PC DEPOT
PC DEPOT is a Japanese retail and services company operating 137 stores that sell PCs, smartphones, and Apple/VAIO products, while providing repair, data recovery, MVNO agency, and subscription-based digital-life support to individual consumers and families across Japan.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersYokohama, Japan
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What PC DEPOT does
PC DEPOT Corporation (株式会社ピーシーデポコーポレーション) is a Japan-focused retail and services company founded in August 1994 and headquartered at Yokohama Gate Tower. It operates 137 physical stores across Japan as of November 2025 under the ピーシーデポスマートライフ (PC DEPOT Smart Life), PC DEPOT, and パソコンクリニック (PC Clinic) brands, including 81 Smart Life–format stores (64 direct-operated plus 17 subsidiary-operated), 2 franchise stores operated by KCS, and 54 PC Clinic counters inside K's Denki stores. Its primary customers are individual Japanese consumers and families across all age groups, served through a combination of electronics retail (PCs, smartphones, Apple products, VAIO, OZZIO BTO), authorized repair services (Apple Authorized Reseller, VAIO Authorized Repair Shop), on-site visit support, photo/printing/video digitization, and digital content distribution via the Kurashi Information Box app.
The company generates revenue through a diversified mix of streams: hardware sales at point of sale, monthly subscription fees from the SmartLife Premium Members Club (Light and Ace tiers), per-incident technical services (data migration, repair, data recovery, SSD upgrades, PS4 optimization), carrier/MVNO agency commissions (mineo, Y!mobile, UQ mobile, U-mobile, NURO Mobile, IIJmio), photo printing and merchandise, video tape digitization, digital magazine/newspaper subscriptions, and OZZIO Hikari internet service. Its go-to-market is built around a "Digital Life Planner" (デジタルライフプランナー) in-store advisory staff model that converts one-time purchasers into recurring subscribers, supplemented by an online shop, mobile apps, flyers, and community events. Following its 2018 strategic pivot to a subscription membership model and the 2022 opening of an open-innovation headquarters anchored by the member-exclusive Yokohama Key Station facility, the company has repositioned itself from transactional electronics retail toward ongoing digital-life support relationships with member households. The company is publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker 7618) with consolidated FY2024 revenue of ¥26.9 billion (group consolidated ¥27.5 billion), 951 consolidated employees (810 standalone) as of March 2024, and three wholly-owned subsidiaries: E.J. Works, Smart Life Stores (renamed July 2024), and Future Design Investment.
PC DEPOT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PC DEPOT
- Legal name
- 株式会社ピーシーデポコーポレーション
- Website
- https://pcdepot.co.jp
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- PC DEPOT is a Japanese retail and services company operating 137 stores that sell PCs, smartphones, and Apple/VAIO products, while providing repair, data recovery, MVNO agency, and subscription-based digital-life support to individual consumers and families across Japan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PC DEPOT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Electronics Retail and Digital Life Support Services
- NAICS
- Electronics and Appliance Retailers (4492)
- SIC
- Retail-Computer & Computer Software Stores (5734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- PC Gaming Computers & Peripherals Retail (CRACABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- PC Gaming Peripherals Retail (Keyboards, Mice, Headsets, Controllers) (CRACAFAD), Digital Content & Media Subscriptions (CRAFAIAA)
Keywords
Where PC DEPOT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Yokohama
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
PC DEPOT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Product sales (物販): Sale of computers, smartphones, tablets, peripherals, accessories, and Apple products through retail stores and the online shop. Revenue recognized at point of sale.
- SmartLife Premium Membership (スマートライフメンバーズクラブ): Monthly subscription membership offering ongoing digital support, free prints, content access, and exclusive services. Generates recurring monthly revenue from members.
- Technical services: Data migration, computer repair, visit support, data recovery, device setup, SSD upgrade, and PS4 optimization services. Charged per incident or as part of service packages.
- MVNO/carrier agency commissions: Commission revenue from selling cheap SIM plans (mineo, Y!mobile, UQ mobile, etc.) as an authorized dealer. Revenue generated per new subscription and porting transaction.
- Photo printing and merchandise: Photo printing, photo books, photo goods, postcard/New Year card printing, and ID photo services. One-time purchase model with member discounts.
- Digital magazine and newspaper subscription: Subscription to digital magazines, newspapers, and books through the 'Kurashi Information Box' (くらし情報箱) app/platform. Delivered via iOS, Windows, and web browsers.
