Development of High-Performance, High-Value-Added Products and Expansion of Repeat-Purchase Offerings

「In health foods, Lumiora, containing melon juice concentrate and other ingredients and themed around beauty and maintaining health, was launched and well received.」

「In apparel, sales of women’s outerwear launched as limited-quantity products remained sluggish, while the bedding product Keimin Reversible Quilt Blanket contributed to sales. In cosmetics, sales fell below the previous year, particularly for basic skincare products. In health foods, Lumiora, containing melon juice concentrate and other ingredients and themed around beauty and maintaining health, was launched and sold well. In other products, the Haircare Iron, combining styling and haircare functions, was launched and contributed to sales.」

「Among major established products, new foundation garments and underwear products increased sales in the previous period. In the current period, however, launches centered on lower-priced new products such as socks and towels rather than foundation garments. In addition, the recovery in consumers’ reluctance to purchase following the previous period’s price revisions has been slower than expected, and apparel sales overall fell substantially below the previous year.」

「The unit sales and value of limited-quantity products increased from the same period of the previous year because original cup-insert innerwear performed well, but they fell short of the initial plan.」

「• Strengthen the marketing strategy: strengthen health food sales, develop and launch new products, etc.」

「In apparel, bras and girdles using the company’s proprietary patented technology, which fits the movement of the skin, were launched as new core products in April, followed by a waist-care product in September that is easy to put on and gently supports the waist. Both performed well because of their high product ratings. In November, limited-quantity products including body warmers and eye masks using Earth Fiber®, expected to promote blood circulation and support health during everyday life, were also launched. In cosmetics, special limited products commemorating the 20th anniversary of the company’s cosmetics brand launch were introduced, along with a promotional campaign, and sales remained strong. In health foods, the company launched in limited quantities Kuro Koji no Megumi, a diluted soft drink made with fermented sweet-potato citric acid, in August, and Hot Kuro Ginger, a ginger drink containing naturally derived ingredients including black ginger and Korean ginseng, in December.」

「In apparel, the Light Supporter, a waist-care product launched in September as a new core product that is easy to put on and gently supports the waist, performed well because of its high product ratings. In cosmetics, special limited products commemorating the 20th anniversary of the company’s cosmetics brand launch were introduced, along with a promotional campaign scheduled to run from September through around April 2024, and sales remained strong. In health foods, the company launched in August, in a limited quantity, Kuro Koji no Megumi, a diluted soft drink made with fermented sweet-potato citric acid derived from Japanese sweet-potato starch residue fermented with selected black koji mold using the traditional method of fermentation in a muro.」

「In apparel, bras and girdles using the company’s proprietary patented technology, which fits the movement of the skin, were launched from April, as the company worked to provide products focused on “beauty and health.”」

「In apparel, foundation garments and lifestyle-related bedding products drove sales. In addition, following the launch in the previous year of women’s incontinence-control shorts with a slight absorbency function, a men’s continence product in a boxer-brief style was launched in December as a new product category and was well received.」

「In apparel, renewed outerwear products and lifestyle-related bedding products launched during the period drove sales. However, owing in part to the exceptional impact of discounted sales following the previous period’s review of the outerwear series, sales were ¥6,592 million, down 4.5% from the same quarter of the previous year.」

「In apparel, outerwear and lifestyle-related products, including bedding, were launched. However, because discounted sales of some outerwear products following a review of the outerwear series in the previous period had made a substantial contribution to sales, sales were ¥4,044 million, down 4.7% from the same quarter of the previous year.」

「In apparel, outerwear and lifestyle-related products were launched and performed well. However, because discounted sales of some outerwear products following a review of the outerwear series in the previous period had made a substantial contribution to sales, apparel sales were ¥1,955 million, down 9.8% from the same quarter of the previous year.」

「The company launched its first general medical device products in limited quantities, including innerwear and leg covers made with Earth Medical® fiber, which improves blood flow and relieves muscle fatigue and stiffness. The products were well received.」

「In health foods, the company newly launched and sold well the food with function claims Whole Fermented Tea with Green Mandarin, recognized as having a function that lowers elevated blood pressure, specifically systolic blood pressure. However, sales of other established products were weak, resulting in sales of ¥783 million, down 8.4% year on year.」

「In cosmetics, the haircare range was relaunched with the addition of a compound ingredient derived from red pine cones, tea leaves and other sources to its shampoos, conditioners and treatments. In skincare, limited-quantity collaboration products featuring Hello Kitty designs from Sanrio Company,Ltd. on the packaging, as well as special limited skincare sets, performed well. As a result, cosmetics sales were ¥1,108 million, up 12.6% year on year.」

