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

PAL GROUP Holdings Co., Ltd. / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Pal Group posted record sales in FY2022 partly because fashion retail recovered but mostly because of it has a huge hit on its hands: variety store 3Coins.</li>
<li>Cheap variety stores have always been popular and are becoming even more so as prices rise and people spend more on the home.</li>
<li>3Coins has doubled sales in 2 years but expects continued strong growth going forward. With fashion sales also improving, Pal Group is one of few solid bets in lifestyle retailing.</li>
</ul>


Pal Group posted record sales in FY2022 partly because fashion retail recovered but mostly because of it has a huge hit on its hands: variety store 3Coins.
Cheap variety stores have always been popular and are becoming even more so as prices rise and people spend more on the home.
3Coins has doubled sales in 2 years but expects continued strong growth going forward. With fashion sales also improving, Pal Group is one of few solid bets in lifestyle retailing.


<ul>
<li>The 100 Yen shop model looked in danger when inflation began to bite and labour costs surged but the sector continues to expand</li>
<li>Their fixed price model meant there was little leeway to offset higher costs through higher prices but a survey shows 90% of respondents visited a Daiso store recently.</li>
<li>While Daiso has adapted quickly and looks to have a bright future, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/seria-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12989:1" rel="noopener">Seria Co Ltd (2782 JP)</a> refuses to adapt and has seen profits plummet.</li>
</ul>


The 100 Yen shop model looked in danger when inflation began to bite and labour costs surged but the sector continues to expand
Their fixed price model meant there was little leeway to offset higher costs through higher prices but a survey shows 90% of respondents visited a Daiso store recently.
While Daiso has adapted quickly and looks to have a bright future, Seria Co Ltd (2782 JP) refuses to adapt and has seen profits plummet.


100 Yen Shops to Hit ¥1 Trillion This Year but Seria's Model Squeezing Profits

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>After the accelerated transition to digital channels during Covid, the fashion sector had a calmer year in 2022 although GTVs still grew around 10%. </li>
<li>Most retailers spent the time investing in more seamless and coherent omnichannel models, and in making the best use of stores and staff in online promotions.</li>
<li>This shift to omnichannel is also leading to changing merchandising, including pre-selling inventory, while others are turning their online stores into malls. </li>
</ul>


After the accelerated transition to digital channels during Covid, the fashion sector had a calmer year in 2022 although GTVs still grew around 10%. 
Most retailers spent the time investing in more seamless and coherent omnichannel models, and in making the best use of stores and staff in online promotions.
This shift to omnichannel is also leading to changing merchandising, including pre-selling inventory, while others are turning their online stores into malls. 


Japan's Fashion E-Commerce Evolving into Dynamic and Seamless Omnichannel, Winners Will Take All

<ul>
<li>Growth in the Japanese home interiors and furniture markets is set to continue long-term. </li>
<li>At present, just a handful of brands have any major presence led by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nitori-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20386:1" rel="noopener">Nitori Holdings (9843 JP)</a> which continues to expand market share.</li>
<li>With multiple formats, Nitori looks set to continue to dominate but faces competition from unlikely quarters, especially <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yamada-denki-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:641:1" rel="noopener">Yamada Denki (9831 JP).</a>
</li>
</ul>


Growth in the Japanese home interiors and furniture markets is set to continue long-term. 
At present, just a handful of brands have any major presence led by Nitori Holdings (9843 JP) which continues to expand market share.
With multiple formats, Nitori looks set to continue to dominate but faces competition from unlikely quarters, especially Yamada Denki (9831 JP).



Interiors Long-Term Growth in Japan a Plus for Nitori

<ul>
<li>The apparel/fashion sector made a partial recovery last year but was still down on 2019. 2022 looks a lot brighter with customers now back in stores including even inbound tourists. </li>
<li>The same challenges that the sector faced before Covid remain but there is plenty of room to grow by taking share from the less innovative competitors – i.e. more consolidation.</li>
<li>The sector saw the highest fall in store numbers in its history last year, but there was more investment in creating a compelling omnichannel model suited to Japan’s particular market.</li>
</ul>


The apparel/fashion sector made a partial recovery last year but was still down on 2019. 2022 looks a lot brighter with customers now back in stores including even inbound tourists. 
The same challenges that the sector faced before Covid remain but there is plenty of room to grow by taking share from the less innovative competitors – i.e. more consolidation.
The sector saw the highest fall in store numbers in its history last year, but there was more investment in creating a compelling omnichannel model suited to Japan’s particular market.


Japan's Apparel/Fashion Sector Big Review: Momentum Builds for Full Recovery

Japan

PAL GROUP Holdings Co., Ltd. operates a chain of casual clothing stores based in Kansai area. The Company manufactures and retails men's and women's casual wear and accessories.  The Company also sells its products on the Internet.

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PAL GROUP Holdings Co., Ltd. (2726 JP)

Pal Group's 3Coins: Coining It

Pal's record sales in FY2022 were driven by its variety chain 3Coins, which has grown fast and is expected to continue to do so, making Pal Group...

Michael Causton

100 Yen Shops to Hit ¥1 Trillion This Year but Seria's Model Squeezing Profits

Seria has always extracted the highest profits from the 100 Yen sector even as its larger competitor, Daiso, grew faster. Now, with labour and...

Michael Causton

Japan's Fashion E-Commerce Evolving into Dynamic and Seamless Omnichannel, Winners Will Take All

Japan's fashion e-commerce sector offers major growth stories among both online malls and physical retailers making a successful transition to...

Michael Causton

Interiors Long-Term Growth in Japan a Plus for Nitori

Japan's interiors consumption has been one of the few categories to grow consistently and will continue to grow steadily as Japanese appetite for...

Michael Causton

Japan's Apparel/Fashion Sector Big Review: Momentum Builds for Full Recovery

Japan's fashion and apparel sector was severely hit by the pandemic and the loss of tourism. With wallets full, Japanese are now spending again...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Pal Group's 3Coins: Coining It

​Pal's record sales in FY2022 were driven by its variety chain 3Coins, which has grown fast and is expected to continue to do so, making Pal Group...

Michael Causton

100 Yen Shops to Hit ¥1 Trillion This Year but Seria's Model Squeezing Profits

Seria has always extracted the highest profits from the 100 Yen sector even as its larger competitor, Daiso, grew faster. Now, with labour and...

Michael Causton

Japan's Fashion E-Commerce Evolving into Dynamic and Seamless Omnichannel, Winners Will Take All

Japan's fashion e-commerce sector offers major growth stories among both online malls and physical retailers making a successful transition to...

Michael Causton

Interiors Long-Term Growth in Japan a Plus for Nitori

Japan's interiors consumption has been one of the few categories to grow consistently and will continue to grow steadily as Japanese appetite for...

Michael Causton

Japan's Apparel/Fashion Sector Big Review: Momentum Builds for Full Recovery

Japan's fashion and apparel sector was severely hit by the pandemic and the loss of tourism. With wallets full, Japanese are now spending again...

Michael Causton

Pal's record sales in FY2022 were driven by its variety chain 3Coins, which has grown fast and is expected to continue to do so, making Pal Group...