FamilyMart Relaxes Dress Code to Allow Dyed Hair and Hijabs in Japan

FamilyMart will allow store staff in Japan to dye their hair and wear hijabs starting next Tuesday, easing strict appearance standards to widen its hiring pool.

The policy overhaul comes alongside a complete uniform revamp, the chain’s first redesign in 10 years.

New Uniforms and Digital Hiring

Store clerks will have the option to choose any hair color, and Muslim female staff can wear hijabs on shift. The updated uniform line-up introduces a T-shirt design, a first for the Japanese convenience sector, alongside a standard long-sleeved alternative.

Recruitment processes are also shifting to speed up hiring. Store operators will begin using recorded and online video interviews to screen candidates across the network.

Convenience operators across Japan have faced mounting staffing pressures as demographic declines shrink the domestic labor supply. Rivals Seven-Eleven Japan and Lawson have similarly tested automated checkouts and relaxed employee rules over recent years to attract younger workers and foreign nationals, who make up an increasing share of night and weekend shifts in major metro areas.

Expanding Private Label Lines

Beyond workforce changes, FamilyMart is pushing deeper into non-food merchandise. The retailer plans to expand Convenience Wear, its proprietary apparel brand, and roll out pet products including dog leashes and collars.

The new grooming rules and uniform options take effect on Tuesday across the chain’s nationwide network.