Glossy, four-colour process: the catalogue is renewed each week, from food products to the maintenance of the House, not to mention clothing. Without gear on street, this cooperative, in the heart of Tokyo, develops a trade in proximity of another kind. It allows to make shopping from home while being assured of a delivery at home.
Yodobashi Camera, he does not have the same ambitions. Despite its 19 stores across the country, the second distributor of consumer electronics has launched an Internet site, only for a domestic customer. With "only" 30,000 to 60,000 products, from 600,000 in stores, it appears more as a supplement as a competitor. Clients discover online then they are going to test in-store, said a spokesman for the group.

Japan, distance selling has generated a turnover of EUR 22,78 billion in 2005, an increase of 10.52 from 2004 according to the data collected by the economic mission of Osaka (1). Even if it remains concentrated in the hands of a few large players ten large companies realize 41 of total sales , general practitioners gradually cede ground to specialists. More likely than in other countries, the sector will change face. Those who feared his disappearance have revived the DVA forms often high-tech with the invasion of new media. The Japan, about half of 70 million Internet users have access to broadband. At the time, traditional players like Benesse, Nissen or Senshukai had to adapt to the new environment. Strong already powerful marketing tools, they did deploy their catalogue from paper to an online version. At the same time, they have adjusted their offer with an emphasis on low-cost manufacturing countries. Distribution signs use their website as a springboard by inserting promotional offers and advertising spaces that lead the user to push the door of the store.
User staging
The paper was still beautiful days. The prints are certainly lower than previous years, but catalogs continue to be distributed in places remote from the archipelago, where customers are not necessarily connected to the Internet. They are then in competition with tele-shopping, highly developed in the country. Television as Jupiter Shop Channel, leader of the sector, or QVC that they two are about to exceed the 50 market share come via cable, in 20 million homes. With real success, since operators on this niche have seen their sales grow of 39.5 in 2005-2006. Together, 30 major signs of teleshopping are a craze in the public, with an increase of their sales by 25, to EUR 2 billion. The Palm is specialty channels in the lines of products for body care.
To better appeal to the client, the Japanese did not hesitate to stage products, inviting even on the shelf as representative of the company. The scenario for an imported product will even do come a spokesman for the Group assisted by an interpreter. This humanizing reassures the customer and contributes to a better image of the product. After a slow start, due inter alia to problems of quality, local consumers begin to appreciate this new mode of purchase, even if for the moment the range of products remains fairly conventional: jewelry, cosmetics, household appliances, not to mention fashion.