Client

Expanding logistics company options to survive the COVID-19 pandemic

——Please tell us about your company profile.

Morikawa: Our business can be broadly defined as cross-border e-commerce, but what makes us unique is that we provide a purchasing agent service where we purchase and ship products on behalf of overseas users.

We were founded in 2004, which is a very long time in the industry. We have many repeat customers who are long-time loyal customers. We are one of the largest retailers in Japan.

Japanese products are popular all over the world, and many people want to buy them. We work with logistics companies such as ECMS Japan (hereinafter referred to as ECMS) to ship our products so that people all over the world can get them quickly, cheaply, and safely.

-What kind of products do you sell and on what platform?

Morikawa: Almost anything can be purchased online as long as it is not a dangerous item for air travel or subject to the laws and regulations of each country and is sold within Japan. Popular items are anime and manga goods, games, and apparel. Surprisingly, car and motorcycle parts are also selling well.

The site looks the same as a regular e-commerce site, but it supports 10 languages: Japanese, English, traditional and simplified Chinese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, Spanish, French, and Italian. It also supports a wide range of currencies.

--Please tell us how long you have been using the logistics services you are currently using, the scale of your services, and your main destinations.

Morikawa: We use an international courier service. We started using ECMS in June 2020. Our company uses a variety of logistics companies, and our style is to allow customers to choose by comparing factors such as shipping costs, speed, and preferred destinations. ECMS is one of those options.

Our company handles both our warehouse and customer support in-house, so we receive a wide range of feedback. One of our strengths is that we have a system in place to properly implement that feedback. We have also made improvements to our packaging based on the feedback we received.

In terms of shipping volume, the United States has the most users. There are also many in East Asia and Southeast Asia. As for ECMS, it is particularly popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan in the Chinese region. Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand are also seeing growth. ECMS is strong in deliveries to Asia, but we also ship some to the United States.

——What logistical challenges did you face before using ECMS?

Morikawa: When we started using ECMS in June of last year, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt around the world, causing major logistics companies to suspend delivery services and raising delivery fees. As delivery became an issue during the COVID-19 pandemic, the areas we wanted to strengthen matched with the destinations where ECMS excels.

Given the current situation, we believe that expanding the options for logistics companies will be beneficial not only for users but also for our company.

Users want to receive their products with peace of mind

——What are the benefits of using ECMS and what effects has it had?

Orihara: From the user's perspective, it's better to have more delivery options. Also, price is important, and many users actually choose the cheapest delivery company. In that respect, ECMS is cheap and delivers quickly, so it's probably an easy choice for users.

Morikawa: Being able to receive products with peace of mind is a major concern for buyers. The sense of security that comes from knowing a particular service can lead to a purchase. ECMS is well-known in Taiwan and other parts of Greater China, so I think it's a good thing that a familiar logistics company has been added to the options available to users.

As I mentioned earlier, our company deals with a lot of toys, games, fashion, etc., so there is a high demand for low-weight items. ECMS is strong in the low-weight range, so that is also helpful.

——What are your expectations for ECMS in the future?

Morikawa: This is something I would like to see not just for ECMS but for the entire logistics industry, but I would like to see a stable supply of logistics. I understand that there is ongoing political unrest around the world due to the COVID-19 situation, but if users hear that "we can no longer deliver to this country" or "it will take a very long time to complete delivery," they will be surprised and disappointed.

The other thing is price. Many users want free shipping, but we want to offer shipping as cheaply as possible. We'd like to discuss how we can lower shipping costs in the future.

--Please tell us about your company's future prospects.

Morikawa: As our name "FROM JAPAN" suggests, we are in the business of delivering Japanese products to people all over the world. As we have already stated on our corporate website, we would like to take this to the next level and become "global products to the world." Our ambition is to go beyond Japan and expand into the world.

Orihara: When sending Japanese products to the world, there are many gaps and mismatches, such as customs clearance, payment, and language. However, when we broaden our perspective and try to send global products to the world, similar mismatches and various hurdles arise.

However, by utilizing the wide range of experience we have accumulated over the past 17 years, we can purchase products from any country. To put it simply, it's like expanding the scope of proxy purchasing.

Shi: Japanese products are of high quality and there are few counterfeits. Our company also participates in auctions on behalf of overseas customers, and we feel that many of the items are in good condition. In the future, we would like to not only deliver Japanese products that are attracting attention from around the world, but also deliver products from all over the world to people who need them.