CEO Message

Since our founding, we have been guided by the promise embodied in the name ASKUL: the products our customers need will arrive tomorrow. In keeping with this promise, we have supported workplaces by delivering the products they need, when they need them, with reliable quality. The expectations and trust our customers have placed in us are the surest foundation of our growth and the starting point we will continue to cherish.

Today, the business environment surrounding ASKUL is at a major turning point, driven by the rapid evolution of technologies, including AI; changes in social structures resulting from population decline; and shifts in the logistics landscape. Precisely because we are living through a period of such profound change, we will take a long-term perspective, reexamine the role ASKUL should play in society, and move forward with the challenge of realizing the ASKUL 2050 Vision: “Creating a society that empowers everyone to continually experience the delight of becoming their best self.”

As a milestone to be achieved by 2035 on the path toward realizing the ASKUL 2050 Vision, we have set forth “Beyond Retail, Transforming the Way People Work.” Building on the customer-centric mindset we have cultivated, we will further strengthen our product development capabilities, logistics capabilities, and data assets. We will then go beyond the conventional boundaries of retail to create value that helps solve the challenges faced by people at work and by companies.

In our e-commerce business, we will further enhance the value we provide to customers in the in-person service industries and at larger corporations, while continuing to expand our product categories. ASKUL’s original products, in particular, combine price competitiveness with quality, ease of use, and design. They are a key strength that brings affordability, practicality, and a sense of satisfaction to the people who use them in our customers’ workplaces. To continue fulfilling the promise embodied in the name ASKUL–that what our customers need will arrive tomorrow–we will also evolve our logistics infrastructure and work to further improve the quality of our deliveries.

We also view the use of AI, data, and technology as a vital foundation for supporting business growth and organizational transformation, and will improve the quality of decision-making and raise productivity. We will translate these capabilities into better proposals for our customers and higher service quality, and continue to hone them as a source of competitiveness that supports our sustainable growth.

ASKUL has also worked continuously, in co-creation with stakeholders including customers, manufacturers, business partners, and local communities, to reduce environmental impact, promote resource circulation, and build sustainable supply chains. Going forward, we will continue to help address social challenges through our business while striving to achieve both social and economic value.

We will continue to stand alongside our customers in their workplaces and daily lives, supporting the everyday things they rely on while creating value beyond them. By embracing change positively and continuing to take on new challenges, we will pursue sustainable growth and the long-term enhancement of corporate value.

We sincerely appreciate your continued support.