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>This in-depth analysis of consumption data shows the level of caution among consumers caused by inflation and fears of more price rises to come. </li>
<li>Food expenditure has risen to a record high due to higher prices and this has curtailed spending in other categories like fashion for most income classes.</li>
<li>Savings rates are at record levels, however, boosting opportunities for the better brands and retailers. If wages rise in real-terms, then consumer confidence is likely to rebound.</li>
</ul>


This in-depth analysis of consumption data shows the level of caution among consumers caused by inflation and fears of more price rises to come. 
Food expenditure has risen to a record high due to higher prices and this has curtailed spending in other categories like fashion for most income classes.
Savings rates are at record levels, however, boosting opportunities for the better brands and retailers. If wages rise in real-terms, then consumer confidence is likely to rebound.


Japan Consumers: Still Cautious Spending but Big Savings Will Unlock when Real Wages Rise

<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

Equity Bottom-Up

Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd., is based in Hokkaido and operates a furniture retail chain.  The Company sells living room furniture, storage furniture, dining furniture, office furniture, beds, and interior goods.  Nitori Holdings also sells original brand merchandise and imported merchandise.

<ul>
<li>Leading furniture retailer Nitori recently announced it would work with French platform developer Mirakl to build an online marketplace. The site will be available late 2024 or early 2025. </li>
<li>Nitori wants the mall to contribute 20% of revenues by 2032 within a sales target of ¥3 trillion, when overseas store numbers are expected to be double those in Japan.</li>
<li>But, founder Akio Nitori says he wants to see overseas sales much higher than official targets and may well get there through close targeting of the rising Asian middle class.</li>
</ul>


Leading furniture retailer Nitori recently announced it would work with French platform developer Mirakl to build an online marketplace. The site will be available late 2024 or early 2025. 
Nitori wants the mall to contribute 20% of revenues by 2032 within a sales target of ¥3 trillion, when overseas store numbers are expected to be double those in Japan.
But, founder Akio Nitori says he wants to see overseas sales much higher than official targets and may well get there through close targeting of the rising Asian middle class.


Nitori: One of the Best Bets in Japan Consumer Markets

Equity Capital Markets

Trial Holdings Inc. operates distribution retail businesses. The Company provides foods, daily necessities, hard goods, and other products. Trial Holdings also develops retail artificial intelligence, real estate development, restaurants management, and other businesses.

<ul>
<li>Trial, the discount FMCG and retail technology company, completed its IPO last month, achieving an initial market capitalisation higher than most of its rivals in the supermarket sector. </li>
<li>If forecasts for FY2023 are achieved, it will become the 5th largest chain in the country and its proprietary technology should give it an important advantage in the medium term.</li>
<li>But its position at the centre of the fast-growing discount sector will drive the real growth, and the Kyushu-based firm will emerge as challenger to leading retailers.</li>
</ul>


Trial, the discount FMCG and retail technology company, completed its IPO last month, achieving an initial market capitalisation higher than most of its rivals in the supermarket sector. 
If forecasts for FY2023 are achieved, it will become the 5th largest chain in the country and its proprietary technology should give it an important advantage in the medium term.
But its position at the centre of the fast-growing discount sector will drive the real growth, and the Kyushu-based firm will emerge as challenger to leading retailers.


Trial to Become 5th Biggest Supermarket Post-IPO

Event-Driven

JADE GROUP Inc operates a mail order site for providing shoes. The company was formerly known as LOCONDO, Inc. and changed its name to JADE GROUP, Inc in June 2023. The company was incorporated in 2010 and is based in Tokyo, 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

JapanConsuming
Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

Japan Consumers: Still Cautious Spending but Big Savings Will Unlock when Real Wages Rise

Consumers are still cautious due to inflation, as record high food costs reduce spending in other categories. But savings are high, offering...

Michael Causton

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

Nitori: One of the Best Bets in Japan Consumer Markets

Furniture retailer Nitori to launch online marketplace as part of plans for a tripling of revenue by 2032 through online growth at home overseas...

Michael Causton

Trial to Become 5th Biggest Supermarket Post-IPO

Trial, a discount FMCG and retail tech company, completed a successful IPO with potential to become a major player in the supermarket sector,...

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

Japan Consumers: Still Cautious Spending but Big Savings Will Unlock when Real Wages Rise

​Consumers are still cautious due to inflation, as record high food costs reduce spending in other categories. But savings are high, offering...

Michael Causton

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

Nitori: One of the Best Bets in Japan Consumer Markets

​Furniture retailer Nitori to launch online marketplace as part of plans for a tripling of revenue by 2032 through online growth at home overseas...

Michael Causton

Trial to Become 5th Biggest Supermarket Post-IPO

​Trial, a discount FMCG and retail tech company, completed a successful IPO with potential to become a major player in the supermarket sector,...

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

Consumers are still cautious due to inflation, as record high food costs reduce spending in other categories. But savings are high, offering...

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

Furniture retailer Nitori to launch online marketplace as part of plans for a tripling of revenue by 2032 through online growth at home overseas...

Trial, a discount FMCG and retail tech company, completed a successful IPO with potential to become a major player in the supermarket sector,...

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...