Culture Convenience Club, Co. Ltd, which operates TSUTAYA nationwide in Japan, announce performance growth of 107.4% to 104.7 billion yen in the fiscal year ending March 2012 for book and magazine sales in its TSUTAYA BOOKS franchise. Entering the current fiscal year starting with the April to June quarter, good performance continues for in store retail book and magazine sales, with figures at 108% on a year to year comparison.

 TSUTAYA began its retail book business at its first store, TSUTAYA BOOK STORE at Hirakata Station. Since then, the TSUTAYA BOOKS franchise commenced in 1994, and last year, TSUTAYA mega stores exceeding 5000㎡ have opened, growing TSUTAYA into one of the largest book store chains in Japan.

　Among the major factors contributing to TSUTAYA's growth and record performance in book sales have been improved product inventory, strengthening of magazine subscriptions and the utilization of T point rewards via e-mail promotional campaigns and POS coupons, all initiated to motivate TSUTAYA's 40 million members to read. TSUTAYA's introduction of mega stores, as well as the opening of TSUTAYA's premium store at Daikanayma in Tokyo, have been aimed at giving customers pleasure in selecting books, and suggest new ways of enjoying reading material in a relaxed environment. This may also be a factor for this improved retail trend.

 Culture Convenience Club will not only continue to launch TSUTAYA stores with consolidated book sections, but also promote with the notion of joy in selecting and reading books and magazines.