Product technology is evolving so quickly and commoditization of product happens faster than ever. A company store allows us greater access to consumers for product testing and planning.
Craig McManis, VP, Pioneer Stores

Pioneer announced that the company's first retail store in the United States will open this August at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA. The Pioneer company store also will serve as a testing ground for products currently only available in Japan.

According to Pioneer, customer feedback will be obtained through store associates and formal market research including focus groups and surveys with consumers.

"Product technology is evolving so quickly and commoditization of product happens faster than ever," said Craig McManis, vice president, Pioneer Stores (USA) Inc. "A company store allows us greater access to consumers for product testing and planning."

"The hope is that this endeavor will give us a greater understanding of the challenges [Retailers] face. At the same time, the information we gather from consumers will enable us to build even better products that will benefit our own store as well as our retail partners," said McManis.

A similar store was launched in the Meguro district of Tokyo in 2006 and information sharing between the Tokyo and Orange county store locations will provide direction for Pioneer's future store development.