Category Archives: Business

Retail News: GAP to close all 53 Old Navy stores in Japan!!

GAP (Picture - MSN and BFM News)

GAP (Picture – MSN and BFM News)

 

“Gap Inc., under pressure to turn around operations amid a prolonged sales slump, said it plans to close all its Old Navy stores in Japan and some Banana Republics mostly outside of North America by the end of its business year.” (Wall Street Journal)

“Gap Inc said Thursday that it is shuttering 75 Old Navy and Banana Republic stores outside North America as the struggling company looks to focus on regions where it sees it has the greatest potential for success. The closures include all 53 Old Navy stores in Japan. The closures represent just a fraction of the over 3,700 stores it operates globally. Gap has long been struggling, unable to get shoppers to buy its clothes without offering big discounts(Japan Today)

“Ces dernières semaines, les entreprises du secteur du prêt-à-porter ont annoncé des résultats tous plus mauvais les uns que les autres, qui ont fait lourdement chuter leurs titres en Bourse. Elles pâtissent de la concurrence des vendeurs en ligne dont les politiques commerciales sont plébiscitées par les consommateurs. Gap, fondé il y a 47 ans, doit aussi affronter les fers de lance de la “fast retail” que sont H&M, Zara et Uniqlo qui renouvellent fréquemment leurs collections afin de coller aux goûts d’un public adolescent porté sur les achats sur l’internet.”  (BFM Business/MSN)

 

GAP has been operating in Japan for a while. It is probably good news for rivals like UNIQLO, Zara, H&M and others. So, will it make a difference in the very dynamic Japanese Apparel/Retail landscape or is it going to be “business as usual” for the Japanese consumers? What do you think?

 

Read more from:

http://www.msn.com/fr-fr/finance/actualite/d%c3%a9cision-drastique-de-gap-au-japon/ar-BBtgAi1?ocid=spartanntp

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/gap-to-close-75-stores-outside-north-america-including-53-old-navy-stores-in-japan

http://www.wsj.com/articles/gap-to-close-old-navy-in-japan-withdraws-earnings-forecast-1463689009


FLIGHT TEST Review: the Falcon 8X from Dassault is out now!

FALCON 8X (Picture Flightglobal - Dassault)

FALCON 8X (Picture Flightglobal – Dassault)

 

“When the annual EBACE business aviation show kicks of in Geneva on 24 May, Dassault’s new flagship business jet, the ultra-long-range Falcon 8X, will be just days away from its planned joint European Aviation Safety Agency (CS 25) and US Federal Aviation Administration (FAR 25) certification. Its entry into service is planned for the third quarter of 2016.

Dassault describes the 8X as an evolution of its hugely successful Falcon 7X/EASy III cockpit – rather than a revolution – but one with a slew of extra cabin options, a substantial range increase and a raft of further avionic and reliability upgrades. All this while retaining the 7X’s outstanding characteristics, including its fly-by-wire digital flight control system; its flexibility in short field (and therefore non-hub) operations, both for landing and take-off; continued certificated steep approach capability (e.g. to airports such as London City, Lugano, La Mole and St Moritz); having a basic empty weight lighter by up to 25% or more than competitors; and with direct operating costs lower by even more significant margins, of up to 35%.”    (Flightglobal)

“Longer fuselage than the 7X, but with no empty weight penalty and more engine power 8X performance still delights.”  (Dassault Aviation)

 

Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing it in the air (flying)!

Let us know if you find a Video of it …

Read more from:  FLIGHT TEST Review: the Falcon 8X from Dassault is out now!

 

 

 


World’s first ocean cleaning system to be deployed in 2016!

Ocean Cleaning System (Picture - The Ocean Cleanup)

Ocean Cleaning System (Picture – The Ocean Cleanup)

 

“The world’s first system to passively clean up plastic pollution from the world’s oceans is to be deployed in Japan in 2016! The coastal array will be the first time an operational Ocean Cleanup system is to be deployed in the ocean. Spanning 2000 meters (and with a barrier length of over 2300m), it will become the longest floating structure ever deployed on the oceans, even though this will be just 2% of the full scale structure. Deployment is expected in Q2 2016. On May 20 2015, The Ocean Cleanup and the city government of Tsushima (a Japanese island which lies between Japan and Korea) jointly agreed to conduct research to bring the world’s first Ocean Cleanup array to Tsushima Island.”   (The Ocean Cleanup website)

 

Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup:

“Taking care of the world’s ocean garbage problem is one of the largest environmental challenges mankind faces today”

 

Great Project!

