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>LINE Gift is fast becoming the most popular way to send gifts of all kinds, even traditional gifts sent at mid-year and New Year. </li>
<li>This is good news for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a> and Softbank, as well as LINE, as the gifting platform acts as a unifying point for their disparate e-commerce platforms.</li>
<li>Although the corporate gift market is in decline, personal gift giving remains a growth market, offering further upside.</li>
</ul>


LINE Gift is fast becoming the most popular way to send gifts of all kinds, even traditional gifts sent at mid-year and New Year. 
This is good news for Z Holdings (4689 JP) and Softbank, as well as LINE, as the gifting platform acts as a unifying point for their disparate e-commerce platforms.
Although the corporate gift market is in decline, personal gift giving remains a growth market, offering further upside.


Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

<ul>
<li>Zozo results were in line to slightly strong with revenue beating consensus by 3.3% and OP 1.3% higher. </li>
<li>That slight beat was driven by very aggressive advertising spend however and we expect the recent correction for the stock to continue. </li>
<li>The question in our mind is whether this will eventually head under ¥1,000 as we previously predicted.</li>
</ul>


Zozo results were in line to slightly strong with revenue beating consensus by 3.3% and OP 1.3% higher. 
That slight beat was driven by very aggressive advertising spend however and we expect the recent correction for the stock to continue. 
The question in our mind is whether this will eventually head under ¥1,000 as we previously predicted.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zozo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18379:1" rel="noopener">ZOZO Inc (3092 JP)</a> are in a battle for share in online fashion with both companies increasingly aping the other to attract both merchants and consumers. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/amazon-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:409:1" rel="noopener">Amazon.com Inc (AMZN US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/z-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">Z Holdings (4689 JP)</a> aren’t standing still either but the competitive pressures between Rakuten and Zozo may put them ahead of their rivals.</li>
<li>This competitive edge now encompasses both physical stores and online platforms for physical retailers, with the aim to bind them ever closer to the platform.</li>
</ul>



Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) and ZOZO Inc (3092 JP) are in a battle for share in online fashion with both companies increasingly aping the other to attract both merchants and consumers. 

Amazon.com Inc (AMZN US) and Z Holdings (4689 JP) aren’t standing still either but the competitive pressures between Rakuten and Zozo may put them ahead of their rivals.
This competitive edge now encompasses both physical stores and online platforms for physical retailers, with the aim to bind them ever closer to the platform.


Platforms Add Merchant Support as Japan's Online Fashion Wars Move Offline

<ul>
<li>Qoo10 has become one of the most popular Japanese malls among young women for all things Korean, particularly cosmetics and fashion.</li>
<li>The online mall now wants to exploit this by creating a new dedicated fashion mall with better promotional opportunities for merchants of all nationalities.</li>
<li>This should bring more competition to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zozo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18379:1" rel="noopener">ZOZO Inc (3092 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1" rel="noopener">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a>.</li>
</ul>


Qoo10 has become one of the most popular Japanese malls among young women for all things Korean, particularly cosmetics and fashion.
The online mall now wants to exploit this by creating a new dedicated fashion mall with better promotional opportunities for merchants of all nationalities.
This should bring more competition to ZOZO Inc (3092 JP) and Rakuten Inc (4755 JP).


Qoo10 Japan to Launch ¥10 Billion Fashion Mall Rival to Zozo

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<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

ZOZO Inc operates internet shopping sites for apparel.  The Company also provides communication services relating to apparel such as blogs by fashion moguls and internet chat room for users.

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ZOZO Inc (3092 JP)

LINE Gift up 330% in 2021

LINE Gift is growing faster than any other e-commerce platform and is testament to the potential synergies across Z Holdings. Much more can be done...

Michael Causton

Zozo – In Line as Reopening Looms

Zozo results were a slight beat driven by very aggressive advertising spend. The question in our mind is whether the stock will eventually head...

Mio Kato

Platforms Add Merchant Support as Japan's Online Fashion Wars Move Offline

Zozo has had a good run during the pandemic and we continue to remain bullish about its growth thanks to many recent innovations but the biggest...

Michael Causton

Qoo10 Japan to Launch ¥10 Billion Fashion Mall Rival to Zozo

Qoo10 is largely unknown outside Japan but has grown fast and is becoming more of a competitor to Zozo and Rakuten, particularly in the key market...

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

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