The 81-year-old Japanese executive who built 7-Eleven into the world’s biggest convenience store chain has a new mission: turning more than 50,000 bricks and mortar stores in Japan into portals to a new online retail empire.
In Suzuki’s future vision, goods ordered online from Seven & I’s department stores and supermarkets, as well as outside partners, will be delivered to and picked up from the thousands of 7-Eleven stores spread across Japan at customers’ convenience. Most are open 24 hours a day.
I ? Word Understanding
bricks and mortar ? with physical presence/shop
portals ? point of entry
I ? Word Understanding
bricks and mortar ? with physical presence/shop
portals ? point of entry
II ? Have Your Say
1. Some facts about convenience stores:
2. Online stores vs. Traditional stores
? Convenience stores sell an average of 11 million cups of coffee every day
? Convenience stores have “impulse zone”, the hope is that people will buy these products on impulse.
? Online shops are more convenient and cheaper
? Traditional stores are still attractive because it provides sociable atmosphere.
