How social media changed consumer behaviour As Japanese consumers are shifting their way of shopping to digital, many experts predict this will remain after the pandemic. Before social media, It was unavoidable for companies and brands to sell their products through established shopping malls and invest in expensive adverts to promote their products. Nevertheless, the…
IKEA’s failure Did you know IKEA Japan failed to enter the Japanese market in the ‘80s? When they entered the Japanese market in 1974, IKEA partnered with Mitsui Bussan (Trading company) and Tokyu department store. They had 2 small stores but this meant fewer products with variations that suit Japanese homes and lifestyles. The lack…
A surge in DIY home renovation and interior decoration During the pandemic, people have changed their lifestyles. Consequently, they invested their free time and money on home improvement as their home time increased. Alongside online and printed media for affluent city dwellers, YouTube tutorials and Instagram pushing the trend, there is a surge in DIY…
Can you name any popular British brands in Japan? Are they the same as in the UK? As you know Japanese are well known for always seeking out the most niche and high-quality things. Japanese are fond of anything with quality and heritage. Any brand holding a Royal warrant will have an advantage as it…
Is the Holiday season in Japan like in the West? Is it just about a time for sipping eggnog and mulled wine? Confused about where to start with your holiday marketing strategy for the Japanese market? In this post, we explain the Japanese culture around the Holiday season and the best marketing practices. Do Japanese…
B2C eCommerce market in Japan overview During the last year, the eCommerce market in Japan had a big shift amid pandemic. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) reported, that in FY 2020, the total B2C online sales remained the same at ¥19.3 Trillion although contracted slightly. This was not a contraction in terms…
There are now more rich people in Japan. JapanConsuming reported in March 2021, that the number of ultra-rich families increased by 3.6% in the past two years, but a huge 67% since 2005. More than 1.3 million households now have assets over ¥100 million, presenting an attractive market at the luxury end. Art market boom…
-Time to focus on Japan – how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the retail industry Japan detected the first cluster of coronavirus patients outside China after a cruise ship docked in Japan in February 2020. Thanks to strong containment and mitigation measures, they managed to keep the infection rate low so that the country has never…