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. 

Event-Driven

<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

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Gaining sufficient scale to get out of the shadow of the Big 3 online malls in Japan is providing tough for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/locondo-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26993:1" rel="noopener">Jade Group (3558 JP)'</a>s Locondo.</li>
<li>The number of active users on Locondo has fallen in recent quarters, causing concern for merchants and investors alike. </li>
<li>Jade Group, is hoping that sales of major brands like Reebok will attract more users while also bringing higher levels of growth.</li>
</ul>


Gaining sufficient scale to get out of the shadow of the Big 3 online malls in Japan is providing tough for Jade Group (3558 JP)'s Locondo.
The number of active users on Locondo has fallen in recent quarters, causing concern for merchants and investors alike. 
Jade Group, is hoping that sales of major brands like Reebok will attract more users while also bringing higher levels of growth.


Jade Hopes for Growth Through Reebok as Locondo Slows

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<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

Private Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Qoo10 has been quietly growing its share of the Japanese e-commerce market. </li>
<li>Despite relentless competition from the big 3, Qoo10 has managed to increase members from 10 million in 2018 to 23 million through event marketing and close attention to customer demands.</li>
<li>While cosmetics and fashion are the current focus, Qoo10 is also strengthening other categories like food, stationery and electronics.</li>
</ul>


Qoo10 has been quietly growing its share of the Japanese e-commerce market. 
Despite relentless competition from the big 3, Qoo10 has managed to increase members from 10 million in 2018 to 23 million through event marketing and close attention to customer demands.
While cosmetics and fashion are the current focus, Qoo10 is also strengthening other categories like food, stationery and electronics.


Ebay's Qoo10 More than Doubles Users to 23 Million in 5 Years

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Zozo may lead in online fashion malls but its customer base, while young, is getting older.</li>
<li>In 2020, it acquired a majority stake in Yutori, a fledgling fashion mall targeting the young, which will now list this month.</li>
<li>Yutori has grown sales to ¥2.47 billion since launching five years ago. As well as Japan, it sees a major opportunity across Asia given Japanese street fashion popularity there.</li>
</ul>


Zozo may lead in online fashion malls but its customer base, while young, is getting older.
In 2020, it acquired a majority stake in Yutori, a fledgling fashion mall targeting the young, which will now list this month.
Yutori has grown sales to ¥2.47 billion since launching five years ago. As well as Japan, it sees a major opportunity across Asia given Japanese street fashion popularity there.


Japan

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.

Jade Group (3558 JP)

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

Jade Hopes for Growth Through Reebok as Locondo Slows

Locondo struggles to compete with Japan's top online malls, as active user numbers decline. Jade Group aims to boost growth by selling major...

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

Ebay's Qoo10 More than Doubles Users to 23 Million in 5 Years

Ebay's Qoo10 quietly expands in Japanese e-commerce market, doubling members in 5 years through event marketing and customer focus. Now expanding...

Michael Causton

Zozo-Owned Yutori IPO This Month

Zozo-owned Yutori aims to tap into the growing popularity of Japanese street fashion in Asia. Yutori has real promise and its IPO this month could...

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

Jade Hopes for Growth Through Reebok as Locondo Slows

​Locondo struggles to compete with Japan's top online malls, as active user numbers decline. Jade Group aims to boost growth by selling major...

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

Ebay's Qoo10 More than Doubles Users to 23 Million in 5 Years

Ebay's ​Qoo10 quietly expands in Japanese e-commerce market, doubling members in 5 years through event marketing and customer focus. Now expanding...

Michael Causton

Zozo-Owned Yutori IPO This Month

Zozo-owned Yutori aims to tap into the growing popularity of Japanese street fashion in Asia. Yutori has real promise and its IPO this month could...

Michael Causton

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...

Locondo struggles to compete with Japan's top online malls, as active user numbers decline. Jade Group aims to boost growth by selling major...

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

Ebay's Qoo10 quietly expands in Japanese e-commerce market, doubling members in 5 years through event marketing and customer focus. Now expanding...