Hands (store) explained

Hands Inc.
Native Name:株式会社ハンズ
Type:Subsidiary (K.K.)
Location:Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Parent:Cainz Corporation[1]
Subsid:Hands Labo Co. Ltd.
Tokyu Hands Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Area Served:Japan
Singapore
Taiwan
Industry:Retail
Revenue: ¥55.5 billion [2]
Operating Income: ¥3.9 billion
Net Income: ¥4.7 billion
Assets: ¥27.9 billion
Homepage: (in Japanese)

, known as Hands (formerly Tokyu Hands), is a Japanese department store chain. Hands is now part of (itself a member of the). Tokyu Hands opened their first store in Shibuya, Tokyo in 1976 as a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) store, hence the logo with two hands, and the emphasis on crafts and materials for projects.[3]

The name Tokyu Hands was in reference to its then parent company, the Tokyu Group keiretsu. Cainz acquired the brand in March 2022 and renamed the store Hands.[4]

Today, Hands focuses on hobby, home improvement and lifestyle products. At the Shibuya flagship store, products include toys, games, novelty items, gift cards, gift wrap, costumes, bicycles, travel products (such as luggage and camping gear), hobby materials, household hardware, tools, do-it-yourself kits, pet supplies, office supplies and stationery; calligraphy, painting, drawing supplies, furniture, lighting, home appliances, and storage solutions.

Most branches offer free workshops (in Japanese) and have demonstrations running on various floors during busy periods (weekends and holidays). There is a delivery service available for purchases that cannot be taken home on the day.

The Ikebukuro location featured a cat café called Nekobukuro, or "Cat's House", one of the first in the city to do so. For an additional admission fee, customers could visit with some 20 cats in the cafe. However, the Ikebukuro location underperformed as a whole and was closed on October 31, 2021.[5]

Stores

Japan

Hands operates 49 stores in Japan,[6] including in:

Singapore

In Singapore, Hands opened its first store in Westgate in 2014,[7] and currently operates five stores across the country:[8]

Taiwan

In 2000, an overseas branch of Tokyu Hands, named Hands Tailung (台隆手創館) opened in Taipei, Taiwan, in the Ximending area; as of 2017, Hands Tailung operates 15 stores in Taiwan.[9]

Notes and References

  1. News: カインズ、東急ハンズの買収完了 店名・社名はしばらく「東急ハンズ」のまま . ITMedia . 31 March 2022 . 11 April 2024.
  2. Web site: 株式会社東急ハンズ 第47期決算公告 . 官報決算データベース . 27 June 2022 . 11 April 2024.
  3. History from Tokyu-land.com
  4. Web site: カインズ、東急ハンズの買収完了 店名・社名はしばらく「東急ハンズ」のまま . 15 December 2022 . ITmedia ビジネスオンライン . ja.
  5. Web site: Kaila Imada . Tokyu Hands in Ikebukuro is closing forever in October . TimeOut . 2021-09-08 . 2022-12-18 .
  6. Web site: Hands shop list. 30 July 2024.
  7. Web site: migration. 1 July 2014. Tokyu Hands to open here. 28 July 2020. The Straits Times. en.
  8. Web site: TOKYU HANDS. 28 July 2020. www.tokyu-hands.com.sg.
  9. Web site: HANDS 台隆手創館 . Chinese . hands.com.tw . 18 July 2017.