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 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.


Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Yutori , the Zozo-controlled online fashion mall, is diversifying into cosmetics and other items, with wholesale distribution to chain stores as well as sales through its own mall.</li>
<li>The fledgling online mall continues to grow fast, with sales up 74% so far this year.</li>
<li>It is in essence Zozo 20 years ago given its focus on the teen and youth market but with the difference in that it has Zozo's experience and advice.</li>
</ul>


Yutori , the Zozo-controlled online fashion mall, is diversifying into cosmetics and other items, with wholesale distribution to chain stores as well as sales through its own mall.
The fledgling online mall continues to grow fast, with sales up 74% so far this year.
It is in essence Zozo 20 years ago given its focus on the teen and youth market but with the difference in that it has Zozo's experience and advice.


Yutori Moves into Cosmetics as Strong Growth Continues

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The review period for the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> September rebalance ends in July. There could be three changes at the rebalance with sector balance in focus for the additions.</li>
<li>Depending on the changes, passive trackers will need to buy between 5-16x ADV (10.1%-24% of real float) on the inclusions and sell between 4-42x ADV on the deletions.</li>
<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> will be capped to 10% of the index weight while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokyo-electron-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:280:1" rel="noopener">Tokyo Electron (8035 JP)</a> is also close to the 10% cap.</li>
</ul>


The review period for the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) September rebalance ends in July. There could be three changes at the rebalance with sector balance in focus for the additions.
Depending on the changes, passive trackers will need to buy between 5-16x ADV (10.1%-24% of real float) on the inclusions and sell between 4-42x ADV on the deletions.

Fast Retailing (9983 JP) will be capped to 10% of the index weight while Tokyo Electron (8035 JP) is also close to the 10% cap.


Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Sep 2024): Ranking, Capping, Funding & Other Changes

<ul>
<li>After a bumper bonus during Covid, the fashion sector saw calmer spending in the last 18 months as the big return to shops led to more muted growth online. </li>
<li>The overall EC fashion market grew around 4-7% depending on how you measure it, but online market share actually fell as people went back to shops.</li>
<li>This in-depth review highlights the key trends in the sector as well as the winners by sales growth among retailers and fashion brands.</li>
</ul>


After a bumper bonus during Covid, the fashion sector saw calmer spending in the last 18 months as the big return to shops led to more muted growth online. 
The overall EC fashion market grew around 4-7% depending on how you measure it, but online market share actually fell as people went back to shops.
This in-depth review highlights the key trends in the sector as well as the winners by sales growth among retailers and fashion brands.


Fashion E-Commerce: Physical Stores Grow Faster than Online in Japan

<ul>
<li>Jade Group has acquired Magaseek and will merge the online mall with its own fashion e-commerce platform, Locondo and hopes to create a growing rival to Zozo.</li>
<li>Magaseek was founded by Itochu 20 years ago, and the deal underlines Itochu’s growing influence over Jade as a proxy for its ambitions in fashion e-commerce and distribution.</li>
<li>However, Jade Group has seen little organic growth for its Locondo platform in recent years, and while its acquisitions have added scale, integration has been haphazard.</li>
</ul>


Jade Group has acquired Magaseek and will merge the online mall with its own fashion e-commerce platform, Locondo and hopes to create a growing rival to Zozo.
Magaseek was founded by Itochu 20 years ago, and the deal underlines Itochu’s growing influence over Jade as a proxy for its ambitions in fashion e-commerce and distribution.
However, Jade Group has seen little organic growth for its Locondo platform in recent years, and while its acquisitions have added scale, integration has been haphazard.


Itochu Targets Fashion E-Commerce Via Jade Takeover of Magaseek

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.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
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Dividend (Yield)	0.00

ZOZO Inc (3092 JP)

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

Yutori Moves into Cosmetics as Strong Growth Continues

Yutori, Zozo's online fashion mall, expands into cosmetics and other items, targeting the youth market. It is Zozo 20 years ago but with Zozo's...

Michael Causton

Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Sep 2024): Ranking, Capping, Funding & Other Changes

There could be 3 changes for the NKY in September with sector balance determining the inclusions. Fast Retailing will be capped while Tokyo...

Brian Freitas

Fashion E-Commerce: Physical Stores Grow Faster than Online in Japan

Fashion sector saw a slowdown in online spending post-Covid as shoppers returned to physical stores, impacting overall market growth. Winners in...

Michael Causton

Itochu Targets Fashion E-Commerce Via Jade Takeover of Magaseek

Jade Group acquires Magaseek to merge with Locondo, aiming to rival Zozo; Itochu's influence grows using Jade as a proxy for fashion e-commerce...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

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

Yutori Moves into Cosmetics as Strong Growth Continues

​Yutori, Zozo's online fashion mall, expands into cosmetics and other items, targeting the youth market. It is Zozo 20 years ago but with Zozo's...

Michael Causton

Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Sep 2024): Ranking, Capping, Funding & Other Changes

There could be 3 changes for the NKY in September with sector balance determining the inclusions. Fast Retailing will be capped while Tokyo...

Brian Freitas

Fashion E-Commerce: Physical Stores Grow Faster than Online in Japan

​Fashion sector saw a slowdown in online spending post-Covid as shoppers returned to physical stores, impacting overall market growth. Winners in...

Michael Causton

Itochu Targets Fashion E-Commerce Via Jade Takeover of Magaseek

​Jade Group acquires Magaseek to merge with Locondo, aiming to rival Zozo; Itochu's influence grows using Jade as a proxy for fashion e-commerce...

Michael Causton

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

Yutori, Zozo's online fashion mall, expands into cosmetics and other items, targeting the youth market. It is Zozo 20 years ago but with Zozo's...

Fashion sector saw a slowdown in online spending post-Covid as shoppers returned to physical stores, impacting overall market growth. Winners in...

Jade Group acquires Magaseek to merge with Locondo, aiming to rival Zozo; Itochu's influence grows using Jade as a proxy for fashion e-commerce...