In 2012, annual sales of books and magazines reached a record high of 109.7 billion yen (107.1% compared to the previous year).

2013.01.17 Press Releases
Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. TSUTAYA Company

—In its 30th year of operation, it has achieved one of the largest sales volumes among brick-and-mortar bookstore chains—

Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. TSUTAYA Company (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) announced that sales at all stores of its "TSUTAYA" and "TSUTAYA BOOKS" stores (696 stores nationwide) that handle books and magazines reached a record high of 109.7 billion yen (107% year-on-year) from January to December 2012. According to our research, this amount represents one of the largest combined sales figures for a physical bookstore chain in Japan.

Since opening its first store, "TSUTAYA BOOKS Hirakata Ekimae Store (now TSUTAYA Hirakata Ekimae Main Store)," in 1983, TSUTAYA has been developing stores that offer a wide range of content, including movies, music, and books, providing people with inspiration and information on how to live, as a "hub for providing young people with information on new lifestyles." This year, on March 24th, TSUTAYA will celebrate its 30th anniversary.

The reason why our annual sales in 2012 reached a record high is that we utilized the database marketing system of "T-POINT" to strengthen our selection of books and magazines, especially based on the purchasing trends of our most frequent buyers, and created a store environment that would satisfy our customers. In particular, with regard to magazines, we have stocked a variety of magazine titles tailored to the characteristics of each store's trading area and customer demographics, in line with the diversification of hobbies and preferences.

In addition, factors contributing to the increase in sales include the continued opening of large bookstores in various prefectures, such as Gunma and Ibaraki, including the "TSUTAYA BOOKS Foreo Shobu Store" which opened in Saitama Prefecture in March and boasts a book sales area of over 3,000 square meters, as well as the opening of large bookstores that stock specialized books, which have been ongoing since the year before last, such as the "Daikanyama TSUTAYA BOOKS" which opened in Daikanyama, Tokyo, targeting the baby boomer generation. In 2012, the average area of book sales spaces in stores was 1,000 square meters, which is 1.5 times larger than the previous year and 3.6 times larger than the year before.

TSUTAYA will continue to provide a better selection of books and open larger bookstores for all book lovers.

[History of TSUTAYA's book and magazine-related business]
In 1983 (Showa 58), the first TSUTAYA store, "TSUTAYA BOOKS Hirakata Ekimae Store," opened in Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture (March 24).
 Business partnership with Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Co., Ltd.
In 1994 (Heisei 6), the company began franchising its book sales business (TSUTAYA BOOK NETWORK).
 TSUTAYA Yamauchi Store, which can be considered the prototype of the "Multi-Package Store" concept—a store that stocks all kinds of packaged software that can serve as a starting point for discovering a lifestyle, including videos, CDs, books, and magazines—opens in Okinawa City.
In 1995 (Heisei 7), the "TSUTAYA Higashi-Kori Store," a model store for multi-package stores, opened in Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture.
In 1997 (Heisei 9), the number of TSUTAYA BOOKS affiliated stores reached 100.
In 1998 (Heisei 10), TSUTAYA BOOKS' total annual sales reached 15.9 billion yen (exceeding 10 billion yen).
In 1999 (Heisei 11), a "points service" was launched where customers could earn points by purchasing books.
In 2003 (Heisei 15), a new style of bookstore, "BOOK&CAFE," was launched at "TSUTAYA TOKYO ROPPONGI" in Roppongi Hills, based on the concept of "BOOK&CAFE," where customers could read books before purchasing them in a cafe setting, creating a study-like atmosphere.
 The common point service "T-POINT" has launched.
In 2005 (Heisei 17), the total annual sales of TSUTAYA BOOKS franchise stores reached 57.8 billion yen (exceeding 50 billion yen).
In 2006 (Heisei 18), TSUTAYA Online Shopping began selling books online.
 Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Co., Ltd. and MPD Co., Ltd. have established a joint venture for commercial logistics business.
In 2007 (Heisei 19), TSUTAYA began expanding its comic book rental franchise.
In 2008 (Heisei 20), the number of TSUTAYA BOOKS affiliated stores reached 500.
 TSUTAYA DISCAS launches home delivery comic rental service.
In 2010 (Heisei 22), we entered into a capital and business alliance with NetOff Co., Ltd., which operates the used book buying and selling website "NetOff".
 We have formed a capital and business alliance with Fujisan Magazine Service Co., Ltd., which operates "Fujisan.co.jp".
 The first used bookstore "ecobooks" opens at "TSUTAYA Yokohama Minatomirai Store".
 We have started a franchise expansion of our used bookstore "ecobooks".
A franchise based on the "multi-use store" concept for books, where customers can "buy, borrow, and sell (share)," has begun.
 TSUTAYA Online Shopping has started selling magazines online.
2011 (Heisei 23): Launch of the e-book service "TSUTAYA.com eBOOKs".
 Super-large TSUTAYA stores with book sales areas of approximately 1,000 tsubo (approx. 3,300 square meters) will open in Gunma and Saitama prefectures.
 "Daikanyama TSUTAYA BOOKS" opens in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo.
 TSUTAYA BOOKS franchise stores have surpassed 100 billion yen in total annual sales.
In 2012 (Heisei 24), we began handling "Kanzume" as a private label product for our books.
 TSUTAYA BOOKS Hitachinaka Store, the largest bookstore in northern Kanto, opens in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Documents related to this matter

In 2012, annual sales of books and magazines reached a record high of 109.7 billion yen.

Inquiries regarding this matter
Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd.
TSUTAYA Company Public Relations Representative: Yuta Takahashi
TEL: 03-6800-4764