Everyday goods store “Loft” due to its popularity with foreign visitors, started a duty-free service in 2014, and now 27 stores have a tax-free counter. Based on sales data from 2019, here are the most popular products for foreign visitors last year.
What did people actually buy from each category like lifestyle goods, stationery and cosmetics? Let’s take a look.
Best Selling Lifestyle Goods for Foreign Tourists
1st. “Kamenoko Sponge 2 Grey/Yellow” (300 yen)
Number one in the lifestyle goods category with a total of 3333 units sold is Nishio Shoten’s “Kamenoko Sponge 2 Grey/Yellow”. It is also popular domestically and unquestionably a best seller at Loft. Since its creation in 2015, it has established a reputation for its superior drainage due to the granulated material it uses.
2nd. “Tajima Glass Mt Fuji Rock Glass Sakura” (6500 yen)
The winner of the goods and novelty section of Japan Tourism Agency sponsored Souvenir Grand Prix 2015, “Tajima Glass Mt Fuji Rock Glass Sakura”, comes in second place. It sold 1200 units.
3rd. “Super Absorbent Animal Hair Turban Rabbit” (1200 yen)
Third place goes to CB Japan’s “Super Absorbent Hair Turban Rabbit”. After coming out of the shower, the microfiber towel Rabbit hair turban is a convenient way to dry your hair. It’s soft and super absorbent. Useful for adults and children alike, drying your hair couldn’t be easier. Along with the hair cap, it sold over 4100 units.
60% of the top 100 was made up of Japanese made stainless steel products and varieties of bottles and mug cup. Other items such as foldable umbrellas, wristwatches, and luggage were also popular.
Best Selling Stationery and Gifts for Foreign Tourists
1st. “B-SIDE Label Sticker” (300 yen)
Number one in the stationery category with over 12,000 units sold is the “B-SIDE label sticker”. The “Collaboration Sticker” tie-up with the character (350 yen) came in 3rd, the “Small Sticker” (200 yen) in 5th place, and together they sold more than 25,000 stickers. The “Big Size Sticker” (800 yen) also sold 1200 stickers.
Stickers that are durable enough to be put on cars or bikes are popular with Europeans and American visitors as they are slim, light in weight and cheap making them a popular souvenir.
2nd. “Zebra Sarasa Clip 05 Black” (100 yen)
Also reputed among Japanese people, the Zebra Sarasa ballpoint pen “Zebra Sarasa Clip 05 Black” comes in 2nd place. Over 11,000 pens were sold. The “Pilot Gel BP Juice 05B” (100 yen) came in 4th selling over 5200 pens. And from the bestselling “Friction” series, the “Pilot Friction Ball Knock 05 Black” (230 yen) came 7th place. Each sold more than 3,900 pens.
In 10th place, the “Kutsuwa Zi-Keshi” (280 yen) which was also a hot topic in Japan for its ability to attract eraser shavings with the power of a magnet sold over 1800 erasers. In 13th place, the “Utsurun Desu (Meaning: It’s a Photo Shoot!) Simple Ace 27 Photos” (Fuji Film: 1250 yen) sold over 1130 cameras and was popular for bringing back that nostalgic feel of analog photos, even for young Japanese people.
The Bestselling Cosmetics for Foreign Tourists
1st. “Wafood Made Uji Matcha Pack” (1200 yen)
The last category is cosmetics. Coming in number one, “Wafood Made Ujicha Matcha Pack” is the triple threat of souvenirs with its “Skincare”, “Japanese made” and “reasonable price”. Over 15,000 units were sold duty-free in 2019 between January and November.
In the same series, the “Wafood Made Sake Kasu Pack” (1200 yen) also sold more than 14,000 units.
3rd. “Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask” (650 yen)
With over 10,000 packs sold, the Ishizawa Research “Keana Nadeshiko Rice Mask” is number three. A Japanese skin care mask made from a rice serum produced by 100% Japanese rice, it moisturizes and tightens the skin. Smooths rough skin and gently bringing the elasticity back to the skin, it is a product just right for this season.
4th. “HABA G Lotion” (1800 yen)
In 4th place, from HABA’s formula of moisturizing minerals is the “HABA G Lotion”. A winner of the “Loft Best Cosmetic Award” in 2019, it is a toner that contains sasa kuriklensis water, an extract from virgin bamboo forests in northern Japan and sea minerals extracted from deep ocean water and seaweed, “micro-marine” and “algae colloid”.
5th. “Ettusais Lash Version Up” (1000 yen).
In 5th place is the Ettusais mascara “Ettusais Lash Version Up” that curls your eyelashes up like a Kewpie doll. This popular product also won the “Loft Best Cosmetic” Award in 2019.
*All prices in this articles are exclusive of tax.
According to the Japanese National Tourist Organization, it is estimated that between January and November 2019, the number of foreign tourists compared with the same period in the previous year increased by 102.8% with over 29,350,000 visitors with visitors from all over Asia, and also America, France, England, and Australia registering more than two digits in growth.
Loft also recorded growth in the number of duty-free sales (compared with the same period in the previous year) of double-figure growth recording 111% across all stores. The Loft store in Ginza grew 145.6%, Umeda Loft at 128.4%, LUCUA Osaka Loft at 159.5%, Tenjin Loft at 125.1% and Lofts in airports also saw considerable growth.
Loft is extremely popular with, of course, the locals and foreigners alike. In recent years, they also opened up stores specializing in cosmetics. When you come to Japan, please come to Loft. We’re sure you’ll find something you like!
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.
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