Currently, we deliver Asamerry and other items directly to customers via online shopping, but some people may have the image that "Asamerry is something you buy at a department store." Today, we would like to look back on our sales history, which has progressed alongside department stores.
The origins of department stores date back to the Meiji period. Mitsukoshi Kimono Store Co., Ltd. was established in 1904 (Meiji 37 ), which was converted from Mitsui Kimono Store. The well-known Mitsukoshi was Japan's first department store. Other stores that were converted from kimono stores include Takashimaya, Matsuzakaya, and Daimaru. A major feature of all of them was that customers could enter the sales floor wearing their footwear. Later, department stores run by railway companies appeared. Hankyu Department Store, which opened in Umeda, Osaka in 1929 (Showa 4 ), is said to be the first terminal department store in the Orient.
At the time, department stores were luxurious and ahead of their time, with rows of high-quality products. At the time, Ingres actively sought to do business with department stores, as this overlapped with the company's image of valuing quality and innovation. As a result, contracts were concluded with Mitsukoshi Main Store in 1928 (Showa 3 ), and with Hankyu Department Store in 1930. Ingres products were recognized by both the prestigious East and the elite of the West.
Once Angle products began to appear in department stores, customer preferences became clearly evident in the form of sales. Customer feedback also began to reach the store staff, bringing the makers and customers closer together.
We have received a wide range of messages and opinions from our customers. For example, one time we had a customer who called us multiple times from Midosuji in Osaka.
"Is it not available at Department Store A ?"
"I also went to Department Store B , but they didn't have it."
He actually went to multiple department stores looking for Angle products. I felt sorry for the inconvenience, but I was grateful that someone was interested in our products, and it made me feel proud all over again.
On another occasion, we received the following call from a customer who has been using Angle products for nearly 20 years.
"I went all the way to a department store in Kyoto, but they didn't have any new designs."
In fact, at that time, the company had begun to consider introducing online sales. However, they were hesitant to take the first step due to concerns that this would change the image of Angle products, which have been sold primarily in department stores since the early Showa period, as "luxury underwear found in department stores." At that time, the encouragement they received from customers, such as those mentioned above, gave them the push they needed. They decided to start online sales in order to ensure that the products they wanted were delivered to the customers who chose and used Angle products.
Now, in addition to online sales, we also have a toll-free number for telephone sales. This is because we did not want to lose the interaction with customers that began on the sales floors of department stores. Even though the method of product delivery has changed, our attitude of listening to customer feedback and incorporating it into product development remains unchanged.