Business strategies focus on consumer behavior and demand management

Business experts are highlighting unconventional strategies to maximize profitability by analyzing consumer behavior beyond simple sales data.

Akihito Ishii, a former executive at Lawson, discusses the importance of questioning successful businesses. He cites an example of a Seven-Eleven store in Saitama that was performing well with 220 million yen in annual sales. However, by identifying lost opportunities—such as customers leaving due to long lines or full parking lots—the store was able to transform its performance to 620 million yen.

In the energy sector, promotional consultant Tatsuhiko Okamoto explains how power companies use incentives to manage demand. Rather than simply trying to sell more electricity, some companies reward customers with points for reducing usage during peak hours or shifting their consumption to off-peak times. This strategy aims to balance supply and demand by influencing when customers use electricity, rather than just how much they use.