For e-commerce businesses based in geographically dispersed countries like Switzerland, sourcing unique and high-quality products can present significant challenges. One Swiss e-commerce site, streetsounds.net, specializing in Japanese stationery and household goods, overcame these hurdles by leveraging Japan Street, a comprehensive online platform.
Bridging Continents: Japan Street Facilitates Access to Japanese Goods
Operating from Lugano, Switzerland, streetsounds.net faced the common issue of distance hindering access to diverse Japanese products. Traditional retail models in Switzerland, with cities spread far apart, made it difficult for consumers, especially those in suburban areas, to regularly purchase Japanese items. Recognizing this gap, streetsounds.net launched in 2021 with the mission to make Japanese products readily available throughout Switzerland via their online store.
To expand their product range, streetsounds.net discovered Japan Street. This platform proved to be an invaluable resource due to its specific focus on listing products from Japanese companies actively seeking to export their goods internationally. The platform’s robust search functionality further simplified the process of discovering new and relevant products. The extensive catalog available on Japan Street, encompassing everything from daily necessities to specialized machinery and food items, quickly established it as a crucial partner for streetsounds.net’s product sourcing strategy.
Comprehensive Support and Streamlined Procurement with Japan Street
Beyond product discovery, Japan Street offered crucial logistical support. The Japan Street Office actively assists businesses by coordinating business meetings with multiple Japanese companies. For streetsounds.net, this meant they could submit requests for meetings across various product categories, and JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) would then facilitate communication and scheduling with each relevant Japanese supplier. This streamlined approach significantly accelerated the meeting arrangement process, saving streetsounds.net considerable time and effort compared to independent coordination.
Utilizing Japan Street has directly contributed to streetsounds.net’s steady growth in both product offerings and sales. Looking ahead, streetsounds.net aims to triple its product lineup to 1,000 items by 2025, with a particular focus on expanding their collections of traditional crafts and consumer goods. Japan Street remains integral to their procurement strategy, empowering them to introduce even more appealing Japanese products to the Swiss market and beyond.
