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>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.


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?

<ul>
<li>Decathlon entered the Japanese retail market in 2017 with the opportunity to take a significant share of a growing sports and athleisure sector.</li>
<li>But the French firm is already retreating: it will close its two stores and focus on online and wholesaling. </li>
<li>The market is poorer for but it does leave the market wide open for Workman – which built a consumer chain to combat Decathlon – to become dominant.</li>
</ul>


Decathlon entered the Japanese retail market in 2017 with the opportunity to take a significant share of a growing sports and athleisure sector.
But the French firm is already retreating: it will close its two stores and focus on online and wholesaling. 
The market is poorer for but it does leave the market wide open for Workman – which built a consumer chain to combat Decathlon – to become dominant.


Workman Wins as Decathlon Closes Japan Stores

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>Results for FY2022-23 provide a snapshot of winners and losers in Japan's retail sector.</li>
<li>The data shows a big improvement in performance for retailers with sales of ¥250 billion or more and the outlook is positive for most, particularly for profits.</li>
<li>This also means that market concentration is intensifying, particularly in sectors like drugstores but also now in supermarkets. We highlight the winners in each sector.</li>
</ul>


Results for FY2022-23 provide a snapshot of winners and losers in Japan's retail sector.
The data shows a big improvement in performance for retailers with sales of ¥250 billion or more and the outlook is positive for most, particularly for profits.
This also means that market concentration is intensifying, particularly in sectors like drugstores but also now in supermarkets. We highlight the winners in each sector.


Japan

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.

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Workman Co Ltd (7564 JP)

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

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

Workman Wins as Decathlon Closes Japan Stores

Workman has won the battle for Japan's low price sports and outdoor market. Decathlon is in retreat and no other retailer comes close on cost...

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

Japan's Best Performing Retailers

There were strong improvements in both sales and profits for leading retailers last year and the following insight looks at the main winners and...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

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

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

Workman Wins as Decathlon Closes Japan Stores

Workman has won the battle for Japan's low price sports and outdoor market. Decathlon is in retreat and no other retailer comes close on cost...

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

Japan's Best Performing Retailers

There were strong improvements in both sales and profits for leading retailers last year and the following insight looks at the main winners and...

Michael Causton

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

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