Transition from a Contract-Based Business to a Creation-Oriented Business

「We strengthened proposals aimed at winning orders for comprehensive solutions that expand from traditional PR into marketing strategy support and further into consulting.」

「The Company strengthened its proposals to win orders for comprehensive solutions that have expanded beyond traditional PR into marketing strategy support and consulting.」

「As a “PR communications group” whose strengths are its ability to develop proposals tailored to client needs and its media relations, the Group has provided a broad range of solutions while generating synergies across the Group.」

「As the shift to the post-COVID environment gained momentum, the Group continued to capture demand arising from changes in social needs and values and steadily won PR contracts for the opening of commercial facilities and hotels, as well as tourism promotion campaigns, based on the recovery of human mobility, including inbound tourism. Requests from global companies through overseas PR agencies and other partners working with the Group have increased sharply, and business targeting companies launching new services in Japan is also beginning to expand.」

「Looking ahead to a full-scale shift to the post-COVID environment, the Group has continued to capture demand arising from changes in social needs and values, while responding quickly to the recovery in event demand and the sharp increase in requests from global companies. The easing of border-control measures implemented from 11 October 2022 also provided support, and the Group has steadily won PR contracts for large-scale facilities scheduled to open and international events scheduled to be held in 2023.」

「Looking ahead to a full-scale shift to the post-COVID environment, the Group has continued to capture demand arising from changes in social needs and values, while responding quickly to the recovery in event demand and the sharp increase in requests from global companies.」

「Efforts to improve labor productivity by optimizing the deployment of human resources have also begun to produce steady results. As a result, both initiatives to strengthen earning power and improve profitability margins functioned effectively and strongly drove consolidated performance.」

「By leveraging the Group’s comprehensive proposal capabilities and providing a range of communications solutions, the Company adapted to changing customer needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its efforts to deepen relationships with existing customers and acquire new ones have driven consolidated performance.」

「Although the Group was affected by the postponement of large events that had been held annually, its Marketing & Communications business, the Group’s core business, successfully adapted to changing customer needs by providing a broad range of solutions, including digital PR initiatives. In addition to deepening relationships with existing customers, it also succeeded in acquiring many new customers.」

「Business performance has remained solid as the Company flexibly adapts to changing market needs, including by responding to increased demand for digital PR following the postponement of PR events due to requests to refrain from going out.」

「In its core PR services, the Company has steadily captured clients’ changing marketing needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and has recovered from the second half of the previous fiscal year, which was most heavily affected by the spread of infectious disease.」

「To achieve “breakthrough growth,” the Company will expand the Group’s business areas, or business domains, by developing new businesses beyond its existing labor-intensive, contract-based business areas.」

「In this core business of the Group, the Company is laying various foundations for medium- to long-term growth, including developing global communications services, expanding digital solutions through partnerships with external partners and expanding its business areas through M&A.」

「While existing businesses continue to perform well, the Company has begun expanding its business areas and enhancing its services through partnerships with external partners in anticipation of medium- to long-term growth. These initiatives include influencer marketing in collaboration with AnyUp, a joint venture with AnyMind Group (headquartered in Singapore), and marketing research and live marketing in collaboration with Grill, a joint venture with Gunosy. The Company is also strengthening its ability to propose digital solutions as part of its efforts to enhance the value of its traditional PR services.」

「While existing businesses continue to perform well, the Company has strengthened its ability to propose solutions in the digital field as part of its efforts to enhance the value of its traditional PR services, expanding its business scope from corporate social media management to brand analysis, influencer marketing and video distribution services.」

「The Company is also promoting new PR solutions and content development beyond labor-intensive, contract-based business areas, including global communications services and digital marketing services aimed at expanding its collaborative framework with overseas companies and organizations, in order to provide higher-value-added services than ever before.」

「As one initiative aimed at creating new revenue opportunities beyond its contract-based business, the Company has begun providing “equity participation PR services” and is pursuing partnerships with promising venture companies in Japan and overseas.」

「The Company announced its medium-term management plan, “Transforming the Business Structure into a Creation-Oriented PR Trading Company.” It has begun actively developing businesses of its own, rather than remaining limited to its traditional contract-based business.」