Business concierge for foreign companies
Executive Impact ( 24 )
TOKYO —
Many foreign companies that wish to do business in Japan for the first time often do not know how to go about it. If they are small or medium-sized, they cannot usually afford to hire big market research and consulting companies. What they need is preliminary information fast and reasonably priced.
Recognizing this, entrepreneur Satoru Masai in June set up an online business concierge, Hello-Global.com with the aim of providing clients with a one-stop service for developing their business in Japan.
Hello-Global.com is a division of Hello G, a Shizuoka-based infrastructure company offering water, gas and electricity to 20,000 clients. Hello G has also launched new businesses in real estate, home/office repairs, information and computer technology and solar technology in recent years.
Born in Kobe, Masai has been working in international business for 20 years, including 11 years in Seattle where he represented the Hyogo prefectural government, and operated a distribution business opening 20,000 doors in the U.S. for Japanese products, as well as a consulting business for both U.S. and Japanese companies.
Japan Today editor Chris Betros hears more about Hello-Global.com.
What services does Hello-Global.com offer?
We support overseas companies thinking about doing business in Japan, mainly focusing on smaller and middle-sized companies. Such clients need information on the market but often can’t afford to hire the big consultants and market research companies.
What do they want to know?
They want to know whether or not they can sell their products in Japan, what kind of opportunities they might have in the Japanese market. They need key information to make that decision. Then, if they feel there is an opportunity, they want to know how they should go about it and develop their business, who might be a potential partner, retailer and so on. After that, they need guidance on administration and operations.
How do you handle their inquiries?
We have three solutions. The first option is to provide Japan market insights. This is a report with ready information about the market, trends and opportunities. The second option is to provide quick info via a custom-made research service. A client simply types the questions into a form on the home page and we answer them within 24 hours. The price for the first two options varies from no charge to a few hundred dollars, depending on the information required. The third option is to provide a complete market research and business development service.
What other services do you offer?
We have just started a live chat room on our homepage to help facilitate communication with our overseas clients. Our staff all speak English, and one can speak French and Spanish, as well.
How do you market Hello-Global?
Right now, besides contacting potential companies directly, we are working with embassies and the economic development offices for various U.S. states as well.
Amid this recession, do you think many foreign companies will want to come to Japan?
Certainly, it is tough to develop an overseas market, but this recession won’t continue forever. There are so many companies that want to expand. Sure, things aren’t so good right now, but at least they want to research the Japanese market and see what opportunities there are.
What is a typical day for you?
I come to the office about 8:30 and check emails. Then I am involved in sales activities and making research reports.
For more information, visit www.hello-global.com
Order by Time Order by Popularity
24 Comments
Login to comment
0
Mark_McCracken
No mention of how many clients they have actually had. The domain name was just registered on June 10, 2009. An online form and a chat room was cutting edge technology...in 1996. I can't imagine the "big market research and consulting companies" would turn their back on new customers, regardless of size, given the bad shape of the economy lately.
0
sfjp330
It's too little too late. Almost all executives that are looking for business investments are not looking for Japan for potential expanding market. They are looking into China, Vietnam, South east Asia, Central America, Mexico, Canada, European Eastern Bloc and other emerging third world countries. Japan itself is contracting and will not have minimal impact on future investment by foreign countries. There were too much bogus regulations in the 80's 90's in Japan that left bad taste in their mouth and this will not be repeated.
0
heliotr
It is never too late, Japanese is a key for lots of brands in fashion, sports and so on. It is great for your brand if you can make it sucessfull in such country like Japan!
0
noborito
Too late for Japan. Everyone is moving to China or Singapore. The bla bla bla about how different it is to do business in Japan is 20 years too old. Business is done everywhere with international standards. If Japan can't sit at the table and embrace these standards then good ridden. Japanese time as leader of Asia is over. Everyone else in the world has already moved on. Catch up or return to a 3rd world status.
0
Kauai
There is a big question of mentality. Japan will be attractive for foreign investor when Japanese people will stop seeing foreign countries as territories for arrogant commercial conquests. They should treat foreigners with less contempt and much more open-mindedness, as equals in commercial negociations. This is my perception, despite the "Japanese cultural exception".
0
shinjukuboy
Japan is the second largest economy in the world. Anyone who is not selling here is just plain shortsighted (I was going to say "stupid", but restrained myself).
0
noborito
shinjukuboy, its only the second because of the USA. If the USA moves many more corporate headquarters then Japan will not even make it in the top 10. In the last 6 months 8 of my ex-pat friends have moved to either Singapore or Beijing. Many companies are moving their headquarters to countries who speak English and Chinese. Positioning themselves to align themselves with China the real economic power in Asia.
0
TSRnow
24 hour market survey and live chat?
I hope their clients are not doing any decision making based on that sort of info.
The Japanese market is far more complicated...
0
shinjukuboy
Noborito, 8 of your ex-pat friends relocated to Singapore or Beijing? A real tidal wave (tsumani?) isn't it.
Let's be clear: Japan is the worlds second largest economy.
