ASKUL was one of the first companies to be involved in e-business. We have evolved from a catalog sales company into a solution-oriented service provider. We will continue to develop our e-business presence so that we can better serve our customers.

The Evolution of ASKUL's Internet Business

In March of 1997, ASKUL quickly implemented a system to take orders through the Internet. The Internet provided a two-way communication channel that was traditionally inconceivable. We are now able to receive direct requests and opinions from our customers over the Internet. Utilizing this new kind of relationship with our customers has enabled us to understand the customers' needs more precisely and use their input to help develop and refine our product lineup and services. Using the power of the Internet, we are also able to make additional services available to our customers who have easy access to our company online. ASKUL intends to continue maximizing use of the Internet as a tool with tremendous potential to develop a more useful, more reliable, and more enjoyable business model.

We Are Continually Evolving In Order To Be The Best Solution-Oriented Company in Japan.

ASKUL started as a company that just delivered office supplies. We have evolved by listening to customers and learning from them. Today we not only deliver products to customers but also contribute "comfort" and "convenience" to their office environments. The key concept is a shift from supplying a "product" to offering an "experience". Both the Internet and IT are simply tools that assist us in providing satisfactory service to our customers. We try to be the best one-stop shopping provider around. We intend to become a solution-oriented company offering total business support that can respond to each and every one of our customer's needs. In order to achieve these goals, ASKUL has to continuously evolve to better serve our customers.