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Major supermarket operator Seiyu Ltd has reduced distribution of its newspaper flyers for foods from twice to once a week from late July as part of its efforts to cut costs. Seiyu is currently rebuilding its operations with support from its parent, U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Wal-Mart took full control of Seiyu in June.
Seiyu temporarily stopped issuing such flyers after it formed a tie-up with Wal-Mart in 2002. But this led customers to shop at other supermarkets, and the flyer distribution was resumed.
Despite the partnership with Wal-Mart, Seiyu has remained in the red in recent years. Its group net loss totaled 20,931 million yen in the year that ended in December 2007 although the figure was better than the preceding year's loss of 55,792 million yen.
© JCN
10 Comments
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some14some
that will be eco friendly and hope others in related businesses will follow Seiyu. If not, govt should bring some sort of regulations and reduce this flyer waste.
LIBERTAS
In a digital information age, surely e-flyers for those who wish to subscribe, could be e-mailed to cell-phones, and then bar-code read at the check out. Avoids waste, junk mail and all that clipping and saving. Can't we use this technology to the max?
Betting
Libertas, you're entirely correct I think. However, culture often plays a role in these things. People feel comfortable when receiving these things, as it is expected. So, take them away and people feel uncomfortable, leading them to shop/do their activities elsewhere. And education is the best way to change how people think. Hopefully Seiyu will keep this up, which will (hopefully) lead to other companies following suit.
presto345
In some developed countries consumers have the option to refuse flyers and other junk mail by means of a decal on their mail boxes stating so. Ignoring these wishes will result in legal action. We need this here too to reduce the tremendous amount of waste and junk.
roomtemperature
I know exactly what you're talking about, Presto! But this is Japan......you can't refuse....even if your mailbox is full of crap every day.....putting a sticker on your mailbox stating that you don't want them to put in flyers is a sin here.
ExPrinceska
Seiyu's sales decreased not because of the cancelled distribution of fliers but because the quality of the goods dropped considerably, especialy since its cooperation with Walmart. Before that there were some good things in the shops but now most of the things, especially clothes, are real garbage. Sorry but I hate Walmart and Seyu now.
Altria
They're cutting their frequent flyers programme?
tokyotom
seiyu cut the chirashii before, killed their sales at the time will see what happens here
kaminarikeizai
I checks at least 5-10 chirashi before going to the market. Wal-Mart is repeating same old mistake. Anyway Wal-Mart has it’s own way of marketing. Chirashi is not bad for the environment as some readers wrote above. It’s saving time and energy of a consumer. I can’t waste petrol and time to check prices in Seiyu, than Apple Land, than Beisia, than Watahan, and so on. I only go to a store, which chirashi is offering a low price.
redrightntrue
"Despite the partnership with Wal-Mart, Seiyu has remained in the red in recent years. Its group net loss totaled 20,931 million yen in the year that ended in December 2007 although the figure was better than the preceding year’s loss of 55,792 million yen."
No surprise as Wal Mart has bought into the hype that Japanese customers are "different". I say baloney. Start stocking the shelves with the same products found in the US and sit back and watch the wealth accumulate ! Trust me, McDonalds, Levis, Nike, etc never bought into the hype. They produce the same products in Japan as they do in the USA. Wal Mart needs to get their act together and start loading the coolers with American beef and cheese nips !