Some Chinese like to say that by some measures, the Chinese economy is as large as the Japanese, like that is something to be proud of. Why does it take 1.3 BILLION Chinese to produce as much wealth as 126 million Japanese? When their economy is 10 times larger than Japan (and I'm sure they will do it), then they have something to be proud of (if the size of your economy is something to be proud of).
0
sfjp330
For how long? 1-2 years from now they will be #3. Even in a bad economic year, China is still growing at over 7 GNP percent rate and they still have the right combination for future growth. China has grown so quickly in the last 20 years, and they have talented, educated workforce. If you ask anybody from the west to open a new business opportunity in Japan, 90 percent will not consider. Japan's business practice still want west to adjust to Japanese way, and time has passed where it's not a possibility. Business people really don't care about Japan. Japan is an aging population, and in 20-30 years from now, they will become like England. A stagnet society.
0
GW
Well admitedly Jpn has/is blowing its chances for foreign investment etc it is still & will be a large market for many years yet. So for some it will be good to invest in, others it wont, hardly a revalation.
China, while it is booming it also has & will have more rather large problems to deal with if it is to survive. Population, pollution, corruption, the govt, so while its doing good growing there are many problems along with that growth, can China handle both, I dont know but it looks like a place that cud either implode or explode or both at any given time.
Again to recap Jpn will be a significant economy for a while yet before she fades away, for some thats good for some its not of much interest
0
noborito
shinjukuboy I'm only one person with very few ex-pat friends. 8 is huge for just me. As for economy, just watched an NHK special on how Japan budget deficit using GDP will be 200% this year. The highest in the world in terms of debt. America is 3rd with 110% and Australia is 130%. Even through the bubble in Japan the figure was 105%. China for the past 10 years has been positive. Interesting....
0
shinjukuboy
True enough about the high debt. It is not good, or rather it is harmful. But what matters, at least in the mid-term, is how much it costs to service the debt, which here is next to nothing. What they make every year on interest the US pays on their US government debt holdings pays the lions share of that.
All my ex-pat friends are still here, and so am I. I'm the poorest one among then,but even I'm doing very well.
0
M51T
With the focus on internet business in today's world, using an agent is a glaring inefficiency.
0
sekaiheiwa
as me being a japanese, it`s cool to see that everyone discussing whether jpn will be a good place to invest or not. having read all above, one thing is clear that everyone still paying attention what will or is happening in jpn. if not, you all would not even commenting on this or even not checking out "JAPAN" TODAY website. then i wonder if those people seeing no hope in jpn future are still living in jpn? if they stay, why not move to china or singapore then try invest in other asian countries? btw, totally agree that my country is still cho super closed country and should have open-minded for gaijin-san! My only wish is that jpn to be a leading country for uniting asia!
0
Athletes
It is true that Japan has been losing the competitive edges with China and Singapore. Japan is very expensive to run the business. It has lost the postwar efficiency. One mistake was Japan did not wish to share the know-how with others. Japan likes a copy right software. China likes a open source software who wish to share and develope with others.
Aother advantage of china is huge diaspora of oversea chinese network plus HongKong & Taiwan. It is unfair for comparing Japan with China.
As a market China is growing and it is potential for explosive growth. China strength is building the supply chains of all necessary components near the plant. Japan strength is hightech and innovation. Japan can not manfacure the goods cheaply like developing nations.
However when I compare Japan with china and singapore for purchaising power, their market size is still smaller than Japan. Singapore population is just four millions. As a market it is not promising. For china, inner west areas still along way to catch up the east coast prosperity. China is good for manufacturing hub. Not for selling goods and service for domestic market. It will face the fierce competition with local operators.
In Japan, income and purchasing power gap is not huge like China. Posters needed to remember that Japan is a champion of science and technology in Asia.
If Japan can reinvent itself with Nanotech, biotech and robotic with selling China price, it can change the budget from red into black.
0
illsayit
The problem is they work through the government and embassies. Lets face it. They are diplomatic, but what does a diplomat know about say, ...well just about any business. Name it! When you have some computor savvy er um sales rep, that if you cough up the money they will do the marketing-in which case, at times is pointless, because you can just spend money on advertising and you will most likely reach the same nos. of market. It is the people who have to realize you cant keep selling each other out, and sometimes you just have to actually work. I dont think Japan is interested in reinventing itself, that seems to suit who?
0
mygrain
Masai has his work cut out for him. After years and years of protecting domestic markets Japan has gained a reputation as a place that does not welcome foreign business. China has done just the opposite, as has Hong Kong, Singapore, and even Viet Nam. Todays Yomiuri reported that Japan has fallen well off the pace in terms of global competiveness. Maybe the new government can put some direction in this rudderless ship.
0
spudman
New direction, too late that ship has sailed west and south. Trouble with protectionism and corruption, it will bite you in the long run. Japan is extremely bloated with regulations that actively repel foreign investment. This and a declining domestic market crippled by extremely low interest rates does not bode well for Japan. Good luck Masai san.
Back to top