WORLD
Basic Information
- Stock Code
- 3612
- Industry
- Textile Products
- Category Detail
- Apparel & Fashion Accessories
- Prefecture
- Hyogo Prefecture
- Establishment Year
- April 1985
- Listing Year
- September 2018
- Official Website
- https://corp.world.co.jp/
- TSE Information
- TSE Information
- Yahoo! Finance
- Yahoo! Finance
- Other Companies
- World HD, Pal Group Holdings, Daido Limited, Cross Plus, TSI Holdings, Sanyo Shokai, Onward, Sanko Seiko, Look Holdings, King, Narumiya, Takhiyo
Overview
WORLD is a major apparel manufacturer founded in 1959, engaged in comprehensive planning, manufacturing, and sales of clothing through multi-brand development centered on women's apparel.
Current Situation
WORLD recorded consolidated net sales of 202.3 billion yen, operating profit of 12 billion yen, and net profit of 6.7 billion yen for the fiscal year ended February 2024, maintaining a stable business base. Its core business is an SPA model based on a multi-brand strategy for women's and men's apparel, with active expansion of stores in department stores and shopping centers nationwide. In recent years, it has strengthened its market share through brand expansion including subsidiaries Narumiya International and Light On, while focusing on non-apparel areas such as platform businesses. Responding to intensifying competition in the apparel industry and fast fashion rivals, it has decisively implemented restructuring such as store closures and brand consolidations since 2020 to pursue efficient management. Furthermore, it is diversifying its business foundation through digitalization promotion and accelerated overseas expansion, advocating community-based brand nurturing and sustainable growth strategies in the medium to long term. Mitigating COVID-19 impacts and addressing diversifying consumer needs are key challenges, with attention on future management policies.
Trivia
Interesting Facts
- Founders are two alumni from a Kobe apparel trading company
- Has maintained multi-brand management since founding, holding unique position in industry
- Pioneering presence with head office building on Kobe Port Island
- Expanding reuse brand 'Ragtag' overseas
- Has featured numerous celebrities in brand advertising
- Comprehensive fashion company strong in business-use OEM manufacturing
- Contributes to local culture through World Memorial Hall
- Focused on shopping centers before rise of fast fashion
- Experienced delisting once in 2005 via MBO
- Expanding children's wear brands through subsidiaries
- Influences teen demographic via YouTube channel 'PINK-latte TV'
- Rapid digital shift after TSE relisting
- While many brands discontinued, new ones launched
- Decisively consolidating brands to improve earnings
- Maintains competitiveness through extensive manufacturing network
Hidden Connections
- Collaborations with Kobe City and Mitsubishi Corporation for regional development and business expansion
- Jointly established B2B marketplace with DeNA in 2010
- Has employed numerous famous actresses and celebrities as ad models over the years
- Strengthened market responsiveness through brand strategy collaboration among subsidiaries
- Develops platform business fusing fashion and IT
- Long-term funding for regional culture and sports promotion
- Capital and business alliances with multiple listed companies and groups
- Flexible response to market changes through restructuring and business reorganization
Future Outlook
Growth Drivers
- New business development fusing IT technology and fashion
- Strengthening store strategies in nationwide shopping centers and department stores
- Market expansion through growth of subsidiary brands
- Expanding orders in corporate OEM business
- Enhancing sustainability management and eco-friendly products
- E-commerce expansion and digital marketing promotion
- Reuse brand expansion in overseas markets
- Product development responding to diversifying consumer needs
- Earnings improvement through efficient store operations and brand consolidations
- Coexistence with regional communities and contribution activities
- New collaborations and license acquisitions
- Ongoing management refreshment and governance strengthening
Strategic Goals
- Achieve group sales of 300 billion yen
- Optimize brand count domestically and internationally with clear growth path
- Build digital-first sales structure
- Establish sustainable manufacturing cycle with reduced environmental impact
- Promote business and social contributions in collaboration with regional communities
- Expand reuse business in overseas markets
- Integrate women's empowerment and diversity in management
- Strengthen customer marketing using AI and data analytics
- Enhance transparency and ethical compliance across supply chain
- Maximize brand image improvement and customer satisfaction
Business Segments
OEM/ODM Manufacturing
- Overview
- Provides high-quality OEM manufacturing and planning services tailored to small and medium enterprises.
