Launching New Products in Japan and Overseas and Stimulating Demand for Sewing Machines

「As a result, revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥29,787 million, up ¥1,013 million from the previous fiscal year, and operating profit was ¥1,854 million, down ¥304 million.」

「The company also opened the official Janome online shop, Sewing Marche, and expanded its sales channels online.」

「In Japan, the company worked to improve profitability by reviewing its product mix, while also holding workshops and exhibiting at various events to promote the enjoyment of making things, and worked to uncover latent demand through ongoing communications on social media. In school sales, it strengthened its support system by promoting active sales activities and holding online sewing machine training sessions for elementary and junior high school teachers nationwide. As a result, revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥28,773 million, up ¥1,067 million from the previous fiscal year, and operating profit was ¥2,159 million, up ¥786 million.」

「Overseas, sales struggled amid weak consumer spending in developed markets such as North America and Europe, but revenue remained steady in Asia, centered on India, due to efforts to further expand distribution channels. In Japan, the company worked to uncover latent demand through active participation in events and workshops and strengthened its support system for distributors. In school sales, it continued strengthening its support system, including by holding online sewing machine training sessions particularly for teachers at elementary and junior high schools in remote areas. As a result, revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥14,224 million, up ¥1,177 million year on year, and operating profit was ¥931 million, compared with an operating loss in the year-earlier period of ¥54 million.」

「In Japan, the design-conscious SEWLA model introduced in the second quarter has been well received, including coverage in the mass media. The company is also actively expanding initiatives to broaden the base of sewing machine users, including launching online sewing machine training sessions for elementary and junior high school teachers nationwide. However, these efforts did not lead to increased purchasing intent, and sales did not grow as much as expected.」

「In Japan, the company sought to expand sales by communicating the enjoyment of making things through workshops and events at pilot shops such as Bobinage, disseminating information through social media, and supporting classes through its school sales division. It also focused on attention-generating initiatives, including the launch of the stylish, color-focused SEWLA model, but difficult conditions continued. As a result, revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥13,046 million, down ¥2,285 million year on year, and the business posted an operating loss of ¥54 million, compared with operating profit of ¥630 million in the year-earlier period.」

「In Japan, the company actively worked to stimulate demand by opening the Bobinage Kobe Motomachi pilot shop, which communicates the enjoyment of sewing machines and sewing culture, exhibiting at trade shows and holding workshops. However, sales remained sluggish, partly because higher prices were weighing on household purchasing power. As a result, revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥5,549 million, down ¥2,855 million year on year, and the business posted an operating loss of ¥276 million, compared with operating profit of ¥563 million in the year-earlier period.」

「As a result, overseas and domestic sewing machine sales totaled 930,000 units, down 670,000 from the previous fiscal year. Revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥29,765 million, down ¥4,918 million, and operating profit was ¥1,895 million, down ¥1,539 million.」

「In the Home Equipment Business, high-value-added products such as the Continental M17 flagship model introduced in the first quarter have been well received, particularly in the North American market. Sewing machine sales also remained steady in Asia. However, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine situation was significant, and sales continued to struggle overall in Europe, Japan and other regions due to sluggish consumer spending and the easing of stay-at-home demand. As a result, overseas and domestic sewing machine sales totaled 670,000 units, down 560,000 year on year. Revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥22,225 million, down ¥4,212 million, and operating profit was ¥953 million, down ¥1,701 million.」

「In overseas sewing machine markets, the flagship Continental M17, introduced during the current fiscal year, was well received in markets including North America, Europe and Oceania, and sales grew steadily. In Japan, the company continued efforts to stimulate demand, including exhibiting at a large-scale trade show held for the first time in 3 years, disseminating information through social media and holding workshops for a broad range of age groups. However, the combined effects of the economic impact of the Russia-Ukraine situation and the pullback from stay-at-home demand during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan and overseas caused sales of low- and mid-priced models to stagnate across a broad range of regions. As a result, overseas and domestic sewing machine sales totaled 460,000 units, down 400,000 year on year. Revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥15,332 million, down ¥1,960 million, and operating profit was ¥630 million, down ¥1,157 million.」

