――What was your impression of the Fashion InStyle show?
"The exhibitors who stood out most were OEM manufacturers — there weren't as many clothing brands as I'd expected. Among visitors too, I noticed a lot of people doing market research or looking for OEM partners, and relatively few retailers looking for brands to stock."
――Please tell us about your exhibit content and what you were careful about.
"We brought samples covering both the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. Visitors from Thailand and Indonesia only seemed interested in summer items, so I felt it was the right call to bring both. This time we also specially prepared postcards with a QR code to bring along, made specifically to help build brand awareness. During the show, we handed them out not just to visitors at our booth but to people walking around the venue too, to get the word out."
――What did you notice about buyer reactions and market needs?
"I could really feel the strong interest in Japanese brands and Japanese-made products. We received a lot of compliments on the fabric feel and design. It gave me real confidence that there's potential for our business to grow from here."
――How did the business discussions and deals go?
"We had 14 discussions that look likely to lead to some kind of deal. Since returning to Japan we've sent over more detailed materials and are currently following up — nothing has closed yet, but I'm optimistic."
――What are your plans for further overseas expansion?
"We plan to keep at it. Based on this experience, we'd like to exhibit at overseas shows again."