A long-established confectionery manufacturer from Aomori takes on the challenge of overcoming the triple hurdle of "language, human resources, and sales channels."Raguno Sasaki Co., Ltd.

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

We have been seriously engaged in export business for about 7 to 8 years. Initially, sales were steady, but in recent years, growth has stagnated, and annual sales have remained flat. We have participated in business meetings through the Aomori Prefectural Government and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and have received many positive evaluations through product tastings, but we have not been able to close actual deals, and the inability to expand our sales channels as we would like has been a major challenge.

In particular, we lacked practical know-how related to exports, making it difficult to build sales channels on our own. We strongly felt the need for a partner with expertise and a network in overseas trade, and that's when we learned about STANDAGE's "Leave it to us Trading" service.
The deciding factors for signing the contract were the comprehensive support system that covered everything from selecting export destinations to handling practical procedures, and the support we received to address our anxieties about taking the "next step."

What exactly did it entail?

Of all the support we currently receive from STANDAGE, the one we value most is their "support for overseas business negotiations, including language assistance." We didn't have any staff who could communicate in English, which presented a significant obstacle to direct negotiations and information exchange with overseas buyers. However, since implementing "Omakase Trading," we have been able to smoothly handle business negotiations with English-speaking countries, including the United States, and we have been able to approach markets that we couldn't access before.

STANDAGE's representatives attend actual business negotiations, accurately understanding needs and intentions of the other company that we might not have grasped ourselves, and strategically conducting negotiations. They are truly "export professionals" and we can entrust our business to them with complete confidence.

What effects have you seen since implementing it?

Prior to implementation, exports were mainly conducted through domestic wholesalers, and we didn't have a grasp of the actual details of export operations. With STANDAGE's support, we've been able to take on direct transactions, which is deepening our understanding of the export process. While it may be difficult to completely internalize all operations within the next two years, we aim to accumulate practical knowledge and establish a system where we can manage export operations to a certain extent in-house.

Furthermore, our ultimate goal is to expand export sales to hundreds of millions of yen. We are already receiving not only practical support but also prompt market needs analysis and proposals, which is very reassuring.

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

We expect STANDAGE to continue their usual swift response and leadership based on their expert knowledge. In particular, we would like them to establish processes to ensure the stable continuation of direct export transactions, improve their internal systems, and provide information for the next steps.

Comment from Mr. Saito of Raguno Sasaki

I believe that companies with limited knowledge and experience in export operations should definitely consider adopting "Omakase Trading." Even companies that don't know where to start will receive thorough support from professionals like STANDAGE, from A to Z. Furthermore, they don't just provide support; they go into the field, identify challenges, and quickly provide concrete solutions, which is extremely reassuring.

Our own attitude towards exports and the potential they represent have clearly changed. Going forward, we will continue to provide hands-on support to help our customers expand into even more markets.