Weather-related fluctuations in seasonal product sales

「From June onward, temperatures remained lower than in the previous year, particularly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, while prolonged rain, torrential rain and insufficient sunshine from August through September also had a significant impact, resulting in weak sales of spring and summer merchandise, particularly parasols.」

「当四半期を通して気温が上がりきらず、春夏物商品の販売はＥコマース部門を除く各販路で前年同四半期を下回り、全体の売上高は前年同四半期を下回りました。」

「Regarding business performance, under the steady execution of the medium-term management plan, the Group's spring/summer product sales remained strong against the backdrop of the extremely hot weather that had continued from the previous year, as strengthened and enhanced approaches to product development, marketing and other activities targeting specialty stores and the e-commerce market proved effective. However, autumn/winter product sales were affected by declining inbound demand and weakness in the mid- to high-end market, and net sales fell below the previous fiscal year's results.」

「In the parasol division, extremely hot weather again arrived, as it had the previous year, and the parasol market was active. In addition, strengthened approaches to product development, marketing and other activities targeting specialty stores and the e-commerce market proved effective, and net sales exceeded those in the same period of the previous year. In the apparel division, the company focused on introducing and selling certain imported brands. However, as relatively high temperatures continued throughout the period, apparel sales overall remained weak and net sales fell below those in the same period of the previous year.」

「Sales of spring/summer products remained strong as a result of sales initiatives addressing the extremely hot weather. Although high temperatures from October through the first half of November made the start of the autumn/winter selling season challenging, temperatures fell from the second half of November and the first severe winter in several years arrived. In addition, there was rush demand, mainly from inbound visitors, for brands whose licence agreements had ended in December of the previous year, and net sales therefore exceeded those in the previous fiscal year.」

「In addition, the positive impact of extremely hot weather outweighed the negative impact of the mild winter to date, sales remained strong across distribution channels, particularly for seasonal products, and net sales exceeded those in the same quarter of the previous year.」

「Customer traffic at commercial facilities increased as people returned to cities, and favourable weather also helped sales through various channels, particularly of seasonal products, which remained strong. Sales exceeded the same quarter of the previous year.」

「Under these conditions, customer traffic at commercial facilities increased as people returned to cities, and relatively favourable weather also helped sales through various channels, particularly of seasonal products, which remained strong. Sales exceeded the previous year.」

「In the apparel and accessories segment, comprising the fur and jewellery divisions, sales were relatively strong, supported by a recovery in consumer sentiment, particularly among affluent customers, and the scarcity of high-priced products. However, sales fell below the same quarter of the previous year because temperatures remained relatively high from the second half of October onward, resulting in a weak start to sales of mid- and low-priced autumn/winter products」

「Sales through various channels, particularly of seasonal products, remained strong, helped by the recovery in customer traffic at commercial facilities following the easing of activity restrictions and the impact of the extreme heat」

「Restrictions on activities were eased from late March this year, people returned to cities, and favourable weather helped sales through various channels, including department stores and mass retailers, particularly for seasonal products, which remained strong」

「In the umbrella division, the impact of COVID-19 remained significant. Although e-commerce and retail stores opened in the previous fiscal year contributed to sales, and there was also unfavourable weather caused by torrential rains from July to August, sales fell below the same period of the previous year because of the sluggish department store market, the division’s main sales channel.」

「The fashion accessories industry faced difficult conditions, with weak consumption continuing even after the state of emergency was lifted due to concerns about a resurgence of infections. This was in addition to voluntary restraints on going out following the issuance of the third state of emergency since April, requests for shorter business hours at commercial facilities, and the significant impact of unfavourable weather caused by torrential rains from July to August.」

「The fashion accessories industry faced difficult conditions, with weak consumption continuing. In addition to voluntary restraints on going out following the issuance of the third state of emergency since April and requests for shorter business hours at commercial facilities, the issuance of quasi-emergency measures to prevent the spread of disease and their subsequent expansion, unfavourable weather caused by torrential rains from July to August also had an impact.」

