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)

The continuation of the ‘Great Wage Squeeze’ in Japan over the past two decades means more households have found it harder to make ends meet. The retail response in terms of value and discount retailing has been slow until recently, but Japan’s 100 Yen Shops were helping out from the start, emerging as a major feature of the retail landscape in the 1990s, and growing reasonably consistently since. With renewed pressure recently on household budgets from high prices on essentials like fresh food, combined with a growing appetite for discount retailing among even prosperous consumers, the top four 100 Yen Shop retailers are thriving today, opening a combined 500 shops last year alone. While there is some suggestion of upcoming saturation, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/12989" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12989:1">Seria Co Ltd (2782 JP)</a> in particular looks likely to carve out a bigger market share thanks to disciplined supply chain management, effective use of data analysis, and strong brand loyalty.Expansion of private label merchandise is helping 100 Yen stores differentiate from the competition, and boosting margins, particularly Seria which has shown consistently high levels of profit growth recently.

The continuation of the ‘Great Wage Squeeze’ in Japan over the past two decades means more households have found it harder to make ends meet. The retail response in terms of value and discount retailing has been slow until recently, but Japan’s 100 Yen Shops were helping out from the start, emerging as a major feature of the retail landscape in the 1990s, and growing reasonably consistently since. With renewed pressure recently on household budgets from high prices on essentials like fresh food, combined with a growing appetite for discount retailing among even prosperous consumers, the top four 100 Yen Shop retailers are thriving today, opening a combined 500 shops last year alone. While there is some suggestion of upcoming saturation, Seria Co Ltd (2782 JP) in particular looks likely to carve out a bigger market share thanks to disciplined supply chain management, effective use of data analysis, and strong brand loyalty.Expansion of private label merchandise is helping 100 Yen stores differentiate from the competition, and boosting margins, particularly Seria which has shown consistently high levels of profit growth recently.

Fixed Price 100 Yen Shops Bask in Growing Discount Economy in Japan

Japan

YAMAYA CORPORATION operates a discount liquor and processed foods store chain in Tohoku area.  In addition to retailing, the Company also operates wholesaling and importing businesses.  Yamaya has a distribution center using POS (Point Of Sale) system.  The Company has tie-up with AEON group.

Yamaya Corp (9994 JP)

Fixed Price 100 Yen Shops Bask in Growing Discount Economy in Japan

The continuation of the ‘Great Wage Squeeze’ in Japan over the past two decades means more households have found it harder to make ends meet. The...

Michael Causton