It has been several years since the rapid spread of individual brand boutiques on the main street of vibrant metropolis and suburban brand outlets. It follows that more and more people are now enjoying brand shopping at home. This article will refer how the change of Japanese domestic shopping behavior influenced shopping overseas, from “Japanese International Travellers: Trends and Shopping Behaviour 2006” co-authored by JTM and TFWA (Tax Free World Association).

Tokyo metropolis dwellers tend to spend less money on luxury brand items
　　　Tokyo metropolis dwellers who have ample chances to purchase branded goods near at hand tend to spend less on shopping when they visit abroad than travellers from Osaka or Nagoya. The difference was especially noticeable for the shopping expenditure of luxury brand items.

*Tokyo: includes Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba　Nagoya: includes Gifu, Mie, Shizuoka Osaka: includes Hyogo, Nara, Kyoto

The reasons why they purchase branded goods domestically are “Affordable Price” “Good Access” and “Better Service”
　　　The major reason why they purchase luxury brands at home is that the price has gradually come down to the reasonable level in these several years. Moreover, as there are many shops around, they simply do not have to wait until their period of travel abroad. Another important reason is a “Better Service”. Most of the people expect durability and good quality worth the price for branded items. Therefore, after service is a very important issue for them.

From 30s to 50s tend to spend less on overseas shopping, while 60s stays at the same level
　　　Except people in 20s who were probably too young to have their own discretion to spend money five years ago, general tendency is to spend less on shopping. Especially from 30s to 50s answered that they spend less money on shopping abroad compare to 5 years ago while 60s are relatively stayed at the same level.
It is conceivable that the small change in 60s is caused by their unchangeable shopping behaviour to purchase branded goods at a department store, instead of emerging individual brand boutiques or outlets.

[Survey Outline]
Respondents: Japanese travellers who have visited abroad during the period spanning April 2005 through July 2005.
Total Response: 1000
Time of the survey: August 2005