Mitsukoshi, Shiseido, and Fujitsu Collaborate in 'Department Store of the Future' RFID Field Trial in Japan for Cosmetics.

Tokyo, Japan, Jan 24, 2007 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsukoshi, Ltd., Shiseido Company, Ltd, and Fujitsu Limited today announced that as part of a project sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, the companies will jointly implement a "futuristic department store" field trial in Japan from January 6 to February 12 to test the expanded use of RFID tags in department stores. For the first time in Japan, RFID tags will be used in a field trial for cosmetics. The field trial is part of a METI-sponsored project commissioned to the Japan Department Stores Association, known as the 2007 Field Trial for Improving Distribution and Logistics Efficiency through the Use of Electronic Tags.

RFID tags have been used in the past at department stores in Japan for inventory control of women's shoes and apparel, but this test is the first time such tags will be affixed to cosmetics.

The field trial will be held at Shiseido counters on the first floor of the Ginza (Tokyo) flagship store, and Sakae (Nagoya) branch of Mitsukoshi department store, a major department store in Japan. RFID tags will be affixed to Shiseido's Cle de Peau Beaute products (a prestige brand), product testers and some samples. A multi-sample display trial will enable customers to view detailed product information on a touch-screen terminal by waving a tagged product over a RFID tag reader. Other trials will be conducted for such aspects as customer consultation, product assortment, and distribution, with the purpose to evaluate the efficiency in using RFID tags in supply chain management of cosmetics, the impact on increasing purchase intent when the customers themselves handle products with RFID tags, and effect on purchasing related products.

Overview of the field trial

Trial Period:

Mitsukoshi Ginza (Tokyo) flagship store: January 26 to February 11, 2007

Mitsukoshi Sakae (Nagoya) branch: January 30 to February 12, 2007

Sites:

Shiseido and Cle de Peau Beaute counters on the first floor of Mitsukoshi department store's Ginza (Tokyo) flagship store, and the Shiseido counter of the Sakae (Nagoya) branch.

Field trial details

The following five aspects will be tested as part of the "futuristic department store" trial of the Field Trial for Improving Distribution and Logistics Efficiency through the Use of Electronic Tags, sponsored by METI.

1. Multi-sample display (skincare products)

Seven types of product testers for skincare (lotions, serums, etc.) will be affixed with RFID tags. Customers can wave the tagged products over an electronic tag reader to view detailed product information on a touch-screen terminal. (Site: Shiseido counter)

2. Tester demand forecasting system (makeup products)

Tester stands (receptacles for holding the tester containers) for makeup products (lipsticks, mascaras, etc.) will be embedded with RFID tag readers, so that the number of times that customers sample each tagged makeup tester (49 items) can be counted. This will make it possible to accumulate informative marketing data, such as by ranking which products customers showed most interest in. (Site: Shiseido counter)

3. e-Counseling

Cosmetics counter sales staff will have tablet PCs to view a customer's counseling and purchasing history. The tablet PCs will be equipped with tag readers, which can be used to register product purchases (10 items) and sample distributions (7 types of samples) for a customer by waving the products over the tablet PC, thereby updating the customer's history. 50 customers will be included in this trial. (Site: Cle de Peau Beaute counter)

4. Source tagging/SCM system

Shiseido will affix RFID tags to products (10 items) at its stock center, to be used for packing-list checking and in-store inventory. (Sites: Shiseido Stock Center in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, and Cle de Peau Beaute

5. RFID tags(R) home

As it is anticipated that in the future in some instances some customers may wish to take home products with RFID tags attached to view detailed product information at their leisure while at home, home uses for RFID tags will also be tested. In the test, virtual home environments equipped with PCs and tag readers will be set up in the stores and 50 customers will gather product information from tagged samples. (Site: In-store virtual home environment)

The following two supportive trials will also be held during the field trial period:

A. Cosmetic information

"Cosmetic Information" terminals with touch-screen displays and RFID tag readers will be installed. Customers will be able to view word-of-mouth information about the products (31 products at the Ginza store, 41 products at the Sakae store) from other customers, by waving tagged testers over the tag readers.

*As the purpose of this trial is to create the impression of an "electronic concierge" that offers information on the entire cosmetics floor, for this test only, RFID tags will be affixed on products from other companies besides Shiseido's Cle de Peau Beaute line. Site: Near the entrance of the cosmetics floor)

B. Virtual Real-Time Makeup System

A kiosk with a camera, display, and RFID tag reader will be installed that will enable customers to view on the display how particular products would look on their face ("virtual real-time makeup") by waving tagged cosmetic products such as lipsticks or eyeshadows (19 items) over the tag reader. (Site: Shiseido counter)

*Mitsukoshi's Sakae store will participate in the aforementioned trials "1", "5", and "A" only.

Anticipated effect of the field trial:

- Provide more detailed product information to customers and enhance customer service to increase customer satisfaction, and promote sales and purchase of related products

- Improve efficiency of inventory control and increase productivity by using retail space effectively

- Reinforce product line through deeper analysis of products

- Raise consumer awareness of RFID tags

Corporations participating in or supporting the field trial:

Mitsukoshi, Ltd.:

Overall coordinator of field trial.

Shiseido Company, Ltd.:

Provides Cle de Peau Beaute products, testers, samples and trial sites for aforementioned trials "1" through "5". Also provides the Virtual Real-Time Makeup System in aforementioned trial "B".

Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Shikoku Systems Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories, Ltd., and PFU Limited:

Developed the system and provides devices for the aforementioned aspects "1" through "5", provides "Cosmetic Information" touch-screen terminals, and conducts overall hypothesis testing for the field trial.

Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.:

Provides RFID tags for the entire field trial.

Central Engineering Co., Ltd.:

Provides RFID tag readers for aforementioned trial "2", Tester Demand Forecasting System.

i style Inc.:

Provides "Cosmetic Information" content in aforementioned supportive trial "A".

About Fujitsu Ltd

Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702; ADR: FJTSY) is a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace-setting device technologies, highly reliable computing and communications products, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts uniquely position Fujitsu to deliver comprehensive solutions that open up infinite possibilities for its customers' success. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu reported consolidated revenues of about 4.8 trillion yen (US$40.6 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. For more information, please visit www.fujitsu.com.

About Shiseido

Shiseido (TSE: 4911; ADR: SSDOY) dating from its first western-style Tokyo-Ginza boutique in 1872, is the leading cosmetics group in Japan, and a leading manufacturer worldwide. Shiseido produces makeup and skin care products for men and women, toiletries, professional salon hair care products, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals. Other interests include the Ginza chain of fashion boutiques, specialty fragrance, hair, and skin care salons, and the Shiseido Parlour restaurants and food shops. Shiseido sells its products in about 60 countries, and is increasing market share successfully in North America, South America and Asia. For more information, please visit www.shiseido.co.jp.

Source: Fujitsu Ltd

Contact:

Fujitsu Ltd.
Public and Investor Relations
http://www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/
[phone]

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