Aoyama Shoji

Basic Information

Stock Code
8219
Industry
Retail
Category Detail
Apparel & Fashion Retailers
Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture
Establishment Year
May 1964
Listing Year
November 1987
Official Website
https://www.aoyama-syouji.co.jp
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
IT Media, Global Style, Tachies, Haruyama Holdings, Konaka, Takashima, Taka-Q, AOKI Holdings

Overview

Aoyama Shoji is the largest company in the men's suit specialty retail industry, founded in 1964, operating stores across all 47 prefectures nationwide, centered around the Aoyama brand.

Current Situation

Aoyama Shoji recorded consolidated sales of 193.7 billion yen and operating profit of 11.9 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2024, leading the men's suit industry. It operates approximately 740 stores domestically and internationally, being the only chain in the men's suit mass retail sector with stores in all 47 prefectures, solidifying its position as the market leader. In recent years, it has focused on high-quality suits across a wide price range, catering to diverse needs from business to casual wear. It also operates the 100-yen shop Daiso & Aoyama, advancing business diversification. The company is emphasizing brand renewal and enhanced customer experience, strengthening IT utilization through services like online reservations and the store-to-store pickup service WWS. It is also promoting eco-friendly products and community contribution activities. For differentiation from competitors, it leverages a robust nationwide sales network, abundant inventory, and revenue base from diversified businesses. Looking ahead, it aims to digitize and streamline stores while pursuing new market development and strengthened sustainability as strategic goals.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • The only company in the industry with stores in all 47 prefectures.
  • Guinness certified for 'World's Most Suits Sold'.
  • Subsidiary names derive from founder Goro Aoyama.
  • Daiso utilizes former Aoyama store sites.
  • Features size accommodations for customer needs.
  • Early adoption of IT-based online pickup service.
  • Strong customer trust through community-focused store operations.
  • Actively rolling out new formats targeted at youth.
  • High recognition as Japan's largest suit chain.
  • Active in social contributions, supporting soccer and other sports.
  • Rare company with integrated wholesale-to-retail operations.
  • Successful revenue diversification via 100-yen shop combinations.
  • Strong family-run character with generational presidents.
  • Maximizes delivery efficiency using nationwide logistics bases.
  • Pioneering IT initiatives in the fashion industry.

Hidden Connections

  • Founder's name reflected in many company and subsidiary names, demonstrating family-run strengths.
  • Established joint venture with Daiso Industries for cross-industry collaboration.
  • Guinness certification for sales volume record at Aoyama stores.
  • Suburban store strategy linked to regional economic revitalization.
  • Online pickup service as part of customer loyalty enhancement.
  • Brand license management strengthens partnerships across industries.
  • Long-term partnerships with prominent sports teams and celebrities.
  • Logistics network exceeds industry standards in efficiency.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Securing nationwide customer base via all-prefecture coverage
  • Market expansion amid rising demand for high-quality suits
  • Sales efficiency and customer convenience via digitalization
  • New customer expansion through casualization trend
  • Diversified revenue opportunities from multi-format operations
  • Stable revenue from enhanced corporate market services
  • Sales channel expansion via strengthened EC and OMO strategies
  • Increased sales of sustainability-focused products
  • Demand growth accompanying regional market activation
  • Sustained long-term growth via youth-targeted brand development
  • Expansion of overseas stores in Asian markets
  • Marketing optimization through customer data utilization

Strategic Goals

  • Complete digitalization of all domestic stores
  • Achieve 50% sales ratio from omni-channel
  • Expand sustainable material usage to 70%
  • Open 20+ stores in new overseas markets
  • Increase corporate business sales to 30% of total
  • Expand combined 100-yen shops to 100+ locations
  • Promote employee diversity and work-style reforms
  • Strengthen and expand customer loyalty programs
  • Achieve 20% reduction in product waste
  • Enhance social contribution activities through community collaboration

