Consumerism Episodes

Everything you ever wanted to know about the grocery & convenience store business in Japan with Haribo Japan President, Paul Craft. He is an expert on Japan's packaged consumer goods market. Paul started his Japan career 13 years ago with Starbucks Japan, then launched HoneyBaked Ham (their first ever foreign expansion), and has been the country manager for Haribo Japan since 2018. We discuss the production of a localized Haribo TV commercial with real Sumo wrestlers, inside info on distribution...

Deanna Elstrom is a veteran brand marketer, brand strategist, and consumer insights specialist. She has recently launched her own company called Somi Insights, where she combines her love of branding with a fascination of how culture influences human behavior. Japanese consumers is a key area of Deanna's expertise as she led two major agencies during the past seven years in Japan. We discuss the the Japanese name "Somi" which she coined, we learn the big difference between "insights" and "findin...

This episode we discuss fashion in Japan and premium dog food. Not two topics often mentioned in the same sentence, but very related to today's guest Mr. Loic Bizel. Loic started his own fashion consulting business in Tokyo nearly 30 years ago and runs two very successful fashion related websites (see links in the notes below). He was one of the co-founders of the fashion "flash sales" site Gladd.jp in 2009. He's referred to as a "Trendspotter" and "Cool Hunter" by the media and is considered on...

This episode I sit down with Dominic Carter, an expert on Japan market entry, market research, and branding. Dominic shares great insight, knowledge, and current research results, for anyone working in Japan or looking to expand into Japan needs to hear. Today you hear his 3 Golden Rules for Japan market entry success, the 4 Marco Trends shaping modern Japan, as well as numerous great quotes about how to succeed in the Japanese market. This is must listen to anyone doing business in Japan. Other...

Mary Reisel is an applied anthropologist, who has lived in Japan for nearly 20 years. Her main area of expertise is consumer psychology. She is also a PhD. candidate from Meiji Gakuin University and her dissertation is on Japanese "Enjyo Kosai" also known as Compensated Dating and how it applies to consumption and E-Commerce. After ten years of researching this controversial subject, she explains how sexuality, intimacy, and desire are not only closely linked to consumerism but also hold the key...

Timothy Connor, is a successful, long-term Japan resident. we discuss in-depth, retail in Japan and how his business Synnovate, specifically his new concept "Responsive" is helping companies adopt a more customer-centric focus through improved customer experience. Timothy believes the future of retail is the customer as the point of sale. It's more than just a discussion about buzz-words, please join in on this innovative customer approach conversation at Shibuya's TGI Friday's. Some highlights ...

Originally from Bavaria, it was not coincidental that Chris and I shared "German" beers at the new and increasingly popular beer restaurant Schmatz for this conversation. Chris Thoma is an amazing guy with amazing stories, and he loves to tell them. Chris first came to Japan as a professional at age 25 working for the German hair care company Wella. Between then and 2018 when he retired, he held the position of President Japan for both Triumph (Ladies underwear not the motorcycle) and Le Creuset...

If you are interested in Brand Marketing you will love this episode of Business & Beers. I sit down for beers (and martinis) with marketing guru Mr. Per Rasmussen. For the past 30 years, Per has been either, head of marketing or president of four major European consumer goods companies in Japan. At both Lego and T-fal he solidified his legacy as a marketing genius by creating a famous TV commercial jingle (#3 Law of the mind), launching a new (still market leading) product category (#2 Law of th...