「Sales grew steadily in North America and Oceania, led by the new Continental M17, introduced as a flagship model for overseas markets for the first time in 9 years. Strong performance in India, a key market, also provided a partial offset to the impact of the halt in shipments to Russia. In Europe, however, sales remained sluggish amid the economic impact of the Russia-Ukraine situation. In Japan, the company actively worked to stimulate demand through trade shows and workshops, but demand continued to be weak because of the pullback from the strong sewing machine demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, overseas and domestic sewing machine sales totaled 250,000 units, down 190,000 year on year. Revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥8,405 million, down ¥78 million, and operating profit was ¥563 million, down ¥138 million.」

「As a result, overseas and domestic sewing machine sales totaled 1.60 million units, down 240,000 from the previous fiscal year. Revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥34,265 million, down ¥2,017 million, and operating profit was ¥3,413 million, down ¥1,571 million.」

「In the domestic sewing machine market, the company continued to hold various sewing-related events, including well-received workshops, and worked to further stimulate the market. As a result, overseas and domestic sewing machine sales totaled 1.23 million units, down 130,000 year on year. Revenue for the Home Equipment Business totaled ¥26,134 million, down ¥1,064 million, and operating profit was ¥2,656 million, down ¥1,274 million.」

「In overseas sewing machine markets, shipments were affected by a shortage of containers for ocean freight, but overall performance remained strong. In Japan, we worked to sustain the demand expansion seen in the previous fiscal year, and performance was generally solid, centered on online sales. As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 440,000 units, up 20,000 year on year; total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥8,389 million, down ¥165 million; and operating profit was ¥707 million, down ¥453 million year on year.」

「To deliver products promptly to customers needing sewing machines, we responded flexibly as a group by expanding production equipment and strengthening production systems in Taiwan and Thailand, our overseas production bases. As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 1.36 million units, up 380,000 year on year; total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥27,199 million, up ¥7,357 million; and operating profit was ¥3,930 million, up ¥3,320 million.」

「In the Household Equipment Business, demand for sewing machines remained high as restrictions on going out and requests for self-restraint continued in various countries and daily lifestyles changed, leading to higher unit sales in Japan and overseas. We worked as a group to respond quickly so that customers needing sewing machines could receive them promptly, including by strengthening production systems in Taiwan and Thailand, our overseas production bases. We also focused on disseminating information through social media and other channels to promote and establish a sewing culture, actively appealing to a broad audience about our products and the enjoyment of making things by hand. As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 860,000 units, up 210,000 year on year; total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥17,640 million, up ¥4,611 million; and operating profit was ¥2,502 million, up ¥2,080 million.」

「As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 420,000 units, up 120,000 year on year; total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥8,555 million, up ¥2,531 million; and operating profit was ¥1,161 million, up ¥1,017 million.」

「As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 1.33 million units, down 120,000 from the previous fiscal year, and total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥26,856 million, down ¥1,364 million. However, sales of high-value-added products, which performed particularly well in North America, contributed to operating profit of ¥1,209 million, up ¥476 million from the previous fiscal year.」

「In the Household Equipment Business, sewing machine sales in North America showed signs of recovery, centered on new products launched in the second quarter. In Europe, however, there was no broad-based recovery, and sales ahead of the Christmas season were generally sluggish. Emerging markets, including Russia, where economic stagnation continued, also remained challenging. In Japan, growth was sluggish due in part to the reaction following front-loaded demand ahead of the consumption tax increase. As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 980,000 units, down 150,000 year on year; total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥19,841 million, down ¥1,770 million; and operating profit was ¥609 million, down ¥36 million year on year.」

