What's Really Going on and What's Next?

There is increasing divergence between the winners and losers in Japanese retailing and the following in-depth review looks at performance in the...

Michael Causton

Sweet Honeys: A Profit Machine

Low cost apparel retailers are seeing increased profitability, with Honeys leading the way through a revival and focus on creating a low cost...

Michael Causton

Ryohin Keikaku: Finally Fixing Its Biggest Weakness?

Muji operator Ryohin Keikaku looks set to improve its supply chains and cost performance in clothing by acquiring a team from Mitsubishi, leading...

Michael Causton

A Supermarket Clothing Revival in Japan?

GMS chains and supermarkets are reviving their clothing sections, potentially creating new opportunities for higher margins at GMS operations.

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Adastria Bets on Diversification for Future Growth

​Lifestyle retailers turn to M&A for growth amid depopulation, with Adastria leading the trend by acquiring new businesses and expanding product...

Michael Causton

Japanese Retailing 2021-22: What's Really Going on and What's Next?

There is increasing divergence between the winners and losers in Japanese retailing and the following in-depth review looks at performance in the...

Michael Causton

Sweet Honeys: A Profit Machine

​Low cost apparel retailers are seeing increased profitability, with Honeys leading the way through a revival and focus on creating a low cost...

Michael Causton

Ryohin Keikaku: Finally Fixing Its Biggest Weakness?

​Muji operator Ryohin Keikaku looks set to improve its supply chains and cost performance in clothing by acquiring a team from Mitsubishi, leading...

Michael Causton

A Supermarket Clothing Revival in Japan?

​GMS chains and supermarkets are reviving their clothing sections, potentially creating new opportunities for higher margins at GMS operations.

Michael Causton

Lifestyle retailers turn to M&A for growth amid depopulation, with Adastria leading the trend by acquiring new businesses and expanding product...

Low cost apparel retailers are seeing increased profitability, with Honeys leading the way through a revival and focus on creating a low cost...

Muji operator Ryohin Keikaku looks set to improve its supply chains and cost performance in clothing by acquiring a team from Mitsubishi, leading...

GMS chains and supermarkets are reviving their clothing sections, potentially creating new opportunities for higher margins at GMS operations.