Japan Italy

Case Study: Don Quijote

Don Quijote, affectionately known as Donki to Japanese consumers, is more than just a retail store. Founded in 1980 by Takao Yasuda, Don Quijote has become a cultural phenomenon in Japan: its more than 600 stores, often open 24 hours a day, featuring a deliberately messy design and shelves packed to the brim, creating a continuous discovery experience for customers. The brand is also known for its mascot, Donpen, a friendly blue penguin who adds a touch of humour to the brand and helps strengthen its visual identity.

Why Don Quijote is so loved?

1. Stunning Variety of Products
Don Quijote offers a seemingly endless assortment: you can find everyday items such as food and cleaning products, but also curious and unusual objects, such as Halloween costumes, prank gadgets and unique accessories. This mix of necessity and extravagance makes Don Quijote a place for everyone.

2. Competitive Prices
The brand is known for its affordable prices. Don Quijote uses a strong supplier network and efficient inventory management to keep costs low, making its stores a popular destination for both those looking for convenience and those looking to buy in bulk.

3. Fun Shopping Experience
Don Quijote stores are designed to surprise. Narrow aisles and displays overloaded with products create a chaotic but exciting atmosphere, almost like a "treasure hunt". This approach not only encourages customers to explore every corner of the store but also increases the likelihood of impulse purchases.

4. Flexibility and Adaptability
Each Don Quijote store tailors its offerings to the local community. For example, in the tourist districts, you will find Japanese souvenirs, snacks, and cosmetics that are popular with international visitors. In the residential districts, however, the emphasis is on basic necessities.

Don Quixote's Secret to Success

1. Unique Marketing Strategy
Don Quijote does not invest heavily in traditional advertising. Instead, it relies on word of mouth and in-store experiences to build its brand. The store's upbeat and catchy music, the famous Donki Song, creates a unique sonic identity that sticks in customers' minds.

2.Amazing Collaboration
Donki has embarked on a surprising collaboration with Bruno Mars to create a new musical identity. Mars’ choice came after the chain’s historic jingle needed to be updated due to copyright issues. The singer not only composed a new official song for Donki, but also starred in a series of commercials alongside the chain’s famous penguin mascot, Donpen. The campaign attracted a lot of attention, showing Bruno Mars dancing with Donpen to the rhythm of a lively beat, creating a party atmosphere. The initiative also includes a collection of exclusive Mars merchandise, a true tribute to Donki’s unique mix of pop culture and retail. This collaboration is a brilliant move, capable of renewing the brand while maintaining its iconic appeal

https://youtu.be/bCBqxHc5idI?si=fN1mpPkIuD5jkv02

3. Continuous innovation
The company is not afraid to experiment. From collaborations with international brands to the creation of high-end stores like MEGA Don Quijote, Don Quijote continues to evolve to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse clientele.

4. Strategic Presence in Tourist Locations
Don Quijote is particularly popular among tourists, thanks to its tax-free availability and wide range of souvenirs and cosmetics. Stores such as the famous Donki in Shibuya attract millions of visitors each year, cementing the brand as a must-visit for those visiting Japan.

5. Visionary Leadership
Under Takao Yasuda, Don Quijote has adopted a flexible and decentralized approach, giving each store manager autonomy to respond to local needs. This has allowed the company to grow rapidly without losing touch with customers.

The Cultural Impact of Don Quijote

Don Quijote is more than just a store; it is a cultural institution in Japan. Its unique aesthetic and playful approach to shopping has inspired imitators and reinforced the allure of “organized chaos.” The brand has also found an international audience, expanding to countries like Singapore, Thailand, and even the United States. In Japan, Donki has become synonymous with convenient and fun shopping, a place where anyone can find something useful or unique, often unexpectedly.

Conclusion: Don Quijote, a Lesson in Retail Success

Don Quijote’s success lies in its ability to combine competitive prices, an infinite variety of products and a unique shopping experience. In an increasingly competitive retail market, Don Quijote stands out for its innovative and customer-oriented approach. Whether locals looking for convenience or tourists looking for souvenirs, Don Quijote has positioned itself as a brand that caters to everyone, turning every visit into a memorable experience.

by Sara

Case Study: Christmas as a Commercial Phenomenon: An Analysis of Japanese Success

The adoption of Christmas in Japan offers an interesting case study of how a culture can reinterpret a foreign holiday, turning it into an economic driver. The phenomenon is based on three main pillars:

1. Cultural adaptation and local storytelling
The success of Christmas in Japan is rooted in the ability to integrate Western symbols and traditions with local values ​​and sensibilities. KFC fried chicken and Christmas cake are prime examples: both reinterpret the traditional Western Christmas meal, but in a form accessible and attractive to the Japanese public. These symbols embody nostalgia for the idea of ​​post-war American prosperity, but at the same time satisfy the Japanese taste for attention to detail, aesthetics and conviviality.

