“Ecological” and “Slow Life” are nowadays important keywords for citizen. In particular consumers’ attention is caught by “sporty items” and “fashionable outdoor items” which are recognized what would achieve healthy life. Main streams are experience of outdoor activities and fashionable & functional outdoor goods in urban city life.
Outdoor activities have been booming for a couple of years and in year 2009 the boom is especially boosted. Major trekking & hiking spots in mountain ranges enjoy a lot of young women. Some famous outdoor goods special store in Tokyo has marked the skyrocketed sales of goods for ladies, 130~140% compared to the figure last year.
The style of women enjoying outdoor life is changing. Outdoor goods used to focus on function and mobility but now women enjoy coordinate of skirts and short pants together with support-tights in their fashionable styles. Totally different from male trekkers women propose new fashionable outdoor styles. Skirts used not to be regarded as outdoor clothing but now skirts made of materials for outdoor activities are welcome by newly upcoming market. Fashion specialists give them advice on how to coordinate outdoor skirts. They claim that perfect function of new outdoor clothing and happy feeling could realize feminine classy style.
The thing we must pay most attention to is that women enjoy their outdoor activities in groups of women only. Some woman could try on trekking and running & jogging on lower mountains and hills alone. Female consumers lead men in this field.
Outdoor-oriented women have common feeling among those who do real outdoor activities and users of lifestyle goods (zakka) or fashion articles. Seeing “Ecology” and “Slow Life” as crucial keywords they take notice of new lifestyle in which they will be a part of nature and open-air. Users are increasing who take sporty & functional items into their daily life same as fashionable outdoor style.
“Sporty Items”, the phrase reminds many people of sports gear, wears and shoes etc., for playing sports of famous brands such as Asics or Adidas so on. On the other hand, gift shops, variety shops and lifestyle shops use the phrase with meaning of outdoor activities, action and styles. The latter market has articles of more variety of colors and designs, which could go well with interior and lifestyle stores or “zakka” stores.
Seeing the difference between outdoor stores and general variety “zakka” stores clothing and shoes, main articles sold in outdoor stores are in earth tones or in earth colors such as natural tones of green, brown and light grey etc., Small gears are in more bright nice-looking colors which could go with earth tones. Floor of sales space is often made of natural wood, also wooden racks and fixtures create relaxed atmosphere which could make customers feel relaxed and delightful by walking and looking in stores. Customers could easily get in the mood to go out door with the articles sold at the stores in the weekend when they walk in this kind of stores. This is quite effective management for customers.
Practical outdoor-use oriented items attract more and more customers who wish to enjoy sportive life style all through the year for 4 seasons. Not only young women who love mountain-hike but also teen-agers and young music-lovers in their 20’s who enjoy music festivals out-doors with using out-door equipments are increasing. This kind of events and occasions would have triggered them to get into outdoor lifestyle by such as camping or barbecue. On the other hand, elderly people are also interested in outdoor activities such as climbing for keeping fit and for sight seeing as they have plenty of time after retirement. Against this kind of trend as backdrops fashionable and functional outdoor goods are on the increase in the market, which many people take in their daily life.
Riding on the boom new and fickle outdoor boomers are also on the increase. Experienced outdoor lovers are worried about the attitude of the boomers towards nature caused by insufficient knowledge and experience in the outdoor. However the trend paying attention to entertainment property of outdoor life would lead to appreciation towards the earth and the nature, and also lead to the word “ecology”. This is a factor in common with the feeling of lovers of handicrafts, natural-material articles and Zakka. Unique characteristic outdoor items could be sold at other sales space than outdoor specialized shops. They crucial point is being “Town-use”, outdoor tools and equipments which can be carried and used in urban city life.
Generally outdoor goods, items having ecological factors, and articles demanded by “natural-style-lovers ” do not have very strong appeal in their appearance if just being laid in the rack. They need explanation of their features and good points on sale, which would surely create strongly-rooted repeaters and great fans of these articles.
The articles mentioned below are examples all looking uncouth at first sight, however, they are indeed practical and said to have “functional beauty”, which could strongly catch attention from ordinary citizen.
Plastic sheet is easily folded like “Origami” to make portable tableware such as mug cups, bowls and plates etc.,
Plastic bottles made from highly pure material which are trusted by hikers, campers and climbers etc., worldwide.
Below-right “Narugen: Oasis BPA Free”
Flasc-shaped polycarbonate bottle. Light and durable.
Temperature limit: -20c ~100c
IMPORTER: HIGHMOUNT CO., LTD. (Outdoor goods: English)
http://www.highmount.co.jp/en/index.html
Address:HM building 2-4 Nihonbashi Tomizawa-cho,Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0006 JAPAN
TEL:03-3667-4545 FAX:03-3667-4544
Bottle Strap with “Carabiner(A kind of metal connecting parts)”Pet bottles etc., can be held by this part and hung by strap by which users can use both hands free. Parts made of aluminum and straps made of artificial fibers
Aluminum capsules (SOS capsule which can keep medications, a sheet of medical information etc., inside of it )
IMPORTER: ZEST. CO.,LTD. (Outdoor goods)
http://www.zest.name/home.html
Address:200 Kawarada Hidase Seki Gifu 501-3911 Japan
Tel:0575-24-0018 Fax:0575-24-0087
e-mail?seki@zest.name
Harmful lights can be eliminated by oil particles in lens, which can help reduce the burden to eyes and fatigue. Suitable for use when ski site, golf course, pool and sea etc.,
http://www.group-i.co.jp/car/8.html
Address: 7F/9F 1-1-2 Haruoka Chikusa-ku Nagoya Aichi 464-0848 Japan
TEL 052-759-3670/FAX 052-759-3671
“Hip Cargo No.1” A hip bag with carabiner which can be easily attached to loop of a belt.Useful to carry a box of cigarettes, mobile phones etc.,
“Clear My Bottle M” A drink bottle made of PCTG/PP/ Stainless steel and silicon Can be filled with both hot and cold drink with ice. Easy to take off lid and to wash inside
Logos Corporation Co.,Ltd.(Outdoor goods)
http://www.logos-co.com/
Address:2-11-1 Hirabayashi-minami Suminoe-ku Osaka 559-0025 Japan
TEL: 06-6681-8000?FAX: 06-6681-8006
A single-piece aluminum bottle. Durable and wide-open screw cap is easy to handle when pouring water and ice etc.,. Eco-friendly as suitable for office workers or students carrying their own beverage. IMPORTER:
Iwatani-Primus Corporation
Address Head Office:4-12-20, Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0032
TEL03-3555-5605 FAX 03-3555-5674
http://www.iwatani-primus.co.jp/
http://www.iwatani-primus.co.jp/company/company_e.html(English)
A leather-made sack with approximately cm of diameters which can be used as football without using arms and hands. Players must keep kicking the bag not to let it hit the ground.
IMPORTER:
Hata Sporting Goods Ind.,Ltd.
OSAKA HEAD OFFICE
Address:3-3-37,Hishie,Higashi-osaka,Osaka578-0984 JAPAN
TEL:+81-72-960-3695
FAX:+81-72-960-3698
E-mail:info@hatas.co.jp
http://www.hatas.co.jp/index_en.htm(English)
The Office of Commercial Affairs,
Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo, Japan
Source : http://www.depthai.go.th