What Bic camera does

Bic Camera (株式会社ビックカメラ, BIC CAMERA INC.) is a publicly traded Japanese consumer electronics retailer founded in May 1978 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture and now headquartered in Toshima-ku, Tokyo. Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market under ticker 3048 since its 2022 transition, the group operates a multi-format, multi-brand specialty retail network anchored by 45 Bic Camera-branded stores in high-footfall urban terminal station locations across Japan, complemented by subsidiary Kojima's suburban electronics stores, Sofmap's computer and reuse/digital device stores, and a growing portfolio of compact Air BicCamera outlets positioned in airports, hotels, and tourist corridors including Ginza and Fukuoka Airport.

The group sells consumer electronics, home appliances, cameras, computers, smartphones, watches, pharmaceuticals (via Bic Drug), sporting goods (Bic Sports), contact lenses and eyewear (Bic Contact), alcoholic beverages, bedding (Umokobo), and general merchandise, supplemented by private-label brands Original Basic and the newly launched Bic Idea (February 2026). Distribution operates through both physical stores and the biccamera.com e-commerce platform, the latter refreshed in August 2025 to enable agile UI/UX self-management. Complementary revenue streams include mobile carrier agency commissions via wholly-owned subsidiary Ranet, IIJ-powered BIC SIM prepaid mobile services for inbound tourists, trade-in services through the Rakubal app, and BS11 broadcasting revenues from majority-owned Japan BS Broadcasting.

Bic Camera serves three core customer segments: domestic Japanese consumers shopping urban terminal station stores, inbound international tourists (with the inbound mix deliberately diversifying beyond historical China/Taiwan concentration toward Europe, Middle East, and the Americas), and a smaller B2B/corporate procurement arm. The omnichannel model leverages specialized in-store expertise across 14 categories under the 'Hundred Plan' (ハンドレッド計画) and reinforces it with the cross-category Bic Super Service package spanning delivery, installation, setup, and after-sales support. FY2025 (ending August 2025) consolidated sales reached ¥974.4 billion with ¥30.3 billion in operating profit — both all-time highs — supporting a management target of ¥1 trillion in consolidated revenue for FY2026.

Name

Bic camera

Legal name

株式会社ビックカメラ (BIC CAMERA INC.)

Website

https://biccamera.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Bic Camera is a Japanese consumer electronics retailer operating 45 urban terminal-station stores and 530+ group-wide outlets across Japan, serving domestic consumers, inbound tourists, and corporate buyers through omnichannel retail and the biccamera.com e-commerce platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toshima

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail merchandise sales: Bic Camera's primary revenue stream comes from selling a wide range of consumer electronics, home appliances, cameras, computers, smartphones, watches, pharmaceuticals, toys, sporting goods, alcohol, and bedding through its physical retail stores and e-commerce platform. The company targets domestic Japanese consumers and international visitors.
2. Mobile reseller / agency commissions: The company generates commissions through mobile phone agency sales via subsidiary Lanet (ラネット), acting as a sales agent for mobile carriers. This represents a significant contribution to the group's revenue growth.
3. E-commerce (BicCamera.com): Online sales through biccamera.com and other digital channels, including EC sales for Sofmap and Kojima. The company recently expanded payment options to include Rakuten Pay, d払い, au PAY, and Merpay.
4. BS Digital Broadcasting: Subsidiary Japan BS Broadcasting operates BS11 digital broadcasting, generating revenue from broadcasting operations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bic Camera is a Japanese consumer electronics retailer selling digital home appliances, cameras, computers, smartphones, watches, pharmaceuticals (Bic Drug), sporting goods (Bic Sports), contact lenses and hearing aids (Bic Contact), alcohol, bedding, and toys through 45 large-format urban terminal station stores under the Bic Camera brand, complemented by suburban electronics stores (Kojima), computer/digital-reuse stores (Sofmap), and the biccamera.com online shopping platform. The company also operates BIC SIM prepaid mobile services, in-house private brands (Original Basic, Bic Idea), and offers specialized installation, trade-in, and after-sales services via BIC SUPER Service.