Business Segments

Corporate Uniforms and Workwear

Overview
Provides manufacturing, sales, and rental of uniforms and workwear for corporate clients.
Competitiveness
One-stop handling from planning to manufacturing
Customers
  • Corporate offices
  • Hotels
  • Hospitals and nursing facilities
  • Government agencies
  • Educational corporations
Products
  • Uniform manufacturing
  • Uniform rental
  • Custom-made uniforms
  • Consulting services

Retail Store Operation Support

Overview
Provides essential product supply and support services for store operations.
Competitiveness
Rapid logistics via nationwide network
Customers
  • Franchisees
  • Franchise stores
  • Wholesalers
Products
  • Product supply
  • Promotion support
  • Logistics services

Brand License Management

Overview
Manages licenses for own brands and provides marketing support.
Competitiveness
Maintaining brand value and strengthening customer collaboration
Customers
  • License partners
  • Brand partners
Products
  • Brand operation management
  • Marketing support

Overseas Business Expansion Support

Overview
Actively supports business expansion for companies entering overseas markets.
Competitiveness
Product development tailored to local needs
Customers
  • Overseas subsidiaries
  • Overseas agents
  • Local corporations
Products
  • Product export
  • Local procurement support
  • Sales strategy development

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Stores across all 47 prefectures nationwide
  • Abundant product lineup
  • High brand recognition
  • Stable financial base
  • Diversified business operations
  • High logistics efficiency
  • Utilization of rich customer data
  • Reservation and pickup services via IT
  • Long-established corporate structure
  • Large-scale store network
  • Products across diverse price ranges
  • Strong relationships with partner companies
  • Comprehensive customer service
  • Employee expertise
  • Development of eco-friendly products

Competitive Advantages

  • Only industry player with stores in all prefectures
  • World's No.1 record in suit sales volume
  • Market segmentation via multi-brand strategy
  • Comprehensive corporate services
  • Strengthened integration of online and stores
  • Adaptability to wide customer segments
  • Optimized logistics and supply systems
  • Stable capital for facility investments
  • Secured diverse sales channels
  • Powerful advertising and promotion
  • Medium- to long-term brand building strategy
  • Efficient store management system
  • Sales expansion through convenience store partnerships
  • Community-focused store operations
  • Advanced rollout of eco-friendly products

Threats

  • Intensifying competition from fast fashion
  • Declining store demand due to rising online sales
  • Consumption restraint from economic fluctuations
  • Rising raw material and logistics costs
  • Store operation challenges from labor shortages
  • Delays in rapid digitalization response
  • Changes in social consumption trends
  • Intensified price competition from new entrants
  • Impact of natural disasters on logistics and store operations
  • Overseas procurement cost fluctuations from exchange rates
  • Cost increases from strengthened labor regulations
  • Challenges in adapting to diversifying consumer behavior

Innovations

2024: WWS Reservation Service Launch

Overview
New service allowing online requests for larger or smaller sizes to be delivered to stores.
Impact
Contributes to improved customer convenience and expanded sales opportunities.

2023: Store Digitalization Initiative

Overview
Enhanced POS and customer management systems for advanced sales data analysis.
Impact
Achieved improved sales efficiency and higher customer satisfaction.

2022: Strengthened 100 Yen Shop Collaboration

Overview
Expanded Daiso & Aoyama 100-yen shops to acquire new customers.
Impact
Promotes store diversification and revenue stabilization.

2021: Renewal of New Format The Suit Company

Overview
Refreshed design for youth-targeted new store format.
Impact
Successfully expanded new customer base.

2020: Establishment of OMO Retail Division

Overview
Full-scale implementation of OMO strategy integrating online and offline.
Impact
Realized enhanced customer experience and purchase funnel strengthening.

Sustainability

  • Promotion of eco-friendly material use
  • Introduction of energy-saving store equipment
  • Strengthened collaboration with local communities
  • Plastic reduction efforts
  • Advancement of work-style reforms for employees
  • Implementation of waste reduction programs
  • Development of recyclable products
  • Improved supply chain transparency
  • Internal education for SDGs goal achievement
  • Medium- to long-term CO2 emission reduction plans
  • Expansion of eco-label products
  • Environmental awareness activities at local events