Department stores cross fingers for sales recovery
7:30 JST, January 3, 2023
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japanese department store chains, welcoming a third New Year’s Day since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, hope that sales will recover this year as consumer sentiment improves thanks to the relaxing of pandemic restrictions.
Some major department stores in Tokyo opened Sunday for the first sale of 2023.
Sogo & Seibu Co.’s flagship Seibu Ikebukuro store opened at 9:30 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than planned as a line of shoppers queued outside the store.
The number of shoppers was about 50% above the level a year before, according to store officials. The store sold about 2,500 food lucky bags from 11 brands.
“I bought ham and steamed meat buns. I’m looking forward to eating them with my family,” a woman in her 30s said.
“I’m struggling with rising prices for goods sold at supermarkets and higher electricity bills, but I want to feel a sense of luxury in the New Year’s period,” said a woman, a resident of Tokyo who visited the store with her daughter to buy a confectionery lucky bag.
"Business" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Aviation Fuel Shortage Causes Problems at Regional Airports; Growing Demand, Lack of Workers to Transport
-
Prices of over 10,000 Food and Beverage Items to Rise This Year; Figure is down from over 30,000 Last Year
-
Sony Group to End Production of Blu-ray Discs; Market Has Shrunk Due To Growth Of Hard Disk Drives, Streaming
-
AI-Equipped Energy Efficient Air Conditioners Grow In Popularity; Some Can Guess Users’ Moods, Automatically Adjust Temperature
-
Toyota to Introduce 4-Day Workweek for Some Employees; Company Hopes More Flexible Schedules Will Boost Worker Motivation
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Aviation Fuel Shortage Causes Problems at Regional Airports; Growing Demand, Lack of Workers to Transport
- Prices of over 10,000 Food and Beverage Items to Rise This Year; Figure is down from over 30,000 Last Year
- Sony Group to End Production of Blu-ray Discs; Market Has Shrunk Due To Growth Of Hard Disk Drives, Streaming
- Japan Ministry Concerned Over Same-Sex Couple Receiving City-Issued Resident Certificates Referring to ‘Common-Law Husband’
- Japan Court OKs Sex Change without Surgery