Makuake, which has become established as a platform for online backing purchases, is holding the hands-on pop-up “Touchable Makuake” in Shibuya. Visitors can physically touch and experience products from approximately 30 projects, while purchases are made through Makuake outside the venue.
Makuake opened “Touchable Makuake” at an event venue in Shibuya on 19 September as a hands-on pop-up where visitors can pick up and experience new products. Approximately 30 project products are on display, allowing visitors to directly assess textures and usability that are difficult to convey through online information alone.
The event is positioned not simply as a showroom, but as an initiative by the company, which has primarily operated online, to explore its next business model by combining online and real-world experiences. Koji Matsuoka (松岡宏治), Managing Executive Officer, explained the background. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, demand has increased among consumers who want to touch and experience products before deciding whether to purchase them, and the event is positioned as a place to reassess the value of real-world experiences.
Some visitors had not previously known about Makuake, and there have been instances of visitors developing new interests after touching products other than those from the projects they originally intended to see. At the physical venue, visitors can talk with product creators while handling the products. A time slot called Makers Time is also provided, allowing manufacturers to communicate freely about what they want to convey.
The initiative aims to strengthen points of contact both online and in the real world, with a focus on experiences of new hardware such as AI-enabled devices. Consideration is also advancing for making the format a permanent store. Products from approximately 30 projects will be available to experience by the final day. No products will be sold at the venue; visitors who like a product can make a backing purchase through Makuake.