Entering overseas markets without our own products—Taking on new sales channel development with STANDAGE's "Leave it to us trading" service.General Link Co., Ltd.
General Link Co., Ltd., whose main businesses are web marketing and recruitment, entered the trading business with the aim of expanding overseas. However, they faced obstacles such as a lack of knowledge about trade and difficulties in developing sales channels. In this context, they introduced STANDAGE's "Omakase Trading" service and are accelerating their efforts to enter overseas markets.
Could you tell us what led you to introduce STANDAGE's automated trading service this time?
Our business originally focused on web marketing, advertising, and recruitment. While we didn't have our own products, we wanted to expand internationally in the future, but we faced the challenge of simply transferring our existing business overseas.
Therefore, we decided to first increase our contact with overseas countries and enter the trading business. However, we had absolutely no knowledge of the practical aspects of trade and found it very difficult, so we were looking for a service that could provide comprehensive support from market development to delivery.
That's when I came across STANDAGE's "Leave it to us trading" service, and decided to hear more about it. The biggest reason I chose STANDAGE was that it was okay even if I had zero connections overseas.
What exactly did it entail?
We received expertise in market development and trade. As we were complete novices when it came to the trade process, their professional advice was extremely helpful. They provided very detailed support on how to approach customers and what steps to take when conducting trade operations. STANDAGE consistently provides accurate advice on everything from product handling and shipping procedures to sales strategies tailored to local markets.
In this context, what we valued most was the comprehensive support they provided for our trade operations. In particular, we had absolutely no idea how to approach developing sales channels in overseas markets, so their support in that area was extremely helpful. While we had strengths in domestic sales, we needed specialized support regarding sales methods and transaction procedures in overseas markets.
Furthermore, since we do not own our own products, we needed to accumulate know-how for overseas expansion. STANDAGE provided us with valuable knowledge by guiding us on the practical aspects of market development and sales methods. In addition, they taught us in detail about overseas sales culture and business practices, which has deepened our understanding of international trade.
What results have you achieved since implementing it?
When we started our trading business, our biggest concern was the risk related to payments with our trading partners. In particular, we were worried that payments might be delayed with our first transactions, but STANDAGE handled the payment processing in Japanese yen, which reduced the risk and allowed us to proceed with the transactions with peace of mind.
A major achievement was that we were able to carry out our operations while accumulating expertise in trade, without completely outsourcing the work. This has allowed us to build a foundation for continuing our sales activities in-house, and I believe it will be extremely beneficial in the long run.
They provided precise guidance on which countries to target, what approach to take, and which products were suitable for local markets. This allowed us to expand our sales channels in ways we couldn't have achieved with traditional methods, and take our first step towards overseas expansion. We feel that our trading business, which had previously been a trial-and-error process, is now progressing in a more feasible way thanks to "Omakase Trading."
What kind of support do you expect from Omakase Trading in the future?
The biggest reason we chose STANDAGE's "Leave it to us trading" service was that we could entrust it to them with confidence, even though we had no overseas connections whatsoever. Everyone in management, including ourselves, feels this way, but we are truly grateful that STANDAGE provides thorough support from start to finish. They also provide a clear business outlook, allowing us to entrust everything to them with complete peace of mind.
Furthermore, I greatly appreciate their flexible approach. One reason I would recommend them to other companies is that, especially for beginners or newly established companies in the trade industry, their comprehensive support, from market development to logistics and delivery, is extremely appealing. I believe this is a service that other companies don't offer. I think any company struggling with trade should definitely consider using STANDAGE, and I would actively recommend them to other companies as well.
