Pantone, Inc., the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced the establishment of Pantone Japan Co., Ltd., a new local company to better serve the Japanese market. Yuko Ishii has been appointed as Managing Director charged with business development and the implementation of Pantone’s strategies in Japan.
Pantone has been marketing products in Japan for 40 years through distributors and partner companies. Now, with the establishment of the new company, Pantone is demonstrating its commitment to regional expansion and to a broader scope of Japanese customers.
Richard Herbert, president and COO of Pantone, Inc, visited Tokyo to hold a press conference today, October 4, to outline Pantone’s plans for building a stronger presence in Japan.
"Japan is too important a market to service from the outside,” explained Herbert. "We must understand the specific needs of our Japanese customers and provide better local marketing support. We are delighted to have secured Yuko Ishii as our Managing Director for this key region, and are confident that she will enable us to meet our ambitious goals.”
Pantone’s mission for the Japanese market is to expand the use of PANTONE Color Systems throughout the design and manufacturing sectors, thus linking industries and businesses in Japan to the global community with a universal color specification standard.
Herbert plans to reach his objective of increasing sales in Japan by 100% over the next three years by broadening distribution in the printing, publishing and textile industries, and by developing new direct business with key corporate accounts. The company’s direction also includes new channels of distribution for digital color devices such as PANTONE Color Cue®2, as well as consumer lifestyle products marketed through Japanese licensing partners.
In addition to working through distribution partners, a key short-term priority is to build a Japanese Web site, supported by direct sales and marketing activities. Beyond generating sales, a powerful local Web site is an effective vehicle for Pantone to build overall brand awareness and increase market demand through education and communication with creative people everywhere in Japan.
There has always been a strong connection between Pantone and the design community, but some users do not fully understand the breadth of PANTONE Products and services. Currently in Japan, the assumption often is that PANTONE is just a "color chip” or "color swatch.” With a strong local presence and new leadership, it is Pantone’s mission to change this limited perception.
Before joining Pantone, Ishii held top managerial positions at Coca-Cola (Japan) Company, Limited, Budweiser Japan Co. Ltd. and The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd.
About Pantone, Inc.
Pantone, Inc., developer of the globally accepted PANTONE Color Systems, is the leading source of traditional and electronic products for the selection and accurate communication of color. With over 40 years of experience, Pantone is recognized as the worldwide market leader in color communication and color technology for the graphic design, printing, publishing, fashion, home furnishings, interiors and industrial design industries. More information is available at www.pantone.com.
This article was last modified on January 3, 2023
This article was first published on October 5, 2006
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