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>Japan’s consumer markets had a remarkably good year in 2023, despite the spectres of inflation and negative real wage growth marring consumer confidence. </li>
<li>These fears were offset by a desire to get out and spend some of the mounting savings. Those savings still rose a cumulative average of ¥1.45 million in 2023.</li>
<li>Covid and inflation forced major change and provided a solid footing for what is expected to be a good 2024 on the back of hopes for genuine real wage growth.</li>
</ul>


Japan’s consumer markets had a remarkably good year in 2023, despite the spectres of inflation and negative real wage growth marring consumer confidence. 
These fears were offset by a desire to get out and spend some of the mounting savings. Those savings still rose a cumulative average of ¥1.45 million in 2023.
Covid and inflation forced major change and provided a solid footing for what is expected to be a good 2024 on the back of hopes for genuine real wage growth.


2023-24 Japanese Consumer Market Trends Review

<ul>
<li>After stellar growth in 2020, the e-commerce market grew much slower in 2021 but still outpaced all other channels and set the second highest increase in four years.</li>
<li>At this rate, by 2025 e-commerce should become the largest retail channel, overtaking chain stores.</li>
<li>Japan’s easy access to retail stores means shops aren’t about to disappear anytime soon and Japan will become a model for omnichannel retailing with stores still playing a key role.</li>
</ul>


After stellar growth in 2020, the e-commerce market grew much slower in 2021 but still outpaced all other channels and set the second highest increase in four years.
At this rate, by 2025 e-commerce should become the largest retail channel, overtaking chain stores.
Japan’s easy access to retail stores means shops aren’t about to disappear anytime soon and Japan will become a model for omnichannel retailing with stores still playing a key role.


Japanese E-Commerce Big Review: Still Taking Market Share as Omnichannel Becomes the Norm

<ul>
<li>Consumer electronics retailers and producers benefited a lot from the pandemic, supplying customers stuck at home with kit for work and play. </li>
<li>The Olympics also encouraged people to update their TVs and entertainment systems.</li>
<li>Now, sales are falling to pre-2020 levels due to saturation. Inflationary pressures also mean more people are turning to second-hand options or simply not replacing old appliances at all.</li>
</ul>


Consumer electronics retailers and producers benefited a lot from the pandemic, supplying customers stuck at home with kit for work and play. 
The Olympics also encouraged people to update their TVs and entertainment systems.
Now, sales are falling to pre-2020 levels due to saturation. Inflationary pressures also mean more people are turning to second-hand options or simply not replacing old appliances at all.


Japan's Consumer Electronics Retailers Face Tough Outlook

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

<ul>
<li>After the close, Walmart slashed its quarter and full-year profit guidance – the second inflation-induced cut this year – stock down sharply </li>
<li>The company said inflation is causing consumers to spend more on must-have things such as food and less on electronics </li>
<li>Japanese electronics retailers will face a similar problem as inflation feeds through to weaker consumption of high-end goods  </li>
</ul>


After the close, Walmart slashed its quarter and full-year profit guidance – the second inflation-induced cut this year – stock down sharply 
The company said inflation is causing consumers to spend more on must-have things such as food and less on electronics 
Japanese electronics retailers will face a similar problem as inflation feeds through to weaker consumption of high-end goods  


Walmart Shocker #2 - Sell Japanese Electronics Retailers

The following is an in-depth review of Japanese retail in the last 18 months covering all the main formats and categories, providing a quick way to see an overview of all the key trends and winners and losers in Japanese retailing now and going forward.FY2020 was an anomaly and one that businesses everywhere will want to forget and never repeat. There was more than enough pain among Japan’s top retailers last year, but equally some formats did surprisingly well given the circumstances.For most, work-from-home was the single most important factor in determining a chain’s fortunes. City-centre stores and shopping centres offering mostly discretionary shopping have been hit hard, as have convenience stores.But those chains selling essentials, healthcare, electronics and, most importantly, food, all saw their fortunes improve. The pandemic has also revealed the strong, dynamic players and exposed the weaker ones. Oh, and everyone needs to be online.

The following is an in-depth review of Japanese retail in the last 18 months covering all the main formats and categories, providing a quick way to see an overview of all the key trends and winners and losers in Japanese retailing now and going forward.FY2020 was an anomaly and one that businesses everywhere will want to forget and never repeat. There was more than enough pain among Japan’s top retailers last year, but equally some formats did surprisingly well given the circumstances.For most, work-from-home was the single most important factor in determining a chain’s fortunes. City-centre stores and shopping centres offering mostly discretionary shopping have been hit hard, as have convenience stores.But those chains selling essentials, healthcare, electronics and, most importantly, food, all saw their fortunes improve. The pandemic has also revealed the strong, dynamic players and exposed the weaker ones. Oh, and everyone needs to be online.

The Polarising Pandemic in Japanese Retail

Japan

BIC CAMERA INC. operates electronic retail stores throughout Japan focusing on the Tokyo metropolitan area.  The Company sells audio and video equipments, electrical home appliances and telecommunication equipments.  Bic Camera also runs an Internet shopping site.

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Bic Camera Inc (3048 JP)

2023-24 Japanese Consumer Market Trends Review

Despite concerns about inflation and negative real wage growth, Japan's consumer markets had a successful year in 2023 and sets the stage for a...

Michael Causton

Japan's Consumer Electronics Retailers Face Tough Outlook

Don't expect much growth from Japan's consumer electronics retailers. With market saturation and waning demand, there is trouble ahead and possibly...

Michael Causton

Walmart Shocker #2 - Sell Japanese Electronics Retailers

We have a Bearish trading call on the Japanese electronics retail sector. Walmart surprised the market by citing inflationary impact on electronics...

Mark Chadwick

The Polarising Pandemic in Japanese Retail

A complete review of the Japanese retail sector in the last 18 months, format by format, category by category, providing key trends and winners &...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

2023-24 Japanese Consumer Market Trends Review

​Despite concerns about inflation and negative real wage growth, Japan's consumer markets had a successful year in 2023 and sets the stage for a...

Michael Causton

Japanese E-Commerce Big Review: Still Taking Market Share as Omnichannel Becomes the Norm

Japanese e-commerce continues to take more share from other retail channels but Japan is developing a sophisticated omnichannel model where stores...

Michael Causton

Japan's Consumer Electronics Retailers Face Tough Outlook

Don't expect much growth from Japan's consumer electronics retailers. With market saturation and waning demand, there is trouble ahead and possibly...

Michael Causton

Walmart Shocker #2 - Sell Japanese Electronics Retailers

We have a Bearish trading call on the Japanese electronics retail sector. Walmart surprised the market by citing inflationary impact on electronics...

Mark Chadwick

The Polarising Pandemic in Japanese Retail

A complete review of the Japanese retail sector in the last 18 months, format by format, category by category, providing key trends and winners &...

Michael Causton

Despite concerns about inflation and negative real wage growth, Japan's consumer markets had a successful year in 2023 and sets the stage for a...