TOKYO — Japanese retailers saw modest declines in their November sales, with some blaming the negative impact of warmer temperatures, but the demand for certain luxury products appears to be picking up.
Fast Retailing said Friday that same-store sales at its Uniqlo stores in Japan were down 1 percent compared with the same month last year.
“Although persistent warm temperatures through mid-month dampened sales of winter items, same-store sales held flat year on year in November thanks to the positive impact from our three-day anniversary sale starting November 19 and a subsequent cooling in the weather,” the company said in a release.
Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings said Thursday that sales at nine of its main stores in Japan were down 0.7 percent in November. However many individual stores, including one in the quake-hit city of Sendai and several in Tokyo, saw sales growth during the month.
Takashimaya saw sales at its 18 stores in Japan drop 1.3 percent last month, which the retailer attributed to unseasonably warm temperatures that impeded sales of winter clothing. It also cited an earlier-than-usual start to the end-of-year sale season. However, luxury items such as jewelry and special occasion clothing experienced higher sales than during the same month last year.
November sales at Hankyu and Hanshin department stores grew by 7.8 percent, parent company H2O Retailing said Thursday. However, same-store sales for the month were down by 2.7 percent. The difference is due to some store openings and renovations the company has conducted over the past year.
J. Front Retailing bucked the overall negative trend for the month. The company said Thursday that same-store sales at its Daimaru and Matsuzakaya department stores in Japan rose 1.6 percent in November. Like Uniqlo and Takashimaya, the company blamed the weather for slow sales of coats and other winter items, but it also mentioned that sales of luxury brand goods, art, watches and other high-priced items were strong.