'Clothing And Footwear In Japan' Provides Retail Sales Data from 2001 - 2006

DUBLIN, Ireland--(Business Wire)--
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c82069) has announced the
addition of "Clothing and Footwear in Japan" to their offering.

Our Clothing and Footwear in Japan report offers a comprehensive
guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It
provides the latest retail sales data (2001-2006) and analysis by
distribution format allowing you to identify the sectors driving
growth. It identifies the leading companies, leading brands, and
offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market.
Forecasts to 2011 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Product coverage includes: clothing (accessories, knitwear, men's
outerwear, socks, stockings and tights, underwear and nightwear,
women's outerwear) and footwear

Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company
shares and brand shares.

Why buy this report?

- Get a detailed picture of the clothing and footwear industry;

- Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;

- Understand the competitive environment, the market's major
players and leading brands;

- Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to
develop.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Declining Sales in 2006

Clothing and footwear sales in Japan declined in both value and
volume terms in 2006, due to the underperformance of various
subsectors. Despite most key players trying to restore vibrancy to the
market, prevalent price discounts eventually led to a lowering of
overall sales. The increasing level of cheap imports from China, the
growing popularity of second hand clothing and footwear outlets and
rising economic concerns among Japanese consumers all resulted in a
reduction in spending on expensive clothing and footwear items.

Fashionable and Innovative Items To the Rescue

Clothing retailers tried to compensate for declining value sales
by introducing fashionable and innovative clothing and footwear, such
as germ-free textiles, as well as stepping up price promotions. Demand
for childfriendly, comfortable and safe apparel continued to draw
demand. In 2005, 'Cool Biz' and 'Warm Biz' campaigns when Aoki
introduced a new range of clothing styles aimed at businessmen led to
an increase in sales.

Key Players Work Overtime

Clothing and footwear retailers aggressively campaigned to improve
sales during the review period, extending their outlet numbers,
opening hours and expanding product ranges. This resulted in some
growth in volume terms, but had little impact on value sales.

Tie-up Strategy

In order to beat the competition, key players regard business
connections as a way to survive in the clothing and footwear industry.
In 2006, Aoyama pursued greater market share by entering into a tie-up
with Culture Convenience Club Co Ltd's T-Point program, which has 18
million members.

Product Safety Comes First for Uniqlo

Despite poor performances, key players maintained their integrity,
protecting customers and continuing to gain trust. In 2006, Uniqlo
built a system for stringently product safety checking and quality
control throughout the planning, production, distribution and sales
stages. In June 2006, baby short pants were recalled due to
formaldehyde emissions (formaline) exceeding the level stipulated in
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Ordinances. In the same year,
it also stopped the sale of boy's swimming trunks which posed the
danger of skin being pinched and injury caused by mesh materials used.

Falling Birth Rates Threaten the Market for Clothing and Footwear

Key players in the market for clothing and footwear struggled in
the face of falling birth rates. This led to a setback in overall
industry performance over the course of the review period. This means
demand may be even weaker in the forecast period so many companies
will be looking for strategies to cushion poor sales. Manufacturers
may eventually resort to transferring all production to other
neighbouring countries, which will lower prices and constrain value
sales growth.

Contents:

Clothing And Footwear In Japan

Local Company Profiles - Japan

Clothing In Japan

Footwear In Japan

For more information visit
here

Source: Euromonitor International

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
Fax: +353 1 4100 980
press@researchandmarkets.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008