[Recruitment] Recruiting EC consultants in Fukuoka and Tokyo! Senior employees talk about the appeal of working at Commerce Media

Commerce Media Co., Ltd. supports the expansion of e-commerce sales for client companies by leveraging the know-how of the e-commerce business that the company has cultivated and a wide range of services such as multiple mall operations, logistics, and customer support. In recent years, the company has also set up an office in Fukuoka and is recruiting personnel on a national scale.

This time, we interviewed Toshiya.K, who joined Commerce Media and is working as an E-Commerce consultant. We asked him about a wide range of topics, including his experience in his previous job, the circumstances that led to his job change, the work content and joys of being an E-Commerce consultant, the appeal of the Fukuoka office, and the culture and evaluation system of Commerce Media.

Joined Commerce Media to gain practical experience in e-commerce

-First of all, what kind of work were you doing before moving to Commerce Media?

In my previous job, I joined an EC-specialized media company as a new graduate and had about three years of experience in sales and production of advertising media. Since it was a media company that comprehensively handled the entire EC industry, I gained knowledge of all areas surrounding EC, such as logistics, call centers, centralized management systems, cart systems, and payment processing.

--It seems like an attractive workplace, so why did you decide to change jobs?

On the other hand, I had almost no opportunities to be involved in the "practical" aspects of EC. As a media management company, we were not operating the EC site itself, so this was only natural, but I gradually began to feel a strong desire to be involved in the actual work.

After deciding to change jobs and leaving my previous job, I applied to Commerce Media, a company I was working for, and was given the opportunity. Commerce Media provides comprehensive support from the front to the back office, including EC strategy, website creation, operation, logistics, and customer support, so I felt that "I can learn about EC in its entirety here and also be fully involved in on-site practical work," and decided to change jobs in November 2020.

--So the deciding factor for you to change jobs was the opportunity to work in an environment where you could be involved in practical EC work?

That's right. Although I was able to increase my knowledge of e-commerce in my previous job, I wanted to learn more about the practical aspects of actual e-commerce operations, such as inventory management, running your own website and shopping malls (Rakuten, Amazon, Yahoo!, etc.), advertising operations, customer support, and logistics. Commerce Media offers comprehensive support services that include not only consulting services but also logistics and customer support, so I thought it would be an environment where I could grow into an "e-commerce professional."

The wide range of business operations increases market value

--What specific tasks are you currently performing as an EC consultant?

Broadly speaking, we are responsible for two main areas: our own sales business and client consulting.

• In-house sales business
  • Product import and quality control
  • Direct sales and wholesale business on EC
  • Operates multiple malls including Rakuten, Yahoo!, Amazon, Shopify, Qoo10, and LINE Gift
  • Annual, monthly and quarterly P&L management, strategy planning and operational improvement
  • Advertising operations and creative direction
    
• Consulting services
  • Regular meetings with customers to report on the current situation, identify issues, and adjust expectations
  • Numerical analysis and strategic proposals
  • Policy support during the implementation phase
  • Sometimes we also step into the actual operations of the business.

In the case of consulting, since it is a contracted project, the client company is often responsible for phases such as importing and producing the product itself and managing the quality. However, since we can provide support up to the logistics area, we often make suggestions on the operational aspects according to the client's requests.

--What is the appeal of working as an e-commerce consultant at Commerce Media?

I think there are two main attractions.

• High flexibility

Many e-commerce support companies tend to offer somewhat packaged services, such as Amazon-only or Rakuten-only. However, Commerce Media can flexibly change its approach depending on the market and the situation of the client.

For example, if a product has high demand and production is limited, it can be sold anywhere, but if you are a Rakuten specialist, you can only suggest selling it on Rakuten. However, if you are looking at the business as a whole, you can make flexible decisions depending on the time and situation, such as not selling it on the mall and limiting it to your own EC site. By looking at the whole picture, you can make the best proposals for your client's business, which is appealing.

• Doing everything from proposals to operations

Another feature is that we can go beyond just making proposals to also go into the operational aspects. For example, if you want to run a campaign to give special gifts to those who write reviews, other consulting companies will often only propose the implementation of review measures and then stop there, but Commerce Media can go as far as to consider how to extract reviewers, how to link data to the WMS, and even design shipping operations.

We have members in-house who are responsible for the actual work, so it is extremely helpful to be able to accompany them to that extent. I feel that this kind of "can do anything" attitude directly leads to improving one's own skills and increases one's value as a human resource.

--It seems like there are many skills you can acquire by performing a wide range of tasks.

That's right. Because we go as far as building operations, we can go beyond simply proposing strategies and provide measures that directly impact sales and customer satisfaction right up to the very end. It's hard work, but I think the biggest benefit of working at Commerce Media is that it cultivates the ability to see the business from all angles.

The Fukuoka office is also an attractive environment

--Commerce Media also has a base in Fukuoka. What is the environment there like?

I occasionally go to Fukuoka on business trips, and it's a really nice environment. There are many attractions, but the main three are as follows.

• Great location

The Fukuoka office is easily accessible and close to Tenjin, so it's a very convenient living environment. There are also large commercial facilities, so it's a good place for people who want to work while raising children. Even though it's a different base from the Tokyo headquarters, we basically work on the same projects in cooperation with the Tokyo side, so you can be involved in Tokyo projects while in Fukuoka. I think this way of working is a big attraction for people who want to advance their careers.

