History
ASKUL’s history from its founding to present.
1990
“Blue Sky Committee” established within PLUS Corporation to consider new distribution for the
21st century
The prototype of ASKUL is commerced.
1992
Apr.
PLUS Corporation established a new business, ASKUL Business Promotion Office, which evolves the existing stationery and office convenience business
Jun.
Service launced with 500 items as test marketing for mail-order service for businesses
Catalog Vol. 1 No. 0 is published
1993
Mar.
ASKUL operations launched by the ASKUL Business Division at PLUS Corporation
Oct.
Services expaned to Kansai region
1994
Feb.
Expaned services to Honshu and Shikoku regions
Dec.
Started sales of original products
1997
Mar.
- Started accepting orders over the internet
- Started initiatives to address environmental issues with ECO-ASKUL
May
Commenced operations as ASKUL Corporation, headquartered in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, after taking over operations of ASKUL Business Division from PLUS Corporation
1998
Mar.
Launched same-day deliveries of internet orders (limited to 23 wards of Tokyo)
Jun.
Launched printing service
Jul.
Launched Envelope Printing Service with small lot orders and low prices
Aug.
Established Osaka Distribution Center, a distribution base, in Suminoe-ku, Osaka City
Sep.
Expanded services to Kyushu region
Dec.
Launched Portal ASKUL, an EC site for general consumers
1999
Jul.
Established Tokyo Distribution Center in Koto-ku, Tokyo
Sep.
- Started designated date delivery service
- Osaka Center moved to Suminoe-ku, Osaka
2000
Mar.
- Started resource-saving packing
- Launched MY ASKUL, a regular delivery service for orders placed over the internet
Jun.
Launches dreamers, a web-linked community magazine
Jul.
- Opened Sendai Center, a distribution base in Miyagino-ku, Sendai City
- Launched Askul Book Cafe Business, an online bookstore for business establishments
Sep.
- Began operations of Fukuoka Center, a distribution base in Kusaya-gun, Fukuoka City
Started same-day delivery within Fukuoka City - Started Sunday and holiday delivery
- Started 365-day return guarantee
- Began ASKUL Office Styling Catalog
Oct.
Received the Logistics Grand Prize from Japan Institute of Logistics Systems with Hitachi, Ltd. and TOYO KANETSU K.K. that jointly developed ASKUL’s logistics system
Nov.
Listed stock on JASDAQ market
Dec.
Began publishing the monthly catalog ASKUL WONDER MART
2001
Jan.
Opened a 21st century type office “e-tailing center” in the Tokyo Center in Tatsumi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, relocating and consolidating all business divisions except the headquarters function
Apr.
- Moved headquarters from Otowa, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo to e-tailing center in Tatsumi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
- Opend Yokohama Center as a distribution base in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Started same-day delivery in Yokohama and Kawasaki cities
Oct.
e-tailing center received the Good Design Award from Japan Institute of Design Promotion
2002
Jan.
Published ASKUL Green Product List
Apr.
ASKUL DCM Center began operations in Koto-ku, Tokyo
May
Launched SYNCHROMART, a real-time marketing information sharing service
Aug.
Established POD (Print on Demand) Factory as a new print service development base in the DCM Center
Sep.
Started free collection service of ASKUL catalogs
Dec.
- Received the 2nd Porter Prize sponsored by Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy
- Launched ePro electronic procurement service for corporations
2003
Aug.
- Received the Corporate Public Relations Grand Prize at the 19th Corporate Public Relations Awards sponsored by the Japan Institute of Social and Economic Affairs
- e-tailing center received the New Office Promotion Award at the 16th Nikkei New Office Awards sponsored by Nikkei Inc. and the New Office Promotion Council
Sep.
Launched ASKUL ARENA service, an integrated online procurement system for corporate customers
Dec.
Added supply and demand adjustment operations support system on SYNCHROMART that enables adjustment of production and distribution plans
2004
Jan.
