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Text: Sayaka Mitsuda Photo: Sho Kobayashi

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Hiroshi Kinoshita
Sales Department, Tokyo Sales Office. Joined ASNOVA in 2015. The company is engaged in wedge binding type scaffold rental and sales business mainly for scaffolding contractors in the Kanto area.
BUSINESS

ASNOVA CHALLENGER .03 Hiroshi Kinoshita's new service "ASNOVA Ichiba" that makes use of his sales experience

ASNOVA is a company that rents and sells scaffolding, which is indispensable at construction sites and construction sites. We are always close to our customers and pursue new possibilities of "places of tomorrow" with the purpose of "Create your places of tomorrow with the power of kasetsu." We are always close to our customers and continue to pursue new possibilities of "wedge binding type scaffold".

Since joining the company in 2015, Hiroshi Kinoshita has been working as a salesperson for scaffolding Rental, as the closest person to customers.
In his seventh year with the company, Mr. Kinoshita ran for the ASNOVA Challenge System, which recruits people in charge of new businesses within the company. Based on the on-site issues that I found from my sales experience, I launched "ASNOVA Ichiba".

What was the background and thoughts that led to the launch of the new service "ASNOVA Ichiba"? We also asked him about his future prospects.

Text: Sayaka Mitsuda Photo: Sho Kobayashi

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PROIFILE

Hiroshi Kinoshita
Sales Department, Tokyo Sales Office. Joined ASNOVA in 2015. The company is engaged in wedge binding type scaffold rental and sales business mainly for scaffolding contractors in the Kanto area.

To a wider range of customers. "ASNOVA Ichiba" that also focuses on material recycling

First of all, please tell us what kind of service "ASNOVA Ichiba" is.

Kinoshita: "ASVONA Market" is an e-commerce site where you can purchase temporary equipment, mainly scaffolding. Until now, our scaffolding has been mainly rental, but with this service, we will take back new , used items, and scaffolding that are no longer needed, maintain them, and sell them.
In fact, there are a number of competing scaffolding rental companies, but there are not many services that sell second-hand items on the site or buy existing scaffolding. We have 19 bases nationwide, so I thought we could make full use of that network.

Scaffolding Have you noticed any changes in the environment surrounding the rental industry?

Kinoshita: I've been in rental sales for about seven years, and I've noticed that the demand for used equipment is increasing. Due to the impact of high prices in the past few years, many companies have left the scaffolding industry. On the other hand, there are also people who are independent of large companies and run their own scaffolding business. In this way, we wondered if it would be possible to circulate temporary equipment centered on scaffolding among customers with various needs in various environments.

I took the plunge and applied for the "ASNOVA Challenge System"!

I heard that this "ASNOVA Ichiba" was triggered by the in-house system "ASNOVA Challenge System". Please tell us how that happened.

Kinoshita: We have a system called the ASNOVA Challenge System to recruit people in charge of new businesses. After adding your own ideas to the business conceived by Corporate Planning Office, you will present what you want to do and what you want to challenge, and those who are hired will be engaged as candidates for the manager, and if they meet the criteria, it will be commercialized.
I've been working with this company for 7 years in scaffolding rental sales, and my interactions with customers have always been face-to-face. As a result, I felt that I couldn't imagine how much of a reaction there would be to selling things on the site, and I was actually worried.
However, I thought that having an e-commerce site would help expand the business. I had some experience in sales and was somewhat confident in the industry, and the timing of the ASNOVA Challenge System coincided with my desire to take on a new challenge and be involved from the very beginning as a initiator, so I decided to apply.

The potential of e-commerce sites, the confidence that comes from experience, and the desire to take on a new challenge - all these things gave him the push he needed at just the right time.

Kinoshita: Starting something new requires a lot of energy at first, right? That's why I was a little hesitant, but I also felt like, "If I miss this opportunity, when will I have the next chance?"
In addition, Corporate Planning Office carefully supported the "ASNOVA Challenge System", so it was very helpful to be able to consult with them about the preparation and content of the presentation. I've done one-on-one sales many times before, but I was very nervous to give a 30-minute presentation to a large audience. I don't remember much about that day (laughs).
After that, we will continue to hold meetings with Corporate Planning Office to commercialize the adopted proposal. There were some things I couldn't do alone, but thanks to the support of many people, I was able to do my best.

Increase the number of partners and strengthen the business. Aiming to be "No. 1 in the industry"!

"ASNOVA Ichiba" was born out of various thoughts, but what kind of policy will you take in the future?

Kinoshita: First of all, I would like to establish this newly established "ASNOVA Ichiba" and then a department as E-commerce Department to make it more widespread within the company. I would like to send an attractive message to the company and gather colleagues who will work hard together.
In order to do that, I think it's important to increase sales with "ASNOVA Ichiba" and produce steady results.

What is the future of "ASNOVA" brought about by the development of "ASNOVA Ichiba"?

Kinoshita: It would be great if we could play a role in helping a so-called recycling-oriented society. Based on the experience of "scaffolding Rental" that we have cultivated so far, we hope that by purchasing used products and circulating them, the economy of many people involved in our company will circulate. Eventually, I would like to aim to become the No. 1 temporary equipment comprehensive site in this industry.
Visit ASNOVA Ichiba site

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