Differentiation through Private and Partner Brands and Gross Margin Improvement
First written in FY2016. 27 of 38 entries say "Advanced", first in FY2017-Q1. Latest entry: 2026-08-04.
The whole theme swung hardest in 2025: 3 of 19 companies on the "Worse" side.
9 other companies' latest entry also says "Advanced".
- 2026-08-04AdvancedEarnings
「Private brands and national private brands increased 5.6% year on year, supported by strong sales of collaboration products with popular characters, including Dragon Quest, as well as stronger initiatives at stores.」
Sales performance for private brands, national private brands and character collaboration products was reported. - FY2026AdvancedAnnual report
「Although some private-brand and national private-brand products performed poorly, sales of character collaboration products, whose handling we had strengthened, offset the decline and increased 2.7% year on year.」
Despite weak performance at some brands, private-label and national private-label sales rose 2.7% from the previous fiscal year due to stronger distribution of the character collaboration product lineup. - 2026-05-15AdvancedEarnings
「Although some private-brand and national private-brand products performed poorly, sales of character collaboration products, whose handling we had strengthened, offset the decline and increased 2.7% year on year.」
Despite weak performance by some private and national private brands, overall sales increased through character collaboration products. - FY2026-H1AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales of private-label (PB) and national private-label (NPB) products rose 5.6% year on year due to stronger in-store initiatives and an expanded range of character collaboration products.」
Private-label and national private-label sales rose 5.6% year on year due to stronger in-store initiatives and an expanded range of character collaboration products. - FY2025AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales of private-label and national private-label (NPB) products rose 13.2% from the previous fiscal year through the expansion of women's, men's and travel product categories, the introduction of new brands and the promotion of collaborative projects.」
Private-label and national private-label sales rose 13.2% from the previous fiscal year due to product expansion, the introduction of new brands and collaborative projects. The company also continued developing new products, including "imuramm," which debuted in September 2024. - FY2025-H1AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales of private-label (PB) and national private-label (NPB) products rose 17.4% year on year through the expansion of the women's and men's product categories and stronger distribution. Although the gross margin benefited in the previous period from higher prices on inventory, mainly men's bags and wallets, the gross margin in the current interim consolidated accounting period improved 0.1 percentage points year on year to 50.4% as the company pursued sales growth in the high-margin private-label and national private-label products.」
Private-label and national private-label sales rose 17.4% year on year due to the expanded range and stronger distribution of women's and men's products. The retail business gross margin improved 0.1 percentage points year on year to 50.4%, driven by sales growth in the high-margin private-label and national private-label products. - FY2024AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales of private-label (PB) and national private-label (NPB) products rose 25.9% from the previous fiscal year, as travel-case sales increased significantly and sales in the women's and men's categories grew through product expansion and stronger distribution.」
Private-label and national private-label sales rose 25.9% from the previous fiscal year due to the expanded range and stronger distribution of travel cases and women's and men's products. The gross margin also improved to 50.1% in the retail and other businesses. - FY2024-Q3Private-label and national private-label growth continued, but the growth rate declinedAnnual report
「Sales of private-label (PB) and national private-label (NPB) products rose 29.1% year on year, as carry-on case sales increased significantly and sales in the women's and men's categories grew through product expansion and stronger distribution. In the third quarter of the current fiscal year, the gross margin improved 0.6 percentage points year on year to 50.3%, reflecting sales growth in the high-margin private-label and national private-label products and travel bags, as well as the effect of price increases on inventory following price revisions.」
Sales of private-label, national private-label and other products rose 29.1% year on year, while the gross margin reached 50.3%, aided in part by price revisions. Although the growth rate declined from 33.7% for private-label, national private-label and other products in the second quarter of the previous fiscal year, the gross margin continued to improve. - FY2024-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales of private-label (PB) and national private-label (NPB) products rose 33.7% year on year, as carry-on case sales increased significantly and sales in the women's and men's categories grew through product expansion and stronger distribution. In the second quarter of the current fiscal year, the gross margin improved 0.8 percentage points year on year to 50.3%, reflecting sales growth in the high-margin private-label and national private-label products and travel bags, as well as the effect of price increases on inventory following price revisions.」
Sales rose 33.7% year on year due to expanded product offerings and stronger distribution, mainly for private-label and national private-label products, while the gross margin improved to 50.3%, driven by growth in private-label, national private-label and travel-bag sales and price revisions. - FY2024-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales of private-label (PB) and national private-label (NPB) products rose 30.6% year on year, as carry-on case sales increased significantly and sales in the women's and men's categories grew through product expansion and stronger distribution. In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the gross margin improved 1.0 percentage point year on year to 50.5%, driven by sales growth in the high-margin private-label and national private-label products and travel bags.」
