{"id":4850,"date":"2023-11-01T10:00:52","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T01:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/?p=4850"},"modified":"2026-02-06T13:57:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T04:57:09","slug":"20231101_1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/2023\/11\/01\/20231101_1\/","title":{"rendered":"[Case Study] Providing "DigiTrad" trade-oriented package to educational toy manufacturer Artec Co., Ltd."},"content":{"rendered":"

Provided programming materials to junior high schools approved by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education; built up overseas sales within a year and a half of implementation<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

STANDAGE Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Akinori Adachi; hereinafter referred to as Standage), which develops and provides digital trade platforms, has begun providing the trade package service "DigiTrad" to Artec Co., Ltd. (Yao City, Osaka; CEO: Etsu Fujiwara; hereinafter referred to as Artec) in January 2022. With the launch of programming education in Saudi Arabia around 2021, there was a need for related teaching materials locally. We are pleased to announce that we have achieved overseas sales within a year and a half of the service contract by promoting Artec's programming teaching materials and officially introducing them from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u25a0 Background of the introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Artec was founded in 1960 as a manufacturer specializing in art and craft school teaching materials, and for over 60 years has been dealing in educational products and toys, such as teaching materials for kindergartens and schools, and robot programming materials.<\/p>\n

When we exhibited at an overseas exhibition for the first time in 2010, we realized there was demand for our products overseas and started our export business.<\/p>\n

In particular, we felt that Africa, which is said to be the youngest continent in modern society, had great potential and was attractive because of its compatibility with our products. However, we felt that it was difficult to find a trustworthy agent in the region, as information was limited compared to developed countries.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Since its founding in 2017, Standage has been focusing on Africa, with bases in four countries: Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt. It employs local staff and is engaged in various initiatives related to trade with Africa.<\/p>\n

DigiTrad is a complete trade package service aimed at domestic companies that find it difficult to set up trade on their own, allowing them to outsource everything from market development to payment and logistics to Standage.<\/p>\n

In supporting the exports of domestic companies, we have also demonstrated our strengths in building trade and developing sales channels with Africa, leveraging the strong relationships we have built with Africa since our founding.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Artec has a solid overseas demand for its products and is looking to expand into the African region. Standage has bases and relationships in the region and is strong in building trade with Africa, so it believes that by supporting Artec, it can solve the issues it faces and expect to expand its overseas sales. This led to a contract between the two companies.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u25a0 Main services provided<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the products are purchased domestically, manufacturers can export them with the same procedures and labor hours as for shipping domestically. Standage will handle all subsequent market development, contract-related work, and preparation of export-related documents.<\/p>\n

At the same time, Standage will understand the manufacturer's products and conduct a survey of the local market and demand. Based on the results, Standage will carry out promotional activities such as exhibiting at exhibitions where local buyers gather, and will handle everything from inquiries to price negotiations, contracts, payments, and transportation arrangements including samples.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Saudi Arabia, programming education will be introduced in secondary education from 2021 as part of the national strategy, Vision 2030.<\/p>\n

During this period, Standage acted as Artec's agent for participating in local exhibitions. Native local language staff negotiated with buyers, and through the buyers, it was decided that the products would be provided to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education.<\/p>\n

All educational materials, translated into Arabic, were provided to middle schools across Saudi Arabia, and DigiTrad built up overseas sales within a year and a half of adopting the technology.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Standage is steadily building up sales of Artec products in African countries, where the company has strengths, including Nigeria and South Africa.<\/p>\n

The company will also be exhibiting at the GESS Dubai Education Exhibition and Conference, an education exhibition to be held in Dubai from the end of October 2011, which is expected to further increase its overseas sales.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u25a0Comment from Esterly Luke, Sales, Artec<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first challenge that Artec, a company that deals in educational toys, faced when expanding overseas was to understand the different educational markets in each country and develop educational toys that suit each country, as well as to find suppliers who could provide educational toys locally so that more children can learn in a fun way.<\/p>\n