2. Creating seasonal needs
Christmas in Japan is more than just a holiday; it’s a carefully orchestrated season of consumption. Peer pressure and the desire to participate in a shared atmosphere create a sense of urgency that drives sales. From KFC bucket reservations to personalized cakes, to couple gifts and romantic dates, everything is designed to create targeted demand.

3. The strategic use of experiences
A distinctive element of Christmas marketing in Japan is the creation of immersive experiences. Markets, spectacular lights and themed decorations are designed to engage the public and create memories. The experiential aspect amplifies the value of Christmas as a social event, attracting consumers of all ages and turning them into brand ambassadors through social media

The Economic Impact of Christmas in Japan
Although not an official holiday, Christmas is an event that generates a considerable economic impact. Some of the sectors that benefit the most include:
Restaurants: Chains like KFC are seeing impressive sales spikes, with Christmas being one of the most profitable weeks of the year.
Pastries and confectionery: Cake and dessert sales are hitting record highs, fueled by an industry that prides itself on quality and innovation.
Fashion and accessories: Christmas sales and date-related promotions are boosting sales of clothing, jewellery, and beauty products.
Domestic tourism: Christmas attractions, such as markets and lights, are driving many families and couples to travel within Japan, boosting local economies.

Criticisms and Future Prospects

Despite its commercial success, Christmas in Japan is not without its critics. Some observers believe that the excessive focus on consumerism may diminish the authenticity of the holiday. Furthermore, the emphasis on gifts and romantic dates may fuel social dynamics that exclude those who do not participate in the dominant Christmas narrative. However, the Japanese Christmas phenomenon continues to evolve, demonstrating an incredible ability to adapt. With the rise of e-commerce and a greater focus on sustainability, the future of Christmas in Japan could see an integration of tradition, technology and more conscious practices

Conclusion: A global case study
Christmas in Japan is a prime example of how holidays can be used as cultural and commercial marketing tools. Japan’s ability to transform a religious celebration into a secular, lighthearted, and wildly profitable event offers valuable lessons in creativity, adaptability, and branding strategies. For anyone working in marketing or studying the dynamics of cultural consumerism, the Japanese Christmas is a model worth exploring.

by Sara

Business Focus: How to approach the Japanese market

Here we are again with the column dedicated to the Business Focus and today we are talking about how to approach the Japanese market. Starting from start-ups up to large companies, very often we tend to forget to approach and target the Japanese public and this is a mistake from the beginning. Why eliminate a slice of the market that represents the third world power in terms of consumers?

How to approach the Japanese market

Autore: Erika 

As we mentioned earlier, the Japanese market represents the third largest slice of the world by consumer level. Instead, did you know that social media platforms, even the biggest ones, consider the Japanese market as the second largest market in the world? This is because China, which would occupy the second place, has blocked many foreign companies and corporate policies, causing the focus to shift to Japan.

However, very often companies make the mistake of excluding Japan from their marketing strategies. This is because the Japanese market is also one of the most difficult to approach. In reality, you just need to be able to adapt to their mentality and ways.

The obstacles of the Japanese market

One of the biggest problems that Western companies find when approaching the Japanese market is primarily the language barrier. In fact, the average Japanese customer prefers to use their own language for both private relations and business exchanges. In fact, according to EF, Japan ranks 55th in the chart table in terms of knowledge of English.

If we add to this the fact that Japan is a country that is very attached to tradition and also to its customs and traditions, the approach to this market becomes even more difficult. However, this should not stop us, but rather stimulate us to find a way to reach this market. So, what kind of marketing strategies and tactics could we adopt? How to deal with this situation?

Digital is the solution

The strategy is actually not that complicated, digital and new media are our solution. If we're talking about startups in fact, often the available budget is limited and splitting this on different platforms to have more presence could actually be counterproductive. Better to focus your savings on digital. Over the years of working with Japanese companies and people, we've tried many different ways to promote companies. So here are our tips on where to focus.

Facebook & Instagram ads

In the past, we've already addressed how new digital media, and social media in particular, can help us set our company sailing internationally. In particular, the ads feature of Facebook and Instagram is one of the best tools to target specific users. Both start-ups and established companies should take advantage of this tool to be able to reach their audience.

The two social media platforms obviously have different demographics, with Facebook reaching a more adult audience in Japan and Instagram reaching a younger audience. By combining the two platforms and using them to promote your company, you can reach a wider audience. Obviously, before embarking on a promotional operation, it is important to study your mission and your target audience to be able to reach the right niche audience on the right social.

