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May 26, 2006

The Business of Teaching a Child How to Run

Teaching young children physical education has become a business high in demand. The reason behind its rise in popularity is the increase in concern among parents for their children who have not been fully expose to various forms of physical activity outside of school. Readers may be fast to criticize the parents for making their children develop these skills solely through commercial means, especially since the tutoring fees are quite high. However, numerous restrictions that did not exist for previous generations have made it difficult for these children to simply go to the playground or participate in local sports leagues. For instance, recent years have seen a decrease in the number of children living in the same neighborhoods as well as a lack of safe areas for children to engage in outdoor physical activity.

Nevertheless, the various services have had a positive effect on these children and are not only helping children gain physical strength, they also help them learn team-building skills. This industry is said to grow, beginning with sports gyms across the country introducing physical education classes aimed at children. Even the Ministry of Education provides aid to support such business development. Japan's national soccer team, the J. League, and the country's oldest and most popular baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants, are also becoming involved by running sports camps and free classes at local schools.

May 19, 2006

The Business of Washing and Folding

After learning about the laundry delivery service business in the United States, president Mika Yamazaki started her own similar service, Wash & Fold on March 2005. The service is based on a pricing system where anything you can fit within a Wash & Fold bag will cost 2400 yen to wash. The items placed into the bag need to be washable with a normal washing machine and are simply picked up, washed and folded and delivered back to the customer. The service's reasonable pricing and convenience have attracted around a thousand members mainly in the Tokyo area and are receiving approximately 20 bags a day.

It is difficult to say in such beginning stages whether or not the service will be able to compete once the prices of dryers decline, but the service definitely has potential in a country where more people are willing to invest their money for time away from such mundane household chores.

May 12, 2006

Taking Sampling from the Streets to the Internet

Responding to the needs of retailers having difficulty reaching potential customers interested in sampling products, Luke 19 created Sample Hyakkaten.

In Japan, product samples are often handed out near large terminal stations or in crowded streets. Sample Hyakkaten takes this process online and makes it convenient for companies to deliver product samples and collect survey results from potential customers.

The site currently has one hundred thousand registered members and its most popular sections include sampling cosmetic and health products. By responding to surveys and sending comments on product samples, users collect points in order to receive more samples. Currently, its users are mostly women but there is great potential for products targeting male, elderly, and teenage audiences. The site is considering adding a function where companies can sell products that are popular among registered members.

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