「In apparel, 2 new colors were launched for the established Beauty-Conscious Bra, which uses patented technology to support training of the pectoral muscles during everyday movements, and sales remained strong. Cut-and-sew tops and pants for spring and summer, as well as T-shirts with a special sweat-stain-resistant finish, were launched as limited-quantity products, but sales remained sluggish.」

「As a new wellness product, the company launched the Nagara Muscle Training Pelvic Floor Bottoms, which support pelvic-floor muscle training during everyday movements. The product received an unexpectedly strong response because of its highly rated functionality, and sales remained strong.」

「In apparel, the Charle BL Top (tank top and camisole), an original cup-insert innerwear product, and the Light Smoothing Inner (tank top) were launched in limited quantities. In cosmetics, a promotional product consisting of an attractively priced set of existing products was launched as a limited-quantity product. In health foods, Mirai Support Triple Protein, an established product containing 3 types of protein with different absorption rates, was newly launched and contributed to sales amid stronger demand for health products.」

「In apparel, the Charle BL Top (tank top and camisole), an original cup-insert innerwear product, and seasonal cut-and-sew tops and pants were launched as limited-quantity products. In cosmetics, the Aura Majeure Premium Limited Set was launched in a limited quantity under the Etarite brand. In health foods, established products including Whole Fermented Tea with Loquat Leaves and Bright Sun Moringa Aojiru contributed to sales amid stronger demand for health products.」

「Product sales were significantly affected by delays in launching products caused by late arrivals from overseas business partners amid the global spread of infection, as well as reduced activity by business members and weaker consumer sentiment resulting from calls to refrain from nonessential outings. In apparel, the Charle BL Top (tank top), an original cup-insert innerwear product, was launched as a limited-quantity product, along with a seamless half top, cup-insert tank top and shorts. Sales of all these products were substantially below plan and remained sluggish.」

「In health foods, Whole Fermented Tea with Loquat Leaves, an industry-government-academia joint development product created with a research project comprising a research institution in Nagasaki Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefectural University, Nagasaki University and Kyushu University, which developed a tea-making method involving mixed fermentation, was launched as a food with function claims after being found to reduce visceral fat. Bright Sun Moringa Aojiru, made entirely with 100% hand-picked young moringa leaves, was also newly launched. Both products sold well, resulting in total health food sales significantly exceeding the previous year at ¥1,054 million, up 8.1% year on year.」

「In outerwear, the company jointly developed products with World Group, an apparel company also based in Kobe, combining the strengths of both companies in the limited-quantity launch of a wool coat and a 2-way shoulder bag that combine comfort and design. It also newly launched Bright Sun Moringa Aojiru, made entirely with 100% hand-picked young moringa leaves. Both products sold well, and total health food sales significantly exceeded the previous year at ¥840 million, up 7.8% year on year.」

「In apparel, the Sports Bra and Shorts, sports innerwear, was launched as a new core product, while the Half Top and Shorts (seamless), innerwear made without seams or tape, was launched as a limited-quantity product. In cosmetics, the Etarite Aura Majeure series under the core Etarite brand was relaunched with the addition of ingredients extracted from seaweed alongside moringa extract, and promotional products were also launched. Total cosmetics sales significantly exceeded the previous year at ¥1,375 million, up 21.7% year on year. In health foods, the company’s industry-government-academia joint development product Biwa Leaf Whole Fermented Tea, developed using a tea-making method involving mixed fermentation by research institutions in Nagasaki Prefecture and Nagasaki Prefectural University, Nagasaki University and Kyushu University, and focusing on the health benefits of tea, was found to have a function that reduces visceral fat. It was subsequently launched as a food with function claims, and sales increased.」

「In apparel, new sports innerwear, the Sports Bra and Shorts, was launched. In foundation garments, the Bra Festa sales promotion campaign for purchasers of eligible bras was held from April to May. As a result, bra unit sales increased substantially, and total foundation garment sales significantly exceeded the previous year.」

「In cosmetics, the core Etarite skincare series underwent a major renewal in the anti-aging care segment, including the addition of moringa extract from the leaves of moringa, known as the “miracle tree.” Sales of the series exceeded the previous year, also helped by the launch of promotional sets. However, sales of other established products remained sluggish, and total cosmetics sales fell below the previous year to ¥2,540 million, down 3.4% year on year.」

