Expanding Sales Channels through a Web Application Portal and Digital Offerings

「The Company implemented “CAI (Kai),” a system that adds AI-powered effective advertising-production functions to “C-Brain,” its proprietary advertising-production and CRM system, during the current fiscal year, thereby improving the impact of advertising and the efficiency of sales activities.」

「“Japan Local Media Network/JLMN” (https://adnavi.info), which makes it easy to search, use, and obtain quotations for free posting media nationwide; the Company's own “Machi JOB” and “Furimall” websites; and the convenient, value-oriented “Furimo” coupon app, together with the operation of websites and advertising and coupon apps and stronger integration with Happy Media(R)」

「The Company is enhancing advertising effectiveness through the use of QR codes in its proprietary Happy Media(R) “Regional Community Lifestyle Information Magazine(R),” strengthening integration between print media and the coupon apps “Furimo” and “Machi JOB,” as well as “Furimall,” and providing advertising sales promotion proposals using the web, including “Japan Local Media Network/JLMN” and initiatives supporting local shopping districts, together with DX products to improve management efficiency,」

「The group set its management theme for the current fiscal year (the 45th fiscal year) as “Charge through the era of DX!” and promoted sales initiatives that contribute to revitalizing local economies under the slogan “Co-creating ‘print distribution’ and ‘the web,’” which continued from the previous fiscal year. Specifically, these included using QR codes in our own Happy Media(R) “地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)” (hereinafter, regional free magazines) to improve advertising effectiveness, strengthening links between print media and the “フリモ” coupon app, “まちJOB” and “フリモール,” proposing advertising SP solutions incorporating web initiatives such as “Japan Local Media Network/JLMN” (https://adnavi.info) and measures to support local shopping districts, and providing DX products to improve management efficiency. As a result, advertising revenue from our own media for the quarter was ¥1,096 million, up 4.2% year on year.」

「The “フリモ” app, which began operating in April 2021, exceeded 100,000 downloads in the first half through initiatives linked to regional free magazines, including the “Half-Price Festival,” and had exceeded 200,000 downloads as of the end of March 2022.」

「Under these circumstances, in line with the group’s management theme for the current fiscal year, “Bring DX to the community!”, we worked to enhance the value of our own media through collaboration and hybridization between the internet and our core product, Happy Media(R) “地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)” (hereinafter, regional free magazines), including the introduction of the “フリモ” coupon app for smartphones and other devices, expanded functions such as the “まちJOB” recruitment advertising service, and the launch of “フリモール,” which enables users to conveniently order selected products from across Japan. We focused on advertising sales that support the marketing of advertisers and sponsors essential to revitalizing local economies in the with-COVID environment.」

「In September, the Company also revamped the web version of “Otoriyose Bin,” an advertising program for mail-order sales of regional specialties that leverages the network of regional free magazines, integrating it with the Furimo app as “Furimall.” It worked to expand advertising orders from mail-order vendors by integrating print and the web.」

「As a specific initiative under the theme “Bring DX to the community!”, in addition to publishing and analyzing QR codes in regional free magazines, which began in earnest this year, we launched the “フリモ” app from the first quarter. The smartphone app provides store information and neighborhood coupons and further enhances the complementary relationship between online advertising and our own Happy Media(R) media.」

「The Company aims to increase revenue by raising advertising order prices for free magazines through the “Furimo” app, which further advances the integration of print and the internet, and by further expanding Happy Media(R) such as “Oshigoto Note,” in addition to providing advertising and DX products that address challenges faced by local communities, including those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.」

「The Company also continued to focus on providing management-solution products for the COVID-19 environment, which it began offering in the second quarter through its business alliance with VISION INC., expanding the products covered as needed.」

「5) Providing DX solutions for local communities, including business support services using various business management tools, business-oriented social networking tools, and Wi-Fi network equipment, through a business alliance with VISION INC.」

「Specific initiatives included publishing “Oshigoto Note,” a career education guidebook for children, as a new Happy Media; strengthening the urban business model through the Nagoya head office established in April; selling Happy Media through the web ordering portal released by ラクスル株式会社 in May; and launching new sales channels, sales methods, and digital products, including the “Congestion Lamp” service introduced under a three-party cooperation agreement released in July with Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, and 株式会社ロコガイド, which provides web-based information on congestion at municipal service counters.」