- Video dubbing and conversion (想い出スマートビデオ): Conversion of VHS, Beta, miniDV, and 8mm video tapes to digital/cloud format. Premium service members get up to 10 tapes digitized free. Additional tapes and monthly storage fees apply.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Photo printing - Member and non-member pricing for various print sizes |
| Subscription | Monthly | SmartLife Premium Membership (Light and Ace tiers) with monthly subscriptions |
| Subscription | Monthly | Digital magazine and newspaper subscription via Kurashi Information Box app |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Visit support base fee plus technical service charges |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | PC Safe Replacement Pack - data migration and setup with PC purchase |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
PC DEPOT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PC DEPOT operates a 137-store retail chain in Japan selling PCs, smartphones, tablets, and Apple products, bundled with technical services such as PC/smartphone repair, data recovery, SSD upgrades, and device setup. The company runs a recurring SmartLife Premium Membership (スマートライフメンバーズクラブ) that provides ongoing digital life support, home visit assistance, photo printing, digital magazine subscriptions, video digitization, and exclusive member facilities, converting one-time device buyers into long-term subscribers. It also acts as an authorized dealer for multiple MVNO and carrier brands, handling cheap SIM subscriptions and MNP porting.
Product overview
PC DEPOT operates a retail chain of 137 stores under multiple brands (ピーシーデポスマートライフ店, PC DEPOT, パソコンクリニック) offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered on digital lifestyle support. The core offering combines electronics retail (new and used PCs, smartphones, Apple products, VAIO) with extensive service offerings including device repair, data recovery, on-site technical support, and premium membership programs. Key service products include photo printing, SIM/mobile services (partnering with mineo, Y!mobile, UQ mobile), internet security packages, SSD upgrades, video dubbing/conversion, digital magazine subscriptions via the くらし情報箱 app, and PC replacement packages with data migration. The company also provides specialized services like VAIO authorized repairs, gaming PC consultation, and various consulting services for digital life planning. Their premium membership model generates recurring revenue through ongoing support relationships with members.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ドクタースマート (Dr.Smart): パソコン・周辺機器の診断・修理サービスブランド
- デジタルライフプランナー
- SmartLife (スマートライフ)
- PC DEPOT Total Service
Products and services
- SmartLife Premium Membership (スマートライフプレミアムメンバーシップ) Recurring subscription membership for Japanese families providing ongoing digital life support, free photo prints, digital magazine access, priority technical service, workshops, and exclusive member facilities access.
- Photo Printing Service (写真印刷サービス)
Companies that use PC DEPOT
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
PC DEPOT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
PC DEPOT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- mineocorePC DEPOT is an authorized dealer for mineo MVNO service, offering plan selection assistance, new subscription handling, and post-activation support at physical stores.
- Y!mobilecorePC DEPOT is an authorized dealer for SoftBank's Y!mobile brand, handling new subscriptions, MNP porting, and device sales at store counters. iPhone sales also available through Y!mobile.
- UQ mobilecorePC DEPOT is an authorized dealer for au's UQ mobile brand, handling new subscriptions, MNP porting, and device sales at store counters.
- U-mobileminorPC DEPOT is an authorized dealer for U-mobile MVNO service.
- NUROモバイルminorPC DEPOT is an authorized dealer for NURO Mobile MVNO service.
- IIJmiominorPC DEPOT is an authorized dealer for IIJmio MVNO service.
- 株式会社KCScoreFranchise partner operating 2 PC DEPOT stores under the PC DEPOT brand name. Part of the PC DEPOT store network.
- VAIO株式会社corePC DEPOT is a VAIO authorized repair shop (VAIO®正規修理店) with certified repair technicians. Also a VAIO authorized dealer handling sales, buyback, and repair for VAIO PCs and smartphones.
- 神奈川新聞社corePC DEPOT offers an 'iPad + Kanagawa Newspaper Digital' bundled subscription product in partnership with 神奈川新聞社. Initial setup and ongoing support provided by PC DEPOT.
- Apple Inc.corePC DEPOT is an Apple Authorized Reseller (Apple正規販売店) with trained Apple specialists handling Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Beats product sales, setup support, and data migration services.
- 紫波町minorMunicipal partnership for digitalization support. PC DEPOT provides mobile digital consultation services and a mobile consultation vehicle to support local residents with digital device and internet issues, as featured on Iwate Menkoi TV and in local press.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PC DEPOT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Joshin Denki: Japan-listed consumer electronics retailer with national presence and a long history in PC and home entertainment products. Directly comparable for category overlap (PCs, smartphones, peripherals) and Japanese regional store footprint.
