Tokyo-based Lawson Inc. has announced that they will be opening as many as 35 additional convenience stores on the island of Oahu. Currently, Lawson have two stores in Waikiki at the Moana Surfrider and the Sheraton Waikiki. President and CEO of Lawson, Takeshi Niinami, stated that their stores would generate an estimated 700 jobs, not including support positions. Niinami commented, “A lot of money is needed. We’re going to go out of the hotel areas. We have more than 20 to 25 (potential sites) in Hawaii. We have to select from that. Not every one is suitable. We esteem local producers and suppliers very much. That’s our philosophy, to live with local society. In Hawaii that’s a prerequisite. We want to be local. We want to bring in new, innovative ideas, service and product offerings here to local customers. That’s the main goal. We want to be regarded as a very creative store brand.”
Lawson would be in direct competition with the ABC Stores, which currently has approximately 40 locations in the Waikiki and Ala Moana neighborhoods. Niinami added, “We respect ABC a lot. We just want to learn from them. ABC sells a lot of souvenirs. I don’t think we can copy it because that’s their strength, so we just want to stay with the Lawson way, which is that we manufacture products fit for local customers. We want to learn much more about local needs.” Lawson currently has over 11,000 convenience stores in Japan, China, Indonesia and Hawaii.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 2-12-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