Currently, Artec mainly exports robot programming teaching materials to countries around the world.<\/p>\n

We feel that there is great potential for the development of the education market, especially in Africa and the Middle East, and believe that in the future more children will have more opportunities to come into contact with programming education. Therefore, we have placed emphasis on finding business partners in Africa and the Middle East.<\/p>\n

At that time, by introducing Standage's "DigiTrad" service, it became possible to utilize local staff for trade support and to find business partners.<\/p>\n

I was also attracted by the fact that Standage is able to purchase products within Japan and handle various trade-related matters.<\/p>\n

Standage's "Digitrad" has made it possible for us to sell our products in the Middle East and the African continent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u25a0 DigiTrad is introduced by a total of 100 companies in Japan<\/strong><\/p>\n

"DigiTrad" is a comprehensive trade package service developed exclusively by Standage that provides a one-stop service covering everything from sales channel development to negotiations, contracts, settlements, and administrative procedures related to logistics and customs clearance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Due to the rapid depreciation of the yen in the second half of 2010 and the government's efforts to expand exports, Japan's overall export volume has been on a gradual upward trend. However, when looking at the export volume of small and medium-sized enterprises in urban and rural areas, the gap is still widening.<\/p>\n

Digitrad was created as a package service to handle all aspects of trade, from market development to contracts, negotiations, payments, and logistics, to enable Japanese manufacturers, who face these challenges, to expand overseas more freely and easily.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rather than being limited to systemizing some operations or providing consulting, this is a service that can "handle" the entire flow of trade. As of August 2011, the number of companies that have adopted this service has reached a total of 100.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

STANDAGE Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: ...), which develops and provides digital trade platforms, has received approval from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education to provide programming materials to junior high schools and has built up overseas sales within a year and a half of implementation. Continue reading [Case Study] Providing "DigiTrad" trade-oriented package to educational toy manufacturer Artec Co., Ltd.<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4851,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[46],"tags":[],"acf":{"en_news":{"custom_css":"","en_title":"Digitrad, a full trade support package, provided to Artec Co., Ltd, a manufacturer of educational toys.","content":"With the approval of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education, we provided programming materials to junior high schools. Successfully built overseas sales within 1.5 years of its initial introduction.<\/strong>

\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nSTANDAGE Corporation, a developer and provider of digital trade platforms, has begun offering its trade full support package service \"Digitrad\" to Artec Co., Ltd. (Yao, Osaka; President: Etsu Fujiwara; hereinafter referred to as \"Artec\") from January 2022.
\r\nWith the start of programming education in Saudi Arabia around 2021, there is a need for related educational materials locally. We are pleased to announce that Artec's programming teaching materials were sold there and were officially introduced by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education, achieving the building of overseas sales within 18 months of the service contract.

\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\u25a0Background of Introduction<\/strong>
\r\n\r\nArtec was founded in 1960 as a manufacturer specializing in school teaching materials for arts and crafts. For more than 60 years since then, Artec has handled education-related products and toys, including teaching materials for kindergartens and schools and robot programming materials.

\r\n\r\nIn 2010, when the company participated in an overseas exhibition for the first time, it recognized the demand for its products overseas and launched an export business.

\r\n\r\nWhile the African region, which is considered the most youthful continent in modern society, was particularly attractive to us because of the high potential and compatibility of our products, we found it more difficult to find trustworthy distributors with limited information compared to developed countries.


\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nStandage has focused its business on the African region since its establishment in 2017, with offices in four countries: Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt. It employs local personnel and is involved in a variety of initiatives related to trade with Africa.

\r\n\r\nDigitrad, a full trade support package, is a service for domestic companies that have difficulty establishing their own trade on their own, allowing them to outsource everything from sales channel development to settlement and logistics to Standage.

