Tilting at windmills?

摘要

Chaotic stores that sell TVS, Louis Vuitton handbags, bikes and much more have helped Don Quijote, a discount-retailer, to increase its profits for 13 years in a row. Its latest bid to overturn tradition has set it against Japan's mighty Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The battle began in August when Don Quijote decided to sell non-prescription drugs all day-and all night. Though regulations bar stores from selling medicine without a pharmacist on the premises, the retailer installed videophones at ten stores so that customers wanting a night-time box of aspirin could do so after consulting a pharmacist remotely. Staff had been disheartened at having to explain to angry or suffering customers why they were unable to offer pain-relief during the few hours when a pharmacist was unavailable, says Sumio Inamura of Don Quijote.