Gap launches e-commerce in Japanese market

Gap announced the launch of a new online sales portal for Japan Thursday in San Francisco. Gap, Baby Gap, Gap Kids and Banana Republic will all be available for sale online for Japanese customers. The company is touting a ‘universal’ approach, allowing customers to shop the different lines simultaneously and use the same final basket.

Gap Inc. also offers e-commerce sites for China, Europe and Canada. Previously, Japanese customers could purchase products from the US e-commerce site which offers international shipping, but this is the first time a dedicated Japanese store has been offered.

Gap is one of the world’s leading retailers with net sales in 2011 of $14.5 billion. With a worldwide total of 3,000 company-operated stores, and about 250 franchise stores, the brand already boasts 133 physical locations in Japan for Gap, alongside 28 Banana Republic stores.

The two new sites are available at gap.co.jp and bananarepublic.co.jp