This month, we have two groups of business owners visiting us for a company tour and hands-on manufacturing experience.
Our customers come from as far away as Iwate Prefecture in the north and Shimane Prefecture in the south.
Yesterday we had 10 customers from Iwate Prefecture.
Your objectives
"Learn about MACHICOCO's initiatives"
"I want to see the company!"
"I want to experience that initiative."
That's the situation. Even now, in our seventh year, we continue to have a steady stream of people coming to us wanting to know what kind of business MACHICOCO is involved in.
People seem interested, saying things like, "You're doing something interesting," and "I want to know what kind of thinking is behind it," so we tell everyone who comes to see us everything without holding anything back.
Upon entering the factory...
"Wow! Can I take a picture?"
It starts from there. We, who are directly involved, don't realize it because it's our daily routine, but when we ask our customers, they say, "We come with the image of a factory in mind, so when we come in and it's such a fun place, we're like, 'Wow!'"
Now that you mention it, it might actually be quite fun.
The concept is an American garage + cafe, and we're constantly making improvements to create a fun space. MACHICOCO is known for being "different every time you visit."
Let's start with lunch.
Groups often visit between 11:00 and 12:00. At that time, they frequently order lunch from the cafe.
We have a cafe attached, so you can enjoy your meal while soaking up the atmosphere of the place.
And now, to the main topic.
When representatives from visiting groups request a presentation on MACHICOCO, we ask them, "What would you like to hear?" We tailor our presentation to their specific needs, as they have traveled a long distance to attend.
The theme you all suggested this time is
"Why did you decide to start MACHICOCO? How do you run your business? What is the CEO's background?"
That was the gist of it. Since we're running a unique business, this is the most frequently asked question from business owners.
And then, the experience begins.
This time, participants experienced "making glasses using shot blasting."
Some of you may be familiar with the shot blasting technique, but whether you've actually used it is another matter.
Furthermore, this experience allows participants to go from 0 to 1 by "designing something themselves."
Most people have experience building things based on blueprints and instructions, but the experience of building your first one from scratch is something that is rarely encountered.
What I'm doing
① Cut and paste stickers or self-adhesive sheets.
② Finish by sanding with shot blasting.
③ Wash and peel off the sticker.
It's a very simple and easy task, but the hardest part is
It's about "designing."
- Determine the concept
・Determine the visuals accordingly
You will experience these two things.
These are things that I haven't done since becoming an adult.
That's where the origin of creation lies.
Everyone was chatting about various things while they were making it.
Some people seemed a little embarrassed to show me their creations, but they were making wonderful, one-of-a-kind glasses.
Leave with your biggest smile.
Lunch is 1 hour, the conversation time is 30 minutes, and the experience time is 1 hour.
There will be 30 minutes for questions and casual conversation.
You enjoyed a total of 3 hours of fun.
At the beginning, when we ask "Do you have any questions?", not many come up, but by the time the entire program is over, there's a flurry of questions. And it's a common occurrence that people say, "I still want to hear more..." but then it's time to go home.
"There are still so many things I want to do!"
"It was incredibly fun."
"Next time, I'll bring some of my employees with me."
"I'm so glad I came."
It makes me so happy when customers say things like that as they leave. It's truly my greatest wish to be of service.
Since you've taken the time to come to our company, we make sure to provide you with something valuable to gain from your visit.
However, I'm always nervous about whether I'm actually providing it properly.
They arrived by medium-sized bus this time.
The organizer apparently said, "I want to go here!" and put together the plan. I'm so happy to hear someone say something like that.
I will continue to work hard to revitalize the manufacturing industry.
Thank you to everyone at the Hanamaki Keiyukai for a wonderful time!
I look forward to seeing you again.
