Dept. stores begin 2010 business, reasonable lucky bags popular+

TOKYO, Jan. 2 Kyodo -
Major department stores kicked off their business for 2010 on Saturday, with
reasonably priced lucky bags gaining popularity as consumers tightened their
belts amid the recession.

Mitsukoshi Ltd.'s flagship store in Tokyo's Nihombashi opened at 9:45 a.m., 15
minutes earlier than scheduled, as about 8,000 peopled lined up in front of the
store.
The Mitsukoshi store prepared a total of 50,000 lucky bags. In particular, a
bag worth 10,500 yen, which contains a down coat, a sweater and other items,
drew popularity, and most of the 12,000 such bags sold out in the morning, the
store said.
''I am usually cutting corners. Reasonable lucky bags with items of good
quality are helpful,'' a 50-year-old housewife from western Japan said.
At Takashimaya Co.'s flagship Nihombashi store, some customers lined up before
dawn and rushed to buy lucky bags on the food floor after it opened.
The store also started discount sales on winter items, including neck ties and
leather goods.
''Practical lucky bags and items are very popular,'' a Takashimaya official
said. ''Consumers are expected to continue being frugal.''
Sogo & Seibu Co. began offering two lucky bags worth 20.1 million yen each that
will give the buyers the rights to have robots made to look like them. If more
people want to buy the bags, there will be a draw.
A female robot wearing a festive kimono was on display at a Sogo department
store in the city of Saitama, saying ''Happy New Year'' to visitors.
==Kyodo
2010-01-02 21:20:20