Started sales of medical products
Published ASKUL Medical & Care Catalog, a specialized catalog for medical and nursing care facilities
Mar.
Certified for ISO 14001 environmental management system on all offices and bases
Apr.
Listed on the First Section (now the Prime Market) of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Sep.
Began operations of Nagoya Center, a distribution base for Tokai and Hokuriku regions, in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture
Dec.
Received IR Advertising Award Outstanding Performance Award at the 53rd Nikkei Advertising Awards
2005
Mar.
- Started free cardboard box collection service in same-day delivery areas
- Began sales of Scandinavian design products developed in collaboration with Scandinavian design agencies and designers.
May
Acquired BUSINESSMART CORPORATION as a wholly owned subsidiary
Nov.
Started sales of medical supplies
Published ASKUL for Medical Professionals, a specialized catalog of medical supplies for medical facilities
Dec.
Won Semi-Award at the 54th Nikkei Advertising Awards with ASKUL’s Newspaper Ad
2006
Sep.
- Began operations of Osaka DMC, a new distribution base in western Japan area
- Started operations of Synchro Cargo, a delivery service system
Nov.
Received 2006 CRM Best Practice Award from CRM Council of Japan in the general corporate category
2007
Jan.
Received the Nikkei MJ Award for Excellence in the 2006 Nikkei Superior Products and Services Awards from Nikkei Inc
Feb.
Started direct deliveries from suppliers
Mar.
Received 2006 Design Excellent Company Award from Design & Business Forum
Jul.
Nikkei Computer” by Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. awarded runner-up prize in “IT Japan Award 2007”
Aug.
Started operations of Sendai DMC, a new distribution base for the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions
Dec.
Started One Click ASKUL, an EC site for general consumers
2008
Feb.
Published ASKUL MRO Catalog 2008 No. 0, a catalog of indirect materials and consumables used in the frontline operations of factories, construction sites, and other locations
Apr.
Launched SOLOEL service, a BPO service that support optimal purchasing of indirect materials and
reduce the workload of indirect material purchasing
Started sales of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies
Jun.
Received Swedish Design Award with ASKUL original products
2009
Mar.
- Received the Grand Prix at the 4th JWDA Web Design Awards sponsored by the Japan Web Designers Association with Minna no Shokuba, a community for posting office images
- ASKUL Environmental Report for May 2008 received the Environmental Reporting Excellence Award (Chairman’s Award of the Global Environmental Forum for Humanity) in the Environmental Reporting Category of the 12th Environmental Communication Awards
Apr.
- Began operation of ECO-TURN delivery service, which aims to reduce environmental impact, for customers of ASKUL ARENA from 10 wards in Tokyo
- Acquired Bizex Corporation (now ASKUL LOGIST Corporation), logistics firm, as a wholly owned subsidiary
Nov.
- Started wrapping advertisements on delivery vehicles
- Received the Grand Prix “NAMISUKE Prize, the best waste reduction prize of the “6th Suginami Environmental Awards” sponsored by Suginami-ku, Tokyo with CO-TURN delivery
2010
Sep.
Launched ASUMARU, ASKUL Group’s EC site for general consumers
Nov.
Acquired stake in AlphaPurchase Co., Ltd.
2011
Jan.
Received 2010 Five-Star Most Promising Brand Award with ASKUL (Shanghai) Trading Corporation
Mar.
Sendai DMC, distribution centers in Tokyo metropolitan area, and head office building (e-tailing center) were damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake
Jun.
Sendai DMC partially resumed operations with case goods shipped during June
Jul.
- Opened ASKUL MEDETOMO, a web store specializing in medical supplies for medical institutions
- Sendai DMC resumed full operation on July 29
Sep.
Moved headquarters to Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Oct.
ASKUL Contact Center won Contact Center Award 2011
2012
May
Signed business and capital tie-up agreement with Yahoo Japan Corporation
Aug.
