Editor’s Note
This article explains the methodology behind the Reuse Company Growth Rate Ranking, a key metric compiled by the Reuse Economy Newspaper to highlight firms achieving significant year-on-year revenue growth in the sector.
The Reuse Company Growth Rate Ranking is calculated by the “Reuse Keizai Shimbun” (Reuse Economy Newspaper) based on its annual nationwide survey of reuse companies, the “Used (Reuse) Sales Ranking,” comparing sales figures from the previous and current fiscal years.
This growth rate ranking specifically targets companies that have achieved significant revenue growth compared to the previous year, regardless of their size. It compiles companies that have gained substantial momentum through store and market area expansion, new services, or M&A activities.
For comprehensive survey results, please refer to this article: “Reuse Sales Ranking 2024 BEST300 (2023 Fiscal Year Results)”.
Before introducing the ranked companies, let’s look at the market size of the reuse industry.
The market size of the reuse industry for the 2023 fiscal year reached 3.1227 trillion yen, a 7.8% increase year-on-year, marking 14 consecutive years of growth. As the impact of COVID-19 waned and foot traffic recovered, both store sales and e-commerce sales contributed to pushing the industry’s market size upward.
Specifically, store sales (BtoC) performed well, expanding by 7.5% year-on-year to 1.1442 trillion yen. E-commerce sales (BtoC) also grew by 12.0%. On the other hand, e-commerce sales via flea market apps (CtoC) grew by 6.4%, showing a continued slowdown in growth rate from the previous year. As a result, both BtoC store and e-commerce sales surpassed the growth rate of CtoC online sales.
Since 2015, flea market apps have been the driving force behind the expansion of the reuse market. However, with these apps now allowing official stores operated by corporations, reuse companies have begun to outpace flea market apps in growth. Additionally, there is an increasing trend of primary distribution companies entering the reuse market.
Going forward, reuse companies, flea market apps, and primary distributors are expected to jointly drive market growth. According to this newspaper’s estimates, the reuse industry’s market size is projected to expand to around 4 trillion yen by 2030.
Here, we introduce the top 10 companies in the growth rate ranking.
*Note: Figures marked with ※ are estimates by the Reuse Keizai Shimbun and may differ from exact numbers.
10th Place: K-BOOKS Growth Rate: ※147.2%
K-BOOKS operates retail stores for used comics and anime goods, primarily in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro, as well as in Osaka and Nagoya. It also runs “Dougakan” for YouTuber goods and “K-POP Kan” for Korean pop culture items. In 2023, it renovated multiple stores to capture inbound demand.
8th Place (Tie): Diamond Seven Growth Rate: 150.0%
Diamond Seven, headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, operates the brand reuse store “Diamond Seven,” the pawn and purchase service “Luxury Seven” in Osaka’s Shinsaibashi, and “Osakaya” in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, and Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture.
8th Place (Tie): Kison (Iroishi BANK) Growth Rate: 150.0%
Kison, which processes, brands, and sells colored gemstones, expanded its sales channels domestically and internationally, achieving the top spot among reuse companies in overseas sales. In 2024, it expanded its product lineup, including launching a pearl upcycling business, and renovated its Osaka branch to strengthen purchasing in the Kansai area.
7th Place: MTC (Uru Navi) Growth Rate: ※156.2%
MTC ranks 7th. It operates 179 stores nationwide (as of January 2025) and provides consulting services including franchise development and store support for “Uru Navi.” The stores purchase brand goods, watches, precious metals, stamps, etc., and are expanding into commercial facilities.
6th Place: Penguin Trade Growth Rate: 166.6%
Penguin Trade is engaged in the purchase and sale of brand goods, with a strength in purchasing from businesses. Since 2024, it has been operating brand goods auctions “Penguin Auction” and “JRB Auction.” It also launched a consignment sales service for brand goods in October of the same year.
5th Place: Musubi (Kaitori Musubi) Growth Rate: ※168.6%
Musubi operates “Kaitori Musubi” stores, expanding from the Kanto region to Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Hiroshima, etc. It has grown by leveraging strengths like acquiring repeat customers through openings in large commercial facilities. Since February 2024, it has been under the umbrella of BuySell Technologies.
4th Place: Purpose (VINTAGE LOVER PURPOSE) Growth Rate: 169.0%
Purpose handles brand bags and other items through stores and e-commerce. For overseas markets, it utilizes e-commerce malls, SNS, and live commerce sales. It ranked 6th in the e-commerce reuse sales ranking. Its reuse sales grew 169% year-on-year, exceeding the previous year’s growth rate.
3rd Place: Next Twentyone (Jack Road, Betty Road) Growth Rate: 170.0%
Slightly ahead of 4th place is Next Twentyone in 3rd. It buys and sells brand goods. It operates three stores, including the men’s watch store “Jack Road” in Nakano, Tokyo. Focusing on overseas marketing, such as advertising on SNS in Thailand and Korea, it recorded high growth rates due to the increase in inbound tourists.
2nd Place: Empower (Kaitori Daikichi) Growth Rate: 176.0%
Empower, which operates directly managed stores and the franchise headquarters for the purchase specialty store “Kaitori Daikichi,” secured 2nd place. It expanded franchise openings through marketing strategies like TV commercials, surpassing 1,000 stores in July 2024. It also hosts the “DAIKICHI AUCTION” for brand goods.
1st Place: Pastec (Mobaste) Growth Rate: 200.0%
Pastec maintained the top position, same as last year. Under the trade name “Mobaste,” it operates specialty stores for purchasing smartphones and tablets. Its store network spans nationwide, including Hokkaido, Tokyo, and Osaka. In the 2023 fiscal year, overseas exports accounted for 70% of its sales, growing by leveraging its strength in overseas sales channels.
In the Reuse Company Growth Rate Ranking, while companies mainly focused on franchise expansion fiercely competed, companies with overseas sales channels like Pastec and Purpose stood out. Particularly, Pastec continues to expand through its handling of used smartphones.
Furthermore, companies like Empower and Penguin Trade, which have started their own used goods markets, are delivering results. Operating a market allows them to support products from entry to exit, making it a selling point when recruiting franchisees. Such initiatives may become a starting point influencing each company’s growth rate.
In 2024, inbound demand provided a tailwind, increasing attention on reused goods. In response, companies like Next Twentyone and K-BOOKS are focusing on capturing inbound customers. Understanding such market trends seems essential for reuse businesses aiming to expand sales in the future.
This survey summarized the growth rates of reuse companies. It shows that all these companies are gaining momentum by honing their unique strengths, such as continuous store expansion strategies and handling specialized product lines.
Among the 10 companies ranked this time, Pastec, Empower, and Kison, which were also ranked last year, maintained high growth rates. On the other hand, many companies ranked for the first time, suggesting significant future changes in the rankings are highly anticipated.
It will be interesting to see what initiatives each ranked company strengthens going forward. Attention on the future movements of the reuse industry is likely to increase even more.