Leveraging my experience as a store manager,
I now take on a leadership role overseeing multiple stores.

Why did you join Tomizawa Shouten ?

I had been a customer of Tomizawa Shouten 's stores even before joining the company, and I was attracted to their highly specialized products, such as spices, and their quality

I was looking for an environment where I could leverage the experience I gained in my previous job in retail while also taking on new challenges. I felt that Tomizawa Shouten offered an environment where I could handle highly specialized products while also taking on area management, which I had no prior experience in, so I decided to join the company

The work I am currently doing

Currently, as an area manager, I am in charge of approximately 10 stores and am working on managing store managers and improving store operations

Specifically, a key feature of this job is visiting each store, engaging in dialogue with store managers to address issues and improve sales, and providing on-site support as needed to implement improvement measures that are tailored to the actual situation

The interesting aspects of this job

The rewarding aspect of this job is being able to improve issues I identify on the ground and see the results reflected in the numbers. During my time as a store manager, I analyzed past sales data to revise store layouts and product placement, leading to increased sales.
This approach of using data, in addition to experience and intuition, to solve problems has been invaluable throughout my subsequent career.

Currently, as an area manager, I support store operations and am also involved in event planning in collaboration with commercial facilities.
I find it rewarding to challenge myself every day by exploring new sales channels and expanding sales, such as achieving 1.2 million yen in sales in just three days through off-site wagon sales

Things I value in management

What I value most when managing multiple stores is building trusting relationships with store managers and staff

Rather than simply relaying company policies, I make a point of explaining "why it's necessary" while taking into account the situation on the ground, so that people can take on the challenge positively

Furthermore, since the store manager is also in a position where they are prone to facing problems, they strive to create an environment where customers feel comfortable discussing their concerns with them

I've had some unsuccessful experiences with management in the past, but I've re-evaluated my approach based on those experiences, which has ultimately led to improved staff retention

Things that feel typical of Tomizawa Shouten

Tomizawa Shouten is a company where area managers and stores are closely connected, and the field and headquarters work together as one

When you encounter difficulties, it's easy to consult with others, and if necessary, the area manager will come to the site to provide support.
As a result, we feel that it's an environment where we can take on challenges with peace of mind.

Things I want to try in the future

Going forward, we aim to further enhance our overall area management capabilities and achieve growth through optimal overall performance while leveraging the strengths of each individual store

In the future, I would like to be involved in the overall operation of the retail division and aim to become someone who can contribute to the business from a broader perspective