According to the provisional November 2016 sales of five leading Japanese department stores, Takashimaya increased its sales by 1.5% over the same month of last year, but the sales of the other four department stores decreased: Isetan Mitsukoshi, down 2.7%; Sogo & Seibu, down 4.7%; Daimaru Matsuzakaya, down 4.4%; and Hankyu Hanshin, down 1.4%.
Although sales of coats, mufflers, hats, gloves and other winter items began to rise with the decrease in temperature, it wasn’t enough to increase overall apparel sales. Other influential factors were the fact that Sundays numbered one day less than last year, and snowfall in the Kanto region.
Takashimaya succeeded in increasing its sales for the first time in four months, supported by women’s sundries such as cosmetics thanks to solid inbound demand, specially selected apparel accessories and foodstuffs. In fashionwear, cold weather items such as coats and mufflers sold well, whereas the sales of men’s wear and sundries as well as women’s wear fell from the year before.
Even at Isetan Mitsukoshi, sales of coats for women and men exceeded the previous year, and contributed to raising apparel sales, but sales of expensive items such as jewelry, watches, artworks and large furniture items continued to encounter difficulties.
At Sogo & Seibu, sales of women’s coat increased by approximately 10% over the previous year, but overall apparel sales decreased by about 5%.
Daimaru Matsuzakaya reported that women’s wear sales rose by 0.2% thanks to vigorous sales of coats.