At BEAMS, Everyone Has Opportunities, and Young Talent Can Excel.

Q.Please tell us why you decided to join BEAMS.

A.In a word, it was because I wanted to enrich both my work and private life. In my job search, I only applied to BEAMS a select shop, and initially I was planning to take a general position at the textile trading company that had offered me a job. However, a senior employee told me that at a trading company, you only become a full-fledged employee after working there for 7-8 years, and then your career really starts. I heard that because of the overseas exchanges, you are often busy with work even on holidays, and that there is a possibility that you will have to sacrifice your private life. But I don't want my life to be 100% work. I want to get married, have children, and there are many things I want to do. After thinking about it, I decided that working at BEAMS would enrich my life even more.

Q.What was it about BEAMS that attracted you?

A.I've always loved clothes, but I was drawn to the people and the company culture more than anything. I worked part-time at BEAMS for four years during university, so I had many opportunities to talk to various people in the company and had a strong desire to work with them. I'm the type of person who is interested in many things, so I thought it would be fun to be able to combine my interests and hobbies with my work. I've never worked part-time at another company, so I've become a true BEAMS kid who only knows BEAMS (laughs).

Q.What kind of work have you been in charge of since joining the company?

A.He is in his eighth year at the company, and was assigned to BEAMS Futako Tamagawa as a salesperson before moving to BEAMS Ebisu. He is currently also working as an Omni Style Consultant. Omni Style Consultants are a department that uses digital tools to serve customers in stores and online, and is made up of staff who are good at digital customer service. They take photos of new items as soon as they are released, and after winning the "STAFF OF THE YEAR 2022" award, they have been giving more presentations at lectures and business fairs outside the company.

Q.Please tell us about your current job.

A.We hold study sessions for both internal and external parties on customer service styles that combine digital and real. In stores, we use digital tools to guide customers while serving them. For example, if a customer scans the barcode of a product they are interested in with the app, they can see product information and styling. When serving customers, we tend to want them to buy on the spot, but even customers who do not purchase can take the information home with them. I also run my own official LINE account, so I want customers to register on LINE and have other experiences that make them feel glad to come to the store. I want to have opportunities to connect with customers again, including visiting BEAMS ONLINE SHOP, rather than ending it with a one-time visit to the store.

Q.What prompted you to start focusing on digital customer service?

A.Nowadays, customers often research products themselves before coming to the store. This is because we feel that if customers use digital as an entry point, what would happen if we didn't use digital tools, and we need to change with the times. When I first joined the company, I didn't want to reveal my face or name when I was asked to post my styling on BEAMS OFFICIAL WEBSITE but I felt that I couldn't run away. To begin with, I'm not good at shopping online. I'm always worried about things like, "Is the actual color really this color?" That's why I try to use my personal perspective to understand what customers are worried about and try to dispel their concerns as much as possible. I'm always happy when I receive a message on LINE saying, "I'm glad I bought it," and one of the good things about digital is that I can communicate with customers I've never met in person. Whether in real life or digitally, I feel rewarded when I get a reaction from a customer.

Q.What kind of person do you think is suitable to work at BEAMS?

A.Positive people. I myself don't usually complain and always try to be positive. I feel like you can't create anything new unless you're positive. BEAMS is a company that is always trying to create new connections and businesses, so I think it's important to have a positive attitude and just try things out. Everyone has a chance, and there's no restriction on how many years you have to work before you can do this job. There are also places where young people can thrive, so I think it's suitable for people who can speak up and say, "I want to do this." Even if you're a new employee, if you propose to the manager, "I want to do this," in the store, they will often accept you trying it in the store.

Q.Please tell us about an experience you had that made you feel was "BEAMS like."

A.BEAMS is a company that supports people who are working hard. I felt that most when I participated in "STAFF OF THE YEAR 2022". It was an event to decide the best "Reiwa Charismatic Salesperson" in Japan from among the store staff belonging to the apparel brand, and the judging was also done by public vote. When I was riding the elevator in the office, it was common for in-house staff I didn't know to say, "Heg.-chan, I vote every day. Do your best!" Even after the competition, my photo was posted on the wall of the office floor, and I feel that the attitude of supporting BEAMS without discrimination if they are working hard is typical of Beams. BEAMS has staff called Service Masters who have excellent customer service skills and are highly supported both inside and outside the company, and they held personal study sessions on customer service, and the support of such legends was also encouraging.

Q.Is there a system for improving skills?

A.There are many study sessions held to improve skills. For example, I held a study session in three sessions because I wanted to share digital customer service with everyone in the company. When you join the company, you will probably start posting styling tips, but it can get a bit stale. Regular posts directly lead to customer acquisition, so I introduced techniques to improve the quality of posts.

Q.What are your hobbies and favorite cultures?

A.I've always loved music. I especially love rock and punk, and I go to live shows from time to time. I also sing karaoke to relieve stress. Before the "STAFF OF THE YEAR 2022" competition, I practiced my voice and sang karaoke by myself for an hour and a half (laughs). Music is also a trigger to get me going, so I always listen to music with headphones on while I go to work. I also really like thinking about work efficiency. I'm the type of person who wants to plan things out and get things done efficiently, so I'm always looking for and using useful apps and gadgets.

Q.What are your goals for your future work?

A.I unexpectedly won the "STAFF OF THE YEAR 2022" contest and have been called the "Reiwa era's charismatic sales clerk," so I'd like to keep that title (laughs). At first, I thought it was a competition to determine the apparel staff with the best online customer service skills, but before I knew it, I was being called "Heg.", the No. 1 in customer service," more and more often, so I feel a sense of urgency that I need to catch up with that description. I'm going to pull myself together and make sure I'm at the front of the store.