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>Zozo may be the leading online fashion mall but it has spent the last two years using its power to drive more traffic to its merchants’ physical stores. </li>
<li>Its latest service allows stores to sell stock held at Zozo’s fulfilment centre when they themselves have sold out and thus avoid lost sales opportunities.</li>
<li>Zozo itself, meanwhile, will open a physical store in Omotesando but one entirely devoted to styling services for its customers.</li>
</ul>


Zozo may be the leading online fashion mall but it has spent the last two years using its power to drive more traffic to its merchants’ physical stores. 
Its latest service allows stores to sell stock held at Zozo’s fulfilment centre when they themselves have sold out and thus avoid lost sales opportunities.
Zozo itself, meanwhile, will open a physical store in Omotesando but one entirely devoted to styling services for its customers.


Zozo Opens Store in Omotesando, to Increase Retail Ties

<ul>
<li>Like other premium fashion brands and retailers, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-arrows-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4887:1" rel="noopener">United Arrows (7606 JP)</a> has faced unprecedented challenges since lockdown began in March 2020. </li>
<li>Sales are still 25% below 2019 levels but the select shop retailer is optimistic about the future, despite the fact that profitability has been in decline since long before Covid.</li>
<li>Weaknesses remain however, including an ageing customer base and to some extent, an ageing brand.</li>
</ul>


Like other premium fashion brands and retailers, United Arrows (7606 JP) has faced unprecedented challenges since lockdown began in March 2020. 
Sales are still 25% below 2019 levels but the select shop retailer is optimistic about the future, despite the fact that profitability has been in decline since long before Covid.
Weaknesses remain however, including an ageing customer base and to some extent, an ageing brand.


United Arrows: Rebuilding Brick by Virtual Brick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Japan may have discovered home decoration and DIY later than some markets but it has made up for this with a convert’s enthusiasm. </li>
<li>In the last decade, the market has grown around 50% and a host of brands and retailers have flourished.</li>
<li>These include <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ryohin-keikaku-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2765:1" rel="noopener">Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP)</a> and the home centres like Cainz and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dcm-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13042:1" rel="noopener">DCM Holdings (3050 JP). </a> The long-term outlook remains positive.</li>
</ul>


Japan may have discovered home decoration and DIY later than some markets but it has made up for this with a convert’s enthusiasm. 
In the last decade, the market has grown around 50% and a host of brands and retailers have flourished.
These include Nitori Holdings (9843 JP), Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP) and the home centres like Cainz and DCM Holdings (3050 JP).  The long-term outlook remains positive.


Nitori, Muji Still Benefitting from a Flourishing Japan Home Decor Market

<ul>
<li>The latest figures show that Japanese incomes fell for the first time in five years in 2021. </li>
<li>But despite this, average monthly household expenditure recovered and then accelerated at the end of the year. Online spending grew significantly, and much of this was new growth</li>
<li>We detail below which retailers are likely to benefit from these shifts in consumption behaviour over the next few years.</li>
</ul>


The latest figures show that Japanese incomes fell for the first time in five years in 2021. 
But despite this, average monthly household expenditure recovered and then accelerated at the end of the year. Online spending grew significantly, and much of this was new growth
We detail below which retailers are likely to benefit from these shifts in consumption behaviour over the next few years.


Japanese Household Expenditure in 2021 and Beyond: Which Retailers Will Benefit?

<ul>
<li>The last 18 months were the most traumatic for the fashion retail history since WWII. </li>
<li>Average household consumption budgets for apparel fell 18% in 2020 to a monthly average of just ¥10,655, 22% down on five years previously.</li>
<li>The following is an in-depth review of the fashion sector with unique rankings of the top 100, most profitable, fastest growing chains.</li>
</ul>


The last 18 months were the most traumatic for the fashion retail history since WWII. 
Average household consumption budgets for apparel fell 18% in 2020 to a monthly average of just ¥10,655, 22% down on five years previously.
The following is an in-depth review of the fashion sector with unique rankings of the top 100, most profitable, fastest growing chains.


Fashion Retailing 2020-21: Leading Brands Suffer Worst Year in Modern History

Japan

VT HOLDINGS CO., LTD. sells automobiles produced by Honda, replacement parts, and used cars.  The Company provides vehicle maintenance and repair services and arranges automobile financing and insurance.

GEO Holdings Corporation operates stores that rent and sell videos, CDs, DVDs, games, and books nationwide. The Company also buys and sells used books and CDs. GEO operates its own stores and also franchise stores.

Komehyo Co., Ltd. operates discount and recycle retail stores.  The Company sells jewelry, precious metal, watch, bag, Kimono, home appliances and musical instrument.

