Supplement manufacturers choose a "supportive" approach to overseas expansion.CurePlus Co., Ltd.

Could you tell us what led you to introduce STANDAGE's automated trading service this time?

Our company primarily sells the fertility supplement "AHYOL" and operates pharmacies in Japan. Actually, about 10 years ago, we had experience owning a pharmacy in Vietnam, and at that time, we considered exporting from there to Japan. However, the need to constantly have staff on-site, language barriers, and the uncertainty of sudden changes in local regulations prevented us from moving forward.

After that, we switched to exporting from Japan, but we ended up hitting the same wall in terms of developing overseas sales channels. With medical fees decreasing, we wanted to create a new pillar of revenue, so we were looking for a way to do that.

I knew there were public support programs available, but I hadn't decided to use them. I learned about "Omakase Trading" through a referral from an insurance company I do business with. When I heard about it, I was surprised at how comprehensive the service was. The cost seemed reasonable considering the cost of hiring people locally, and the high retention rate was also a deciding factor.

What exactly did it entail?

To be honest, we don't yet have a complete picture of the trade procedures and processes. There are aspects that require more detailed adjustments than we initially anticipated, such as how to determine prices, how insurance costs are shared, and the timing of requesting component analysis reports.

However, having someone guide us every step of the way and show us what to do next is incredibly reassuring. If we were on our own, I think we would have given up halfway through.

We can't plan our production volume until we've decided who our ultimate target customers are, so that's something we're currently working on. We also need to figure out how to adjust our schedule.

The representative from STANDAGE carefully listened to my needs and confirmed my level of knowledge as we proceeded, which gave me a sense of reassurance.

What effects have you seen since implementing it?

While the company's internal structure hasn't changed drastically yet, we're now able to dedicate more time to preparing for full-scale exports. There's growing excitement within the company about sales, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Currently, we only have one product, but in the future, we plan to increase our product range, strengthen domestic sales in addition to sales in Asia, and develop it into a product that can be sold in various countries for a long time.

What kind of support do you expect from Omakase Trading in the future?

This is our first time officially exporting products overseas, so we're struggling with pricing. We would be grateful if you could share examples of pricing strategies and trade arrangements used by other companies for reference.

Furthermore, since supplements are products where it's difficult to demonstrate quantifiable effects, we find it challenging to effectively communicate their benefits. We hope that you will deepen your understanding of our products and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Comment from Mr. Oda of CurePlus Co., Ltd.

Trying to handle everything in-house is extremely costly and time-consuming. Considering that, I feel it's better to delegate some tasks, like through a "hands-off trading" service. Expanding our horizons beyond domestic sales to overseas markets is essential.

However, it's important to understand that simply handing over the task won't guarantee immediate sales. Handling everything in-house would be extremely difficult without considerable expertise. I would definitely recommend this service to anyone considering overseas expansion.