Launched sales of Gemba no Chikara, a private brand product for MRO category
Sep.
- Received the Excellence Award (Major Company Category) at the 14th Green Purchasing Awards sponsored by the Green Purchasing Network
- Received the Judging Committee’s Special Award at the 15th Ozone Layer Protection and Global Warming Prevention Awards, an award program conducted by the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd.
Oct.
Launched LOHACO service, an internet shopping service for general consumers
Nov.
Received the 2012 CRM Best Practices Award from the CRM Council
2013
Jul.
Began operations of ASKUL Logi PARK Metropolitan Area, a new distribution base in eastern Japan
Sep.
Launched ASKUL service in Okinawa Prefecture, completing nationwide rollout
Dec.
Opened LOHACO Drug, a specialty pharmaceutical store within LOHACO
2014
Feb.
Opened the LOHACO EC Marketing Lab
Jun.
Began sales of category-three pharmaceuticals via LOHACO
Aug.
- Received the 8th Kids Design Award in the Reconstruction Assistance Design Category
- Started sales of alcoholic beverages via LOHACO
Oct.
Began sales of category-two pharmaceuticals via LOHACO
2015
Apr.
- Began ASKUL Group’s proactive efforts to promote diversity with the Diversity Declaration
- Opened LOHACO BEAUTY, an online store specializing in cosmetics
Jul.
Turned TSUMAGOI MEISUI CORPORATION (water production and sales business) into a wholly owned subsidiary
Sep.
Started sales of LOHACO Rice that is milled in-house at LOHACO
Oct.
- 21 manufacturers participating in the LOHACO EC Marketing Lab exhibited their products designed with the concept of fitting our lifestyle at TOKYO DESIGN WEEK 2015
- Started the Fitting Our Lifestyles LOHACO Exhibition
Dec.
ASKUL Logi PARK Fukuoka, which relocated and expanded ASKUL Fukuoka Center, began operations
2016
Apr.
ASKUL Logi PARK Yokohama, which relocated and expanded ASKUL Yokohama Center, began operations
May
- Started sales of LOHACO Water, an original natural water that is easy to transport, open, and store
- The name of the subsidiary responsible for distribution center warehouse operations and parcel delivery operations was changed from Bizex Corporation to ASKUL LOGIST Corporation
- Manami-san, an artificially intelligent chatbot, began operations to respond customer inquiries via smartphone and tablet
Jul.
ASKUL MEDETOMO, an e-commerce site selling pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, was integrated into ASKUL website
Aug.
Launched Happy On Time, LOHACO’s new pickup service, in 5 wards in Tokyo and 3 wards in Osaka
Sep.
LOHACO Water won 2016 Japan Packaging Contest, Transport Packaging Category Award
Nov.
ASKUL original products won the Red Dot Design Award
2017
Feb.
Fire incident occurred at ASKUL Logi PARK Metropolitan
Apr.
ASKUL Value Center Hidaka, a new distribution base based on a new concept that realizes LOHACO’s marketing concept, began operations
May
- Acquired charm Co., Ltd., pet supply e-commerce company, as a wholly owned subsidiary
- Awarded first place in the Oricon Japan Customer Satisfaction Ranking, Office Mail Order Ranking
Jun.
Awarded first place in the J.D. Power 2017 Japan Office Products Mail Order Service Customer Satisfaction Survey
Nov.
Became the first Japanese company to join the RE100 and EV100 international business initiatives in order to achieve 2030 Zero CO2 Challenge
2018
Jan.
- Signed Agreement on Provision of Food and Other Supplies in Disaster Response with Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture
- Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, and Suita Logistic Special Purpose Company signed Agreement on Cooperation in Providing Relief Material Collection Point in Disaster Response
- Signed Agreement on Provision of Releif Materials in Disaster Response with Suita City, Osaka Prefecture
Feb.
Began full-scale operations of ASKUL Value Center Kansai, a core center in western Japan
May
LOHACO opened store on Yahoo! Shopping
Aug.
