The scream of the apparel industry Although it was temporarily closed ... May 21 15:55

"The apparel industry is really difficult
to manage." The news of the business failure of the leading apparel company "Renaun" came to me immediately when I was interviewing. From the coverage of a clothing store in Tokyo, which has been temporarily closed to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the difficulty of the industry has become apparent. (Full weekly news Takuya Tadokoro Shinro Kondo)

At a clothing store that was temporarily closed

"Compared to restaurants, the suffering of the apparel industry has not been reported."

When we got acquainted with such a voice, we visited Mr. Shohei Sasaoka, the owner of the clothing store “Vandori” in Minamiaoyama, Tokyo.

We sell clothing mainly domestic knit products.

Mr. Sasaoka
"I sold it from the beginning, with a style that I will try it on while explaining it, have you check the feel and feel satisfied and buy it."

Mr. Sasaoka has run a store with a focus on face-to-face sales. Since the latter half of March, the number of customers has dropped, so we decided to close the store on weekends. Since the emergency declaration was issued in April, we have decided to take temporary closure.

Sales have fallen into a critical situation, with more than 80% decrease compared to the same period last year. However, the cost burden remains the same. The rent for each store and office is about 700,000 yen every month.

It is difficult to survive with online sales ...

Why is the apparel industry in a particularly serious situation?

By the time we visited, the stock of spring items had overflowed into the fitting room. We had a glimpse of the harsh reality of the inventory situation in the store.

At the store, we stock original products in each season. We have long-sleeved items put on the shelves in April, and after May, we will arrange short-sleeved items such as short-sleeved items in early summer.

The invoice that arrived as a purchase for these items has the word "4.24 million yen".

He says he just sighs.

Mr. Sasaoka
"I have to make a deposit at the end of May. There is another invoice for about 2 million yen. I can't sell it at takeout like a restaurant, so I have a headache."

This shop also sells clothing on the Internet, but most customers try on clothes and buy them, and it is difficult to survive online sales.

What to do employee salary

What is worrisome to Mr. Sasaoka is how to compensate the salaries of four employees and three part-time workers. We want to make sure that the employees who support the company do not have any problems in their daily lives.

Women who work part-time at the shop five days a week have less time to work and the wages paid in April are 30% of their usual wages.

Employee of a part-time job
"I think it's probably zero in May. I'm worried that I can't see the future. I can only earn the amount I have worked, so I chose it, but I regret it. I didn't have it, but I'm regrettable. ''

After struggling, Mr. Sasaoka decided to pay the full salary for employees and "50,000 yen per employee for part-time jobs" as a "leave allowance".

“Indispensable support from the national and local governments”

Mr. Sasaoka believes that in the current situation of going out of business and continuing to leave, without the support of the national and local governments, he would not be able to go.

The first thing I applied for was a "sustainable benefit" that can be used by businesses in a difficult business environment, and I was able to receive a maximum of 2 million yen.

Furthermore, what we are thinking of using is the “employment adjustment subsidy”. It is a system in which some companies such as leave allowances are subsidized by companies that maintain the employment of employees. However, I would like the procedure to be completed smoothly and smoothly.

Ms. Sasaoka
"There are many documents that we have to prepare, and it is not possible for us to apply by ourselves. It takes more money to hire company laborers, and it takes time to receive them."

On the other hand, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has not applied for a "cooperation fee" of up to 1 million yen for small and medium-sized enterprises that respond to requests for leave.

This is because clothing stores that handle daily necessities are said to be “necessary to maintain a social life” and are not subject to leave requests.

Mr. Sasaoka
"It 's very different if you get a donation. Why are you not getting a clothing store even though you are temporarily closed to prevent the spread of infection? I am not convinced."

For the time being, Mr. Sasaoka intends to rely on the government's financing arrangements, which are essentially interest-free and unsecured.

From May onwards, I plan to borrow the missing funds to continue paying employees' leave allowances.

I hope the day when I can enjoy fashion will come back ...

Mr. Sasaoka responded to the interview this time, saying that he wanted to hold a straw in a difficult situation, but said, "It would be an opportunity to convey the difficulties of everyone in the apparel industry."

After the interview, we received news that apparel giant Renown applied for the Civil Rehabilitation Law on the evening of May 15, the day before the broadcast, when we were forced to edit.

We were reminded of the difficult situation in the industry, and when we called Mr. Sasaoka and asked, we spoke as follows.

Mr. Sasaoka
"I was shocked as a person in the same industry. I heard that it was tough, but I think that the new coronavirus was the one that struck down. I think that the apparel industry will continue to be in a difficult situation, both large and small."

Lastly, he talked with all his might.

Ms. Sasaoka:
“Originally, fashion is what brings color to life. We want people to dress up at home and have a bright, fun and fashionable life. On the day the store reopens, customers will return with a smile. I want to come and I want to manage to survive this situation. "

Weekly bulletin news caster
Takuya Tadokoro
Joined in 2005
After going through Kobe station, Kumamoto station, and Nagano station
, continue to interview the Tokyo announcement room with the motto of news that is closer to the lives and lives of people.

Weekly full news News Director
Shinro Kondo
Joined in 2013. After the Hiroshima station and the Okayama station, the news agency has
recently been covering the new field of coronavirus and the movements in the digital field.