Sanyo-Shokai; Department Stores to Outlets

Even with sales at Japan department stores up over the past two months, overall sales have still been down over the past decade (has it been that long?). As sales at department stores continually decrease apparel brands are looking for new sales channels.  Ecommerce has been one strong sales channel for many brand and now outlet malls are growing in popularity; not just with customers but with apparel brands too.

Apparel company Sanyo-Shokai is one company embracing outlets as a solution to excess inventory due to lack of sales at department stores in Japan and is planning to increase its outlet presence to three doors by 2013.  Sanyo-Shokai is hoping its plan to increase its outlet doors will pay-off with a 10% decrease in inventory by moving non-selling merchandise from department stores to outlets and double sales to 10 billion yen by 2013.

TFD is so inspired by Sanyo-Shokai that we are going to visit Asahibashi outlet in Okinawa today.  Will we buy any Sanyo-Shokai brands?  Probably not but we won't be leaving empty-handed either.

Information Sanyo-Shokai Ltd. & Nikkei