- Competitiveness
- Flexible planning responsiveness and manufacturing network
- Customers
-
- Small and medium apparel brands
- Major apparel manufacturers
- Licensed brands
- Overseas fashion companies
- Retailers
- Products
-
- Apparel planning and manufacturing
- Sewing processing
- Fashion product development
- Quality control services
Corporate Product Supply
- Overview
- Stably supplies diverse apparel to corporations.
- Competitiveness
- Extensive product lineup and sales network
- Customers
-
- Department store and SC operators
- Retail chains
- Corporate welfare
- Government and educational institutions
- Products
-
- Women's and men's apparel
- Uniforms and workwear
- Promotional items
Platform Business
- Overview
- Develops industry platform services leveraging IT infrastructure.
- Competitiveness
- Integration of extensive industry knowledge and IT technology
- Customers
-
- Apparel retailers
- E-commerce operators
- Suppliers
- Logistics companies
- Products
-
- B2B marketplace
- IT system support
- Logistics services
Competitive Advantage
Strengths
- Multi-brand strategy and wide product lineup
- Strong department store and shopping center network
- Long history and trust in the apparel industry
- Sales expansion across diverse channels
- Synergies with group subsidiaries
- Advanced planning and manufacturing technology
- Flexible management structure enabling business improvements
- Community-based brand nurturing capabilities
- Strong financial base and capital strength
- Digital shift promotion
- International business expansion
- Proactive response to environmental and social considerations
- Well-established customer base
- Brands targeting a wide range of generations
- Integrated wholesale and retail framework
Competitive Advantages
- Broad customer coverage through multi-brands
- Efficient B2B business via platform utilization
- Strong total coordination and fashion proposal capabilities
- Robust sales network in regional shopping centers
- Entry into children's wear market via subsidiary Narumiya International
- Improving profitability through flexible restructuring
- Adaptability to market changes via diverse channels
- Long-term brand nurturing and sustainability management
- Business efficiency via advanced IT adoption
- Stable funding and financial soundness
- Industry-leading manufacturing outsourcing network
- Brand awareness through effective advertising and celebrity endorsements
- High quality control and reliability
- Strength of alliances with subsidiaries
- Reliability from Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime listing
Threats
- Shrinking domestic apparel market
- Rise of fast fashion and intensifying competition
- Challenges in responding to diversifying consumer needs
- Expanding competition from overseas brands
- Store sales decline due to COVID-19 impact
- Cost increase risks from exchange rate fluctuations
- Rising raw material prices
- Changing competitive landscape with EC market growth
- Increased costs from stricter environmental regulations
- Talent acquisition difficulties
- Profit pressure from store closures and brand consolidations
- Consumption slowdown risks from consumption tax hikes
Innovations
2022: Narumiya International made consolidated subsidiary
- Overview
- Full entry into children's wear market through acquisition to drive business expansion.
- Impact
- Contributes to sales growth and market share expansion
2023: Light On made equity-method affiliate
- Overview
- Investment in Light On to strengthen casual fashion domain.
- Impact
- Supports business diversification and new customer acquisition
2021: Digital transformation promotion
- Overview
- IT infrastructure renewal to enhance online sales and operational efficiency.
- Impact
- Achieved sales growth and operating cost reductions
2020: Overseas expansion of reuse brand 'Ragtag'
- Overview
- Opened first overseas store in Thailand to develop new markets.
- Impact
- Supports expansion of sustainable business
2024: Strengthening corporate OEM business
- Overview
- Expanded OEM manufacturing lines for SMEs to meet diverse needs.
- Impact
- Increased orders from corporate clients
2023: Platform service expansion
- Overview
- Strengthened IT-based B2B sales support services.
- Impact
- Enhances competitive edge in the industry
2022: Store closures and brand consolidations
- Overview
- Management efficiency through closing unprofitable stores and reducing brands.
- Impact
- Contributes to improving earnings structure
2021: Sales channel diversification in response to COVID-19
- Overview
- Enhanced EC and promoted contactless sales for market adaptation.
- Impact
- Successfully curbed sales decline
Sustainability
- Promotion of energy-saving and low-environmental-impact measures at stores
- Expansion of sustainable material adoption
- Strengthening reuse brand development
- Ongoing regional contributions to Kobe City
- Formulation of management policies considering environmental and social issues
- Environmental audits of supply chains
- Promotion of women's empowerment and diversity
- Product planning to reduce clothing waste
- Regular CSR activity reporting
- Adoption of sustainable packaging materials
- Strengthening corporate ethics and compliance
- Donations to regional sports promotion