Studio Alice

Basic Information

Stock Code
2305
Industry
Services
Category Detail
Lifestyle Services
Prefecture
Osaka Prefecture
Establishment Year
May 1974
Listing Year
June 2002
Official Website
https://www.studio-alice.co.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
Sobal, Askanet, Town N, G Foot, Decorte Holdings, Plaza Holdings

Overview

Studio Alice is Japan's leading children's photo studio company founded in 1974, operating 420 stores nationwide and providing a variety of services centered on children's photography.

Current Situation

Studio Alice recorded consolidated sales of approximately 35.6 billion yen and operating profit of approximately 3 billion yen for the fiscal year ending February 2025, positioning itself as the leading company in the children's photo studio industry. It operates 420 stores nationwide, leveraging license agreements with famous characters such as Disney and Nintendo for photography services. It also has subsidiaries responsible for planning and producing photography costumes, photo development, and processing, offering one-stop services. Amid declining birthrates and intensifying market competition, it is enhancing profitability through digitalization initiatives and new business model development. The company is actively promoting women's empowerment and regional contribution activities to boost its social reputation. Moving forward, it plans to focus on expanding adult ceremony photography and on-location shooting services, while strengthening IT utilization to improve customer convenience. In 2025, it transitioned from the Prime Market to the Standard Market to pursue cost efficiencies.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Largest and oldest chain in the children's photo studio industry.
  • Industry-leading richness with approximately 500 free rental costumes available.
  • Holds official licenses for multiple famous characters used in photography.
  • Customer service style centered on female staff to ease children's tension.
  • Expanded business domain by entering the coming-of-age photography field.
  • Its unique pricing system and photography methods have become industry standards.
  • Completed store deployment across all 47 prefectures nationwide.
  • Adapts to digital era customer needs through web services for customers.
  • Diversified into photo printing and development through own subsidiaries since founding.
  • Actively engaged in social contributions and regional collaborations with numerous awards.
  • Donates photo culture-related books to elementary schools and children's halls.
  • President is a former first store manager deeply involved in management.
  • Operates related brands such as children's photo studio 'Wan Wan Alice'.
  • Built a reassuring system for Shichigosan shrine visits in collaboration with local shrines.
  • Grew by shifting business from DPE chain to specialized children's photo studio in 1962.

Hidden Connections

  • Capital alliance with Fujifilm to jointly advance transformation from film to digital photography.
  • Expanded customer base through Disney character photography contract with Walt Disney Japan.
  • Shares character licenses with multiple companies including Nintendo, Pokémon, and Dick Bruna Japan.
  • In-house technology subsidiary engaged in AI and IoT development for advanced photography research.
  • Subsidiary Kyoto Hosho handles costume planning to production, internally managing product quality.
  • Photo printing subsidiary JVIS also handles advertising signage production, key to diversified business.
  • Recognized and awarded as an active cooperating company in Osaka City's women's advancement initiatives.
  • Previously established local subsidiaries in Taiwan and Korea but now focusing on domestic operations.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Acquiring new customers through expansion of coming-of-age furisode rental and photography services.
  • Improved convenience from expanded nationwide on-location photography services.
  • Brand expansion through strengthened collaborations with diverse popular characters.
  • Sophistication of customer services through IT and digital technology utilization.
  • Productivity improvement via promotion of female staff empowerment and workplace environment enhancements.
  • Stable revenue from expansion of school photo services in education sector.
  • Enhanced customer loyalty through strengthened regionally rooted services.
  • Approaches to new customer segments countering declining birthrates.
  • Ongoing sustainability and social contribution efforts.
  • Management efficiency and cost improvements through market transition.

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve complete integration of digital services across all nationwide stores.
  • Maintain top domestic share in coming-of-age related services.
  • Double sales in on-location photography business from current levels.
  • Elevate recognition as a model company for women's advancement domestically.
  • Realize enterprise value enhancement through reduced environmental impact and social contributions.
  • Maintain and expand key character license agreements.
  • Strengthen regional closeness through nationwide rollout of school photo business.
  • Innovate photography quality and customer experience through AI technology.
  • Establish stable management foundation with diversified revenue models.
  • Diversify business through creation of new formats for next generation.

Business Segments

Photography Costume Production and Sales

Overview
Supports a wide range of costume needs for stores through high-quality costume planning and production.
Competitiveness
Stable production system with own factories and China-related companies
Customers
  • Own Stores
  • Photo Studios
  • Costume Rental Shops
  • Event Companies
  • Bridal Businesses
Products
  • Japanese Attire
  • Western Attire
  • Wedding Dresses
  • Photography Props
  • Dressing Accessories

Photo Development and Processing Services

Overview
Operates high-quality photo lab services and advertising signage business.
Competitiveness
Efficient processing system supported by digitalization
Customers
  • Own Stores
  • Other Photo Studios
  • Advertising Agencies
  • Retail Stores
  • EC Operators
Products
  • Photo Prints
  • Album Production
  • Advertising Signage Production
  • Digital Image Processing
  • Photo Restoration Services

Staffing and Operations Support

Overview
Flexible dispatch services responding to staffing needs for stores and events.
Competitiveness
Specialized dispatch system through subsidiaries
Customers
  • Own Stores
  • Retail Stores
  • Event Operators
  • Call Center Operators
  • Photo Exhibition Organizers
Products
  • Staff Dispatch
  • Store Operations Support
  • Call Center Operations
  • Photography Staff Dispatch
  • Training and Education Services

