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>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

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Workman sees an opportunity to disrupt the footwear market by creating Japan’s first national low price chain, with a strong focus on women’s shoes.</li>
<li>It launched the first store this month with prices as low as ¥680 and expects to have 200 stores in the near future.</li>
<li>The Japanese footwear market is ripe for disruption as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/abc-mart-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3213:1" rel="noopener">Abc Mart Inc (2670 JP)</a> diversifies and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chiyoda-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6461:1" rel="noopener">Chiyoda Co Ltd (8185 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gfoot-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10237:1" rel="noopener">Gfoot Co Ltd (2686 JP)</a> struggle to maintain momentum.</li>
</ul>


Workman sees an opportunity to disrupt the footwear market by creating Japan’s first national low price chain, with a strong focus on women’s shoes.
It launched the first store this month with prices as low as ¥680 and expects to have 200 stores in the near future.
The Japanese footwear market is ripe for disruption as Abc Mart Inc (2670 JP) diversifies and Chiyoda Co Ltd (8185 JP) and Gfoot Co Ltd (2686 JP) struggle to maintain momentum.


Workman to Disrupt Footwear Market with ¥60 Billion Sales Target

<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>Workman has consolidated its position as a leading domestic outdoor/sports casual retailer in the last two years.</li>
<li>Growth has been less dramatic but it has developed more infrastructure and brand foundations for what it hopes will be the next big expansion.</li>
<li>It is expanding the number of banners, increasing the ratio of private label and widening the number of categories it sells, including footwear and camping. </li>
</ul>


Workman has consolidated its position as a leading domestic outdoor/sports casual retailer in the last two years.
Growth has been less dramatic but it has developed more infrastructure and brand foundations for what it hopes will be the next big expansion.
It is expanding the number of banners, increasing the ratio of private label and widening the number of categories it sells, including footwear and camping. 


Workman to Open in Ginza, Launches Workman Shoes and More Suits

Private Capital Markets

Nitori Holdings / Private Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Iconic retail chain, Tokyu Hands, is to be acquired by Cainz, Japan’s leading home centre retailer. </li>
<li>Tokyu Hands remains as popular as ever thanks to its unique merchandising, but it has struggled to be profitable for a long time.</li>
<li>Cainz should be able to fix this and Hands will be part of Cainz’s plans to become the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/workman-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8467:1" rel="noopener">Workman Co Ltd (7564 JP)</a> of home retailing – bringing competition to Nitori.</li>
</ul>


Iconic retail chain, Tokyu Hands, is to be acquired by Cainz, Japan’s leading home centre retailer. 
Tokyu Hands remains as popular as ever thanks to its unique merchandising, but it has struggled to be profitable for a long time.
Cainz should be able to fix this and Hands will be part of Cainz’s plans to become the Workman Co Ltd (7564 JP) of home retailing – bringing competition to Nitori.


Cainz Takes on Nitori with Tokyu Hands Takeover

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)

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

Workman to Disrupt Footwear Market with ¥60 Billion Sales Target

Some analysts write off Workman as a past growth story. This is a mistake. It remains one of the strongest discount lifestyle retailers and has...

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

Workman to Open in Ginza, Launches Workman Shoes and More Suits

The short-term outlook for Japanese retail remains somewhat depressed but this provides opportunities for LT investors. Workman is one of our top...

Michael Causton

Cainz Takes on Nitori with Tokyu Hands Takeover

Nitori and Muji have pretty much had the interiors market to themselves until now thanks to IKEA's slow rollout but new competition is coming from...

Michael Causton

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