Shinjuku Isetan's Renewal

It has been a trend among department stores in Japan over the past few years to renovate and renew their Tokyo flagship department stores.  

The most recent and newest department store renewal will be completed and be ready to open next spring.

Isetan has settled for a radical interior design that although will decrease retail shopping space by up to 12% will change and improve the way customers shop; first by pulling them into Shinjuku Isetan department store and then by making for more comfortable and exciting shopping experience.

Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings is optimistic on their new design for Shinjuku Isetan that they expect sales to increase 5% in the first year of the completion of the renewal.

Information Isetan Mistukoshi Holdings Ltd.

Taka-Q

Riding a high stock price and increased sales Japan-based apparel company Taka-Q has increased its net profit forecast for fiscal year 2011 (ending February 2012) to 100 million yen from an initial loss of 150 million yen.

Taka-Q as other apparel companies are enjoying increased sales due to the colder weather which is pushing sales of winter apparel and outdoor wear.

Information Taka-Q

Shoo-La-Rue

In an attempt to expand their business while keeping costs down World Co. will for the first time begin opening franchise stores and converting some own-stores to franchise stores for their Shoo-La-Rue brand.

World Co. plans on expanding their Shoo-La-Rue outlet business to 30 franchise stores and increase sales by 30% by the end of the fiscal year 2012.

Two of the first franchise store to open up will be in Okayama and Fukui where Shoo-La-Rue own-stores at Tenmaya Store and Yasusaki Group will be converted from own-stores into franchise stores.

Information World Co.

Korean International Style Show

Starting tomorrow and ending this Friday, Girls Award presents KISS – Korean International Style Show.  

This first joint Japan Korea exhibition of its kind will be hosted at Yoyogi National Gymnasium and will showcase the latest fashion and music artists as well as popular models from Korea and Japan including designer Lie Sang Bong, music performers Kara, and model Ai Tominaga - plus many more.

With already 33,000 tickets sold KISS will be an event not to be missed, so don't miss it.

Tickets are available here. 

Tokyo Fashion Daily will cover the event and interview popular Korean designer Lie Sang Bong.  Check back for photos and coverage notes after this weekend.

Nozomi Sasaki launches her own line

Last week in partnership with Aoyama Trading Co. well-know model Nozomi Sasaki launched her new fashion line "n-line by nozomi".

The new collection which targets female university students and young business women launched in Yofuku-no-Aoyama stores throughout Japan this past Friday.

Aoyama Trading Co. is optimistic and is betting Nozomi Sasaki's popularity will bring in sales from young women and is already forecasting 2 billion yen for the spring/summer collection.

Information Aoyama Trading Co.

Japan Department Stores Up

For the first time in six month sales at Japanese department stores increased. December's increase of 0.8% was the first sales increase since June 2011.

Finishing December at 731 billion yen in sales, Japanese department stores were still down 2% for the year (2011) to mark the fifteenth straight yearly decrease in sales.

With January sales at Japan department stores already off to a good start most department stores are expecting and forecasting same-store sales to also increase this month.

Information Japan Department Stores Association

AEO Not Wasting Anytime

With the first American Eagle Outfitters store set to open in Harajuku at the intersection of Omotesando and Meiji dori on Wednesday 18 April, AEO is not wasting anytime as the next day, Thursday 19 April AEO will open their second store in Odaiba'sTokyo Bay.

Even with the competitive casual apparel market in Japan shrinking *1.9% in 2010 and the market saturated with low-cost casual apparel retailers; Japanese and foreign, AEO believes Japan can be a 10 billion yen market for them by 2016.

AEO's merchandise assortment does well with the teen to young adult market in North America but will its success in the US and Canada translate to sales in Japan?

Information AEO & *Yano Research Institute

H&M Nagoya

Currently with 15 stores in Japan and plans double that number, Hennes & Mauritz will open their 16th in Nagoya in April.

The new Nagoya H&M will open in Matsuzakaya Nagoya on Saturday 21 April and cover a huge 3,200 sqm spread out over two floors and will sell men's, women's and children's merchandise.

Matsuzakaya, no stranger to fast-fashion brands currently has Forever 21 as a tenant in their Ginza department store as well as the popular brand Free Shop.

With Forever 21 performing well in Ginza; driving customers and sales why is Matsuzakaya turning to H&M as a new tenant?

Information J. Front Retailing

Uniqlo Ginza Renewal

Next month on 16 March Fast Retailing will reopen their Uniqlo Ginza flagship store.

When complete the renewed store will be 5,000 square meters and be the largest Uniqlo store globally.

