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 apparel/fashion sector made a partial recovery last year but was still down on 2019. 2022 looks a lot brighter with customers now back in stores including even inbound tourists. </li>
<li>The same challenges that the sector faced before Covid remain but there is plenty of room to grow by taking share from the less innovative competitors – i.e. more consolidation.</li>
<li>The sector saw the highest fall in store numbers in its history last year, but there was more investment in creating a compelling omnichannel model suited to Japan’s particular market.</li>
</ul>


The apparel/fashion sector made a partial recovery last year but was still down on 2019. 2022 looks a lot brighter with customers now back in stores including even inbound tourists. 
The same challenges that the sector faced before Covid remain but there is plenty of room to grow by taking share from the less innovative competitors – i.e. more consolidation.
The sector saw the highest fall in store numbers in its history last year, but there was more investment in creating a compelling omnichannel model suited to Japan’s particular market.


Japan's Apparel/Fashion Sector Big Review: Momentum Builds for Full Recovery

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Although spending on non-necessities withered from March 2020 onwards, some low-cost retailers of discretionary items continued to grow. </li>
<li>Workman’s mix of high cost performance and engagement with the ever more active outdoor market has, and will, support expansion, even if same-store sales growth has slowed.</li>
<li>Future category expansion will deliver higher same-store sales as well as top line growth. 1,500 stores (from 1,000) is certain but 2,000 is possible thanks to new categories like footwear.</li>
</ul>


Although spending on non-necessities withered from March 2020 onwards, some low-cost retailers of discretionary items continued to grow. 
Workman’s mix of high cost performance and engagement with the ever more active outdoor market has, and will, support expansion, even if same-store sales growth has slowed.
Future category expansion will deliver higher same-store sales as well as top line growth. 1,500 stores (from 1,000) is certain but 2,000 is possible thanks to new categories like footwear.


2023 High Conviction: Workman's Cost Performance Will Beat the Competition

<ul>
<li>Decathlon entered the Japanese retail market in 2017 with the opportunity to take a significant share of a growing sports and athleisure sector.</li>
<li>But the French firm is already retreating: it will close its two stores and focus on online and wholesaling. </li>
<li>The market is poorer for but it does leave the market wide open for Workman – which built a consumer chain to combat Decathlon – to become dominant.</li>
</ul>


Decathlon entered the Japanese retail market in 2017 with the opportunity to take a significant share of a growing sports and athleisure sector.
But the French firm is already retreating: it will close its two stores and focus on online and wholesaling. 
The market is poorer for but it does leave the market wide open for Workman – which built a consumer chain to combat Decathlon – to become dominant.


Workman Wins as Decathlon Closes Japan Stores

<ul>
<li>Workman sees an opportunity to disrupt the footwear market by creating Japan’s first national low price chain, with a strong focus on women’s shoes.</li>
<li>It launched the first store this month with prices as low as ¥680 and expects to have 200 stores in the near future.</li>
<li>The Japanese footwear market is ripe for disruption as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/abc-mart-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3213:1" rel="noopener">Abc Mart Inc (2670 JP)</a> diversifies and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chiyoda-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6461:1" rel="noopener">Chiyoda Co Ltd (8185 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/gfoot-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10237:1" rel="noopener">Gfoot Co Ltd (2686 JP)</a> struggle to maintain momentum.</li>
</ul>


Workman sees an opportunity to disrupt the footwear market by creating Japan’s first national low price chain, with a strong focus on women’s shoes.
It launched the first store this month with prices as low as ¥680 and expects to have 200 stores in the near future.
The Japanese footwear market is ripe for disruption as Abc Mart Inc (2670 JP) diversifies and Chiyoda Co Ltd (8185 JP) and Gfoot Co Ltd (2686 JP) struggle to maintain momentum.


Workman to Disrupt Footwear Market with ¥60 Billion Sales Target

Last year the Japanese fashion market contracted below ¥16 trillion for the first time in more than a decade and this year is proving much, much worse.In the last big crises – the 2008 financial shock and 2011 triple disasters – demand also fell dramatically and then recovered. But this time is different: as well as a fall in demand, the Covid-19 crisis has also led to a marked fall in supply.But there is some good news. Above all, Japanese are not travelling either at home or abroad and they are also eating out less.In the seven months to July, the average working household had cumulatively saved a net ¥1.25 million, more than 11 months in both 2018 and 2019 and more than an entire year before 2018.Suddenly wallets are full, which could mean more money to spend on treats – good news for luxury but also any brand or retailing offering something fun to divert from the all bleak news.While the short-term outlook remains dark, the medium-term should see both a return to a more stable trading environment and something of a splurge too as people express their relief that it’s all over.The following is a complete review of the Japanese apparel/fashion sector including rankings of the top 100 retailers by sales, top by profit, sales growth, and store openings/closures.This insight is labelled bullish because the Japanese apparel/fashion sector will rebound from the current crisis although the long-term outlook for this sector is stagnant stability rather than significant growth. However, within this, there are significant growth stocks as detailed below.

Last year the Japanese fashion market contracted below ¥16 trillion for the first time in more than a decade and this year is proving much, much worse.In the last big crises – the 2008 financial shock and 2011 triple disasters – demand also fell dramatically and then recovered. But this time is different: as well as a fall in demand, the Covid-19 crisis has also led to a marked fall in supply.But there is some good news. Above all, Japanese are not travelling either at home or abroad and they are also eating out less.In the seven months to July, the average working household had cumulatively saved a net ¥1.25 million, more than 11 months in both 2018 and 2019 and more than an entire year before 2018.Suddenly wallets are full, which could mean more money to spend on treats – good news for luxury but also any brand or retailing offering something fun to divert from the all bleak news.While the short-term outlook remains dark, the medium-term should see both a return to a more stable trading environment and something of a splurge too as people express their relief that it’s all over.The following is a complete review of the Japanese apparel/fashion sector including rankings of the top 100 retailers by sales, top by profit, sales growth, and store openings/closures.This insight is labelled bullish because the Japanese apparel/fashion sector will rebound from the current crisis although the long-term outlook for this sector is stagnant stability rather than significant growth. However, within this, there are significant growth stocks as detailed below.

Japan Fashion Retailing Complete Review 2019-20: Pain Now but a Recovery Is Certain

Japan

CHIYODA CO., LTD. operates specialty store chains including shoes stores, toy stores, and also casual clothe stores nationwide.  The Company sells its shoes under a number of store chains including The SHOES, Kutsu Chiyoda, and SHOE PLAZA.

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Chiyoda Co Ltd (8185 JP)

Japan's Apparel/Fashion Sector Big Review: Momentum Builds for Full Recovery

Japan's fashion and apparel sector was severely hit by the pandemic and the loss of tourism. With wallets full, Japanese are now spending again...

Michael Causton

2023 High Conviction: Workman's Cost Performance Will Beat the Competition

Some analysts have dismissed Workman as past its peak because S-S sales have fallen. This is a mistake: top line expansion and income growth will...

Michael Causton

Workman Wins as Decathlon Closes Japan Stores

Workman has won the battle for Japan's low price sports and outdoor market. Decathlon is in retreat and no other retailer comes close on cost...

Michael Causton

Workman to Disrupt Footwear Market with ¥60 Billion Sales Target

Some analysts write off Workman as a past growth story. This is a mistake. It remains one of the strongest discount lifestyle retailers and has...

Michael Causton

Japan Fashion Retailing Complete Review 2019-20: Pain Now but a Recovery Is Certain

The following is a complete, in-depth review of the Japanese apparel/fashion sector covering key trends, rankings of the top 100 by sales and top...

Michael Causton

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