Retail Insight Network

Daily Newsletter

07 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

Roland’s first Japanese retail store to open in October this year

The store will feature the brand’s latest synthesisers, digital pianos, guitar-related products and more.

Electronic musical instrument manufacturer Roland has revealed plans to open a Roland Store in Tokyo, Japan.

This will be the company's first retail store in the country.

The store will be located in Harajuku, a major tourist spot and is scheduled to open in October this year.

The three-storey store will feature the brand’s latest electronic musical instruments and employ knowledgeable and experienced Roland product specialists.

The first floor will offer an array of digital wind instruments, synthesisers, instrument accessories, Roland Cloud and DJ-related products, Roland apparel and more.

The second floor will feature an assortment of Roland's best-selling digital pianos.

The basement level will showcase a mixture of Roland V-Drums kits and BOSS brand products intended for entry-level and expert drummers and guitar players.

Roland Corporation CEO and representative director Gordon Raison said: “I am very pleased to announce the opening of the Roland Store Tokyo. Roland was born in Japan and for more than 50 years we have had a succession of ground-breaking products that have revolutionised the music scene, attracting musicians and music lovers from around the world.

“The purpose of opening Roland Store Tokyo is to give the visitors a genuine experience of connecting with our products and culture in an intimate environment. By opening our store in Harajuku, a centre of music, fashion, art and fun subcultures, we hope to deliver our vision to as many music lovers as possible, further promoting creativity across our customers.”

The new store in Tokyo comes following the success of Roland’s first retail store in London, which opened in 2022.

APAC duty-free market expected to grow fastest, fueled by rising income levels and international travelers

Per latest GlobalData estimates, the global duty-free market retailing market was valued at $49 billion in 2022, its highest level ever as it bounced back from the pandemic impact, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 28% during the period 2020-2026, driven by government initiatives, rising passenger numbers, major global events (for instance global sporting tournaments) and the renewed popularity of cruise trips. Infrastructure investments will also play an important role, particularly airport expansion and space refurbishment, and investments in arrivals duty-free formats. That said, growth will be held in check in the years ahead by the permanent erosion of disposable income from the heightened cost of living impacting demand for air travel. The duty-free market in the APAC region showed strong growth in 2022, as traveler numbers surged in response to the lifting of travel restrictions. To cater for rising demand in the region, many airports in the APAC area are expanding and modernizing, giving duty-free stores greater space that will allow them to attract more customers. The future of APAC duty-free retail is also being shaped by the adoption of technology. The rise in online shopping, mobile payments, and digital marketing are giving businesses new ways to connect with customers and improve the shopping experience.