School Photo Services

Overview
Provides professional photographer dispatch and photo sales services for school events.
Competitiveness
Convenience through digital and web integration
Customers
  • Kindergartens
  • Nurseries
  • Elementary Schools
  • Education Boards
  • Parents
Products
  • Sports Day Photography
  • Field Trip Commemorative Photography
  • Photo Sales
  • Web Ordering Services
  • Album Production

Character Photography License Provision

Overview
Differentiates through photography services utilizing popular characters.
Competitiveness
Stable contracts with multiple prominent characters
Customers
  • Own Photo Studios
  • Other Photo Studios
  • Event Planners
  • Advertising Agencies
  • Toy Manufacturers
Products
  • Disney
  • Pokémon
  • Super Mario
  • Miffy
  • Kumano Gakkō

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Brand power as the largest in children's photo studios
  • Extensive network of 420 stores nationwide
  • License agreements with famous characters
  • Vertically integrated system for costume planning and manufacturing
  • Efficient service delivery through digitalization
  • Customer service primarily by female staff
  • Regional rollout of on-location photography services
  • Comprehensive web and app services
  • Sustainability certifications and women's empowerment initiatives
  • Diversified business through subsidiaries
  • Success in adult ceremony photography and new business development
  • Revenue diversification through advertising and signage business
  • Community contributions based on education support
  • Stable shareholder base
  • Cost efficiency pursuit in listed market

Competitive Advantages

  • Specialized in children with accumulated know-how over many years
  • Nationwide store network for excellent accessibility
  • Differentiation from competitors through character photography
  • Integrated management from costume production to services
  • Enhanced customer convenience through IT integration
  • Work-friendly environment through women's empowerment
  • Opening new customer segments with regionally limited on-location photography
  • Management stability through diversified revenue structure
  • High trust due to active education and social contribution activities
  • Stable management foundation supported by major shareholders
  • Market expansion through new services in coming-of-age field
  • Accumulated and maintained long-term brand recognition
  • Sales strategy utilizing diverse channels
  • Competitive edge through advanced digital services
  • High customer satisfaction from regionally rooted services

Threats

  • Shrinking customer base due to declining birthrates
  • Increasing rollout of similar services by competitors
  • Reduced consumer spending due to economic fluctuations
  • Intensifying price competition
  • Risks in character contract renewals
  • Risks of delays in adopting new technologies
  • Market pressure from new entrants
  • Expansion of competitors in regionally limited services
  • Rising overseas production costs due to exchange rate fluctuations
  • Burden of responding to diversifying consumer needs
  • Impacts from regulatory strengthening or copyright issues
  • Fluctuations in service demand due to social changes

Innovations

2024: Nationwide rollout of Coming-of-Age Furisode Rental & Pre-Shoot 'Furi Ho'

Overview
Packaged coming-of-age furisode rental and pre-shoot services launched nationwide.
Impact
Contributes to increased young customers and sales growth

2023: Launch of Nintendo 'Super Mario' Photography Service

Overview
Introduced photography service featuring the popular game character 'Super Mario'.
Impact
Successfully enhanced customer attraction and brand promotion

2022: Launch of Photo Studio Smile PROJECT

Overview
Partnered with PGC (PIONEER GREEN CIRCLE) to support sustainable development of photo culture.
Impact
Strengthened collaboration with local communities and social contributions

2021: Establishment of AI and IoT R&D Subsidiary

Overview
Established a subsidiary for AI and IoT development to improve photography and image processing technologies.
Impact
Service quality improvement through technological innovation

2020: Launch of Coming-of-Age Pre-Shoot Furisode Rental Service 'Furi Ho'

Overview
Launched new furisode rental service for coming-of-age ceremonies limited to Kanto, Chubu, and Kinki regions.
Impact
Improved customer satisfaction and opened new markets

2021: Signed License Agreement with Pokémon

Overview
Introduced popular characters into children's photography services to boost recognition.
Impact
Expanded customer base and strengthened brand

2024: Endorsement of Children and Family Agency's 'Children at the Center Declaration'

Overview
Strengthened child support as social responsibility and declared support as a supporter.
Impact
Improved social reputation and trust

2023: Launch of Newborn Photography Service in Collaboration with Medical Institutions

Overview
Launched new service for photographing newborns immediately after birth within hospitals.
Impact
Acquired new customers and differentiated services

2025: Market Category Change to Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market

Overview
Changed market category to reduce listing maintenance costs and improve management efficiency.
Impact
Improved management efficiency through cost reductions

2025: Expanded Nationwide Rollout of On-Location Photography Services

Overview
Began providing on-location photography services such as newborn photos and Shichigosan at 116 stores.
Impact
Enhanced customer convenience and diversified sales

Sustainability

  • Acquired highest level 'Eboshi' certification under the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement
  • Received Excellent Award as Leading Company for Women's Advancement in Osaka City
  • Expanded 'Mama no Mikata PROJECT' child-rearing support as social contribution activities
  • Promoting popularization of photo culture and education support activities
  • Active endorsement and support for the Children and Family Agency's philosophy