Throughout the supermarket format in recent years, the discount format has gained momentum. On the one hand, the demand for low-priced goods from necessities is likely to grow; on the other hand, the convenience store format, which focuses on the advantages of convenience, has so far operated in a way that is difficult to reconcile with "low prices".
According to retail fair, Lawson Store 100, a subsidiary of Rosen that evolved from SHOP99, is taking on the challenge of product innovation with a new concept, and is considering reforming the convenience store business by focusing on low prices.
Since the second half of 2010, Japan's convenience store industry has been slowing down, with fewer new shops being opened, creating a situation of "stagnation". Japan's three largest convenience store chains have opened shops in 47 prefectures. Despite a declining and aging population and the impact of other businesses and online sales, the big three are struggling to maintain their brick-and-mortar footprints.
Under these circumstances, Rosen Store100 (hereinafter referred to as "Store100") is attempting to achieve growth by offering the absolute "low price".
Store100 was a new business launched in April 1996 by Best, a supermarket operator, as a "99 yen store" in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, and in January 2001, the shop name was changed to "SHOP99," and the company began to expand its stores. Since then, we have been expanding the number of shops, reaching 100 in January 2002, 500 in January 2005, and 800 in March 2006 (690 directly-managed stores and 110 franchised stores). However, due to the rapid shop opening, 78 loss-making shops were closed in February 2007, while a business-capital partnership with Rosen was entered into, and in May 2009 it was acquired by Rosen.
According to retail fair, the main reason for the success of SHOP99 was that it made full use of the properties vacated by convenience stores and captured the customer base and motivation for use lost by convenience stores, and in July 2011, it changed the signage of all its shops to "Rosen Store100" and started anew.
In addition to bento boxes and a selection of everyday items, the shops offer a wide range of fresh produce and daily necessities at prices of 99 yen (about $5). In a busy city, for working housewives, senior citizens or single families, shopping close by is preferred, and small packages of vegetables and fruits and everyday food are also very popular.
Source:联商网