In bid for survival, Japan department stores accelerate digital push Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you re not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/
A sales clerk at the Isetan department store in Tokyo s Shinjuku district talks about a product during a demonstration of an app that enables customers to buy items online with the assistance of store clerks. | KYODO
Jiji Apr 4, 2021
Department store operators in Japan are speeding up their efforts to take their sales operations and other services digital, with the coronavirus pandemic dealing an additional blow to a sector already suffering in a shrinking market.
In bid for survival, Japan department stores accelerate digital push japantimes.co.jp - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from japantimes.co.jp Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A poster at a supermarket in Tokyo operated by Summit Inc. says it will close during the first three days of the new year. This photo was taken on Dec. 3. (Yoshikatsu Nakajima)
This New Year’s sales season is going to look a lot different from normal under the COVID-19 pandemic, with many supermarkets closing and far fewer lucky bags lining department store shelves.
Summit Inc., which operates food supermarkets in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area, will close 113 stores almost all its outlets between Jan. 1 and Jan. 3. It is the first time in 33 years it will close its stores during the period.