What made you decide to join ZenGroup?
Even when I was living in Ukraine, I had already been thinking that I wanted to work in a job related to the Japanese language. While looking for a job after graduating from university, I found ZenGroup and decided to apply.
When I first joined the company, I started in a support role, and later transferred to the marketing team. I was also very interested in working in Japan itself, and the decision to “just give it a try” at that time has led me to where I am today.
Could you tell us about your daily responsibilities?
Since joining the company, my areas of responsibility and role have gradually expanded. I started in support, moved into marketing, and after being put in charge of a team, my main focus became “the growth of people” and “achieving results as an organization.”
Currently, as a section manager, I am responsible for weekly progress checks for each team, approving new project proposals, budget management, setting marketing goals, and managing progress toward those goals.
My daily schedule is not fixed and changes depending on the number of meetings and their priority. During available time slots, I handle approval tasks, organize issues, respond to consultations from team members, and take action to solve problems as needed.
As the team grows, issues that could previously be resolved through one-on-one conversations become more difficult from the perspective of overall optimization and process design. That is why I feel it is important to manage the team carefully and continuously update the way projects are run.
When is the busiest time of year for the marketing department?
The busiest period is from October to December. Starting with preparations for Black Friday in November, the number of tasks increases rapidly, and year-end reports overlap, making the period busy through the beginning of the new year.
Since the team’s overall activity increases during this time, we work while coordinating with other departments and carefully organizing priorities.
How do you stay up-to-date with marketing trends and information?
On a daily basis, I read newsletters from marketing-related websites that I like and gather information through YouTube.
I do not limit myself to a specific field, but instead try to broadly check overseas trends, case studies from other companies, and content that is gaining attention on social media.
When I come across a campaign or piece of content that I find interesting or easy to understand, I think about why it left an impression on me and sometimes share those insights within the team. Through daily input, I am always looking for hints that can be applied to actual work.
What do you think is the most important skill required for a marketer at ZenGroup?
The most important skill is “not being afraid of new things.” Both marketing and cross-border e-commerce change very quickly, and in recent years, with the spread of AI, the way we think about SEO and content has changed significantly. Situations where previous common sense no longer applies are becoming more frequent.
Because of this, I believe it is important to positively accept change, actively seek out information, try things for yourself, and continue learning.
What are some of the most popular products being bought from Japan?
Popular products include pop culture items such as anime figures, trading cards, plush toys, and comics. In addition, fishing gear and bags are also frequently chosen.
What kind of users use the service most often?
We have many anime fans who prefer secondhand items.
Many users have a clear idea of what they want and a strong passion for their favorite genres, so it is important to provide information that stays close to those feelings.
Have you ever collaborated with any influencers?
Yes, we do collaborate. We look for creators who are a good match for each country or community, and we focus on delivering content that shows “how the product is actually used,” such as unboxing and review videos.
Within the company, we also discuss as a team how to deliver content to users in a natural way and turn those ideas into concrete plans.
What kind of fun digital marketing campaigns have you been a part of?
One memorable campaign was a project where we challenged ourselves to present things in a different way for a large-scale sale. For example, we tried video expressions such as animation to make the appeal easier for users to understand.
Another was a campaign that focused on “real people.” By showing not only product photos but also the enthusiasm and reality of users, we received positive responses, as it made it easier for new customers to imagine the service.
I feel that campaigns that go beyond simply “selling” and lead to better understanding and familiarity with the service tend to produce stronger results.
Could you describe the work environment and atmosphere in your team/office?
During work hours, the atmosphere is calm and easy to concentrate on, while during lunch and breaks, conversations are lively within different communities, and there is a clear separation between on and off time.
Rather than competition, there is a culture of “celebrating each other’s success,” and I think it is a good point that people can genuinely praise one another when results are achieved.
In what ways do you feel you have grown since joining ZenGroup?
More than seven years have passed since I joined the company, and in addition to improving my Japanese and English, I feel significant growth in my marketing skills and as a team leader.
As the number of team members increased, the range of issues I could handle and decisions I needed to make expanded, and I developed a perspective focused on “achieving results as an organization.”
Has ZenGroup supported your personal/professional growth?
When I wanted to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, I was able to participate in Japanese classes provided by ZenGroup. Through internal communication, I also gained confidence in using polite business Japanese.
In terms of marketing skills, I have also been able to use online learning platforms such as Udemy
What are you currently studying or learning to improve your marketing skills?
At the moment, I am focusing on two areas. One is team management and project management, particularly improving methods to match the growing scale of the organization. The other is branding.
As the company grows, I feel that it is becoming increasingly important to communicate our appeal to a broader audience.
What do you like most about ZenGroup?
Work-life balance. With the introduction of flex time, stress such as “being late if you do not arrive by a certain minute” has been reduced, and it is easier to adjust schedules, such as starting early and leaving early.
Time off is also relatively flexible (except for fixed year-end holidays), which makes it appealing that you can work in a way that fits your own lifestyle.