More details fromhttp://www.theoceancleanup.com/blog/show/item/worlds-first-ocean-cleaning-system-to-be-deployed-in-2016.html

 

 


Work Perks in Japan: be creative in compensating your staff!

10000-yen-note

10000-yen-note

 

“Although salary may still be the first thing job seekers look at when scanning potential positions, perks and benefits are being increasingly recognised as crucial ways for companies to attract and retain staff, as well as keep employees happy and productive. While generous expat packages for even mid-level employees at foreign firms in Tokyo may be a distant bubble-era memory, both local and overseas companies are finding creative ways to compensate workers ….  As bonuses have become less variable and salaries have evened out, benefits have become more important than ever.”    (Source: EUROBIZ Newsletter)

 

Basic salary vs Bonus vs Perks/Benefits? What are your expectations? What is the trend in your Japan office? Is your company innovating in that field? What are your preferences and why?

 

Read more fromhttp://eurobiz.jp/feature/work-perks/

 

 


EU-Japanese Teams (2) shortlisted for UK Railways Projects !!!

JTREC trains (Source - JTREC website)

JTREC trains (Source – JTREC website)

 

 

  1. Dutch-Japanese team shortlisted to compete for West Midlands (UK) Franchise:

The U.K. Department for Transport (DfT) announced on 7 April 2016 that three bidders have been shortlisted for the West Midlands passenger franchise, including West Midlands Trains Ltd, a subsidiary of the Abellio Transport Holding (Dutch national passenger rail operator (NS) Group), with JR East and Mitsui & Co. as minority partners. The new operator will take over the franchise in October 2017, with the contract award expected to be made in June 2017.

The DfT also announced that the consortium of JR East and Mitsui & Co. has been awarded a new Pre-Qualification Questionnaire Passport, which enables the consortium to express interest in franchises for the next four years, in an easier and less cumbersome way.”  (Source: JR East Newsletter #20)

For further information, please check:  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/three-train-companies-shortlisted-to-compete-for-west-midlands-franchise

 

2. Franco-Japanese team shortlisted for new trains in Liverpool (UK):

 

“Merseytravel, an executive body that provides professional, strategic and operational transport advice to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, announced on 11 January 2016 that five bidders including a team composed of  French and Japanese companies have been shortlisted for a contract to supply around 50 EMUs (Electric Multiple Units) for the Merseyrail network.

The Franco-Japanese team is composed of Mitsui, a major Japanese trading company, J-TREC, JR East’s subsidiary rolling stock manufacturing company, and France’s Alstom.

Bids are due to be submitted by the end of April and a preferred bidder will be identified towards the end of the year. The project is likely to cost around £400m.

This joint action between French and Japanese companies is the first of its kind in the European Union, and concrete business results are expected.”     (Source: JR East Newsletter #19)

For more information about J-TREC, please click:  http://www.j-trec.co.jp/eng/index.html

The official announcement by Merseytravel can be accessed from:  http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/Pages/Another-step-towards-new-Merseyrail-trains-as-bidder-shortlist-announced.aspx

 

Congratulations! Great to see EU-Japan Industrial Cooperation and breakthroughs in the highly sensitive Railways Sector !!!  What do you think?


GBMC speaking at the MEDEF Executive Club Conference! Join us!


Doing Business with Japan

Doing Business with Japan

Comment réussir votre développement international au Japon”

 

organised in Paris by the MEDEF Ile-de-France (French Federation of Companies) on wednesday May 11, 2016.

 

More details about the Conference itself (in French):

Eric BERGER, Président du MEDEF Ile-de-France, et Michel JONQUERES, Président de la Commission Internationale,

ont le plaisir de vous convier au Petit Déjeuner de l’Executive Club du MEDEF Ile-de-France sur le thème :

« Comment réussir votre développement international au Japon »

le mercredi 11 mai 2016 de 8h30 à 10h30

au Club (niveau -1)

10, rue du Débarcadère – Paris 17ème

avec la participation de :

Yoichi SUZUKI, Ambassadeur du Japon en France

« Le commerce franco-japonais »

Philippe HUYSVELD, spécialiste du Japon, membre de Global Business and Management Consulting (GBMC)

« A faire et à ne pas faire pour votre réussite commerciale au Japon »

Jean-Charles CROUIN, Conseiller du Commerce Extérieur de la France (section Japon), Président de la Commission Asie du

CNCCEF

« Un entrepreneur français au Japon »

 

If you are interested in joining us for the conference, please fill in and send back the form hereunder:

 

COUPON-REPONSE

Merci de confirmer votre présence en nous renvoyant le coupon-réponse par courrier, accompagné de

votre chèque de règlement à l’ordre du MEDEF Ile-de-France avant le vendredi 6 mai 2016 à l’adresse :

MEDEF Ile-de-France – Service Communication – 251, boulevard Pereire – 75852 PARIS Cedex 17

Mme/M. : ……………………………………………………… Société : ………………………………………………..……….……

Fonction :……………………………………………………… Tél. : ……………………E-mail : ……………………………….…..

