Yoshitsu (TKLF) - 2022 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved record revenue of $228.4 million for fiscal year 2022, representing an increase of 3.1% from $221.5 million in the previous year [3][8] - Gross profit decreased slightly by 2.3% to $39.1 million, with an overall gross margin of 17.1% for fiscal year 2022 [14] - Net income was $3.3 million, with basic and diluted earnings per share at $0.10 for fiscal year 2022 [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from online stores increased by 8.7% to $121.2 million, driven by the growing popularity of e-commerce [11] - Revenue from franchise stores and wholesale customers rose by 19.1% to $196.4 million, supported by improvements in supply chain and logistics [13] - Revenue from directly operated physical stores decreased by 53.3% to $10.8 million, primarily due to COVID-19 related closures [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company had 11 directly operated physical stores in Japan, five in Hong Kong, 25 online stores, eight franchise stores in the US, four in Canada, one in the UK, and around 151 wholesale customers [4] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to optimize international warehouse operations in North America and expand its product offerings [5][22] - There is a focus on diversifying products and enhancing brand awareness to attract new customers [5][29] - The company is expanding into Southeast Asia and plans to establish distribution channels in specific regions [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the business's flexibility and resilience, despite challenges posed by COVID-19 [5][18] - The company anticipates an approximately 11% increase in revenue for fiscal year 2023 [17] - Management is optimistic about the recovery of physical store sales with the reopening of tourism in Japan [24] Other Important Information - Operating expenses increased by 11.5% to $32.7 million, attributed to higher shipping costs and professional service fees [14] - The company has merchandise inventories of $30.2 million, which are expected to sell quickly based on current demand trends [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the approaches for the company to optimize international warehouse operations in North America? - The company is negotiating with potential partners to establish large integrated warehouses in the US and Canada, which will help supply goods quickly to franchise stores and wholesalers [22] Question: What is the outlook for physical store business with Japan reopening for tourism? - Management is excited about the recovery and believes sales will gradually pick up, while also working on attracting more customers through live streaming and promotional activities [24][26] Question: Are there plans to expand into Southeast Asian markets? - The company is starting to expand into Southeast Asia and plans to partner with local businesses to set up distribution channels [29] Question: Does the company plan to expand product lines beyond beauty and health products? - The company is working on enriching its product offerings, including trendy toys and private label products, and has recently strengthened its R&D team [31] Question: What initiatives are in place to improve profitability? - The company plans to enhance brand awareness, refine product management, reduce shipping costs, and diversify marketing efforts [32][34]