The Ginza Uniqlo will continue to offer the Uniqlo's full product line including women's and men's apparel and will be only the second global flagship store for Uniqlo after Osaka Shinsaibashi.

Currently there are 831 Uniqlo stores in Japan.

Information Fast Retailing Co.

g.u. in Ginza

Fast Retailing announced it will open a g.u. flagship in Ginza at the end of March. In addition to the Ginza flagship Fast Retailing will open up 43 more g.u. stores throughout Japan focusing in mostly urban centers. With the opening of these new g.u. stores Fast Retailing will expand the g.u. retail network to almost 200 doors by the end of their fiscal year this August. g.u.'s popularity comes from their prices which are up to 50% less than Uniqlo, and Fast Retailing is optimistic the continuing popularity will help sales at g.u. increase 60% by the end of the fiscal year in August bringing g.u.'s total sales for the year to 500 billion yen. With the addition of g.u. Ginza 6chome's transformation from luxury-mecca to fast-fashion outlet is almost complete. Information Fast Retailing Co.

Japan retail sales still improving

In another sign the health of the retail economy is returning and the overall economy is improving is sales of luxury goods including handbags, accessories and jewelry were up in December and are still rising almost mid-way through January.

Four out of the five major department stores including Takashimaya and J. Front Retailing reported an increase in pre-tax profits in December 2011, as well the major department stores have experienced a strong start to the year.

Another good sign is young people in their 20's and 30's are leading the retail economic comeback with their purchases of high-priced luxury goods.

Let's hope this positive trend continues throughout 2012, ガンバルニッポン！


Information Japan Department Stores Association

the Crystal Cage in Philadelphia

Traveling the world and shopping for a living sounds like a dream job for anyone and for Kelly Reynolds she took this dream job one step further when on 1 October 2001 she opened the Crystal Cage boutique where she could sell her global fashion finds.

The Crystal Cage which takes its name from an idea of Kelly’s mother carries hand select artisan designed jewelry, handbags, fine gifts and accessories, selected specifically for the Crystal Cage and often by request.  Popular brands include Burberry, Chanel, D&G, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Manolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, Martin Margiela, Miu Miu, Prada, Pucci, Tiffany, Tory Burch and many more including local artisans and designers.

Kelly has built a strong and loyal following of customers who have quickly become friends and upon entering the Crystal Cage one can see why as Kelly’s friendly and dynamique personality along with her strong sense of style that translates into a true visual experience instantly captivate you.

 

The eclectic selection of merchandise includes just about everything to accessorize every part of your life. From eyeglass cases to crystal cocktail glasses, from clocks and watches to jewels and boxes. Hats, bags, belts and buckles.  And with Crystal Cage’s location nestled between antique shops, design studios, and restaurants it is a truly enjoyable shopping experience.

The Crystal Cage located in Philadelphia, PA at 1116 Pine Street.  To learn more please visit their web site here, and stop by on your next shopping excursion in Philadelphia.

Uniqlo up in December

For the first time in five months Fast Retailing's Uniqlo saw sales increase with a 14.2% increase in December (2011) same-store sales comps.

Along with the increase in same-store sales in December Uniqlo also experienced an increase in same-store customers of 2.4% and sales per customer of 11.6%.

According to Fast Retailing the increase in sales came from strong sales of winter merchandise including their popular Heattech line and ultra-light down jackets.

Information Fast Retailing Co.

ABC Mart for the Record

Footwear retailer ABC Mart has set a new company record for the period March to November (2011) with group operating profits rising 4% to 20 billion yen.

Same-store sales were also up 4% for the period driven by strong sales in excercise shoes and business footwear. Group sales increased 8% to over 100 billion yen, with pretax profits increasing to over 19 billion yen.

Overseas sales for ABC Mart also increased 16% to 13 billion yen with most overseas sales coming from South Korea.

For the year ending February 2012 ABC Mart is forecating group sales to increase 11% to 141.6 billion yen while operating profit increases 6% to 28.5 billion yen.

ABC Mart currently has 64 stores in Japan

Information ABC Mart Inc.

Lucky Bags lead the way in 2012 for Japanese retailers

So far the beginning of 2012 has been a sales boon for Japanese department stores and other retailers. The increase is coming mostly from the sale of lucky bags.

Consumers were already lining up in front of most major department stores and retailers like Shibuya's 109 and Harajuku's LaForet on Monday for the start of the shopping year, and all were hoping to be lucky enough to get their hands one of the lucky bags filled with up to 200,000 yen worth of merchandise including not only apparel, accessories and food but this year also survival goods.

Most department stores have already sold out of their lucky bags and there are still more to be found at retailers and select shops.

Information Japanese Department Stores Association