TOKYO — Japanese retailers enjoyed sales increases in September, as cool weather boosted sales of autumn fashions and a continued increase in visitor numbers from abroad bolstered demand.
Fast Retailing said Friday that same-store sales at its Uniqlo outlets in Japan rose 2.6 percent last month. Customer numbers were down 4.2 percent year-on-year, but the average purchase per customer increased by 7.1 percent.
“Same-store sales rose year-on-year in September, with comparatively cool weather throughout the month helping new fall ranges off to a strong start,” said Fast Retailing.
After one opening and two closures last month, there are currently 802 Uniqlo stores in Japan.
Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, Japan’s largest department store operator, said that September sales at its nine stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area grew by 1.2 percent. Stores in urban areas performed particularly well, such as Isetan’s flagship store in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, where sales were up by 5.9 percent. September marks the sixth straight month of year-on-year sales growth for Isetan Mitsukoshi.
Takashimaya’s sales among its 17 stores in Japan increased by 3.9 percent last month. In addition to continued strong sales of luxury items and high demand from inbound foreign tourists, the company said that men’s and women’s accessories performed quite well.
H2O Retailing said that sales at its Hankyu and Hanshin department stores were up 4.2 percent in September. The flagship Hankyu store in Osaka’s Umeda district saw its sales increase by 14.5 percent on the year.
J. Front Retailing, which operates the Daimaru and Matsuzakaya chains of department stores, said September sales at those stores in Japan grew 2.6 percent over last year.
“Despite negative effects from typhoons and rainy days in the first part of the month, fine weather and a company-wide sales promotion during holidays later in the month helped to boost sales of clothing and accessories, while fine jewelry, luxury brand goods, and cosmetics also performed well,” J. Front said.
