Taking on the challenge of building a trade network from scratch. Starting overseas expansion of our products with STANDAGE's "Leave it to us trading" service.Okamoto Co., Ltd.

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

We decided to use a trade agency service because we wanted to expand the overseas market for our wood-burning stoves, which had received positive feedback at an Italian trade show. Before that, we had absolutely no experience or knowledge of overseas exports, and we didn't know where to even begin.

In particular, I lacked knowledge of practical matters such as language barriers, invoice creation, and packing lists, and I was struggling to figure out how to proceed. I also had absolutely no idea how to collect payments from overseas consumers, which is the most important aspect of business. Therefore, the only way I could think of to start trading was to take risks and receive advance payments.

In this situation, I was quite troubled because I couldn't take the first step towards expanding overseas, when my local main bank introduced me to STANDAGE. I felt that it was a very low-risk and comprehensive service because they would provide two years of hands-on support until I could become independent in terms of overseas expansion, and STANDAGE would handle all communication with overseas parties, so I decided to sign a contract.

What exactly did it entail?

With the "Leave it to us trading" service, I was extremely grateful that a STANDAGE representative provided initial consultation. The service included support for developing overseas sales channels and streamlining business processes. In particular, they helped with all aspects of trade operations, such as creating invoices, packing lists, and providing interpretation and coordination during business negotiations. Furthermore, the service was provided in a hands-on, collaborative manner, allowing us to gradually establish our trading business.

Thanks to STANDAGE's support, we've been able to connect with overseas consumers and gradually acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for international trade. The service provides us with peace of mind knowing that they will handle our overseas sales activities, which has been a major factor in mitigating our risks.

What results have you achieved since implementing it?

The most effective benefit was that it streamlined our trade operations and minimized risks. By entrusting our business to STANDAGE, we received guidance and instructions on tasks that are often obstacles when starting international trade, such as invoices, P&Ls, and price negotiations, which allowed us to conduct business transactions with overseas consumers smoothly. We are extremely grateful for their help, even though we were essentially being carried on their backs.

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

In our future business development, we are considering exhibiting at trade shows and expanding into overseas markets. Therefore, we have high expectations for STANDAGE's support, especially regarding the development of overseas markets. We look forward to seeing how they will support us in our future business development, including assistance with trade shows and the discovery of new business opportunities. The contract period is two years, and we would like to ask for support that will enable us to become independent during those two years.

Comments from Mr. Okamoto and Mr. Takahashi

I believe that STANDAGE's "Leave it to us trading" service is extremely beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aiming to expand overseas. In particular, it provides precise support for the challenges that SMEs face when entering overseas markets for the first time, and its ability to respond to the needs of SMEs is a major attraction. I would highly recommend it to companies that are considering overseas expansion. SMEs often face different challenges when expanding overseas, but STANDAGE's support can be tailored to those challenges on an individual basis, which is a point I particularly appreciate as it sets them apart from large corporations.