「In the Household Equipment Business, we held the Institute Impact 2019 new-product presentation for dealers in North America for the first time in 4 years and worked to further strengthen sales. Demand stimulation efforts centered on 2 new overseas models presented at the event produced some results in the North American market. Meanwhile, conditions remained challenging in Europe, where the economic outlook was uncertain, and in emerging markets affected indirectly by US economic sanctions. As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 640,000 units, down 100,000 year on year; total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥13,029 million, down ¥1,034 million; and operating profit was ¥421 million, up ¥159 million year on year.」

「As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 300,000 units, down 70,000 year on year, and total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥6,023 million, down ¥949 million. Meanwhile, by focusing on sales of high-value-added mid-range and premium sewing machines, operating profit increased by ¥110 million year on year to ¥144 million.」

「In overseas sewing machine markets, we worked to expand sales through various channels, including by launching new products for developed markets. In Japan, we focused on stimulating demand by holding sewing classes nationwide and providing opportunities to experience sewing machines. As a result, sales increased in Russia and North America, mainly for low- and mid-priced products, but stagnation persisted in Europe, one of our key markets, and in emerging markets such as the Middle East and Latin America. The Japanese sewing machine market also remained challenging. Consequently, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 1.13 million units, down 60,000 year on year; total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥21,612 million, down ¥1,498 million; and operating profit was ¥646 million, down ¥513 million.」

「As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 750,000 units, down 40,000 year on year; total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥14,063 million, down ¥1,053 million; and operating profit was ¥261 million, down ¥410 million.」

「As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 376,000 units, up 4,000 year on year, and total revenue in the Household Equipment Business was ¥6,973 million, up ¥13 million year on year. Operating profit, however, was ¥33 million, down ¥200 million year on year.」

「In the Japanese sewing machine market, we focused on developing the market by continuing to provide opportunities to experience sewing machines, including sewing classes held at Bobinage in Kichijoji and directly operated branches, as well as participation in trade shows nationwide.」

「In overseas sewing machine markets, we worked to expand sales, focusing on new products launched in the second quarter. In Japan, we focused on stimulating demand and revitalizing the market through participation in various trade shows, sewing classes and other activities.」

「In overseas sewing machine markets, we worked to stimulate demand, focusing on new products including function-oriented sewing machines. We also strengthened sales promotion efforts, including by holding our first launch-event tour for agents and dealers across 5 US cities.」

「In Europe, we held the industry's first Janome European Institute 2017, attended by sales subsidiaries, agents and dealers from 17 countries, and worked to strengthen the brand and further reinforce our sales structure.」

「In the Japanese sewing machine market, domestic sewing machine sales increased as we continued to develop the market by providing customers with numerous opportunities to experience our sewing machines through trade shows, sewing classes at stores and other activities.」

「In overseas sewing machine markets, we worked to expand sales of high-value-added models, while in Japan we focused on stimulating demand, including through active participation in various trade shows. However, sales of premium models in North America and Europe were weak, resulting in combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales of 1.23 million units, down 70,000 year on year.」

「In overseas sewing machine markets, sales remained solid as new products launched during the fiscal year and high-value-added models launched in the previous fiscal year continued to increase unit sales, while sales to Russia, which had been weak for an extended period, bottomed out. In the Japanese sewing machine market, enhancing the product lineup to meet demand across sales channels led to higher unit sales. As a result, combined overseas and domestic sewing machine sales were 800,000 units, up 20,000 year on year.」

「The business as a whole remained solid, supported by strong sales of new models, particularly in North America. As a result, household sewing machine sales were 360,000 units, up 10,000 year on year.」

「We implemented various initiatives, including launching new household sewing machines in Japan and overseas, opening sales and service locations for the Industrial Equipment Business in China, and merging the consolidated subsidiaries Janome Diecast Co., Ltd. and Housei Kogyo Co., Ltd. We also worked to reduce manufacturing, sales and administrative costs and strengthen price competitiveness.」