Product overview

Bic Camera is a Japanese electronics retailer operating under a multi-brand, multi-format strategy. The core Bic Camera brand serves urban customers through large-format terminal station stores, while subsidiaries Koji (郊外型electronics) and Sofmap (computers/digital reuse) provide complementary retail coverage. Specialized sub-brands include Bic Drug (cosmetics/pharmaceuticals), Bic Sports (golf/bicycles), and Bic Contact (eyewear/hearing aids), with private brands Original Basic and newly launched Bic Idea. Air BicCamera targets international travelers in airports and hotels, while Select stores serve regional markets. The group also operates BS11 broadcasting, Umokobo down bedding, and Bic Liquor. Online presence includes BicCamera.com e-commerce platform with multiple payment integrations. The business model emphasizes specialized retail categories ('こだわり') unified under customer-first service philosophy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ORIGINAL BASIC: Private brand product line including home appliances, electronics, and daily goods
• HashTAG
• ラクウル
• Air BicCamera
• ビックカメラ Select
• ビックアイデア

Products and services

• Bic Drug (ビックドラッグ) Specialized retail section for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, daily goods, and baby products within Bic Camera stores, offering pharmacist and registered seller support for health-related consultations.
• Bic Sports (ビックスポーツ) Sports goods shop operated by Bic Camera, specializing in golf equipment, bicycles, and sports goods with services including custom golf club fitting and same-day name engraving.
• Bic Contact (ビックコンタクト) Specialty section for contact lenses, glasses, sunglasses, and hearing aids, offering eye exams, lens fitting, and hearing support services.
• Umokobo (生毛工房) Specialty down bedding manufacturer and retailer (subsidiary), importing Polish goose down directly and offering made-to-order and refresh cleaning services.
• Sofmap (ソフマップ) Subsidiary retail chain specializing in computer and digital device sales with built-in reuse business covering trade-in, refurbishment, and resale operations.
• Kojima (コジマ) Subsidiary electronics retail chain with suburban store format, complementing Bic Camera's urban terminal station locations through a dominant regional strategy combining Kojima's suburban footprint with Bic Camera's terminal stores.
• BIC SIM Mobile MVNO service offered through partnership with Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ), providing prepaid SIM cards for visitors to Japan including unlimited 5G data plans (Japan Travel SIM Unlimited).
• BicCamera.com E-commerce Platform Bic Camera's online shopping platform offering the same products as physical stores, supporting multiple payment methods including PayPay, Rakuten Pay, d Payment, au PAY, MERPAY, and shareholder discount coupons; includes a regular-purchase (subscription) service for daily necessities, pet food, and baby products.
• Air BicCamera Compact store format located in airports, hotels, and travel hubs targeting international visitors and travelers.
• Bic Camera Select Smaller-footprint store format targeting regional markets and specific neighborhoods with curated product selection, including the Select Sapporo Tanukikoji and Select Naha International Street stores.
• BS11 (日本BS放送) BS digital broadcasting subsidiary (61.4% owned) operating the BS11 channel, providing television content as part of the Bic Camera Group.
• Original Basic (プライベートブランド) Bic Camera Group's private brand featuring voice-controlled fans, body composition scales, USB trimmers, and other household electronics.
• Bic Idea (ビックアイディア) New private brand launched February 2026 with tagline 'Better than good, well done' (より良い、よくぞ。), focused on scientifically analyzing material desires.
• Rakubal (ラクウル) Trade-in Service Comprehensive trade-in service app for electronics including iPhones and golf equipment, with increased purchase prices for eligible models.
• Bic Super Service (ビックSUPERサービス) Package of customer services including delivery, installation, setup, and after-sales support across all Bic Camera locations.
• BIC WAVE (ビックウェーブ) Internal media platform delivering engaging content about products and lifestyle, launched July 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• EC new customer acquisition increased 54% with free shipping policy; ~30% of new EC customers return the following year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cathay Pacific AirwaysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 August 2025Partnership with Cathay Pacific to provide mileage benefits for visitors from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and other Asian countries, with a double mileage campaign to celebrate the launch.
• Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 June 2025IIJ launched 'Japan Travel SIM Unlimited for BIC SIM' prepaid mobile data service for international visitors to Japan, distributed through Bic Camera Group's retail stores and online channels including Bic Camera, Kojima, and Sofmap locations. The service offers unlimited data with 5G connectivity.
• Japan Airlines (JAL)GTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2025Bic Camera partnered with Japan Airlines to provide duty-free coupons on select Los Angeles-to-Japan routes to inbound American visitors, as part of efforts to attract international tourists.
• Bell System 24minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2023Bell System 24 opened its first AI Solutions Showroom at the Fukuoka 4th Solution Center in the JRJP Hakata Building. Co-operating partner Bic Camera attended the opening ceremony. The showroom showcases AI-powered contact center solutions including Hybrid Operation Loop, Human-Centric AI, BellCloud+CX, and BPR Consulting.
• Mizuho Trust & BankingcoreOthersMizuho Trust & Banking acts as the shareholder registry administrator (証券代行機関) for Bic Camera, handling share registration, dividend payments, and shareholder services.
• Partner Companies (Supply Chain)coreOthersBic Camera participates in the 'Partnership Building Declaration' (パートナーシップ構築宣言) program promoted by Japan's Cabinet Office and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, committing to fair and sustainable supply chain practices with business partners. The declaration was renewed March 2026.
• FTSE RussellminorOthersBic Camera is included in multiple FTSE Russell ESG indices: FTSE4Good Index Series, FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Index, and FTSE JPX Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index.
• MSCIminorOthersBic Camera is included in MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index and MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN), adopted by GPIF as ESG benchmarks.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• K's Holdings (K's Denki): Japanese consumer electronics retailer operating K's Denki stores nationwide. Directly comparable in product assortment (electronics, home appliances, mobile) and target customer segments (domestic consumers and inbound tourists).
• Yamada Denki: Japan's largest electronics retailer by revenue, operating Tecc Land, LABI, and Best Denki formats. Direct competitor with broader geographic reach, larger store network, and similar electronics/appliance/photographic assortment including inbound tourism focus.
• Nojima Corporation: Japanese electronics retailer with strong urban and suburban store presence, including inbound tourism-focused stores in Tokyo. Direct competitor in consumer electronics and home appliance retail, with similar mobile carrier agency business.
• Joshin Denki: Long-established Japanese consumer electronics retailer with regional store presence particularly in Kansai area. Direct competitor with comparable product mix across electronics, cameras, computers, and home appliances.
• Yodobashi Camera: One of Japan's largest consumer electronics retail chains with a similar omnichannel strategy, operating large-format urban stores (Shinjuku flagship) selling electronics, home appliances, and diversified merchandise. Direct competitor with comparable product mix and urban terminal station-front real estate strategy.
• Edion: Major Japanese consumer electronics and home appliance retailer with nationwide store network. Competes directly with Bic Camera across electronics, home appliances, and increasingly diversified product categories (pharmaceuticals, sporting goods).
• LAOX: Japanese electronics retailer historically focused on inbound tourist tax-free sales in Akihabara and major urban areas. Directly comparable to Bic Camera's inbound tourism-focused business segment.

Broad incumbents

• Best Buy: Largest US specialty consumer electronics retailer with omnichannel strategy. Broader incumbent peer for international benchmarking on electronics retail format, Geek Squad-style services (analogous to Bic Super Service), and private label strategy.
• Rakuten Group: Major Japanese e-commerce, fintech, and mobile ecosystem player. Operates Rakuten Ichiba marketplace where Bic Camera distributes products; competing platform force in Japanese consumer electronics and general merchandise retail.
• Amazon Japan: Dominant Japanese e-commerce platform competing with Bic Camera's EC channel. Larger incumbent whose marketplace and direct retail pressure pricing and force omnichannel innovation across Japanese electronics retail.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/biccameraE
• Facebookfacebook.com/biccamera.group

Compliance15 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bic camera