Twitter ads

One of the most successful social networks in Japan is definitely Twitter. Twitter has more monthly active users (45 million) than any other social media platform such as Instagram (33 million) and even Facebook (26 million) in Japan.

Twitter is a bit of a "controversial" platform, you either love it or hate it. However, when used for business it can become a really powerful and effective media as much as Facebook, especially when it comes to ads. In some cases, depending on the industry, it could even outperform Facebook. Twitter also reaches a very young audience and many Japanese companies have used Twitter ads not only to increase their brand awareness but also to increase their profit organically. If you want to reach the young audience in Japan, Twitter could be the solution for you.

Influencer Marketing

And finally we come here, to Influencer Marketing, what we believe to be the strategy that works best internationally today. In today's world, we are all bombarded by the myriad of advertisements, focusing on influencer partnerships could become a positive thing.

However, influencer marketing can be a double-edged sword. The first step to pay attention to and that will determine the success of a good campaign is the correct choice of the influencer with whom to collaborate. In this case it becomes even more important to be able to find the right influencer who is in line with your image and who has an audience in line with your target.

Obviously, being able to collaborate with big names like Chiara Ferragni or Naomi Watanabe is really difficult, however, there is a category that should not be underestimated: micro-influencers. They have limited followers compared to the others, but they also have a higher engagement rate. These could not only be loyal customers or brand advocates but also be able to bring the audience to your niche.

Investing in marketing is always a great choice and startups that may not have an infinite budget can narrow down their strategy to something targeted and functional. The Japanese market may seem strange but it has the potential to be the springboard for your company. Absolutely not to be ignored.

by erikaswan

Business Focus: Content Strategy, everything you need to know before you start

We continue our column on Business Focus talking about Content Strategy. Last time we talked about Native Advertising which is closely related to content marketing. So today, let's go and see what to do before jumping into the fray!

Content Strategy, how to lay the foundation for a solid campaign

Author: Erika 

Probably some of you have already heard of Content Marketing, after all it is one of those types of promotion that is going for the most along with Native Advertising. However, a campaign cannot work separately from a more comprehensive and long-lasting strategy.

"Having a precise and structured content strategy is key to creating winning digital campaigns."

This is not only one of our mantras, but it should be that of every company that decides to approach (even for the first time) digital marketing. In fact, there is no content marketing without content strategy, or at least not one that works profitably.
So it's extremely important to study and understand how we can leverage a winning strategy for our business, whatever it may be.

What are Content Marketing and Content Strategy

First of all, let's understand what it actually is.

Content marketing is the creation and distribution of useful and valuable content. All this aimed at a well-defined target audience in order to attract and acquire potential customers and make them take profitable actions.

The content strategy instead deals with the more "theoretical and strategic" aspects. In the strategy we must in fact include all sides related to the planning and management of content throughout its life cycle. This includes not only the creation and publication of the content, but also a careful analysis. In fact, we're talking about a study that involves aligning content with a company's goals, content development, production, measurement and even archiving. This entire phase precedes the implementation of the content itself.

Content strategy is what lies upstream, everything that defines and regulates the practical development process. In fact, the figure of the content strategist does not deal with the production of content, but focuses the attention to the planning of the same. This is the person responsible for deciding not only when content should be published but above all why it should be produced. In fact, each content is a single brick that goes to lay the foundation for the success of the whole communication strategy. It is therefore important to have a well-defined project, studied and that can be analyzed in every step.

Content Strategy: What you need to know before you start

We've said that content strategy is ultimately nothing more than a strategy that envisions a company's business goals and then uses content as the primary means to achieve those goals.

Content can be of various types but one of the important focuses that these have in common is the intelligent use of stories and creative writing, in any form, but we’ll talk more on that in another article.

Content marketing, even in Japan, focuses on a variety of content that can range from a blog post to a confirmation page. The task of these productions is to build a connection of trust between a company's products or services and its target audience. This becomes more fundamental in Japan, where gaining the trust of the customer means everything and has much more weight than in other countries. In fact, as we've mentioned in the past, the Japanese people are basically a traditionalist nation that doesn't like change. In fact, once the target audience trusts and relies on a specific company, they never leave it again.

But this is just the beginning of the Content Strategy concept, so let's take a more specific look at what is involved in a good strategy.

Content strategy: The Vision

When we decide to approach something, if we want this thing to be successful, the fundamental basis is to have a clear vision of what this is all about.

Defining the goals, objectives, what we hope to accomplish and how we hope to accomplish it are the first steps toward writing a good business plan. This starts with a vision of what we want the company to be in three to five years, and then creating an action plan to achieve that vision. This is the foundation of a good strategy.

