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Staffless Shops in Japan See Success — and Theft
Japan is renowned for its customer service. However, in the near future, there may be no one serving you at all.
By Ebony Brown
Japan continues to struggle with a labor shortage. With an aging population, there are simply not enough people to fill positions. Businesses have tackled this issue in a number of ways: encouraging mothers to get back into the workforce, raising the retirement age, and hiring more exchange students.
The latest attempt by employers struggling to fill shifts and trying to stay above water is an old solution for a modern problem: staffless shops.
The honor system
Staffless shops aren’t exactly a new idea. A form of them has existed in the Japanese countryside for ages.
The traditional mujinhanbai (無人販売) or staffless stall is a small stand of fresh vegetables offered at ridiculously low prices. A less pretentious farm-to-table, if you will. Based on an honor system, the money is placed in a wooden box and you take the goods you’ve paid for.
