Recovery of kidswear in Japanese market! October figures are a matter of delight

The apparel sales revenues have been on negative trajectory in 2020 across the world but the recent official statistics of Japan Department Stores Association (JDSA) and Japan Chain Stores Association (JCSA) indicate strong recovery as far as sales of kidswear are concerned.

The October ’20 figures suggest that retail stores in Japan have witnessed more revenues in kidswear category as compared to October ’19, while menswear and womenswear plunged. Interestingly, the surge in kidswear, on month-over-month basis, has been happening since June ’20 as the coronavirus state of emergency was lifted in systematic phases in entire country from mid-May before being lifted entirely in June end, but October ’20 is the first month in 2020 when revenues from kidswear sales have surged on yearly note.

Another strong factor backing these figures is the early opening of schools in the country (in the beginning of June ’20) which led to a rebound in the sales of kidswear.

Key findings in overall apparel sales figures in October ’20
(Based on revenue figures of both JDSA and JCSA)

• The revenues in overall apparel sales in Japanese department stores valued 115,312 million yen (US $ 1.11 billion) during October ’20, marking 4.10 per cent yearly fall.
• The revenues in total apparel retail sales were still up by 28.02 per cent as compared to the figures of September ’20 when JDSA-associated stores clocked just 90,070 million yen (US $ 866.11 million).
• On the other hand, the same-store apparel sales revenues in 10,871 stores of 56 companies associated with JCSA have surged in October ’20 both on Y-o-Y (boosted by kidswear) and M-o-M basis.
• The total chain store sales in Japan valued 69,314 million yen (US $ 666 million), marking 4 per cent growth from October ’19 and 26.82 per cent from September ’20.

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Key findings in product-wise sales figures in October ’20:
(Based on revenues figures of both JDSA and JCSA)

• Kidswear segment emerged positive both on Y-o-Y basis and M-o-M basis and clocked 7,850 million yen (US $ 75.50 million) from its retail sales in department stores of Japan.
• As far as revenues in kidswear from chain stores are concerned, it witnessed growth of 9.60 per cent on yearly note in October ’20.
• Womenswear remained the top segment in department stores, despite fall, with 73,792 million yen (US $ 709.60 million) revenues in October ’20 and plunged by 5.90 per cent as against October ’19.
• When it comes to chain stores, womenswear tapped 17,485 million yen (US $ 168.10 million) from its retail sales across the country. The sales figures were 3.30 per cent lower than the figures witnessed in the same month of 2019.
• Menswear sales in department stores were down by 5.50 per cent in October ’20 from October ’19 to 25,526 million yen (US $ 245.46 million).
• The revenues from chain store retail sales in menswear segment were 12,130 million yen (US $ 116.61 million) in October ’20, increasing 47.60 per cent on M-o-M basis but declining 1.80 per cent on Y-o-Y basis.

(Conversion Rate: 1 Japanese Yen = 0.0096 US Dollar)

• The values are in million yen
• Data is taken from Japan Department Store Association and is further analysed by Apparel Resources. Total 73 associations’ members have around 203 stores in Japan.

• The values are in million yen
• Data is taken from Japan Chain Store Association and is further analysed by Apparel Resources. Total 56 associations’ members have around 10,871 stores in Japan.