PROFILE

While handling PR for a variety of brands, mainly in the fashion field, he is also a representative of "Murofis," a company that demonstrates his skills in branding and planning. . He is trusted by his clients for his solid aesthetic sense and sincere manner of speaking.
They will be with you every day of your life.
I want them to be loved for a long time.

LOFTMAN COOP KYOTO
Authentic everyday wear on the first floor and artisanal designer wear on the second floor . A pop-up store for "Monolith" will be held until December 20 (Sun.), 2020. You can actually touch and feel the brand's entire lineup.
Address: 280 Enpukuji-mae-cho, Takoyakushi-sagaru, Teramachi-Dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City
Phone: 075-212-5352
Hours: 12:00-19:00 (11:00-20:00 on weekends and holidays)
Official Site
PROFILE

President of Loftman, which has three stores in Osaka and four in Kyoto , Japan. In addition to overseeing buying, he is the brains behind the store, directing the operation and future direction of all stores.
PROFILE

He started his career as a part-timer in Nagasaki. Currently, as the store manager and buyer, he is in charge of training junior staff and keeping an eye out for "interesting things" in Japan and abroad that have yet to be discovered.
Nakamuro:In order to make "Monolith" known to everyone, we knew there were limits to what we could do with our own e-commerce site. Therefore, we asked Mr. Iwashita, who was also a personal friend of ours, if he would be willing to handle our products for us at Loftman, where we could deliver the full appeal of our products to people who love clothes. I approached Mr. Iwashita, with whom I had a close personal relationship.
Kimura:I learned about "Monolith" when Iwashita consulted with me, but it wasn't until our second meeting that I actually saw a sample.

Nakamuro:Yes, that's right. I had heard that Mr. Kimura is a great lover of bags, having worked on a special order for a bag brand in the past and owning 60 outdoor bags. When we showed him samples, he made various requests, and I thought, "This is going to be a difficult presentation (sweat). However, it was precisely because he loves bags that much that I felt a renewed desire to form a partnership with him.
Kimura:Thank you very much. When I saw the samples of "Monolith," my first impression was that they were not similar to any other brand. We have seven stores in Osaka and Kyoto, and the keyword for Loftmancorp Kyoto is "highly functional daily wear. The quality of the bags is genuinely high, and the logo does not make a strong statement, so I could see how the concept of the store is in line with the manufacturing process. I was also attracted to the backbone of Seiban, a school bag manufacturer, which is based on craftsmanship.

Under a rock:. When Mr. Nakamuro showed me a sample, I thought it was a bag that would test my skills as a salesperson. I thought it was an item that would allow me to make all kinds of proposals to customers because it has a wide variety of functions condensed in it.
Nakamuro:. I was impressed with the lining when I showed you the sample. You were the first to point out details that I would not have understood without explanation from my side.

Kimura:It is rare to find a bag that you can be proud of even when it is turned inside out. Even if the front side of a bag is beautifully made, it is often a disappointment when you open the cargo compartment and look inside. In this respect, Monolith is exquisite not only in its lining, but also in its sewing and use of materials. It is not a bag that is designed first, but a bag that is easy to use on the street. I think fashion is all about balance. Monolith" is a bag that has a good balance of design, details, and price.
Nakamuro:It's a little embarrassing (laughs). As Mr. Kimura said, we carefully discussed what to add and what to subtract in terms of design. This is also what I paid the most attention to.
Under a rock:I also like the fact that the logo and tags are not on the surface. Branding that is not a thing with a brand, but a thing with a brand, is cool.

Nakamuro:As for where to put the woven name and where to show the logo, it was decided at the very beginning of the planning stage that it would not be shown.
Kimura:I have seen a lot of bags in my life, and after about 10 minutes of touching them, I know that they are not user-friendly. However, Monolith has no such product at all. And with 31 models available, it is hard to believe that this is a brand that has just been launched. You can tell that Seiban is very enthusiastic about this brand.
Nakamuro:Thank goodness , SKU (stands for Stock Keeping Unit. . don't reduce the number of SKUs (stock keeping units, which are the units used to manage orders).


