Vol.36

Expanding IKEUCHI ORGANIC's fan base while working together on manufacturing

IKEUCHI ORGANIC is expanding the number of IKEUCHI ORGANIC fans by acting as a bridge between the manufacturing site and the customer. Interview with Ms. Sasano, in charge of corporate sales.

Corporate Sales Sasano

Hello, my name is Sasano and I am in charge of corporate sales at IKEUCHI ORGANIC.

I joined IKEUCHI in October 2018, so it has already been more than 4 years since I started working at IKEUCHI. Looking back, I feel that time has flown by so quickly.

I like to walk around town and visit stores and cafes at my leisure. I don’t often look things up on my phone beforehand; I just go with my gut feeling that something looks good and wander in.

Thinking back, it was the same kind of feeling that led me to join this company. Before joining the company, I had only heard of IKEUCHI ORGANIC. I happened to be interested in the company when I was looking for a new job, and I thought, “This sounds like an interesting company,” so I started researching it in detail because they were hiring at the time.

There were many reasons why I was attracted to Ikeuchi, such as its philosophy on manufacturing and its advanced technology, but I think the biggest thing was its unpretentious attitude. When I looked into the company, I found that they talked about themselves in various media, not only in beautiful words, but also in frank and honest ways about their hardships and muddy issues. I was impressed by their attitude.

In addition, as a sales representative, I felt that it would be very rewarding to spread good towels throughout the world. After all, if the towels we use every day are comfortable, our lives will be happier, won’t they? I am still working here, hoping to contribute to such daily happiness, even if only a little.

I want to convey the reality of manufacturing

What surprised me when I joined this company was how difficult the towel manufacturing process is.

Ikeuchi’s manufacturing is truly a world of craftsmanship, and a lot of the work is done by human hands. Even weaving the towel fabric involves a lot of detailed work, such as connecting the threads one by one by hand. At our company, all employees share daily reports throughout the company, and when I read the daily reports of the members working at the main factory, I feel a sense of “thank you” for everything.

I used to work for an apparel-related company and thought that the manufacturing processes of towels and apparel were similar, but when I got to know the actual site, it was totally different. I was able to learn about towel manufacturing from scratch.

But you don’t know about such things unless you work for a towel company. That is why I feel that I, as a bridge between customers and the manufacturing site, must tell them how towels are made.

However, we cannot make good products if we are too concerned about the hardships at the manufacturing site. I believe it is important to keep communicating with the members of the manufacturing team while repeatedly taking on new challenges in the Ikeuchi way. I think it is important to have such an attitude.

In this respect, Ikeuchi, the representative, is amazing. He is always saying, “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I am sure you will be able to do it.” He always approaches the members who are making things with a strong attitude. It is difficult for me to act like him, but I would like to learn from his attitude of motivating others within the company to create good products.

Words of gratitude from customers are rewarding.

Another thing that surprised me while working as a corporate sales representative was the wide range of situations in which towels are required.

We receive inquiries about towels from a wide variety of customers, including lodging facilities, restaurants, beauty salons, sports facilities such as gyms and yoga studios, and bathing facilities such as saunas and hot springs.

Demand for gift-giving is also high, and we once received a large order from a company with several thousand employees, who asked for towels for the number of employees because they wanted to give original towels to their employees for their birthdays. In fact, there is a great demand for towels as part of the company’s welfare program.

We also receive many inquiries about making original towels. We have many original towels of our own brand, or towels made in collaboration with artists or cartoon/anime characters.

We can do business with companies in any industry and of any size. I have never seen such a wide range of commercial products, and I think towels are genuinely amazing.

IKEUCHI ORGANIC is a company with a strong commitment to manufacturing. And the customers who approach us are also very particular about their products. Therefore, it is not easy to build a bridge between the customer and the production site and create a single product. However, it is a great feeling when we are able to create something that both parties are satisfied with.

We are very happy when we hear from customers who have worked with us that “the finished product is truly wonderful” or “I knew it was right to ask Mr. Ikeuchi to work with us.

While working together with our customers in manufacturing, we are expanding IKEUCHI ORGANIC’s fan base. I feel that this is my role as a corporate salesperson. I want to expand people’s lifestyles with good towels while feeling a sense of responsibility and satisfaction.

Interview November 2022
Interview and text by Keiji Ide
Photographer/ Yuji Kimura (Kimura Photo Office)