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>Workman has returned to its roots, focusing on basics that are dramatically cheaper than the competition but which offer enough functionality to draw in customers.</li>
<li>As a result, same-store sales have been growing for most of FY2025, with a strong lineup of new products across clothing and functional accessories.</li>
<li>The conversion of its women-focused chain to a unisex banner was long overdue and has created real momentum in a time of households seeking better value to offset inflation.</li>
</ul>


Workman has returned to its roots, focusing on basics that are dramatically cheaper than the competition but which offer enough functionality to draw in customers.
As a result, same-store sales have been growing for most of FY2025, with a strong lineup of new products across clothing and functional accessories.
The conversion of its women-focused chain to a unisex banner was long overdue and has created real momentum in a time of households seeking better value to offset inflation.


Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Results for FY2022-23 provide a snapshot of winners and losers in Japan's retail sector.</li>
<li>The data shows a big improvement in performance for retailers with sales of ¥250 billion or more and the outlook is positive for most, particularly for profits.</li>
<li>This also means that market concentration is intensifying, particularly in sectors like drugstores but also now in supermarkets. We highlight the winners in each sector.</li>
</ul>


Results for FY2022-23 provide a snapshot of winners and losers in Japan's retail sector.
The data shows a big improvement in performance for retailers with sales of ¥250 billion or more and the outlook is positive for most, particularly for profits.
This also means that market concentration is intensifying, particularly in sectors like drugstores but also now in supermarkets. We highlight the winners in each sector.


<ul>
<li>Workman was a purveyor of durable gear for workers in jobs like construction but then had the brilliant idea to transpose that expertise to create activewear like Decathlon.</li>
<li>This was working well but then it decided to take on the likes of Fast Retailing and Shimamura by moving into casual clothing.</li>
<li>Since then, same-store sales growth has been negative in many months and profits have fallen. The outlook is increasingly poor.</li>
</ul>


Workman was a purveyor of durable gear for workers in jobs like construction but then had the brilliant idea to transpose that expertise to create activewear like Decathlon.
This was working well but then it decided to take on the likes of Fast Retailing and Shimamura by moving into casual clothing.
Since then, same-store sales growth has been negative in many months and profits have fallen. The outlook is increasingly poor.


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

<ul>
<li>Low cost apparel retailers have enjoyed a significant uptick in the past few years as consumers look to polarise their spending further between cheaper basics and luxury treats. </li>
<li>But the real change is in improving profitability. One the biggest beneficiaries has been Honeys, a low cost womenswear retailer that has seen a revival in the past few years.</li>
<li>Operating profit has tripled since 2018. Can it last? Work on creating its own low cost manufacturing base suggests it can.</li>
</ul>


Low cost apparel retailers have enjoyed a significant uptick in the past few years as consumers look to polarise their spending further between cheaper basics and luxury treats. 
But the real change is in improving profitability. One the biggest beneficiaries has been Honeys, a low cost womenswear retailer that has seen a revival in the past few years.
Operating profit has tripled since 2018. Can it last? Work on creating its own low cost manufacturing base suggests it can.


<ul>
<li>In this in-depth review, it is clear that while Japanese clothing markets had a solid year in FY2024-25, once again the top 100 retailers outperformed by a large margin.</li>
<li>This meant they surpassed 71% share of the market but, within the specialty market alone, the top 10 retailers own 34%. This is now a clear oligopoly.</li>
<li>There are no signs of the situation changing either but rather the capacity of the leaders to invest should further expand share at the top.</li>
</ul>


In this in-depth review, it is clear that while Japanese clothing markets had a solid year in FY2024-25, once again the top 100 retailers outperformed by a large margin.
This meant they surpassed 71% share of the market but, within the specialty market alone, the top 10 retailers own 34%. This is now a clear oligopoly.
There are no signs of the situation changing either but rather the capacity of the leaders to invest should further expand share at the top.


The Great Divide: Fashion Retail’s Oligopoly

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)

Workman Back on Track

Workman's back-to-basics approach and focus on affordable yet functional products have led to increased sales and momentum, especially after...

Michael Causton

Japan's Best Performing Retailers

There were strong improvements in both sales and profits for leading retailers last year and the following insight looks at the main winners and...

Michael Causton

Workman Under Pressure

Workman's shift from durable work gear to casual clothing has led to declining sales and profits, challenging its once successful business model.

Michael Causton

Sweet Honeys: A Profit Machine

Low cost apparel retailers are seeing increased profitability, with Honeys leading the way through a revival and focus on creating a low cost...

Michael Causton

The Great Divide: Fashion Retail’s Oligopoly

Japanese clothing market dominated by top 100 retailers in FY2024-25, with top 10 owning 34% in specialty market, solidifying oligopoly. Leaders...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Workman Back on Track

​Workman's back-to-basics approach and focus on affordable yet functional products have led to increased sales and momentum, especially after...

Michael Causton

Japan's Best Performing Retailers

There were strong improvements in both sales and profits for leading retailers last year and the following insight looks at the main winners and...

Michael Causton

Workman Under Pressure

​Workman's shift from durable work gear to casual clothing has led to declining sales and profits, challenging its once successful business model.

Michael Causton

Sweet Honeys: A Profit Machine

​Low cost apparel retailers are seeing increased profitability, with Honeys leading the way through a revival and focus on creating a low cost...

Michael Causton

The Great Divide: Fashion Retail’s Oligopoly

​Japanese clothing market dominated by top 100 retailers in FY2024-25, with top 10 owning 34% in specialty market, solidifying oligopoly. Leaders...

Michael Causton

Workman's back-to-basics approach and focus on affordable yet functional products have led to increased sales and momentum, especially after...

Workman's shift from durable work gear to casual clothing has led to declining sales and profits, challenging its once successful business model.

Low cost apparel retailers are seeing increased profitability, with Honeys leading the way through a revival and focus on creating a low cost...

Japanese clothing market dominated by top 100 retailers in FY2024-25, with top 10 owning 34% in specialty market, solidifying oligopoly. Leaders...