Time-saving home electronics popular with two-income families

September 5, 2017

TOKYO- Robotic vacuum cleaners, washer dryers and dishwashers are popular among two-income households in Japan, as they help users save time on daily chores and secure time for relaxing, makers and retailers say.

Sales floors at retailers are busy as electronics makers are releasing new products one after another.

Electronics retailer Bic Camera Inc. said the number of robot cleaners it sold in the first half of this year increased 20 pct from the year-before level.

US maker iRobot Corp. has launched low-end Roomba robot vacuums priced below 60,000 yen with a system allowing users to control the machine by smartphone from outside the home. The system was previously limited to high-end models.

Hitachi Ltd. and Panasonic Corp. are among the Japanese firms offering robot cleaners, with their products sold mainly in the 60,000-yen range. Particularly popular are models that can turn easily and clean dust in room corners.

"More people are wondering whether they should buy washer dryers even though they are a bit more expensive" than conventional washing machines, said a Bic Camera sales official.

While models priced around 160,000 yen sell well, demand is also brisk for high-end models with shorter washing times sold for over 200,000 yen and quieter washers good for use at night.

Sales of dishwashers are also growing, led by built-in models. Sales of stand-alone models, in the meantime, are flat.

Domestic demand for built-in dishwashers is expected to grow to 580,000 units in fiscal 2017 from 550,000 units in fiscal 2015, according to market leader Panasonic.

Panasonic will "pour its energy" to cultivate demand from two-income households, a new core customer base, Executive Officer Akira Kono said.

A survey by research firm Neo Marketing Inc. has found that 70-90 pct of those who purchased time-saving home appliances say that they now have more spare time.

Such electronics "can help reduce friction between couples" over how to share household chores, a Neo Marketing official said. Jiji Press