「In apparel, sales of underwear and shorts fell substantially below the previous year because staple products centered on the Light-Step Walk Bottoms launched in the previous fiscal year sold sluggishly. In outerwear, the company launched seasonal cut-and-sew tops and trousers from CHARLE Dresse. Although sales were sluggish, the launch of other limited-quantity products, including room vests and loungewear, lifted revenue slightly above the previous year. In lifestyle-related products, the company relaunched the CHARLE Wellness Pillow, which supports high-quality sleep, and sales remained strong. However, total lifestyle-related product revenue fell below the previous year because the new products launched were smaller in scale than in the previous year. In cosmetics, the company substantially relaunched the flagship Etarlite skincare series by adding moringa extract, derived from the leaves of the moringa tree known as the miracle tree, from an anti-aging perspective, and launched promotional sets. Although revenue exceeded the previous year, sluggish sales of other existing staple products limited the increase in total cosmetics revenue to ¥2.005 billion, up 1.8% year on year. In health foods, the company launched Tsuyatto Hatmugi, a health food made with Job’s tears. However, total health food revenue fell below the previous year to ¥779 million, down 5.4% year on year, because existing staple products sold sluggishly and growth in regular delivery service users remained weak.」

「In cosmetics, the company launched a summer limited-edition Clear White set under the CHARLE Selfia brand, as in the previous year, and sales remained strong. However, sales of staple products were sluggish, and because a substantial relaunch of the flagship Etarlite basic skincare series was planned for the second half, total cosmetics revenue declined to ¥1.130 billion, down 17.0% year on year.」

「In apparel, the company launched Inner-Thigh Slimming Beautiful-Hip Shorts under the CHARLE Selfia brand, targeting women in their 30s and 40s.」

「In health foods, the company launched Suya-Sapo GABA, its first food with function claims, containing GABA, a functional ingredient that supports improved sleep quality. It also launched Kotsu-Kotsu Bone, containing collagen, minerals, and other ingredients to support the body’s ability to maintain itself. As a result, total health food revenue was ¥1.094 billion, up 24.4% year on year.」

「In apparel, the company launched Light-Step Walk Bottoms, a wellness product designed using proprietary patented technology to facilitate leg movement and support walking.」

「In health foods, the company launched Suya-Sapo GABA, its first food with function claims, containing GABA, a functional ingredient that supports improved sleep quality. Revenue from existing staple products remained strong because the company introduced the regular delivery service for specialty retailers in February of the previous fiscal year and increased use of the service among mate members. As a result, total health food revenue substantially exceeded the previous year at ¥545 million, up 93.4% year on year.」

「In health foods, the company launched Suya-Sapo GABA, its first food with function claims, containing GABA, a functional ingredient that supports improved sleep quality. Revenue from existing staple products also remained strong because the company introduced the regular delivery service for specialty retailers in February of the previous fiscal year and increased use of the service among mate members. As a result, total health food revenue substantially exceeded the previous year at ¥269 million, up 154.3% year on year.」

「The company launched lifestyle-support products including cooling-contact-fabric mattress pads and pillow pads in summer, warm mattress pads using far-infrared-radiating material in winter, and CHARLE Wellness Town Shoes designed based on walking theory, with sales progressing steadily. In health foods, it launched Biwa Leaf Whole Fermented Tea, made by fermenting fresh tea leaves and fresh loquat leaves together, and Bihappiness, a women’s supplement containing a novel hair-growth active ingredient derived from egg yolk.」

「The company launched lifestyle-support products including cooling-contact-fabric mattress pads and pillow pads in summer, warm mattress pads using far-infrared-radiating material in winter, and CHARLE Wellness Town Shoes designed based on walking theory, with sales progressing steadily. In health foods, it launched Biwa Leaf Whole Fermented Tea, made by fermenting fresh tea leaves and loquat leaves together, and Bihappiness, a women’s supplement containing a novel hair-growth active ingredient derived from egg yolk.」

「The company launched seasonal cut-and-sew tops and trousers from the CHARLE Dresse outerwear brand. It also expanded lifestyle-support products, including cooling-contact-fabric mattress pads and pillow pads and CHARLE Wellness Town Shoes, designed based on walking theory, keeping total apparel revenue broadly in line with the previous year. In health foods, revenue exceeded the previous year because sales of Lactiplus, a processed food containing two types of lactic acid bacteria launched in March, remained strong, despite lower revenue from some existing staple products.」

「In apparel, the company relaunched all products under C4U, a children’s underwear brand using skin-friendly materials as a staple line, although existing staple products declined substantially. It also launched limited-quantity products such as cooling-contact-fabric mattress pads and pillow pads, as well as summer products including women’s nightwear and cut-and-sew tops and trousers from the CHARLE Dresse outerwear brand. Increasing the number of limited-quantity items kept total apparel sales broadly in line with the previous year.」

「The company will promote manufacturing that supports women’s beauty and health by developing high-performance, high-value-added products. In particular, it will expand products with high repeat-purchase potential, such as cosmetics and health foods, to encourage regular purchases and increase revenue and profit.」