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Toys R Us goes to Japan
- 1. Toys “R” Us goes to Japan
- 2. Japan an attractive market for Toys “R” Us Toy market in Japan Computer Games Dolls Animated toys with TV characters Ranked as 3rd largest & wealthiest market Health & Leisure products spending Joint venture McDonald’s Japan facilitates entry Draw expertise from stores in Hong Kong & Singapore
- 3. Toys “R” Us Geography
- 4. Geert-Hofstede Framework Comparison: Japan v/s USA Source: Geert Hofstede 2012 http://geert-hofstede.com/japan.html
- 5. Japanese Consumer Behavior & Impact on Culture High uncertainty avoidance Sensitive nature/Obstacles Demand and Preference Quality a “watchword” than Price Cheaper goods = Inferiority Locally Made Products Adapt to local conditions and tastes Established brand name Loyalty to Japanese existing stores
- 6. Doing Business In Japan Culture as main obstacle? Infamous myths of doing business in Japan – too risky? Japanese Business Culture – not impenetrable barrier to successful business. (e,g . Yahoo! , Louis Vuitton, Toys “R” Us) Culture differs but it does not make it more risky do business anywhere else.
- 8. Doing Business In Japan Group Orientation Team work and individual identity is based by social groups Hierarchy Confucianism - status based on factors such age, employment, company and family background. Respect Showing respect – through language, behavior and body language
- 9. Doing Business In Japan Building Relationships Successful relationship based on three factors - Sincerity, compatibility and trustworthiness Communication Vague form of communication – avoid direct or explicit statements Implicit communicators – minimizing information and relayed that implication will be understood.
- 10. Toys “R” Us overcoming Barriers to entry
- 11. Overcoming entry barriers into Japan Toys “R” Us - eight other countries. Drew on these experiences, especially those of its successful stores in two other Asian cultures, Hong Kong and Singapore Toys “R” Us signed an alliance contract with McDonald’s Japan. – Japanese company Toys “R” Us Utilized McDonald’s in-depth market knowledge. Japanese government waived laws which prohibited larger retailers from coming into the area.
- 12. Overcoming entry barriers into Japan Toys “R” Us Japan hired almost solely Japanese employees. Tailor advertising to what is more accustomed in the new environment. Effective in Japan was colorful inserts in newspapers. Toys “R” Us realized that they had to change their company to suit this new market without changing their style of store. “Everyday Low Prices.” - Japanese economy was in recession. Slogan very appealing.
- 13. Alternative modes of entry?
- 14. Proposal
- 15. Competitive & Firm specific advantage
- 16. Competitive Advantage of Toys “R” Us Brand Established toy outlet in the industry Image Excellent customer service No of branches Huge distribution network Benefits from advanced logistical systems Bargaining power with manufacturers Wide range of products
- 17. Problems in transferring competitive advantage abroad Culture & Perception The slogan “Everyday low prices” Legal restrictions Number of stores & capacities 50% of toys need to be local ones Technology Stock control & inventories
- 18. Internalize firm specific advantage v/s license? Toys “R” Us preferred internalizing its firm specific advantage for the following reasons Licensing is too risky Vulnerability Mismanagement Losing control over brand Losing market share Retailers may replicate and implement similar business Direct competitor to the firm
- 19. Toys “R” us future strategies in Japan
- 20. Establishing a Keiretsu network http://nikhilsinghal27.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/picture1.jpg
- 21. Keiretsu Increase local supply base thus decreasing imports – Lower operating costs Sharing of local experience through network Product adaption made easier as local suppliers have been made accessible Creation of a competition barrier for potential foreign entrants (e.g Walmart)
- 22. Increasing presence of Toys “R” Us in metropolitan (key) areas
- 23. Bring Toys “R” us to metropolitan areas Very high density clusters around major cities High usage of trains and subway In 2010 - 3,232,332,000 train passengers Japanese not encourage to drive outside cities because of freeway tolls. Increase visibility and consequently increase customer awareness and sales figures
- 24. Reference List Keiretsu. 2009. The Economist. http://www.economist.com/node/14299720 (accessed April 24, 2012) http://www.toukei.metro.tokyo.jp/tnenkan/2010/tn10q3e0 04.htm
Editor's Notes
- The chart above gives us an interesting view of doing business index in Japan and how it has decrease in many aspect of doing business and how firms have to adapt to each of them.
- Toys “R” Us competitive advantage extends not only over retailers but also over the industry Brand When it comes to brand, the company is known as an established toy outlets within the industry and people easily associate toys selling with the company Image Moreover, Toys “R” Us is known as a store that provides excellent service to clients which can be proven by the frequency of visit clients do to the company’s store. No of branches Toys “R” Us has engaged itself in a strategy of having many branches at different places so as to reach more people Huge distribution network As such, with branches all over, Toy “R” Us has more shelf which means stronger bargaining position when it comes to buying prices form manufacturers. In addition, Toys “R” Us benefits from advanced logistical systems Wide range of products Toys “R” Us ahs diversified itself by engaging not only in toys but also in other consumer products like baby clothes and kids apparel
- The shifting of Toys “R” Us competitive advantage to a foreign market notable to Japan was problematic because of the country's external environment As such, for Japanese, the higher price the higher the quality of the product which impacted on Toys “R” Us The laws prevailing within countries differ thereby highly impacting on the way business is done and in that case, Japanese laws restricted the number of stores but also their capacities which completely goes against Toys “R” Us strategy. Moreover, Toys “R” Us had to abide to the law thereby having 50% of its products locally which impacted on its bargaining power Moreover, host country practices acted as barriers ‘forcing’ Toys “R” Us to go through established channels for warehouse inventories instead of relying on their proven technological system.