Lawson x Eirakuya - Kyoto textile manufacturer

Written by: Rebecca Milner on October 29, 2008 at 11:36 pm | In Fashion & Lifestyle Trends | No Comments

Convenience store chain Lawson has tied up with the 393-year-old Kyoto textile manufacturer Eirakuya to produce a line of stationary items to be sold at Lawson shops around Japan.

Specifically, the collaboration is with Eirakuya’s considerable newer brand Enveraak that creates designs for the teens through 30s market. In clever patterns that incorporate decidedly modern elements like telephones, the line-up includes pens and pencils (¥399, about $3.75), ring notebooks (¥420, about $4), and memo-pads (¥263, about $2.50).

Lawson looks to be channeling the “back to Japan” trend that has been making a mark on the fashion and beauty industries for many years now—though a trend that has seen a recent boost from the association between “traditional” and “natural,” thus eco-friendly and safe. Then there is always the quick turnover that a hit stationary line can create, a la the Beams meets 7/11 retro line we covered earlier this year.

Tags: Back to Japan, Convenience Stores, design, Kyoto, Lawson, Stationary
Category: Fashion & Lifestyle Trends
Other categories: Technology & Gadget Trends, Marketing & Ad Trends

Showa Era retro snacks at Lawson

Written by: Rebecca Milner on August 3, 2008 at 11:54 pm | In Marketing & Ad Trends | No Comments

Lawson is currently featuring a special summer Showa Fair with a line-up of packaged snacks from the era. The 13 item series, available though August, includes long-selling favorites from the 60s to the 70s in their original package design. Although the Showa period technically lasted from 1926-1989, Lawson’s retrospective, and other similar ones, focus on the latter half.

Some, like Glico’s Pocky look wonderfully outdated while others, like Calbee’s Ebi-sen look pretty much the same as they always do.

Lotte is even bringing back its yellow packaged “Juicy and Fresh” gum, though with a modern update of extra vitamins. The prices are, unfortunately, all modern as well.

The Showa retro boom has been going strong for at least a year now, so it does seem like Lawson is getting into the game a little bit late. Perhaps it took that long to get all the different companies to cooperate. Or marketers who like beating a good boom to death. Either way, there is no time like the summer for nostalgia!

Or a cold glass bottle of cider. Three F is releasing a series of classic, locally inspired cider in seven varieties.

Included in the line-up is “Yokahama Cider,” supposedly where cider made its Japanese debut, and “Ramune Shop Cider,” with a Showa era label in homage to the original ramune, which reportedly first appeared in Tokyo’s Nakano district around Showa 30. Taste apparently differs based on the local water and fruit juices used.

Tags: beverages, Convenience Stores, FMCG, Lawson, Localization, Retro, Showa
Category: Marketing & Ad Trends
Other categories: Technology & Gadget Trends, Fashion & Lifestyle Trends