Sogo
Co., Ltd. - (en)
Sogo Co., Ltd. is a department store chain that operates an extensive
network of branches in Japan. It once owned stores in locations as
diverse as Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur, and
Bangkok, but most of these international branches are now operated by
independent franchises.
History
Sogo was founded in 1830 in Osaka by Ihei Sogo as a retailer of used
kimono. The company has recently faced financial troubles. Sogo
applied to Osaka District Court under the Civil Rehabilitation Law on
July 12, 2000. The chain has had to divest itself of unprofitable
business lines including several stores in Japan (eg. Kokura and
Kurosaki) and some overseas stores (including in Singapore). Other
overseas Sogo stores survived under independent franchises, through
which the Japanese company has also managed to raise capital. In
Japan, Sogo is now a subsidiary of Millennium Retailing.
China, PRC
Sogo Hong Kong Co. Ltd, the Sogo franchisee in Hong Kong operates two
stores, one in Causeway Bay and one in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Tsim Sha
Tsui branch opened on September 30, 2005, marking the 25th anniversary
of Sogo in Hong Kong. The Causeway Bay store (also known colloquially
as "Jumbo Sogo") was opened in 1980, with its extension
opened in November 22, 1993, and carries items in all product
categories within a 15 story building. It recently opened the Sogo
Club and Sogo Book club as well as a new annex building named Beaute
by Sogo. The Tsim Sha Tsui branch focuses on designer fashions.
Sogo also has two main stores in Beijing. The Sogo located in
Beijing's southern district is one of the largest and most prestigious
department stores in the city.
Taiwan, ROC
In Taiwan, Pacific Sogo operates seven stores: four in Taipei, and one
each in Chungli, Hsinchu, and Kaohsiung, the latest being the SOGO
Fuxing Branch, located at MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing. Pacific Sogo has
recently found itself in the midst of a corruption scandal over gift
certificates involving the family of ROC President Chen Shui-Bian.
Indonesia
Targeting the upper class market, Sogo department store in Indonesia
operates under PT. Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk. and is currently the largest
Sogo franchise with a total of eight department stores. All stores are
located at high-end shopping malls in Plaza Indonesia, Plaza Senayan,
Pondok Indah Mall 2 and Mall Kelapa Gading 3 in Jakarta; Tunjungan
Plaza 4, Mall Galaxy Extension in Surabaya; Bali Collection in Bali;
Sun Plaza in Medan; and Paris van Java in Bandung. The largest being
at Plaza Senayan whie the smallest is at Bali Collection. All stores
feature a full-scale international Sogo Supermarket except in Bali
Collection. The company introduces a new supermarket concept store
named Sogo The Food Hall. The new concpet store first open opened in
conjunction with the opening of Pondok Indah Mall 2 flagship store in
2005 and followed by the opening of Sogo. The Food Hall in Senayan
City as part of Debenhams department store in 2006. Most Sogo
department store in Indonesia also houses Books Kinokuniya, Starbucks
Coffee and Kidz Station. The company will soon houses Seibu, another
department store of Millenium Retailing Group, across the road from
Sogo Plaza Indonesia at Grand Indonesia, the largest shopping mall in
South East Asia when it opens its doors around March of 2007.
