ABPO

April 8, 2014

Ys and Partners

Y Ys and Partners

Overview

Ys and Partners is a strategic creative consuting

firm to help Japanese companies connect with

American customers and American companies

reach Japanese customers. Ultimately, we assist

companies in building international brands.

Our insight into both the American and Japanese

markets allows us to create messages that are

culturally relevant. Our in-depth knowledge of

client industries and businesses as well as customer

needs and desires lets us craft messages that are

strategically and emotionally powerful.

Ayako Yuki Senior Vice President – Brand Strategist

Ayako Yuki built her branding and account management skills at J. Walter Thompson, Japan. Her primary responsibilities included brand marketing of Unilever and De Beers Diamonds. She later transitioned to Benesse Corporation-the largest educational publishing company in Japan for the mission of the corporate branding and marketing communication. In 2002, Ayako co-founded Ys and Partners, Inc. in Irvine, California, and since then, has been conducting brand marketing in multicultural markets within the US. In 2005, Ayako opened Ys and Partners, Inc. in Yokohama, Japan. Having over 25 years of marketing experience, Ayako has worked with many global brands. She has also worked with Japanese brands such as Yakult, Marukome, Calbee, Fujitsu, and governmental organizations and Cities. Ayako graduated from ICU (International Christian University Tokyo) and University of California, Santa Barbara. Teaching Diversity Marketing at Cal State University, Fullerton, and Jigyo Kouso Univ.Tokyo as a guest instructor.

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8 Service Apartment – OakwoodPositioning very High End in Japan

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Magazine Ad 2008

11 Window Covering BrandHunter Douglas targets different

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13 Japanese Consumers Trend

1)  Japanese Consumers love Foreign Brands, especially premium European brands, and American brands.

2)  Love the trend of Stylish and Good Quality. 3)  Internationalization of living style.

14 Facebook Page Ranking

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Brand Japan 2014 Ranking

1.  Disney 2.  Sony 3.  Studio Gibli – Animation Movie 4.  Amazon 5.  Uniqlo 6.  Apple 7.  YouTube 8.  Rakuten 9.  Heat Tech 10.  Kirin Beer

16 Tully’s Coffee from Boston

17 Brand Loyalty

•  Japanese Consumers has High Loyalty to the Brands and Companies

•  Once the brands adjust and are accepted by society, they start long-term customer engagement - many more examples of success stories.

•  Japanese communities are long relationship based. Business needs to take longer time than U.S. business relationship, but once the relationship built, it last longer. Needs time and patience.

18 Good News in the Market

1)  People in Japan love Foreign brands, especially high end European brands, and American brands.

2)  Pricing strategy could be same or above range of $$. (in other Asia, pricing will be set lower according to the market)

3)  Loyalty is high among consumers and emloyees.

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