Sales rose 30.6% year on year due to the expanded range and stronger distribution of private-label, national private-label, women's and men's products, while the gross margin improved 1.0 percentage point to 50.5%. - FY2023AdvancedAnnual report
「Private-label and national private-label sales rose sharply by 42.4% from the previous fiscal year, as the company focused on product development and expanded the number of items offered and stores carrying them.」
Sales rose 42.4% from the previous fiscal year due to private-label and national private-label product development and the expansion of the items offered and stores carrying them. The retail business gross margin also improved to 49.5%, driven partly by the higher mix of high-margin products. - FY2023-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales of private-label (PB) and national private-label (NPB) products rose 49.0% year on year due to the expanded product range. The gross margin improved 1.3 percentage points year on year to 49.7%, reflecting sales growth in the high-margin private-label and national private-label products and travel bags, as well as efforts to improve initial markups on sourced products.」
Sales rose 49.0% year on year due to the expanded range of private-label and national private-label products, while the gross margin improved 1.3 percentage points to 49.7%, reflecting growth in private-label, national private-label and travel-bag sales and higher initial markups. - FY2023-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales of private-label (PB) and national private-label (NPB) products rose 60.2% year on year due to the expanded product range. The gross margin improved 0.9 percentage points year on year to 49.5%, reflecting sales growth in the high-margin private-label and national private-label products and travel bags, as well as efforts to improve initial markups on sourced products.」
Sales rose 60.2% year on year due to the expanded range of private-label and national private-label products, while the gross margin improved 0.9 percentage points to 49.5%, including the benefit of higher initial markups. - FY2023-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales of private-label (PB) and national private-label (NPB) products rose 56.3% year on year due to the expanded product range.」
Sales rose 56.3% year on year due to the expanded range of private-label and national private-label products. The company also worked to improve initial markups on sourced products, raising the gross margin 0.7 percentage points year on year to 49.5%. - FY2022AdvancedAnnual report
「Handbag sales rose 15.6% from the previous fiscal year due to the expanded range of private-label and national private-label products.」
Handbag sales rose 15.6% from the previous fiscal year due to the expanded range of private-label and national private-label products. The gross margin also improved as discounting declined and initial markups increased. - FY2022-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Handbag sales also rose 14.2% year on year, driven mainly by private-label and national private-label products.」
Sales of handbags, driven mainly by private-label and national private-label products, rose 14.2% year on year. - FY2022-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「Handbag sales also rose 13.5% year on year, driven mainly by private-label and national private-label products.」
Sales of handbags, driven mainly by private-label and national private-label products, rose 13.5% year on year. - FY2022-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Handbag sales also rose 51.1% year on year, driven mainly by private-label and national private-label products.」
Sales of handbags, driven mainly by private-label and national private-label products, rose 51.1% year on year. - FY2021AdvancedAnnual report
「The company also rationalised its private-label brand portfolio and launched the new men's private-label brand "FOWLER" and premium private-label brand "ETiAM."」
In addition to rationalising its existing private-label brands, the company launched new men's and premium private-label brands. - FY2021-Q3Discounting continued, but the decline in the gross margin narrowedAnnual report
「The gross margin fell 1.1 percentage points year on year to 47.0%, as the company discounted seasonal products, private-label bags and imported bags, primarily to offset lost sales opportunities from the extended temporary closures and stimulate consumer spending.」
The company continued discounting seasonal products, private-label bags and imported bags. The gross margin fell 1.1 percentage points year on year, but the decline narrowed from the 1.7-percentage-point decline recorded in the cumulative period through the previous quarter. - FY2021-Q2Discounting continued, further reducing the gross marginAnnual report
「The gross margin fell 1.7 percentage points year on year to 46.5%, as the company discounted seasonal products, private-label bags and imported bags, primarily to offset lost sales opportunities from the extended temporary closures and stimulate consumer spending.」
The company continued discounting seasonal products, private-label bags and imported bags to address lost sales opportunities caused by the extended closures and stimulate consumer spending. The gross margin fell 1.7 percentage points year on year to 46.5%. - FY2021-Q1Discounting reduced the gross marginAnnual report
「The gross margin fell 1.9 percentage points year on year to 46.6%, as the company discounted seasonal products, private-label bags and imported bags, primarily to offset lost sales opportunities from the extended temporary closures and stimulate consumer spending.」
Following discounting of private-label bags and other products, the gross margin fell 1.9 percentage points year on year to 46.6%. - FY2020AdvancedAnnual report
「The company will also rationalise its private-label brand portfolio and launch new men's and premium private-label brands.」