Ο   Assistera au petit déjeuner 

Ο   N’assistera pas au petit déjeuner

PARTICIPATION : 30 € TTC

(votre inscription sera prise en compte uniquement après règlement)

Pour toute information : service Presse et Communication au : 01 40 55 12 43 / 51 ou secretariat@medef-idf.fr

 


Japan’s Electricity Market deregulated: the end of an era?

Electricity Market in Japan

Electricity Market in Japan

 

“Japan’s power utilities have lost their monopoly over electricity on Friday April 1st in an unprecedented shakeup that could give a much needed jolt to Japan’s long stagnant economy.

Already, a price war has broken out among many of the more than 260 companies that will be allowed to sell electricity in Japan’s $70 billion retail market. From April 1, Japanese consumers will be able to buy electricity from suppliers ranging from telecoms conglomerate Softbankand trading firm Marubeni to travel agency H.I.S. and a Hokkaido-based supermarket co-operative that has branched out into solar parks.

They and others like Japan’s biggest city gas operator, Tokyo Gas are packaging other services, offering loyalty programs and advertising them.

The new entrants are betting they can make money in a low-margin business by undercutting the monopolies brought low financially by the Fukushima disaster and saddled with a high-cost business model after decades of guaranteed profits.

The government is hoping increased competition in the final remaining restricted part of the electricity market will boost efficiency and innovation and cut prices that are among the highest in the world.

But the new entrants are competing for space in a market in long-term decline as the population falls and consumers from factories to households look to trim power use.

What is more likely to happen is regional monopolies would merge and relatively few of the newcomers would survive the coming battle for market share.”  (Reuters)

 

The page has been turned: this is definitely good news for Japanese consumers and this should also work in favour of further deployment of Renewable Energies in Japan! What do you think?

Read more fromJapan Electricity deregulated: the end of an era?

 


E-Fan: AIRBUS group’s Electric Plane crossed the Channel in 2015!

AIRBUS E-Fan4

AIRBUS E-Fan4

” The potential of electric aviation

At 11am, 10 July 2015, on a calm, sunny summer morning, the Airbus E-Fan touched down in Calais to enter its name in the record books.

The all-electric plane became the first twin-engine electric plane taking off with its own power to negotiate the English Channel, more than 100 years after Louis Blériot first made the intrepid journey.

E-Fan’s first flight above the sea

Travelling in the opposite direction to the pioneering Frenchman and powered by lithium-ion batteries, the E-Fan took off from Lydd on the English south coast, completing the 74 kilometre flight east to Calais, France, in around 37 minutes. Flown by test pilot Didier Esteyne, the all-electric plane weighs around 600 kilogrammes and travelled at an altitude of about 1,000 metres [3,500 feet].

E-Fan’s initial production targets

Airbus Group will invest in, and construct, the E-Fan’s Pau assembly site, which will be leased to its wholly owned Voltair subsidiary responsible for the electric aircraft’s development, production, sales, delivery and customer support. 

Construction is expected to begin in 2016, with the facility ready to initiate E-Fan 2.0 series production the following year, enabling the aircraft’s commercialisation in late 2017. The initial E-Fan production rate is targeted at approximately 10 aircraft annually, with the capability to grow based on market response.”   (AIRBUS Group website)

 

Looking forward to new records, challenges and innovation results! 

Will Paris – Tokyo by E-Fan be possible one day?