First company in the EC industry to be certified as an Eco-First Company
2019
Mar.
- Recognized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Health Council as an Excellent Health Management Corporation 2019 (White 500)
- First Japanese EC operator to have expressed support for the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
Apr.
Began sales of OTC drugs via ASKUL service
May
Signed Agreement on Provision of Releif Materials in Disaster Response with Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Aug.
Expressed support for Phase Free
Sep.
- Launched LOHACO Insight Dive, a new digital marketing service
- Started sales of LOHACO BREAD, an original bread
Oct.
- LOHACO Water 410ml, original bottled natural water, received the 2019 Good Design Award
- ASKUL Customer Service Desk received the 2019 CRM Best Practices Award
2020
Jan.
- ASKUL LOGIST Fukuoka Logistics Center received Kaika Grand Prize at Kaika Awards 2019
- Completed construction of ASKUL Miyoshi Center, a distribution base
May
Turned logistics firm SEISHO TRANSPORT Corporation into a consolidated subsidiary
Jul.
ASKUL Business awarded first place in Overall Satisfaction in J.D. Power 2020 Office Products Mail Order Service Customer Satisfaction Survey
Sep.
ASKUL LOGIST Fukuoka Distribution Center and two staff members with disabilities received the President’s Effort Award from the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers
Nov.
ASKUL, a mail-order service for businesses, received both the Grand Prize and Branding Award at the same time at the 1st NIKKEI B-to-B Digital Marketing Awards
Dec.
- Selected by the Ministry of the Environment for the Fiscal 2020 Demonstration Project for Establishing a Resource-Recycling System for Plastics and Other Resources to Support a Carbon-Neutral Society
- Received the Commissioner of the Consumer Affairs Agency Commendation (special category) at the Fiscal 2022 Award for Good Practices of Consumer-oriented Management
- Formulated Purpose and Values for sustainable growth
- Fomulated Basic Sustainability Policy
- Identified Material Issues (Important Issues)
2021
Feb.
Signed SDGs Partnership Agreement with Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Mar.
- Signed Agreement on Procurement and Transport of Relief Materials in Disaster Response with Tokyo Metropolitan Government
- Joined 30% Club Japan
Apr.
- Fomulated Sustainable Procurement Policy
- Launched Place Designated Delivery and Time Designated Delivery in ASKUL service
- Signed Agreement on Procurement and Transport of Relief Materials in Disaster Response with Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture
Jun.
- Certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a DX Certified Operator
- Selected as Digital x COVID-19 Response Company (Manufacturing and Logistics Strategy Category) in the DX Survey 2021
- Received the Runner-up Grand Prix at the 13th Japan Marketing Awards
- ASKUL Business awarded first place for two consecutive years in Overall Satisfaction in J.D. Power 2021 Office Products Mail Order Service Customer Satisfaction Survey
Jul.
- Began a demonstration experiment of a quick commerce for daily necessities and groceries with Z Holdings (now LY Corporation) and Demae-can
- Formulated Voluntary Declaration of Consumer Orientation
Nov.
A staff member at ASKUL LOGIST Fukuoka Distribution Center received the President’s Effort Award from the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers
Dec.
- Received the Best IT Award (Transformation Area) at the 2021 IT Awards of the Japan Institute of Information Technology
- ASKUL, the name of a mail-order service for businesses, won both the Excellence Award and the Jury’s Special Award at the Japan Naming Awards 2021
- Named on the CDP’s climate change A List (highest rating) for three consecutive years
2022
Feb.
Fomulated ASKUL Group Policy on Human Rights
Mar.
Number of handled products reached over 10 million
Jul.
Announced the Medium-Term Management Plan, which runs through the fiscal year ending May 20, 2025
Nov.
- Began operation of ASKUL Tokyo Distribution Center (DC) as a flagship cutting-edge center in eastern Japan
- Launched Bizraku service as new B-to-B business
