Developing Avail into a Full-Line Casual Specialty Retailer and Expanding Its Store Network

「In the Avail business, as part of efforts to strengthen its product offering, trend proposals centered on Joint Development Brands with suppliers (Joint Development Brand, or JB) were promoted through influencer concepts and other initiatives, while the product range was expanded by adding character merchandise. To strengthen sales capabilities, the company intensified the promotion of value items through the priority “Avail Week” event and “Avail Fest,” appeared at popular fashion events to raise awareness, and thereby acquired Avail fans and increased sales.」

「In the Avail business, to strengthen our product offering, we promoted trend proposals centered on joint-development brands with suppliers through influencer campaigns and other initiatives, while expanding the product lineup through line-robbing of character merchandise.」

「During the current consolidated fiscal year, 13 stores were opened and 6 were closed, bringing the store count to 323. Sales increased 6.6% year on year to ¥70,352 million.」

「To strengthen sales capabilities, we sought to improve brand awareness and attract a broad customer base through special events aimed at increasing weekday traffic, campaigns coordinating social media, promotional materials and in-store music, and participation in fashion events.」

「In the Avail business, as part of efforts to strengthen its product offering, trend proposals centered on JB were promoted through influencer concepts and other initiatives, while the product range was expanded by adding character merchandise. Storage goods and irregular sizes were also added to broaden the product range. In promotions, priority events held from 21 June and participation in “TGC teen 2025 SUMMER” in August raised awareness among a broad range of customers. During the current interim consolidated accounting period, 2 stores were opened, bringing the store count to 318. Sales increased 3.3% year on year to ¥34,875 million.」

「For trend items, we aim to acquire new customers by expanding influencer concepts. For basic items, we will improve product quality by developing products that combine trend elements with functionality.」

「In the Avail business, the range of outerwear was expanded, centered on the 4 JB brands. Sports-oriented items and vintage-style fashion became best sellers. For character merchandise, sales in the relevant division increased significantly as the range of household goods was expanded in addition to outerwear.」

「In the Avail business, the range of outerwear was expanded, centered on the 4 JB brands. Character merchandise performed well after the range of miscellaneous goods was expanded. Among trend items, Korean-inspired balletcore and products combining sports and girly styles became best sellers.」

「In the Avail business, the JB range was strengthened in men's and women's outerwear. Among trend items, Y2K fashion and Korean concepts performed well, while couple-coordinated outfits and influencer concepts attracted customers. Expanding offerings for younger teenagers and S sizes effectively broadened the customer base. In fashion accessories, platform sneakers, shoulder bags and character goods performed well. At individual stores, products tailored to urban locations were offered and flyers distributed, contributing to sales at the relevant stores.」

「In the Avail business, the range of trend items, led by JB, was strengthened in women's and men's outerwear. Collaboration concepts involving Y2K fashion and Heisei-era brands became best sellers.」

「In the Avail business, JB was expanded to a 4-brand structure, broadening the range of women's and men's outerwear, while the range of new character merchandise was strengthened.」

「In the Avail business, performance was strong as the product range and sales capabilities improved following the expansion of JB and character merchandise and changes to the sales floor.」

「In the Avail business, JB and character merchandise increased sales. In men's wear, trend items such as knitwear became best sellers through the use of women's-wear suppliers. In women's wear, priority JB items were designated for sale, flyer promotions were strengthened, and new concepts such as offerings for younger teenagers were expanded, resulting in steady performance. Fashion accessories, particularly boots, bags and hats, performed well as demand for going out increased. Interior and household goods also performed well after the product range and sales area were expanded, mainly with character merchandise.」

「In the Avail business, promotion of JB and character merchandise was strengthened. JB women's and men's outerwear and accessories were cross-sold in the same sales area, performing well. Fashion accessories such as bags, hats and arm covers became best sellers as demand for going out recovered and amid the intense heat. In interior and household goods, sales increased after the range of character merchandise was expanded and the sales area was enlarged.」

「In the Avail business, the 3 new JB brands launched in women's wear were expanded into men's wear, shoes and fashion accessories, creating a product offering that enabled total-coordinate styling proposals. The business performed well as store displays and promotions were coordinated accordingly. The newly established interior and household-goods division significantly increased sales after expanding its sales area and product range.」

「In the Avail business, trend items for fall and winter, including knitwear, skirts, boots and hats, performed well in women's wear, led by the 3 core JB brands. In men's wear, the expanded JB range and character merchandise performed well. In interior goods, where the sales floor was expanded in the second half, items such as cushions and towels, particularly character merchandise, drove sales growth.」

「In the Avail business, the 3 new JB brands launched in women's wear in the first quarter were expanded into men's wear, shoes and fashion accessories, creating a product offering that enabled total-coordinate styling proposals. Sales increased as store displays and promotions were coordinated accordingly. Character merchandise also increased sales, particularly in the interior-goods division launched in the first half of the current fiscal year.」

「Interior goods, a new division launched from the current fiscal year, also saw character merchandise drive sales growth.」

「We will also launch a new department offering interior products to expand our customer base.」

「In the Avail business, men’s and women’s loungewear and interior products such as cushions, whose assortment we have been expanding, became best sellers amid stay-at-home demand. Among women’s products, trend items for going out, such as knitwear, coats and boots, also performed well in addition to the basic items whose assortment we have been strengthening.」

「In FY2020, we planned to open 10 stores and close 6, bringing the total to 323 stores at year-end.」

「To strengthen selling capabilities through timely delivery of the right products, Avail supplied stores with new products on an ongoing basis, including this year’s trend items such as open-collar shirts, pleated skirts and dresses. It also worked to create sales floors that enhanced outfit coordination proposals and visual presentation, changing the sales floors of approximately 100 stores during the current fiscal year.」

「To strengthen selling capabilities through timely delivery of the right products, Avail supplied stores with new products on an ongoing basis, including this year’s trend items such as open-collar shirts, pleated skirts and dresses. It also worked to create sales floors that enhanced outfit coordination proposals and visual presentation, changing the sales floors of approximately 100 stores during the first half.」

「In the Avail business, we will invigorate the assortment by establishing a short-cycle production system to provide products incorporating current trends in a timely manner.」

「Meanwhile, from the second quarter, we introduced basket wagons at individual stores, began selling lifestyle goods, and sales progressed favorably.」

「In the Avail business, we worked to expand sales of basic products to appeal to a broader customer base in addition to the traditional youth-oriented “Casual & Shoes.” To expand denim sales, we grouped designer denim under the name “Deni7,” established dedicated sales areas and conducted promotional activities.」

「In addition to “Casual & Shoes,” targeting men and women in their teens through 30s, we aim to develop a “Total Casual” specialty retailer by expanding our assortment to include general merchandise and interior-related products. We will diversify store openings to increase sales and improve the operating margin. In FY2018, we planned to open 25 stores and close 4, bringing the total to 334 stores at year-end.」