 

Check the Videos from:

http://www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/innovation-citizenship/airbus-e-fan-the-future-of-electric-aircraft/Cross-channel-flight.html

http://www.leparisien.fr/high-tech/e-fan-l-avion-electrique-d-airbus-a-traverse-la-manche-10-07-2015-4934155.php

 


eBook – MOSAICA JAPONICA – Lecture Culturelle du Japon socio-économique

MOSAICA JAPONICA - Ph Huysveld - cover

MOSAICA JAPONICA – Ph Huysveld – cover

 

Contient une préface d’André Jaumotte

 

« Aujourd’hui, il y a sans doute mille choses à apprendre de l’Orient : un énorme travail de connaissance est, sera nécessaire …. L’auteur n’a jamais, en aucun sens, photographié le Japon. Ce serait plutôt le contraire : le Japon l’a étoilé d’éclairs multiples ; ou mieux encore : le Japon l’a mis en situation d’écriture. »

Ces quelques phrases de Roland Barthes dans « L’Empire des Signes » résume très bien les préoccupations de votre modeste guide dans la mosaïque socio-économico-culturelle japonaise.

La mondialisation croissante de ces dernières années conduit le manager, tout comme le citoyen du monde, à faire l’effort de comprendre et d’accepter la pensée de l’autre. Pour maîtriser et gérer les différences de culture et de société, il doit avant tout se mettre à la place de l’autre.

Toutefois, au Japon tout particulièrement, la prise en compte des spécificités culturelles n’est pas chose simple. A cet effet, des programmes d’études en « management interculturel » ont fait leur apparition en Europe, mettant en évidence l’importance de la connaissance de l’environnement culturel pour appréhender la dynamique des marchés asiatiques et, en particulier, japonais.

L’objectif de cet ouvrage à caractère socio-économico-culturel s’inscrit dans cette démarche et consiste à amorcer, avec du recul, une réflexion en profondeur sur les liens ou analogies entre l’économique et le culturel au Japon. L’auteur part du constat qu’un certain nombre d’éléments sont liés et ouvre des pistes de discussion. Il prend aussi à cœur de combattre les préjugés.

Avant toute chose, une mise en garde s’impose. L’archipel nippon, très étendu du Nord au Sud, n’est pas un pays homogène et sa découverte ne se limite pas à une visite de Tokyo, généralement le premier point de chute des visiteurs étrangers. En effet, quittant la métropole, s’ouvre au voyageur attentif un Japon plus traditionnel et plus authentique, tel que présenté dans cet essai.

Dans un premier temps, sont présentés, en deux volets, les Arts et l’Economie du pays. La première partie consiste en un survol de différentes formes d’expression artistique, de pair avec des créations originales en théâtre. La deuxième partie reprend l’économie dans son ensemble et, en particulier, un « zoom » opéré sur la gestion des ressources humaines, la négociation et l’industrie automobile.

Dans un second temps, l’auteur reconstitue par l’analyse de ses fragments la mosaïque japonaise. Le décryptage se fait suivant quatre dimensions interdépendantes de la culture japonaise : le collectivisme ou esprit de groupe, l’ordre et la hiérarchie, la notion d’incertitude et son contrôle, la forte division des rôles entre les hommes et les femmes.

Suivant en cela une démarche « zen » classique, cherchons à dégager la substance essentielle de cet univers japonais complexe.

 

Bonne Lecture!

Philippe Huysveld

 

A cultural screening of Japan’s society and economy!

182 pages eBook (in French) available from various e-commerce platforms like:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/philippe-huysveld/mosaica-japonica-lecture-culturelle-du-japon-socio-économique/ebook/product-22618905.html

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DE1NYKE?ref_=pe_2427780_160035660

or from our website:

http://www.gbmc.biz/mosaica-japonica–ebook-.html


Practice “Omotenashi”: Provide an unique “service experience” and show gratitude & respect towards your customers !!

Japanese bow

The Japanese spirit of hospitality

Of all the memories they take home with them, visitors to Japan cherish and appreciate the ‘Japanese way of hospitality and customer service’ — Omotenashi in Japanese.

Translated simply, Omotenashi means the Japanese way of treating a guest. It blends a welcoming spirit with warmth, understanding, and above all respect.

Interestingly, the Japanese language makes no distinction between ‘guest’ and ‘customer.’

To practice Omotenashi, the host pays close attention to detail and is committed to anticipating the needs of the guest, smiling sincerely and setting a happy, relaxed mood. When authentic, Japanese hospitality and service exceed the expectations of the guests. At its most exquisite, Omotenashi offers a guest a once-in-a-life-time experience. The idea resonates with Ichigo-ichie, the tea master’s belief that every encounter is single and unique.”  (Kanebo website)

 

So what are you waiting for to implement it in your business? In a more and more competitive business world, “service engineering” is a differentiating and winning factor!

Read more from:   The Japanese spirit of hospitality

If you need help, you can also contact us (at info@gbmc.biz) for support or 

check our website at:  http://www.gbmc.biz/Japan_Training.php

 

 

 


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