In addition to making a list of all these things, it is equally important to measure with milestones and goals that are solid enough to challenge ourselves but at the same time flexible and adaptable to any situation. And in this regard, this pandemic has certainly taught us very quickly that everything is mutable and everything can change in a matter of very few days. Hence precisely the importance of having stable and precise goals, but at the same time flexible and adaptable to any occasion. This will allow you to have things well clear and under control, and to start your journey from a stronger position.

This is all part of content strategy. Dealing with the vision, the pros and cons of how and why a piece of content will be created, managed, archived or updated.
At the end of the day, content strategy boils down to writing and planning content with specific goals and objectives in mind. Nothing we're going to share should be disconnected from everything else in the content and business goals. That's really where vision and purpose come into play.

Planning for success

Whatever project you're working on, whether it's personal or for a client, if you want to grow your content it becomes a matter of visibility. Inevitably we will find ourselves fighting for the top spot on google or finding our audience on social. To do this though, it means we need a strategy or otherwise a plan of action.

By now we know what we want to achieve with the content that we are going to create. The correct question to ask ourselves now is "how can we achieve it? In what way?" So let's talk about the method.

Surely the first step is to have an edge over the competition, but we can't all be Chiara Ferragni and be first in the field. So how can we do that? The answer is to have a solid and smart content marketing plan in place.

Getting discovered is one if not THE big ask in recent years and at the root of it all is always interpersonal relationships. Getting our friends and their friends to read and share is the first step toward expanding our audience. This could be the beginning of our strategy.
However, in order for this to work, we need to find the exact target of not only our audience but also our content. To get to this point we need to take a close look at what has already been done and how it is working, so let's talk about analytics.

Here's another important word in all strategies and, more generally, in all work: analysis.

Content review is indeed one of the most important steps in developing our strategy but it's not the strategy itself. Doing a careful review of all the content that has already been shared, even by our competitors, will help us better understand what can work and what can't. Next, we can go deep into analyzing our own content and repurposing it to see what might be more successful.

Thinking strategically really comes down to asking good and right questions at each step of the process.

Give the right purpose to your content

In today's world, where our smartphones and dashboards are crowded (or rather overcrowded) with all kinds of content, it becomes really important to carefully select what we are going to share. Throwing any kind of photo or video into the ether just to create presence no longer makes sense. It's much better to invest time and energy in creating content that has a chance and a clear purpose.
Let's remember that we want our content to be successful, to reach our audience and to make us gain something, be it brand awareness or other kind of profit. So why waste content before it has a chance?

The audience is now used to receiving endless content input and we want to make sure ours succeeds. We want to make sure that our content reaches our audience and leaves a good impression. We already know that Japanese audiences are not easy to impress. So, how can we achieve this? Simple, by planning our content and thinking strategically.

The key is always to have a strategy before creating any content. We should not just push out content for the sake of it, but rather think about its quality as well, and fit it into a specific time frame.

So, before we jump into the content creation fray we need to ask ourselves the right questions. What do we want to achieve? How does this new content fit in with the content we already have or are thinking about planning? What is the big picture of our content?

These are all fundamental questions to answer before we begin our production. Let's not forget that we have a specific purpose, whatever that may be, and that purpose needs to be well defined. For example, are you creating content to increase brand awareness or generate leads? There are many purposes, but the important thing is to be clear about what they are so you can plan the right strategy.

Give your content a purpose and you'll give your audience a reason to read, watch a video, like or re-share. The audience is not a flock of people but a living, intelligent organism, capable of understanding exactly where a piece of content is coming from and why we are publishing it. This is even more valuable with Japanese audiences who are increasingly attentive and selective in their search for content.

If we're creating a piece of content for a reason and planning it in advance as part of our strategy, the audience will notice. Similarly, if we were to do the opposite and throw things out randomly, without a specific strategy behind it, the audience will notice it too.

That's why purpose is so important.

Here’s the bottom line

Creating an effective content strategy that manages to connect with an audience and inspire them to action can seem really complicated. However, as we've come to realize, it's the foundation of any successful marketing campaign. Creating content that has a purpose, that is part of a larger vision and that connects us with our audience is the foundation of any good communication strategy.

It's not always a skill or resource that we find within all companies, which is why there are realities like ours that take care of following this whole part even on behalf of third parties. We take care of creating this model, producing the content and maintaining the work done and then repeating it. Our efforts are put into creating a strategy that will allow your potential audience to discover you. This makes it easier for you to focus on other aspects of your work, or just relax without having to think about it!

by erikaswan