Kyodo via Japan Today: FamilyMart branches out into household chores
Tickets for household chores such as vacuuming and washing have proved popular since they went on sale at FamilyMart convenience stores in Tokyo, Osaka and six other prefectures this week. FamilyMart is partnering with Bears, a major household service agency, to offer cleaning, washing and looking after children for a fee of 9,800 yen per 2 1/2 hours...After buying the tickets from a machine located in stores, customers need to contact a call center and arrange the schedule. "The need for such services has been increasing, but people didn't know how to go about it," said Yuki Takahashi, a senior manager at Bears. "As convenience stores have become a part of our everyday life, we hope this partnership will bring in more customers."
Japanese press release here.