\r\n\r\nIn the area of export support for domestic companies, Standage is also strong in establishing trade and developing sales channels to Africa, taking advantage of the strong relationship with Africa that has been built since the company's inception.


\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWith solid overseas demand for its products and a desire to expand into the African region, Artec and Standage, with its bases and relationships in Africa and its strength in building trade with Africa, believe that Standage can help solve Artec's problems and expand overseas sales, and have reached an agreement.


\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\u25a0Details of main services<\/strong>
\r\n\r\nProducts are purchased in the Japan market, so the manufacturer can export with the same procedures and man-hours as for shipments to the domestic market. Thereafter, Standage will handle all subsequent sales channel development, contract-related work, and preparation of export-related documents.

\r\n\r\nIn parallel, Standage will conduct research to understand the products of the manufacturer, as well as the local market and demand. Based on the results, Standage conducts sales promotion activities such as exhibiting at trade shows where local buyers gather, and handles everything from generating inquiries to price negotiations, contracts, settlements, and transportation arrangements including samples.


\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nIn Saudi Arabia, as part of Vision 2030, a national strategy, programming education has been introduced in secondary schools from 2021.

\r\n\r\nDuring this period, Standage exhibits at Artec's local exhibition on behalf of the company. Our native local language staff conducted business meetings with buyers, and through the buyers, we decided to provide the product to the Saudi Ministry of Education.

\r\n\r\nAll materials translated into Arabic were provided to secondary schools throughout Saudi Arabia, and overseas sales were built within 18 months of Digitrad's introduction.


\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nIn addition to Saudi Arabia, Artec has steadily built up sales of its products to Nigeria, South Africa, and other African countries where Standage is strong.

\r\n\r\nWe expect to further increase our overseas sales by participating in the GESS Dubai Education Exhibition and Conference, an educational exhibition to be held in Dubai from the end of October 2023.

\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\"\"


\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\u25a0Comment from Ms. Esterly Luke, Sales Manager, Artec.<\/strong>
\r\n\r\nArtec's first challenge in expanding overseas was to understand the different educational markets around the world and develop educational toys suited to each country, and to find suppliers who could provide educational toys locally so that more children could enjoy learning.

\r\n\r\nToday, Artec mainly exports robot programming materials to countries around the world.

\r\n\r\nParticularly in Africa and the Middle East, there is potential for the development of the education market, and we believe that more and more children will be exposed to programming education in the future. For this reason, we focused our efforts on finding business partners in Africa and the Middle East.

\r\n\r\nIn doing so, Standage's \"Digitrad\" service made it possible for us to utilize local staff to provide trade support and find business partners.

\r\n\r\nWe were also attracted by Standage's ability to buy products in Japan and handle various trade-related matters.

\r\n\r\nIt was Standage's \"Digitrad\" service that enabled us to expand our own products into the Middle East and the African continent.


\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\u25a0Digitrade, a service adopted by a total of 100 companies in Japan<\/strong>
\r\n\r\nDigitrad is a comprehensive trading full-support package service developed independently by Standage that provides one-stop services ranging from sales channel development, negotiations, contracts, and settlements to administrative procedures related to logistics and customs clearance.


\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWhile Japan's overall export volume has been rising moderately due to the sharp depreciation of the yen in the second half of 2010 and the government's efforts to expand exports, the gap between the export volume of small and medium-sized companies by urban and regional areas is still wide.

\r\n\r\nDigitrad was created as a packaged service that provides a one-stop trade creation service from sales channel development to contracting, negotiation, settlement, and logistics, so that Japanese manufacturers facing these challenges can more freely and easily expand their business overseas.

\r\n\r\nAs of August 2023, the number of companies using this service reached 100.\r\n\r\n "},"author":{"author_image":"","author_name":"","author_image_link":"","introduction":""},"production_published":true},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4850"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4850"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4850\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4869,"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4850\/revisions\/4869"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.standage.co.jp\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}