The center of commerce
Correspondents visit, see, and hear the shopping streets that are loved by the locals, prospered with the residents, and familiar to them. It conveys the lively charm and vitality, special information, etc.
*******************************************************
◎Correspondent Visit to Shopping Street (6th)◎
Create a store that can't lose to supermarkets with distinctive goods and services!
/ Hamacho Shopping Street Federation
From the Suitengumae intersection, walk east along Shin-ohashi Bridge Street slowly and 10 minutes. I visited Mr. Yaohide, a shop of Chairman Yukimasa Iwate, who has just been appointed chairman of the Hamacho Shopping Street Federation in June this year. .
Yaohide is a greengrocer who has been in business for more than 80 years (established in 1929). It is said that Mr. Iwate is the second generation. The main customers are "professionals" of food such as kappo restaurants. It is a shop that boasts an assortment of products that meet the harsh eyes of "professionals".
[About Hamacho Shopping Street Federation]
Ｑ． How many years have you been founded? Also, the oldest shop.
Ａ． (I don't know what is clear.)
Ｑ． What are the characteristics of Hamacho Shopping Street?
Ａ． It is characterized by the fact that each store is not organized like other shopping streets, but that merchants are scattered around the Hamacho area.
Also, historically, since it was the area where the Hanayanagi world was located, there are still old-fashioned shops that used to work involving the Hanayanagi world. As with our company (Yaohide), there are other shops that are now working hard as a laundry shop, taking advantage of the experience of being undertaking geisha's kimono washing.
[Current Situation of Hamacho Shopping Street]
Ｑ． How many shops do you have? Also, what kind of shops are gathered?
Ａ． It's about 50 stores now. In the past, there were more than 100 stores, but the economy was not good, and there were supermarkets nearby, so many shops have stopped.
Condominiums are increasing, but residents of condominiums go to supermarkets and do not go to local shops. On the other hand, there are many old-fashioned customers in the shopping district, but unfortunately those people are decreasing.
Ｑ． What kind of shops are gathered here?
Ａ． There are various types of shops such as liquor stores, restaurants, greengrocers, bicycle shops, flower shops, Japanese sweets shops, etc.
(Each store is geographically separated.) We recognize that each store is working to create a store that takes advantage of its characteristics. (On the other hand) If there were no features that other stores did not have (before competition with supermarkets, etc.), they could not survive. We (Yaohide) also handle vegetables that are not available at other stores, such as "Moyashimitsuba", for example. Kappo cuisine, as well as older customers, are pleased.
[Events at the Hamacho Shopping Street Federation]
Ｑ． Do you have any plans for an event in the shopping street?
Ａ． Until last year, as a summer sale, we distributed lucky tickets at each store and held Fukubiki raffle in line with the Oedo Bon Dance Festival held at Hamacho Park.
However, the sales of the shop did not increase as expected, and there were also families who did not have a lottery ticket at the lottery venue set up at the festival venue, which made the children feel disappointing. This year, when I became chairman, I declared that I would not do this year because of the reflection that it would have had the opposite effect. We are convinced by the people of other shops to stop. Seasonals, there are events of each town council in summer, and each is busy.
We are currently considering an event to replace the summer sale. I would like to hold a fun event where people gather. Please look forward to it.
[Aspirations as New Chairman]
Ｑ． What kind of things will you work on to promote the shopping street in the future?
Ａ． First of all, I would like to put a mark on each store that shows that it is a member of the Shopping Street Federation. We hope that this will create communication between customers and shops.
And as a shopping district association, I would like to consider how to appeal the characteristics of individual stores.
Hamacho is a place where business is hard to do. However, that's not the case.
[Report]
As the story progressed, I was overwhelmed by Mr. Iwate, who was passionately speaking, and the interview time passed quickly. In particular, I was impressed by the fact that the words "creating a distinctive store is necessary for survival" were strongly repeated by looking directly at reality. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Hamacho Shopping Street will be under the new chairman.
