"TSUTAYA Nagareyama Store" introduces "Hontasu," a labor-saving solution for store operations, on January 31st, and begins extending business hours

2025.01.24 Press Releases
Culture Experience Co., Ltd.

-Improved convenience for the local community by allowing customers to purchase books, stationery, and rent videos and comics even in the early morning and late night hours-

Culture Experience Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shinichiro Kamaura; hereinafter referred to as "CX") has introduced "Hontasu," a labor-saving store operation solution developed by Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Keiji Okumura; abbreviated as "Nippan"), which enables hybrid manned and unmanned sales, to the "TSUTAYA Nagareyama Store" (Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture) operated by NIC Retails Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Junya Kondo; hereinafter referred to as "NIC"), and will begin operation from 11:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025.

This is an announcement image for the introduction of the store operation labor-saving solution

By introducing a new operating model that combines the labor-saving store operation solution "Hontasu" with TSUTAYA self-checkouts, "TSUTAYA Nagareyama Store" will operate in a hybrid format, with unmanned stores in the early morning and late night hours and manned stores during the day, extending opening hours by 5 hours and 45 minutes from Sunday to Thursday and 4 hours and 30 minutes on Friday and Saturday.

This will provide a more convenient and accessible store experience for local residents. Even during unmanned business hours, you can enjoy books, magazines, stationery, video rentals, comic rentals, and more provided by TSUTAYA, and during manned business hours, staff will provide you with attentive service.

CX will continue to expand this new operating model, utilizing Hontasu and TSUTAYA self-checkouts, to TSUTAYA stores nationwide, in order to flexibly respond to the diverse needs and lifestyles of customers and aim to operate stores that are highly convenient for local residents.

Key points of the operating model that combines "Hontasu" and TSUTAYA self-checkouts

(1) Entry management via LINE during unmanned business hours
During the unmanned opening hours from 8:00am to 9:30am and from 9:45pm (11:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays) to 2:00am, you can enter the store using your digital membership card from the LINE Mini App. By managing store entry for each member, we can achieve security management to prevent shoplifting and other crimes. This will improve convenience for customers and allow bookstores to operate early in the morning or late at night, when it is difficult to allocate staff, without incurring personnel costs, thereby contributing to improving bookstore profits.

Store opening hours after introducing the labor-saving solution
Store opening hours after introducing the labor-saving solution "Hontasu"

*Games and trading cards will not be sold during unmanned business hours.
*During unmanned business hours, cashless payment is the only method of payment (credit cards, electronic money, two-dimensional barcode payment, cash not accepted)

This is an explanatory image of the entrance and exit flow
Entry and exit process

 (2) Remote operation support from the Hontas Support Center
During business hours, the Hontasu Support Center will respond to inquiries, prevent problems, and respond to emergencies such as disasters. Emergency inquiries from within the store will be handled via video calls to the Hontasu support center using a dedicated two-dimensional barcode installed in the store. We have also put in place a fire prevention system, such as installing emergency buttons in the store in cooperation with a security company.

"TSUTAYA Nagareyama Store" Store Overview

・Address / Access 258 Higashifukai, Nagareyama City, Chiba 270-0101 10-minute walk from Ungan Station on the Tobu Urban Park Line
・Store Area 363 tsubo (approx. 1,200 m²)
・Business hours
※From Friday, January 31, 2025 onward: 8:00–26:00 (2:00 a.m. the following day)
*Unmanned hours are 8:00-9:30 and Sunday-Thursday 21:45-26:00, and Friday and Saturday 23:00-26:00.

・Official store website     https://www.nic-retails.co.jp/shop/7440/

・Membership Registration A digital membership card via the LINE Mini App is required only when entering the store during unmanned business hours.

This is a two-dimensional barcode for membership registration.

You can register as a member using the 2D barcode on the right.

*Product and service names mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies.

Materials related to this matter

"TSUTAYA Nagareyama Store" introduces "Hontasu," a labor-saving solution for store operations, on January 31st, and begins extending business hours

Inquiries regarding this matter
Culture Experience Co., Ltd.
Public Relations Office
TEL: 03-6774-7814／MAIL: cx_press@cl-ex.co.jp

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