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

Samantha Thavasa Japan / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Once a major hit with young women, Samantha Thavasa has struggled to find relevance in the past five years.</li>
<li>Despite an injection of capital and management from new parent, Konaka, the business has continued to close stores.</li>
<li>While Konaka is restructuring the business, the brand's low levels of recognition with the younger generation will likely mean further retreat.</li>
</ul>


Once a major hit with young women, Samantha Thavasa has struggled to find relevance in the past five years.
Despite an injection of capital and management from new parent, Konaka, the business has continued to close stores.
While Konaka is restructuring the business, the brand's low levels of recognition with the younger generation will likely mean further retreat.


Samantha Thavasa Attempts Rebirth but Losses Continue

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

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

Event-Driven

A dowdy suits retailer and a celebrity-endorsed bag and accessories brand with more than a hint of tackiness seemed like an odd pairing when the former bought a stake in the latter last year, but now the old man in the suit has wedded the young fashionista and hopes the marriage will be much more than the sum of its parts.

A dowdy suits retailer and a celebrity-endorsed bag and accessories brand with more than a hint of tackiness seemed like an odd pairing when the former bought a stake in the latter last year, but now the old man in the suit has wedded the young fashionista and hopes the marriage will be much more than the sum of its parts.

A roadside retailer of suits for older salarymen buying an erratic brand of fashion bags doesn’t sound like a recipe for success, but there is a glimmer of potential in the recent announcement that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/konaka-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2045:1" rel="noopener">Konaka Co Ltd (7494 JP)</a> is taking a 31.3% stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samantha-thavasa-japan-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16319:1" rel="noopener">Samantha Thavasa Japan (7829 JP)</a>.

A roadside retailer of suits for older salarymen buying an erratic brand of fashion bags doesn’t sound like a recipe for success, but there is a glimmer of potential in the recent announcement that Konaka Co Ltd (7494 JP) is taking a 31.3% stake in Samantha Thavasa Japan (7829 JP).

Suits and Handbags: Konaka and Samantha Thavasa Tie the Knot

Japan

Samantha Thavasa Japan Limited designs, produces, and retails jewelry and handbags for women. The company operates a chain of boutiques under Samantha Thavasa name for bags and Samantha Tiara for jewelry.

Samantha Thavasa Japan (7829 JP)

Samantha Thavasa Attempts Rebirth but Losses Continue

Samantha Thavasa had a moment in the spotlight more than a decade ago thanks to clever use of international celebrities but that moment has gone...

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

Konaka Absorbs Samantha Thavasa

A dowdy suits retailer and a celebrity-endorsed bag and accessories brand with more than a hint of tackiness seemed like an odd pairing when the...

Michael Causton

Suits and Handbags: Konaka and Samantha Thavasa Tie the Knot

A roadside retailer of suits for older salarymen buying an erratic brand of fashion bags doesn’t sound like a recipe for success, but there is a...

Michael Causton