A seafood wholesaler takes its first steps from having no export experience: pioneering overseas sales channels with "Omakase Trading" (a service that handles exports for unattended customers).Kanazawa Marunaka Suisan Co., Ltd.

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

Although we had long held a certain interest in exports, we were unable to take a concrete first step. This was because we didn't have any clear challenges, but rather a vague anxiety about "not knowing where to start" was a major obstacle. In this situation, we received a proposal for "Omakase Trade," and when we heard that there was a "support system in place to guide us every step of the way," we felt that "we might be able to start with this," and decided to implement it.

We didn't compare it with other companies' services; we decided on "Omakase Trading" based on that premise. This is because, until now, we had been moving products through import companies, so we had absolutely no know-how regarding export operations ourselves. The fact that they provide thorough support, from document creation to market development, was a major deciding factor in our adoption of the service.

What exactly did it entail?

Although the product isn't actually being distributed yet, what we're particularly grateful for with STANDAGE's support is their focus on developing sales channels.

They don't just introduce potential business partners; they also provide concrete lectures on the needs of the target market and what approaches to take to make effective proposals. We've received a wealth of insights that we wouldn't have been able to gain on our own, and we've already seen significant value since implementing their services.

What effects have you seen since implementing it?

At this point, it's difficult to quantify our success since our product isn't yet on the market. However, we consider it a significant step forward that we've been introduced to several companies and have had opportunities for business negotiations.

Going forward, we plan to leverage the knowledge gained through STANDAGE's support to establish a system that allows us to continue developing sales channels on our own. To achieve this, we recognize that the next step is to develop a framework for determining "which product is suitable for which market."

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

We handle fresh seafood, and our product lineup changes daily depending on the season and catch conditions. Since conditions such as prices and origins are also fluid, there are many situations where we need to respond flexibly and quickly.

Therefore, we believe that having a system in place to share information more frequently as needed would allow for smoother collaboration in the future. We expect that enabling real-time communication on a daily basis will allow us to respond accurately to changing circumstances and give a boost to the development of our export system.

Comment from Mr. Shiokawa of Kanazawa Marunaka Suisan

"Omakase Trading" is a very reassuring service for companies that are thinking of trying exporting. In particular, for companies that are venturing into exporting for the first time, everything from preparing documents and negotiating with the importing country to gathering market information is uncharted territory.

In that respect, STANDAGE has been very supportive and attentive, and through our interactions, we have been able to see our own company's challenges and the needs of our target market. Although we haven't yet seen tangible results, I am confident that the many lessons we have already learned will be a great asset in the future.