A Retail Giant in Japan Is Now Evolving to Cater to Senior Citizens
- Jan 3, 2018
- 1 min read
The Aeon Kasai mall offers elderly customers a walking course to help them with their morning exercise. (Photo: Channel News Asia)
TOKYO - In order to satisfy the needs of an ever-changing customer base, retailers in Japan are now shifting their game plan.
Around 13 mall outlets of the retail company Aeon Co has been completely renovated to serve elderly citizens. The malls are now offering services that encourage old people to meet up with their friends and enjoy early walks inside the malls.
In the Kasai area of eastern Tokyo, a sports goods store inside an Aeon mall offers discounts to senior citizens when they arrive early. A cafe, gym, bakery, and bookstore also opens up at 7 AM, giving elderly customers a chance to avail of special early bird offers.
According to Kohei Nakahara, a store manager inside one of Aeon’s malls, he decided to do a survey with old people who are frequently seen in parks, to get an idea of what they need to become regular visitors inside the mall. He decided to address the respondent's needs and elderly customers ended up staying longer in his store.
Many of the 13 huge shopping malls renovated for seniors by Aeon Retail Co are located in metropolitan districts.
The very first renovated mall is called Aeon Kasai, which opened in 2013. The place attracts elderly customers by giving them specialized shops, like a store that sells elegant canes. There are also free health checkups for senior citizens and other services catering to their needs.
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