「The market for umbrellas and rain goods remained sluggish throughout the year except in July, when rainfall was heavy. Although the parasol market saw a late arrival of extreme heat in August, it was affected by the spread of COVID-19 from the start of the sales season in April and May, causing total sales in the umbrella division to fall below the same period of the previous year.」

「After the state of emergency was lifted, some recovery in personal consumption was seen as restrictions on economic activity were gradually eased. Sales of umbrellas benefited from the prolonged rainy season, while parasol sales benefited from the extreme heat from early August and product offerings adapted to life with COVID-19, including the need to maintain social distancing, resulting in signs of a recovery. However, as infections with COVID-19 spread again from November, sales of winter apparel and other products had not recovered.」

「In the umbrella division, there were signs of a recovery, helped by a rebound in umbrella sales following the prolonged rainy season and the development of parasol sales adapted to life with COVID-19, including the extreme heat from early August and the need to maintain social distancing.」

「In the personal accessories segment, the market for umbrellas, parasols and rain goods remained sluggish throughout the season, except in July, because there was little rainfall sufficient to promote sales.」

「In addition, sales of winter products were extremely sluggish due to the effects of the warm winter.」

「Meanwhile, the parasol market remained strong until before the start of the rainy season, helped by the Ministry of the Environment’s recommendation of parasols as a summer heatstroke countermeasure and the attention drawn to men’s parasols by the “parasols for men” trend. However, delayed end of the rainy season, accompanied by record low sunshine mainly in the Kanto region in July, significantly affected parasol sales, causing total sales in the umbrella division to fall below the same quarter of the previous year.」

「In the personal accessories segment, comprising umbrellas, apparel and hats, the market for umbrellas and rain goods remained sluggish because western Japan experienced a late start to the rainy season and insufficient effective rainfall.」

「The apparel market remained extremely sluggish throughout the season due to the effects of extremely hot weather and the trend towards warmer winters. The hat market fell below the previous year, as the spring/summer season was not significantly affected by extreme heat or other weather factors but autumn products also performed poorly.」

「By product category, sales of umbrellas and rain goods remained firm due to ample rainfall, and parasol sales were strong, partly because of the record heat. Apparel sales were sluggish due to a lack of trends and weather factors such as the extreme heat, while hat sales also struggled amid generally weak market conditions.」

「By product category, sales of umbrellas and rain goods were strong due to ample rainfall. Parasols also performed steadily because there were many days of strong sunlight and high temperatures, while sales of apparel and hats were weak because there were no clear trends and little spring-like weather.」

「The factors included low rainfall during the rainy season, which affected sales of umbrellas and rain goods; a loss of momentum in the market for parasols and spring/summer hats due to unfavourable weather from late July; and strong sales of apparel fur products, autumn/winter hats and apparel following the arrival of a cold spell.」

「The main factors included low rainfall affecting sales of umbrellas and rain goods; a loss of momentum in the market for parasols and spring/summer hats due to unfavourable weather from late July; and strong sales of apparel fur products, autumn/winter hats and apparel following the arrival of a cold spell.」

「The main factors included very sluggish sales of umbrellas and rain goods due to low rainfall; a loss of momentum in the market for parasols and hats because of unfavourable weather from late July; and the earlier-than-usual launch of autumn/winter products such as apparel and apparel fur products because the lingering summer heat was less pronounced than usual in September.」

「The main factors included very sluggish sales of umbrellas and rain goods due to low rainfall, and weak momentum in the market for parasols, apparel and hats in early spring, although sales recovered in the second half.」

「Because temperatures were high in early autumn, the launch of products was delayed compared with a normal year, among other factors, causing combined sales in the fur and jewellery divisions to fall below the same quarter of the previous year.」

「Because temperatures were high in early autumn, the launch of apparel fur products was delayed compared with a normal year, causing combined sales in the fur and jewellery divisions to fall below the same quarter of the previous year.」

「The products handled by our group include seasonal items such as parasols and apparel fur products. Sales of these seasonal items generally decline under unfavourable weather conditions, such as cool summers, warm winters and dry rainy seasons, and our group’s performance may therefore be affected by the weather.」