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Reasons Why TOSYO is Chosen as a Business Collaboration Partner
Takafumi Nakagawa, President, TOSYO• Businesses targeting consumers directly
• Companies holding licenses (intellectual properties related to anime, games, etc.)
• Original goods platform companies
This article focuses on collaboration with "original goods platform companies."
"Original goods platform companies" refers to businesses that primarily provide services to individuals, enabling them to turn their created illustrations or characters into merchandise for sale.
Many YouTubers, influencers, and illustrators use these platforms to sell their original goods and character merchandise.
In platform businesses, the individuals who want to create products act as the clients, while those who purchase the products become the recipients. This business model is based on the premise of responding to the specific needs of each fan, and as such, product lots are not always produced in large quantities.
However, as the popularity of the platform or e-commerce service increases, the number of clients and recipients grows exponentially. This, in turn, requires managing the production of goods with a vast number of SKUs and handling a growing number of delivery destinations. As a result, the complexity of manufacturing and delivery management rises sharply, making operations increasingly intricate and significantly increasing the administrative workload.
Under these conditions, platform companies—who take full responsibility for communication with manufacturers and delivery service providers—face an ever-growing burden in their day-to-day operations.
To address these challenges, we act as an intermediary between platform companies and manufacturers, providing value to both. Here are the benefits of collaborating with us for both types of companies.
Collaboration among Platform Companies, TOSYO, and Manufacturers
Platform companies aim to expand their product range to meet diverse user demands. However, this often results in increased management burdens for manufacturing and delivery, as well as challenges in negotiating with multiple manufacturers.
To address these challenges, we offer the following solutions:
1.Proposal of plans and product lines: Offering plans and variations of goods that resonate with consumers.
2.Selection of manufacturers and product development: Identifying the most suitable manufacturers and supporting product development.
3.Production management (delivery schedule management): Managing delivery timelines to ensure smooth production processes.
4.Selection of delivery service providers and establishment of delivery systems: Optimizing delivery workflows and adjusting costs.
5.Inspection, individual packaging, and delivery execution: Handling operations from inspection to individual packaging and final delivery.
On the other hand, manufacturing companies often face inefficiencies when working with platform companies due to small-lot production requirements. This can lead some manufacturers to decline collaboration opportunities.
Behind this situation lies the fact that small-lot production still involves a certain amount of effort and cost. For example, whether producing just one item or one hundred, the preliminary processes—such as converting photos or illustrations into print-ready data and preparing the printing equipment—require nearly the same amount of work. When platform companies delegate these tasks entirely to manufacturers, it creates uncertainty about production scale and places additional strain on the manufacturing side.
However, if the platform side optimizes processes in advance—such as organizing print data and selecting appropriate production methods—manufacturers can configure their production lines more efficiently. When consistent materials and specifications are used, even small-lot production can be handled in a rational and streamlined manner. This creates mutual benefits for both platform companies and manufacturers.
We facilitate smooth collaboration with manufacturers by offering the following solutions:
1.Promising bulk orders: Consolidating orders for similar products with different designs to ensure lot sizes.
2.Risk hedging for manufacturers: Supporting stable production schedules and inspection systems.
3.Securing stable orders: Providing manufacturers with consistent orders through transactions with platform companies.
4.Optimizing production plans: Continuously refining production plans to enhance factory efficiency.
5.Supporting appropriate operations for customer requests: Assisting manufacturers in meeting customer needs effectively.
As a result, by collaborating with us:
• Platform companies can focus on tasks such as system development and marketing, enabling them to expand their business opportunities.
• Manufacturing companies can consistently secure small-lot production orders that they may have previously missed.
Why Companies Choose TOSYO
We are chosen as a business collaboration partner for three key reasons:
• Focus on long-term business success: We prioritize creating sustainable businesses for all stakeholders and end consumers.
• Deep understanding of each stakeholder's circumstances: We thoroughly analyze each stakeholder's situation and seek optimal solutions tailored to their needs.
• Commitment to "creating cool products with the right added value": We foster an environment where all parties involved in manufacturing can produce and sell high-quality products without undue strain.
TOSYO's Future Plans
Building on our successful experiences, we are advancing further business development initiatives:
• Expanding into China: We are preparing to implement our proven business model in China.
• Exploring New Fields: We are exploring new fields where our operational structuring capabilities can be utilized, such as NFC card printing and writing, in addition to our work with miscellaneous goods.
• Building Strategic Alliances: We aim to support manufacturers through sales representation and fostering new alliances.
Leveraging our expertise and skills developed through past transactions, we continue expanding into new business areas. By forming partnerships with new collaborators, we aim to create an environment where more companies can seize business opportunities.
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TOSYO provides end-to-end services, from planning to delivery of anime and character merchandise, as well as original goods in the OEM/ODM sector, driven by our vision of creating opportunities for everyone to challenge business.
However, if the platform side optimizes processes in advance—such as organizing print data and selecting appropriate production methods—manufacturers can configure their production lines more efficiently. When consistent materials and specifications are used, even small-lot production can be handled in a rational and streamlined manner. This creates mutual benefits for both platform companies and manufacturers.
We facilitate smooth collaboration with manufacturers by offering the following solutions:
1.Promising bulk orders: Consolidating orders for similar products with different designs to ensure lot sizes.
2.Risk hedging for manufacturers: Supporting stable production schedules and inspection systems.
3.Securing stable orders: Providing manufacturers with consistent orders through transactions with platform companies.
4.Optimizing production plans: Continuously refining production plans to enhance factory efficiency.
5.Supporting appropriate operations for customer requests: Assisting manufacturers in meeting customer needs effectively.
As a result, by collaborating with us:
• Platform companies can focus on tasks such as system development and marketing, enabling them to expand their business opportunities.
• Manufacturing companies can consistently secure small-lot production orders that they may have previously missed.
Why Companies Choose TOSYO
We are chosen as a business collaboration partner for three key reasons:
• Focus on long-term business success: We prioritize creating sustainable businesses for all stakeholders and end consumers.
• Deep understanding of each stakeholder's circumstances: We thoroughly analyze each stakeholder's situation and seek optimal solutions tailored to their needs.
• Commitment to "creating cool products with the right added value": We foster an environment where all parties involved in manufacturing can produce and sell high-quality products without undue strain.
TOSYO's Future Plans
Building on our successful experiences, we are advancing further business development initiatives:
• Expanding into China: We are preparing to implement our proven business model in China.
• Exploring New Fields: We are exploring new fields where our operational structuring capabilities can be utilized, such as NFC card printing and writing, in addition to our work with miscellaneous goods.
• Building Strategic Alliances: We aim to support manufacturers through sales representation and fostering new alliances.
Leveraging our expertise and skills developed through past transactions, we continue expanding into new business areas. By forming partnerships with new collaborators, we aim to create an environment where more companies can seize business opportunities.
