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>We continue to be bullish about Workman’s back-to-basics strategy which has delivered a second straight year of record sales and profit, with same-store sales up 9%. </li>
<li>New president Koji Ouchi has just revamped the business under five core functional categories, as well as moving towards more mass-scale manufacturing and corporate franchising.</li>
<li>The new strategy is part of a drive toward 1,300 stores by 2030.</li>
</ul>


We continue to be bullish about Workman’s back-to-basics strategy which has delivered a second straight year of record sales and profit, with same-store sales up 9%. 
New president Koji Ouchi has just revamped the business under five core functional categories, as well as moving towards more mass-scale manufacturing and corporate franchising.
The new strategy is part of a drive toward 1,300 stores by 2030.


Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The Japanese fashion e-commerce market is undergoing rapid transformation: while online sales continue to grow, the channel’s share of total fashion sales has fluctuated due to strong in-store performance.</li>
<li>Even the best exemplars of effective integration of online and offline and personalised marketing have seen e-commerce share fall as physical store sales have risen faster for many. </li>
<li>Omnichannel models continue to evolve, with great examples of deeper integration of stores and digital through staff activities like blogging and Live Commerce.</li>
</ul>


The Japanese fashion e-commerce market is undergoing rapid transformation: while online sales continue to grow, the channel’s share of total fashion sales has fluctuated due to strong in-store performance.
Even the best exemplars of effective integration of online and offline and personalised marketing have seen e-commerce share fall as physical store sales have risen faster for many. 
Omnichannel models continue to evolve, with great examples of deeper integration of stores and digital through staff activities like blogging and Live Commerce.


Fashion E-Commerce in Japan: Stores Are Key Too

<ul>
<li>What is the current consumer environment for brands and retailers? Households are increasingly worried about inflation and have already begun to cut back on spending significantly. </li>
<li>With further international turmoil, inflation caused by a weak Yen and high import costs, depressed sentiment may not be going away soon.</li>
<li>One counter to this is bonuses which rose in December. Many companies say they need to pay more to keep staff from taking jobs elsewhere as the labour shortage worsens.</li>
</ul>


What is the current consumer environment for brands and retailers? Households are increasingly worried about inflation and have already begun to cut back on spending significantly. 
With further international turmoil, inflation caused by a weak Yen and high import costs, depressed sentiment may not be going away soon.
One counter to this is bonuses which rose in December. Many companies say they need to pay more to keep staff from taking jobs elsewhere as the labour shortage worsens.


Japanese Consumers Update: Price Pressure Reducing Spending but Bonuses Up

<ul>
<li>The shakeout in clothing and fashion retailing continues, with most of the good fortune spread amongst a smaller group of either very large or very small retail chains and brands. </li>
<li>In specialty, lower cost national chains largely located in the suburbs continued to increase share but premium fashion retailers also had a great year boosting profits.</li>
<li>More dramatic was the startling growth of a few department stores which helped the format increase share of the apparel market for only the 4th time in 20 years.</li>
</ul>


The shakeout in clothing and fashion retailing continues, with most of the good fortune spread amongst a smaller group of either very large or very small retail chains and brands. 
In specialty, lower cost national chains largely located in the suburbs continued to increase share but premium fashion retailers also had a great year boosting profits.
More dramatic was the startling growth of a few department stores which helped the format increase share of the apparel market for only the 4th time in 20 years.


Japan Fashion Retailing: Stores Still Popular and Profit Soars for Some

<ul>
<li>Core inflation rates remain stubbornly high and real wages are still falling. </li>
<li>Surveys suggest one more major round of price hikes in October but the government still thinks prices will stabilise below its 2% target by the end of the year.</li>
<li>The increases are lowering consumer confidence – bad news for most retailers, although major discount chains are making hay while the sun, well, doesn’t shine.</li>
</ul>


Core inflation rates remain stubbornly high and real wages are still falling. 
Surveys suggest one more major round of price hikes in October but the government still thinks prices will stabilise below its 2% target by the end of the year.
The increases are lowering consumer confidence – bad news for most retailers, although major discount chains are making hay while the sun, well, doesn’t shine.


Japanese Prices Rise Again; 60% of Consumers Feeling the Pinch and Looking for Better Value

Japan

SHIMAMURA CO., Ltd. operates chain stores selling mainly clothing for men, women, children, and also bedding and furnishing goods.  The Company has stores in mainly suburb areas throughout Japan.

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Shimamura (8227 JP)

Workman Turnaround Gathers Pace

Workman is now well out of its depression. The turnaround is complete and the workwear retailer has its mojo back, with functional value and supply...

Michael Causton

Fashion E-Commerce in Japan: Stores Are Key Too

Japanese fashion e-commerce market sees growth, but in-store sales outpace online, challenging even top omnichannel strategies. Staff engagement...

Michael Causton

Japanese Consumers Update: Price Pressure Reducing Spending but Bonuses Up

Households are cutting back on spending due to inflation worries, while companies are increasing bonuses to retain staff amidst a labor shortage –...

Michael Causton

Japan Fashion Retailing: Stores Still Popular and Profit Soars for Some

A major review of Japanese clothing retail markets: the ongoing shakeout benefits large and small chains, but profit growth across the sector is...

Michael Causton

Japanese Prices Rise Again; 60% of Consumers Feeling the Pinch and Looking for Better Value

Japanese consumer markets have three big trends: higher prices/squeezed incomes, doubling of single households and more people feeling the pinch....

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Workman Turnaround Gathers Pace

Workman is now well out of its depression. The turnaround is complete and the workwear retailer has its mojo back, with functional value and supply...

Michael Causton

Fashion E-Commerce in Japan: Stores Are Key Too

​Japanese fashion e-commerce market sees growth, but in-store sales outpace online, challenging even top omnichannel strategies. Staff engagement...

Michael Causton

Japanese Consumers Update: Price Pressure Reducing Spending but Bonuses Up

​Households are cutting back on spending due to inflation worries, while companies are increasing bonuses to retain staff amidst a labor shortage –...

Michael Causton

Japan Fashion Retailing: Stores Still Popular and Profit Soars for Some

A major review of Japanese clothing retail markets: ​the ongoing shakeout benefits large and small chains, but profit growth across the sector is...

Michael Causton

Japanese Prices Rise Again; 60% of Consumers Feeling the Pinch and Looking for Better Value

Japanese consumer markets have three big trends: higher prices/squeezed incomes, doubling of single households and more people feeling the pinch....

Michael Causton

Japanese fashion e-commerce market sees growth, but in-store sales outpace online, challenging even top omnichannel strategies. Staff engagement...

Households are cutting back on spending due to inflation worries, while companies are increasing bonuses to retain staff amidst a labor shortage –...

A major review of Japanese clothing retail markets: the ongoing shakeout benefits large and small chains, but profit growth across the sector is...