XEBIO Holdings CO., LTD. engages in operating retail stores in Japan. Its stores offer sports equipment, including ski and snowboard wear, baseball, soccer, and golf equipment; and apparel, such as men's and women's casuals, house ware, children's clothing, knick-knacks, and accessories, as well as tailoring services.

Joshin Denki Co., Ltd. operates a chain store specialized in household appliances and computers.  The Company also sells its products through catalog shopping and on-line shopping.  Joshin Denki operates its own stores and also franchise stores.

HONEYS. CO., LTD. plans, manufactures, and retails ladies' casual clothing and accessories.  The Company operates stores throughout Japan.

AOYAMA TRADING Co., Ltd. is a menswear chain store known as Yofuku-no-Aoyama. The Company sells suits, jacket, formal wears, casual wears, shirts, ties, and business shoes.  The Company also operates credit card business.

G-7 Holdings Inc. retails automobile parts and accessories. The Company provides maintenance services including vehicle inspection and oil change. G-7 Holdings also operates used car, motorcycle business, and outdoor sports stores.

World Co., Ltd. designs, manufactures, and distributes apparels. The Company produces women's garments, men's garments, children's garments, and other products. World also operates investment businesses.

NISSAN TOKYO SALES HOLDINGS CO., LTD sells new and pre-owned passenger cars and commercialvehicles produced by Nissan Motor mainly in central Tokyo area. The Company also sells car parts and provides maintenance service. NISSAN TOKYO SALES HOLDINGS also operates office building rental, car leasing service, and insurance service.  The Company's subsidiaries sell Jaguar and Renault cars.

PC Jeweller Ltd. manufacture, retails, and wholesale jewelry.  The Company sells jewelry through its showrooms and over the Internet.  PC Jeweller offers a wide range of products including gold jewellery, diamond jewellery and other jewellery including silver articles, with a focus on diamond jewellery and jewellery for weddings.

Beijing Bashi Media Co., Ltd. provides urban bus transportation and advertising services.  The Company also provides taxi, inter-provincial transportation, car rental, and other transportation related services.

Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. sells home furnishings.  The Company stores are located in southern and central United States.  Haverty's offers brand name furniture, such as Broyhill, Thomasville, Lane/Action, La-Z-Boy, and Clayton Marcus.

Wuxi Commercial Mansion Grand Orient Co., Ltd. operates a department store retail business. Its department stores sell a variety of products including home appliances, apparel, textiles, and leather products.  Wuxi Commercial also sells cars. The Company sells its general merchandise through its own website www.eastall.com and has operation in food serve.

Wuxi Commercial Mansion Grand Orient Co (600327 CH)

Cortina Holdings Limited retails and distributes luxury watches in the Asia Pacific region.  The Company also trades, imports, and exports pens, lighters, and clocks.

Shinsegae International Co., Ltd. was spun off from Shinsegae in 1996.  The company imports and distributes famous foreign brands and manufactures/distribut es domestic brand.  The Company's line of business includes the wholesale distribution of men's and women's apparel.

America's Car-Mart, Inc, sells and finances the sale of used automobiles and trucks.  The Company operates its dealerships primarily in small cities and rural locations throughout the South-Central United States and provides financing for substantially all of its customers.  Car-Mart's customers are principally consumers with limited or damaged credit histories.

Designer Brands Inc. designs, produces, and retails footwear and accessories. The Company offers shoes, boots, sandals, sneakers, socks, handbags, and accessories. Designer Brands serves customers in the United States.

Fujian Zhangzhou Development Co., Ltd., trades automobile, manages and operates toll roads, produces and distributes tap water, and provides waste management services.

China Meidong Auto Holdings Limited is an automobile dealership and maintenance group in China.

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.

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United Arrows (7606 JP)

Zozo Opens Store in Omotesando, to Increase Retail Ties

Zozo has proven that it can continue to innovate in the nexus between fashion and technology even without its founder and in fact has become more...

Michael Causton

United Arrows: Rebuilding Brick by Virtual Brick

United Arrows is a respected retailer but its brand and customer are getting old. There are new projects aimed at injecting new life and attracting...

Michael Causton

Nitori, Muji Still Benefitting from a Flourishing Japan Home Decor Market

Japan's home decoration market grew fast in the pandemic but has been growing for 10 years and will continue to outperform other consumer...

Michael Causton

Japanese Household Expenditure in 2021 and Beyond: Which Retailers Will Benefit?

Japanese spent more on homes and less on clothes in the last two years but they also added to their savings. This insight analyses the key...

Michael Causton

Fashion Retailing 2020-21: Leading Brands Suffer Worst Year in Modern History

This insight is an in-depth review of Japan's apparel sector providing key background and comparisons for investors, including rankings of the top...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)