• Salary levels are the same as in Tokyo

Furthermore, salaries are not set low just because you are in Fukuoka, and you are judged by the same standards regardless of which base you are assigned to. In fact, I think there are many people who are concerned about low salaries when working in rural areas, but Commerce Media is a flat company in that respect, so you can rest assured. In terms of the atmosphere at work, the average age is in the mid-30s, the male to female ratio is 4:6, so there are slightly more women than men, and most of the members are mid-career hires. I get the impression that everyone works together to help each other.

• Being able to work on projects in Tokyo while in Fukuoka

Another thing is that we do not only work in Tokyo, but also in other cities and with overseas clients, so we have a way of working that does not make you feel regional differences. This is a recommended environment for people who want to improve their skills to the same level as working in the city, or who do not want to change their living base but want to advance their careers.

He is also fair to clients and the president.

--What is the internal atmosphere and culture like at Commerce Media?

To put it in another way, there is just the right distance between employees, not too close and not too far.

• The distance between you and your boss, seniors, and colleagues is just right

We don't have drinking parties every week, but if there is a big event, we all get together and celebrate. In the office, there is low-key background music playing, and everyone is often working silently. There are opportunities to chat, but not too many, and the atmosphere is such that everyone can concentrate on their work.

Of course, everyone interacts equally with CEO Izawa. Since the company believes that job titles and titles are merely "roles," it is recommended that everyone, including the CEO, be called "Mr./Ms." However, being on an equal footing does not mean that it is lenient; they are strict about results and accomplishments. Once you set a goal, you work towards it and get results. You are properly evaluated for what you do, and not evaluated for what you don't do. I feel that this is a company where this is clear.

• We value teamwork

However, we place great importance on collaboration and teamwork, and have a culture of sharing information at the right time and combining skills to maximize results. Multiple departments hold joint study sessions and information sharing meetings, and use chat tools to share information on new measures and system updates. I think the culture of "individuals giving back their knowledge to the whole team" is firmly established.

• Equal relationship with clients

Commerce Media consultants value an equal relationship with their clients. Of course, they are responsible because they are receiving money, but that doesn't mean they get on top or take the upper hand by being the one to teach. As equal partners, they honestly propose "what is really needed to grow the business," and sometimes even tell clients difficult things like "that measure is difficult" or "you should change your sales plan considering the market size."

As an extreme example, if you have a consulting contract and the stock runs out, it will only be a burden on the client. In such cases, we sometimes say fairly, "In that case, let's end the contract this month." This may mean losing a sales opportunity for us, but we believe it is a necessary proposal to grow together with the client in the long run. This honesty often leads to trust, as clients will come to us for advice when the stock is replenished.

What is required is "independent"

--What kind of person do you think is suited to succeeding in commerce media?

People who are independent and want to try everything on their own. Commerce Media's strength is that it can handle EC from upstream to downstream, but it is not a vertical division of labor style. Therefore, the areas in which knowledge is required are broad and deep, such as mall operation, advertising operation, customer support design, and logistics management.

The roles are clearly defined, such as typical inside sales, field sales, and customer success, and it's not a work style where you just do sales, but an environment where you can expand your work area if you want. Therefore, I think it's more suitable for people who want to try new things while understanding the overall picture of EC broadly, rather than people who want to devote themselves to only one specialized area.

--What kind of career paths and growth opportunities are available after joining the company?

It depends on your experience and skills, but in my case, I started with no experience in e-commerce, so I started with operations such as logistics and customer support, then gained experience in website construction and advertising management, and moved on to consulting and management. There are opportunities to launch your own brand from scratch, and you can also take on projects that aim for bigger sales.

Since EC is a business that sells goods, you will not only acquire skills such as "digital analysis and operational know-how," but also practical skills in many areas such as importing, inventory management, and customer service. For those who find this rewarding, I think it is a truly rewarding environment for growth. There is also a culture of sharing things you don't understand within the team, so you can learn proactively and get others involved while improving your skills.

-What do you want to achieve after building your career in commerce media?

As a consultant, I want to be someone who can increase sales and brand value in a way that is a win-win for both my clients and myself. For example, support in a "specialized area" such as specializing in Rakuten or Amazon is important, but I want to be a consultant who can take a bird's-eye view of EC as a whole and make optimal proposals that suit the nature of the brand and products. To that end, I have gained a wide range of experience in wholesale sales, website construction, advertising management, and import practices, but I feel that I still have a lot to learn.

The EC industry is constantly being updated, so I would like to constantly acquire new knowledge and tools, share information with my team, and expand my skill set by working on a wider range of projects.

If you want to learn more about EC in depth and in depth, come to Commerce Media.

-Finally, please give a message to those who are considering applying to Commerce Media.

Commerce Media is a company that covers such a wide range of areas that it can provide one-stop EC support. I think it's the best environment for people who want to try new things at their own discretion and who want to learn about EC as a business, including inventory management, logistics, and customer service. Of course, with this high degree of freedom comes responsibility, and there are also difficult situations as you are constantly trying new tasks for the first time.

--It seems like that will help you grow.

Yes, that "struggles" will definitely lead to your growth and increase your market value. In fact, by building my skills as an EC consultant, I have acquired the knowledge to think about operational strategies for any mall or brand, and my experience in importing, product manufacturing, and inventory management is a strength that is hard to find in other companies.

If you want to learn more about EC or broaden your career possibilities while working on a wide range of tasks, Commerce Media should be the perfect choice for you. The entire team values ​​equal relationships, so there is a culture where we can exchange opinions on an equal footing both inside and outside the company and make trial and error to improve our situation.

If you have the desire to try different things yourself and do business responsibly, I'm sure you'll find this job rewarding. If you're interested, please come and see us at Commerce Media. Let's open up new possibilities for EC together.