Interview with Hongo Mei
We spoke with a young employee working at Just, Hongo Mei.
From inexperienced to "Sales at a design company"
Transitioning from an office job to a sales position must have brought a lot of anxiety at the beginning. What kind of support did you receive in your work?
Hongo (no honorifics)
In the early days after joining, senior employees and the president accompanied me closely, teaching me various things from the flow of the day to how to proceed with work.
One thing that my seniors emphasized, which I still refer to, is the sales style of "when visiting, not just greeting one department, but multiple departments." I try to emulate this to create connections not only between the responsible parties but also across the entire company.
Additionally, I sometimes struggled with "what kind of information should I convey to the designer about the customer," but Just has a sales "Hearing Sheet," so I use that to draw out the customer's requests.
What kind of training programs were available for the entire company?
Hongo
There was a unique program at Just called "Value Class," where all employees had one-on-one in-depth conversations.
We created materials summarizing our own profiles and values in advance, and exchanged questions based on that. Over about a month, we had the opportunity to deeply understand each other among all the approximately 20 employees.
After taking the Value Class, was there a moment when you felt, "I'm glad I did it!"?
Hongo
A relationship that makes it easy to talk across departments was established.
There are people from departments with whom I don't usually have much contact, but thanks to that training, I feel it has become easier to casually chat when we pass each other in the office. I think it was good to know each other's personalities and common hobbies from the start.
Proposals with "+α" led to my own confidence
What do you keep in mind while engaging in sales activities?
Hongo
Right after joining, I thought the most important thing was to have customers "remember my face and name," so I made it a point to send an email on the same day to anyone I met for the first time or exchanged business cards with.
Prompt email replies and frequent communication are things I still make sure to maintain.
When do you feel a sense of fulfillment or enjoyment in your work?
Hongo
The moment I feel the most fulfilled is when I receive an email from a customer addressed directly to me, rather than to my seniors or the president. I truly feel the trust from customers who entrust me with their needs.
There were also times when I felt a sense of achievement in my own growth. Since I started from a different industry, I had no understanding of design terminology when I first joined. As I gradually absorbed knowledge through daily work, I felt my growth when I could keep up with the content of business negotiations.
Can you share a particularly happy episode from your work so far?
Hongo
During the production of a certain package, the customer specified a desired color, but while discussing with the president internally, an idea for a different color emerged: "How about proposing this color as well?"
So, I prepared samples of both the color the customer wanted and the color we proposed and brought them along. When I intended for the customer to choose one, they liked both finishes very much and ultimately requested, "Both colors are wonderful, so please produce both patterns." I was very happy to hear that it was well-received within the customer's company.
Being able to make a "+α" proposal to the customer also greatly boosted my confidence.
Continuing to grow in a warm environment that encourages me
Have you faced any difficulties?
Hongo
The biggest challenge was the "way to convey requests" to the designers. If I didn't accurately convey the customer's intentions, there were many times when the design that came back was different from what I had envisioned.
Now that I have gained knowledge about packaging, I can create instructions using Microsoft Word, allowing me to give more specific and clear directions.
You must have had some anxiety handling multiple projects in your first year. Did you feel pressure?
Hongo
When I took over customers from the president, I honestly had moments of doubt, thinking, "Is it really okay to proceed based on my instructions?" However, the president kindly supported me by saying, "Don't be afraid of failure; feel free to do it your way." This allowed me to continue making proposals to customers based on my own interpretations.
When customers are pleased with my proposals, it boosts my confidence.
You mentioned that the atmosphere of the workplace and the character of the employees were key factors in your decision to join. Was there a gap between your expectations before and after joining?
Hongo
In a good way, my image of the president changed. During the orientation and interviews, I had a slightly strict impression because he was the representative.
However, after actually joining and working together, I found the president to be very friendly, creating an atmosphere where even young employees can easily express their opinions. The attitude of respecting the opinions of young employees and warmly watching over their growth was not just the president's; it was the same for all the seniors and supervisors. I truly believe it is a workplace where it is easy to consult with others.
Finally, please give a message to readers of your generation.
Hongo
Work is not just about doing what you are told. For example, in sales, it is important to notice changes in interactions with customers and make "+α" proposals.
I believe that the small accumulations of daily efforts lead to personal growth, so let's work hard together!
Conclusion
When I visited the Just office, I had a brief chat with an employee I passed by at the entrance, saying, "It's hot today." Although it was just a moment of exchanging words, I remember feeling my heart warm up.
After finishing the interview with Hongo, I realized that the friendly atmosphere at Just is created by the thoughtfulness of each employee.
The good relationships among people surely contribute to a comfortable working environment.
Hongo is working freely and steadily growing from an inexperienced background. I look forward to supporting Hongo's future endeavors.
Young people weave the work stories of Kurashiki Back Numbers
Data of Just Co., Ltd.
| Organization Name | Just Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Planning, manufacturing, and sales of packaging |
| Representative Name | Sakai Kazuki |
| Year Established | 1997 |
| Address | 1-8-8 Kojima Ueno-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-472-7514 *Reception hours: Weekdays 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Website | Just Website |
