FOCUS: Shopping Centres 2015-16: Top SCs surge nearly 7% on upgrades and tourism After sales growth of 4% in both FY2013 and 2014, the top 100 shopping centres posted their best year since 1995 last year, growing combined sales 7.1%. The top selling SCs fared better than the sector as a whole, but even then […]
FOCUS: Apparel Retailing 2015-16: specialty retailers surge ahead, led by top chains The apparel market overall contracted in 2015, but while small business and GMS chains lost out, big specialty retailers leapt ahead. It was a year of concentration and consolidation, with the top retailers across all formats taking share away from the rest. Independent […]
FOCUS Department Stores FY2015: the sun still shining but storm clouds gathering Department store sales are a bellwether for the spending patterns of two crucial market drivers in recent years: wealthy Japanese and tourists. Last year, both groups continued to support department stores, but most of the growth in spending was reserved for stores in […]
FOCUS Retail Results FY2015: one of the best years for retailing since the 1980s Japanese retailers had a remarkably good year in FY2015. Price increases helped of course but only three of the top 45 retail groups saw sales fall, and many posted sales in double digits. The strong performance was also across almost all […]
FOCUS: Outlet malls: here to stay A full update on Japan’s Outlet Mall sector, main players and stats. Gap Japan to close Old Navy Gap Japan was opening Old Navy stores faster than any other foreign retailer has ever done, but will close the entire operation this year. The right move? Editorial: Retailers don’t need […]
FOCUS: 2015 proving a good year for retailers – unless you’re a GMS chain Consumers face growing pressure from stagnant wages and increasing prices for basics, a situation that is likely to worsen with further weakening of the Yen. Last Autumn, worries about consumer spending led several major retailers to publicly express concern that things […]
FOCUS: Convenience Stores to dominate retail industry? The rise and rise of convenience store retailing is one of the most significant stories in Japanese business over the past 30 years. While few would fail to admire the skill with which the leading chains have grown, and their efficiency and profitability as retailers, for the majority […]
Although many major fashion brands now sell through online malls, there is a growing shift towards taking greater direct control of online sales. This leaves the two main online fashion malls Magaseek and Start Today with a major problem. Both are trying to solve this issue by providing consulting and operating services in addition to […]
