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>Japan has a solid if stagnant footwear market, yet it only has one compelling nationwide footwear retailer.</li>
<li>ABC Mart continues to outperform its smaller rivals, with little competition as its main rivals decline further.</li>
<li>The real competition is coming from brands selling directly to customers via their own stores and online – and low-cost retailers nipping at its heels from below.</li>
</ul>


Japan has a solid if stagnant footwear market, yet it only has one compelling nationwide footwear retailer.
ABC Mart continues to outperform its smaller rivals, with little competition as its main rivals decline further.
The real competition is coming from brands selling directly to customers via their own stores and online – and low-cost retailers nipping at its heels from below.


Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>After the accelerated transition to digital channels during Covid, the fashion sector had a calmer year in 2022 although GTVs still grew around 10%. </li>
<li>Most retailers spent the time investing in more seamless and coherent omnichannel models, and in making the best use of stores and staff in online promotions.</li>
<li>This shift to omnichannel is also leading to changing merchandising, including pre-selling inventory, while others are turning their online stores into malls. </li>
</ul>


After the accelerated transition to digital channels during Covid, the fashion sector had a calmer year in 2022 although GTVs still grew around 10%. 
Most retailers spent the time investing in more seamless and coherent omnichannel models, and in making the best use of stores and staff in online promotions.
This shift to omnichannel is also leading to changing merchandising, including pre-selling inventory, while others are turning their online stores into malls. 


Japan's Fashion E-Commerce Evolving into Dynamic and Seamless Omnichannel, Winners Will Take All

<ul>
<li>Workman may have its roots in workwear for tradespeople but it is evolving fast, moving beyond outdoor and sports and now into core clothing categories like underwear.</li>
<li>It is using its long-term planning to undercut competitors through economies of scale as well as its focus on non-seasonal basics but is even adding new fashion lines too.</li>
<li>Same-Store sales growth has fallen sharply in recent years but the new categories may help revive growth levels again.</li>
</ul>


Workman may have its roots in workwear for tradespeople but it is evolving fast, moving beyond outdoor and sports and now into core clothing categories like underwear.
It is using its long-term planning to undercut competitors through economies of scale as well as its focus on non-seasonal basics but is even adding new fashion lines too.
Same-Store sales growth has fallen sharply in recent years but the new categories may help revive growth levels again.


Workman: More Categories, More Fashion, More Sales

Honeys Holdings Co., Ltd. / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Honeys is proving a resilient provider of low-cost women’s basic fashions in Japan. </li>
<li>While it struggled after losing the fickle younger fan base five years ago, Honeys has bounced back through careful control of costs that has kept prices down.</li>
<li>Along with Workman and Shimamura, Honeys looks to be one of the longer-term beneficiaries of the shift to discount apparel, particularly in rising operating margins.</li>
</ul>


Honeys is proving a resilient provider of low-cost women’s basic fashions in Japan. 
While it struggled after losing the fickle younger fan base five years ago, Honeys has bounced back through careful control of costs that has kept prices down.
Along with Workman and Shimamura, Honeys looks to be one of the longer-term beneficiaries of the shift to discount apparel, particularly in rising operating margins.


<ul>
<li>Nitori dominates in home decor and furniture but now wants to become a top 10 fashion retailer through its N+ chain targeting older women. </li>
<li>It will raise the rate of new stores to 30 a year and then to up to 100 a year as it reaches scale. </li>
<li>Will it be the Uniqlo for the middle-aged? If so it could own a chunk of a segment worth an estimated ¥2.5 trillion.</li>
</ul>


Nitori dominates in home decor and furniture but now wants to become a top 10 fashion retailer through its N+ chain targeting older women. 
It will raise the rate of new stores to 30 a year and then to up to 100 a year as it reaches scale. 
Will it be the Uniqlo for the middle-aged? If so it could own a chunk of a segment worth an estimated ¥2.5 trillion.


Nitori to Ramp up N+ Clothing Chain – ¥500 Billion in New Sales?

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)

ABC Mart Expands Lead in Footwear

Despite a stagnant market, ABC Mart remains dominant in Japan's footwear industry, although it is now facing competition from direct brand sales...

Michael Causton

Japan's Fashion E-Commerce Evolving into Dynamic and Seamless Omnichannel, Winners Will Take All

Japan's fashion e-commerce sector offers major growth stories among both online malls and physical retailers making a successful transition to...

Michael Causton

Workman: More Categories, More Fashion, More Sales

Investors turned away from Workman as same-store sales fell from double digits but the workwear retailer continues to innovate with plenty of...

Michael Causton

Honeys: Sweet Profit in a Downturn

Honeys was burnt badly by hubris but in the past five years has learnt humility and new disciplines, developing compelling ranges at low prices...

Michael Causton

Nitori to Ramp up N+ Clothing Chain – ¥500 Billion in New Sales?

Nitori has been underestimated before and now apparel retailers believe Nitori doesn't have the experience to take them on. They are wrong. It...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

ABC Mart Expands Lead in Footwear

​Despite a stagnant market, ABC Mart remains dominant in Japan's footwear industry, although it is now facing competition from direct brand sales...

Michael Causton

Japan's Fashion E-Commerce Evolving into Dynamic and Seamless Omnichannel, Winners Will Take All

Japan's fashion e-commerce sector offers major growth stories among both online malls and physical retailers making a successful transition to...

Michael Causton

Workman: More Categories, More Fashion, More Sales

Investors turned away from Workman as same-store sales fell from double digits but the workwear retailer continues to innovate with plenty of...

Michael Causton

Honeys: Sweet Profit in a Downturn

Honeys was burnt badly by hubris but in the past five years has learnt humility and new disciplines, developing compelling ranges at low prices...

Michael Causton

Nitori to Ramp up N+ Clothing Chain – ¥500 Billion in New Sales?

Nitori has been underestimated before and now apparel retailers believe Nitori doesn't have the experience to take them on. They are wrong. It...

Michael Causton

Despite a stagnant market, ABC Mart remains dominant in Japan's footwear industry, although it is now facing competition from direct brand sales...