Large supermarkets that handle general merchandise are beefing up their marketing strategies, including developing own-brand goods, in response to the popularity of Uniqlo, GAP and other clothing specialty stores.
"We want to create the image that our (products) are reasonably priced and have a sense of beauty," said Yukio Fujimaki, director of apparel business at the large-scale supermarket chain Ito-Yokado Co. Such retailers in Japan often sell clothing as well as groceries.
To revive sluggish clothing sales, Ito-Yokado brought in Fujimaki, well known in the apparel industry as an expert on sales floor design, from department store chain Isetan Co. last April.