Profile of Company B

【Business】Design and sale of apparel and personal care products

【Capital】 1,000,000 yen

【Sales】 52 million yen (as of the end of June 2016, 2 directly managed stores)

【Number of employees】13

【Establishment】2009

Inquiries and issues

We have experience opening a Pop Up Shop in Paris, but would like to open a full-fledged store internationally.

Paccloa’s Proposals and Support

F/S surveys conducted in Paris and Lyon, France for international investments.

Commercial research (interviews with other stores in the same industry, real estate property inspections, attorneys, media)

School visits to non-tourist local students for product feasibility hearings

Organizing the advantages and disadvantages of opening stores in international tourist destinations

Clarification of corporate strength required for international investment

Outcome

OJT support for F/S survey in France enabled us to conduct F/S survey in Paraguay on our own.

Understanding of location strategies specific to international tourist destinations

Doubled the number of inbound customers of domestic brick-and-mortar stores by developing an international business plan and acquiring the know-how to develop international sales channels.

Testimonial from the president

Q1 What was the status of your company’s international expansion at the beginning?

The previous year, we had held our first international event (in Paris, France), and our dreams and hopes were growing for an international store, which had been a goal of ours since the company was founded.

However, I knew nothing about preparations for competing internationally, and my thoughts were running ahead of my mind.

Q2 Did the advice you received from Paccloa have a positive impact on your international expansion?

Of course.

I am embarrassed to say this, and it is not really relevant to your question, but I learned the high road of how to proceed with things in the first place, regardless of international expansion.

In terms of positive changes for international expansion, through detailed research, we were able to learn more fundamentally about the reality of the applicability of our products in local markets and the hurdles to opening the necessary stores, which cannot be obtained from ordinary trade show exhibitions or B to B.

To put it in more detail, we were able to hear the voices of local industry professionals, other store operators, and members of the media, as well as learn about legal matters related to our company, the real estate situation in the area where we are planning to open a store, and the possibility of backup from local government agencies, etc.

This helped us to clarify what exactly we needed to do.

Q3 What did you think of the sometimes harsh advice?

It was difficult for me to follow through with the advice I received.

However, the advice was very well-reasoned and had precise intentions (reasons), so I was very convinced.

Q4 Have you consulted with any other experts or consultants regarding international expansion?

No, I have not.

Q5 What, if anything, has made a lasting impression on you?

I got the impression that you were working hard to complete the work you received, without regard for yourself.

I was impressed by the fact that Paccloa were working so hard that I was worried about them.