Kimura:. Among them, I was particularly interested in the "2WAY PRO". Recently, the demand for shoulder bags has been slowing down, and even 3-way bags with backpacks have been well received. . I own a 3-way bag myself, but I don't use it as a shoulder bag these days. I don't even know where the strap went (laughs).
Under a rock:Businessmen are becoming more and more casual, and Monolith's 2-way bag is a briefcase that can be carried on a bicycle to work, and it is also large enough to be used for travel.
Nakamuro:"2WAY PRO" has 18 liters in size M and 25 liters in size L . I have a hernia, so I don't often use a shoulder bag that would upset my balance, and that's why I designed the 2-way bag. Mr. Iwashita mentioned earlier about commuting by bicycle, and I selfishly wondered if Kyoto has a well-developed bicycle culture, and if this is the reason why "monolith" is accepted in the city.

Kimura:I think there is that. . There are a lot of people riding bicycles in a student town. The roads in Kyoto City are laid out in a grid pattern, and because it is a basin area, there are few steep inclines, so it is easy to ride a bicycle. Bicycle rental is also popular, and it is common to see tourists riding bicycles that they can drop off.
Nakamuro:. It sounds like it would be nice just to drive around the Kamo River. What other aspects of Monoliths do you think would resonate with Loftman's customers?
Under a rock:Aside from the functionality I mentioned earlier, I think it's the durability that makes it durable enough to be used for a long time; it would be tough to use it for a year and have it break, but not be able to replace the parts. Monolith" has a full after-sales service, so I think it is perfect for our customers who love their clothes for a long time.

Kimura:. I myself am not interested in things that don't have a philosophy. I want to convey the background of the brand and have the customer empathize with the brand before making a purchase. I joined the company 25 years ago. The customers at that time are now in their 40s or older. I would like to recommend our products to those who used to use outdoor brand bags, but are looking for a bag of a higher rank.
Nakamuro:Thank you for all your help .
Kimura:The only difficulty is that if the growth is too rapid, it will be transitory. I always tell my field staff, "Don't create a boom!" I always tell my staff on site, "Don't create a boom! I am relieved that Mr. Nakamuro and Seiban's branding of "Monolith" is so well done that the brand itself does not come out too far in front. There is an izakaya in Kyoto that does this, and it is located in an alleyway, but there is no sign. But when you open the door, the place is full. Ideally, they would be like the Southern All Stars, who will always be loved by people (laughs).

Under a rock:It looks like it would go well with simple clothes such as those from our store's selection of "Komori," and conversely, even if the whole body is an outdoor brand, just carrying a "Monolith" will neutralize the whole look.
Nakamuro:Thank you . I'm learning a lot. Do you often receive business offers from new brands like ours?
Kimura:We receive requests from more than 300 brands throughout the year, but only a small percentage of them actually start doing business with us. However, since it is difficult to open the door, we want to keep the relationship with them until the end once we do. It's a bit presumptuous of me, but it's like discovering a new idol. Akimoto: It's like Yasushi Akimoto (laughs). We want to do our best to help the brand until the day they graduate from our shop.
Nakamuro:You may think, "This brand doesn't graduate easily," as you stay and stay again, but I would be happy if we could continue to be friends for a long time to come.



BACK PACK PRO L The lining, which Mr. Kimura noted "is also picturesque when turned inside out," is set with 420 denier nylon eco-fabric. The double construction with the strong outer fabric keeps the form beautifully and improves the robustness. The lining is also used in the smaller M size. ¥40,000+TAX


2WAY PRO L A graceful 2-way design, with the seldom-used shoulder removed, specializing in carrying on the back and carrying in the hand. It is equipped with a zipper pocket for storing clothes, and a joint on the back that can be connected to a trolley bag. It is a great bag not only for daily life and business, but also for traveling. ¥44,000+TAX
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