In addition to strengthening its existing private-label and national private-label brands, the company indicated that it would rationalise its private-label brand portfolio and establish new men's and premium private-label brands. - FY2020-Q2Private-label and partner brands remained firm, turning overall sales growth positiveAnnual report
「Handbag sales rose 0.4% year on year, as sales of private-label and partner brands remained firm despite a slight decline in sales of general merchandise sourced for resale.」
Private-label and partner brands remained firm, and total handbag sales rose 0.4% year on year despite the decline in general merchandise sourced for resale. - FY2020-Q1Private-label and partner brands remained firm, but overall sales declinedAnnual report
「Handbag sales fell 2.7% year on year, as sales of private-label and partner brands remained firm but sales of general merchandise sourced for resale declined slightly.」
While sales of private-label and partner brands remained firm, total handbag sales fell 2.7% year on year due to the decline in general merchandise sourced for resale. - FY2019RaisedAnnual report
「In our core retail business, we will further enhance the product lineup of national-brand products, while developing and expanding our range of private-label and national private-label products, with the aim of increasing sales and improving the gross margin.」
In addition to the previous focus on private-label and partner brands, the company explicitly highlighted expanding its national-brand lineup and developing and expanding its national private-label products, thereby broadening the scope of its initiatives. In terms of results, sales of private-label and national private-label products were roughly flat year on year. - FY2019-Q3Expanded Distribution, but a Smaller DeclineAnnual report
「Handbag sales fell 4.3% year on year, as the significant decline in sales at some brands outweighed the expansion of the private-label and partner-brand ranges.」
The company continued expanding its private-label and partner-brand ranges, while handbag sales fell 4.3% year on year. The decline narrowed from 5.5% in the previous quarter. - FY2019-Q2Expanded Distribution, but a Larger DeclineAnnual report
「We have expanded the range of private-label and partner brands we carry, but handbag sales decreased 5.5% year on year because sales of some brands declined substantially.」
While expanding the range of private-label and partner brands carried, handbag sales decreased 5.5% year on year, a larger decline than the 3.4% decrease in the previous quarter. - FY2019-Q1Expanded Distribution, but Weaker Performance from Some BrandsAnnual report
「We have expanded the range of private-label and partner brands we carry, but handbag sales decreased 3.4% year on year because sales of some brands declined substantially.」
While expanding the range of private-label and partner brands carried, handbag sales decreased 3.4% year on year due to lower sales of some brands. - FY2018AdvancedAnnual report
「By product category, handbag sales performed well for private labels including kissora, efffy, SALON de RUBAN, FREELANCE and Ficce,Brave, increasing 8.6% from the previous fiscal year to ¥9,198 million.」
Growth in sales of multiple private-label products increased handbag sales by 8.6% from the previous fiscal year. - FY2018-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Handbag sales driven by private-label and partner brands grew substantially, increasing 10.4% year on year.」
Handbag sales from private-label and partner brands increased 10.4% year on year. - FY2018-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「Handbag sales driven by private-label and partner brands grew substantially, increasing 14.4% year on year.」
Handbag sales from private-label and partner brands increased 14.4% year on year. - FY2018-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Handbag sales driven by private-label and partner brands grew substantially, increasing 18.6% year on year.」
Handbag sales from private-label and partner brands increased 18.6% year on year, while the gross margin improved by 0.3 percentage points year on year to 48.5%. - FY2017AdvancedAnnual report
「For handbags, we expanded the range of products offered at stores such as SAC’S BAR and GRAN SAC’S, in addition to the exclusive stores for the private labels kissora and efffy. As a result of efforts to expand sales of products from partner brands such as SNOOPY and other private labels, handbag sales increased 15.5% from the previous fiscal year to ¥8,470 million.」
Expanded distribution and sales of private-label and partner brands increased handbag sales by 15.5% from the previous fiscal year. - FY2017-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Handbag sales grew substantially, driven mainly by private-label and partner brands, increasing 16.1% year on year. The gross margin improved by 0.3 percentage points year on year to 48.2%.」
Growth in handbag sales, driven mainly by private-label and partner brands, was 16.1% year on year, and the gross margin improved to 48.2%. - FY2017-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「Handbag sales grew substantially, driven mainly by private-label and partner brands, increasing 14.5% year on year. The gross margin improved by 0.2 percentage points year on year to 48.1%.」
Handbag sales, driven mainly by private-label and partner brands, increased 14.5% year on year, while the retail business gross margin improved by 0.2 percentage points year on year. - FY2017-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Handbag sales grew substantially, driven mainly by private-label and partner brands, increasing 13.6% year on year.」
Handbag sales, driven mainly by private-label and partner brands, increased 13.6% year on year. The retail business gross margin also improved by 0.1 percentage points year on year to 48.2%. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「We will work to develop new formats, introduce new brands and new items, and develop private-label and manufacturer-collaboration products to differentiate ourselves from other companies in the same industry. We will actively open stores in a variety of commercial facilities across diverse formats, expand our store network and increase sales.」
Higher sales of private-label and manufacturer-collaboration products improved the gross margin by 0.5 percentage points from the previous fiscal year to 47.9% for the period.