- EDION: Mid-tier Japanese consumer electronics and home appliance retailer with national store footprint. Comparable category overlap (PCs, peripherals, smartphones, tablets, repair/setup services) and similar geographic concentration in regional Japanese cities.
- Bic Camera: Major Japanese big-box consumer electronics and appliance retailer listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Comparable as a competing destination for PC, smartphone, and Apple product purchases, with overlapping carrier-agency and in-store service adjacencies.
- Yamada Holdings: Japan's largest consumer electronics retailer by revenue, operating the LABI and Tsutaya Electrics chains. Comparable across PC, smartphone, and home-device retail in Japan with comparable scale and digital-service adjacencies.
- Nojima Corporation: Family business of PC DEPOT's founder; a larger Japanese consumer electronics retailer with broader appliance and digital product selection. Comparable in Japan-domestic PC/smartphone retail and MVNO agency activity, though at a larger category breadth.
- Yodobashi Camera: One of Japan's largest consumer electronics retailers with multi-category stores in major urban centers. Comparable to PC DEPOT as both sell PCs, peripherals, smartphones, and Apple products to Japanese consumers, though Yodobashi is more SKU-broad and less service/membership-focused.
Emerging players
- Dospara (Thirdwave Corporation): Japanese PC retailer specializing in custom-built and gaming PCs (BTO) plus peripherals. Closely comparable to PC DEPOT's OZZIO BTO and gaming-PC consultation services, with stronger gaming positioning; useful as a category benchmark for PC DEPOT's PC-build and gaming offerings.
Others
- VAIO Corporation: Japanese PC brand for which PC DEPOT is an authorized dealer and authorized repair shop with certified technicians. Comparable as a product and service partner, and as an example of a premium Japanese PC specialist reliant on service-led retail channels.
- Apple Japan (Apple Authorized Reseller channel): PC DEPOT is an Apple Authorized Reseller handling Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Beats products. Comparable as the upstream OEM whose Japanese distribution network includes PC DEPOT and parallel resellers like Yodobashi and Bic Camera; useful for benchmarking PC DEPOT's authorized-reseller performance.
Direct peers
- K's Denki (K's Holdings): Japanese consumer electronics retailer that is itself a PC DEPOT host partner — PC DEPOT operates 'Pasokon Kurinikku' service counters inside K's Denki stores. Directly comparable business model with overlapping categories (PCs, smartphones, peripherals, repair services) and shared carrier/MVNO agency relationships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PC DEPOT social profiles
Digital presencePC DEPOT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PC DEPOT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
PC DEPOT subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
PC DEPOT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PC DEPOT M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PC DEPOT
What does PC DEPOT do?
PC DEPOT operates a 137-store retail chain in Japan selling PCs, smartphones, tablets, and Apple products, bundled with technical services such as PC/smartphone repair, data recovery, SSD upgrades, and device setup. The company runs a recurring SmartLife Premium Membership (スマートライフメンバーズクラブ) that provides ongoing digital life support, home visit assistance, photo printing, digital magazine subscriptions, video digitization, and exclusive member facilities, converting one-time device buyers into long-term subscribers. It also acts as an authorized dealer for multiple MVNO and carrier brands, handling cheap SIM subscriptions and MNP porting.
Is PC DEPOT a public or private company?
PC DEPOT is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was PC DEPOT founded?
PC DEPOT was founded in 1994. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is PC DEPOT based?
PC DEPOT is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does PC DEPOT make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Product sales (物販) is the primary driver. The others are smartLife Premium Membership (スマートライフメンバーズクラブ), technical services, MVNO/carrier agency commissions, photo printing and merchandise, digital magazine and newspaper subscription and video dubbing and conversion (想い出スマートビデオ).
Who are PC DEPOT's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Joshin Denki, EDION, Bic Camera, Yamada Holdings, Nojima Corporation and Yodobashi Camera. Dospara (Thirdwave Corporation) is listed as an emerging player. Others are VAIO Corporation and Apple Japan (Apple Authorized Reseller channel). K's Denki (K's Holdings) is listed as a direct peer.
Does PC DEPOT have an API?
No public API is recorded for PC DEPOT.
What industry is PC DEPOT in?
PC DEPOT's product category is Consumer Electronics Retail and Digital Life Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACABAI, PC Gaming Computers & Peripherals Retail, with a secondary code of CRACAFAD, PC Gaming Peripherals Retail (Keyboards, Mice, Headsets, Controllers). Its NAICS code is 4492 and its SIC code is 5734.