Japanese trading giant Itochu Corporation has acquired a minority stake in second-hand retail specialist Bookoff Group Holdings as part of an expanding strategy to deepen its footprint in the reuse economy and retail franchising.
Itochu has purchased 5.01 % of Bookoff’s voting shares, acquiring approximately 879,000 shares previously held by major publishing houses, in an off-market transaction that will be registered later this month.
Expansion via Retail Franchise Channels
Founded in 1990, Bookoff is best known for its used books business but has since broadened into a wide array of second-hand goods, including apparel, luxury items, hobby products and sporting equipment. The group operates about 840 stores across Japan, Malaysia and the United States, supported domestically by nearly 10 million registered app members and about 88 million annual users.
Itochu said the alliance will leverage its FamilyMart convenience store network, about 16,400 outlets nationwide, to create new customer touchpoints for reused goods and expand Bookoff’s franchise and service offerings.
FamilyMart stores attract roughly 18 million daily visits and hold some 55 million advertising IDs linked to purchase data, a resource Itochu plans to utilise to strengthen reuse marketplace engagement and drive customer acquisition for franchise partners.
Itochu described the capital partnership as a move to “improve Bookoff’s performance over the medium to long term and strengthen the company’s overall value.”
Strategic Retail and Sustainability Play
The partnership marks a notable pivot toward the reuse economy as consumer demand grows for sustainable, cost-effective retail solutions. Under the capital and business alliance, the companies are expected to enhance reuse collection services at FamilyMart sites, explore new franchise formats and premium services, and coordinate on overseas growth initiatives.
Bookoff’s broad category mix, from books and media to trading cards, outdoor gear and fashion, will likely benefit from additional customer traffic driven by convenience store proximities, while Itochu gains deeper exposure to an expanding segment of the retail reuse market.
Industry analysts say Japan’s reuse and second-hand sector continues to grow as shoppers seek value and sustainability, with expected expansion in both physical store franchising and digital resale channels. Integrating Bookoff’s operations with FamilyMart’s extensive daily retail footprint could set a new model for converging convenience retail with reuse services.
