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>The shakeout in clothing and fashion retailing continues, with most of the good fortune spread amongst a smaller group of either very large or very small retail chains and brands. </li>
<li>In specialty, lower cost national chains largely located in the suburbs continued to increase share but premium fashion retailers also had a great year boosting profits.</li>
<li>More dramatic was the startling growth of a few department stores which helped the format increase share of the apparel market for only the 4th time in 20 years.</li>
</ul>


The shakeout in clothing and fashion retailing continues, with most of the good fortune spread amongst a smaller group of either very large or very small retail chains and brands. 
In specialty, lower cost national chains largely located in the suburbs continued to increase share but premium fashion retailers also had a great year boosting profits.
More dramatic was the startling growth of a few department stores which helped the format increase share of the apparel market for only the 4th time in 20 years.


Japan Fashion Retailing: Stores Still Popular and Profit Soars for Some

<ul>
<li>Core inflation rates remain stubbornly high and real wages are still falling. </li>
<li>Surveys suggest one more major round of price hikes in October but the government still thinks prices will stabilise below its 2% target by the end of the year.</li>
<li>The increases are lowering consumer confidence – bad news for most retailers, although major discount chains are making hay while the sun, well, doesn’t shine.</li>
</ul>


Core inflation rates remain stubbornly high and real wages are still falling. 
Surveys suggest one more major round of price hikes in October but the government still thinks prices will stabilise below its 2% target by the end of the year.
The increases are lowering consumer confidence – bad news for most retailers, although major discount chains are making hay while the sun, well, doesn’t shine.


Japanese Prices Rise Again; 60% of Consumers Feeling the Pinch and Looking for Better Value

<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.


Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a> is the largest weight in the Nikkei 225. On Friday, it closed at 11.36% of the Nikkei 225, putting it well above the 10% cap level.</li>
<li>If the stock is above 10% on a pro-forma basis on the base date of 31 July 2024, it will get a capping coefficient. 8.4mm shares (US$2.5bn) to sell.</li>
<li>At Friday's close, we were borderline above a <em>double</em>-downweight trigger. At Monday's open, just below. 30mins later? Back well above. Lots of interesting issues and nuances here for a short.</li>
</ul>



Fast Retailing (9983 JP) is the largest weight in the Nikkei 225. On Friday, it closed at 11.36% of the Nikkei 225, putting it well above the 10% cap level.
If the stock is above 10% on a pro-forma basis on the base date of 31 July 2024, it will get a capping coefficient. 8.4mm shares (US$2.5bn) to sell.
At Friday's close, we were borderline above a double-downweight trigger. At Monday's open, just below. 30mins later? Back well above. Lots of interesting issues and nuances here for a short.


Fast Retailing (9983) - Now At Double Downweight Levels

<ul>
<li>Snow Peak agreement with Bain Capital to take the outdoor brand private next month seems to have been in the works for a couple of years. </li>
<li>Although sales are expected to rebound this year to near record highs, Snow Peak insists the domestic camping boom is over and will look at long-term growth overseas instead.</li>
<li>Even so, the MBO price looks cheap. Snow Peak is likely to see a rebound in domestic sales in FY2024 and its plans for overseas expansion are solid.</li>
</ul>


Snow Peak agreement with Bain Capital to take the outdoor brand private next month seems to have been in the works for a couple of years. 
Although sales are expected to rebound this year to near record highs, Snow Peak insists the domestic camping boom is over and will look at long-term growth overseas instead.
Even so, the MBO price looks cheap. Snow Peak is likely to see a rebound in domestic sales in FY2024 and its plans for overseas expansion are solid.


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)

Japan Fashion Retailing: Stores Still Popular and Profit Soars for Some

A major review of Japanese clothing retail markets: the ongoing shakeout benefits large and small chains, but profit growth across the sector is...

Michael Causton

Japanese Prices Rise Again; 60% of Consumers Feeling the Pinch and Looking for Better Value

Japanese consumer markets have three big trends: higher prices/squeezed incomes, doubling of single households and more people feeling the pinch....

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

Fast Retailing (9983) - Now At Double Downweight Levels

Now clearly into double-sell territory but nota bene: A double sell only works for the first couple of %, then we're back into single-sell...

Travis Lundy

Snow Peak: Cheap MBO

Snow Peak's agreement with Bain Capital to go private reflects a long-term strategy to focus on overseas growth despite a predicted rebound in...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japan Fashion Retailing: Stores Still Popular and Profit Soars for Some

A major review of Japanese clothing retail markets: ​the ongoing shakeout benefits large and small chains, but profit growth across the sector is...

Michael Causton

Japanese Prices Rise Again; 60% of Consumers Feeling the Pinch and Looking for Better Value

Japanese consumer markets have three big trends: higher prices/squeezed incomes, doubling of single households and more people feeling the pinch....

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

Fast Retailing (9983) - Now At Double Downweight Levels

Now clearly into double-sell territory but nota bene: A double sell only works for the first couple of %, then we're back into single-sell...

Travis Lundy

Snow Peak: Cheap MBO

​Snow Peak's agreement with Bain Capital to go private reflects a long-term strategy to focus on overseas growth despite a predicted rebound in...

Michael Causton

A major review of Japanese clothing retail markets: the ongoing shakeout benefits large and small chains, but profit growth across the sector is...

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

Snow Peak's agreement with Bain Capital to go private reflects a long-term strategy to focus on overseas growth despite a predicted rebound in...