From “new kid on the block” to “lines around the block”. (Grit & Glamor: Epi.12)

It’s important to notice when people notice changes in you. That’s when you’ll know when you’re really changed. And with change comes more change.

Previously:

After two months of blogging, I attended a “Fashion Trend Seminar” in search of the latest information in the apparel industry. Learning about the collections in Paris, Milan, New York, and London deepened my understanding of trends and fueled my desire to improve my skills as a salesperson. Additionally, at Ken Honda’s seminar, I learned the importance of meeting mentors, making decisions, and taking action, which gave me hope for my growth and future. By putting the knowledge I gained into practice and applying it to store management, I decided to explore new ways of working that would benefit both my and my staff’s futures.

5.4 Pioneer of Female Entrepreneurs

I attended a seminar themed “Women’s Power,” hosted by Nikkei MJ newspaper. The speaker, Ms. T, supports female entrepreneurs and, at just 31 years old, has an impressive career. She changed jobs yearly, gaining experience at three companies before founding her own at 26. Truly a pioneer among female entrepreneurs at the time.

Listening to Ms. T, I was overwhelmed by her strategic thinking and sharp insights. Her innovative ideas and strategies thrilled me. She called herself a “growth enthusiast,” always seeking opportunities for self-growth and immediately taking action, which was very impressive.

She stated, “Women are more likely to start businesses because they can directly reflect their needs in their businesses.” I learned that the key to entrepreneurship is finding unique strengths that only you can offer, perfecting them, and becoming indispensable to society.

Meeting someone who continually grows like her was inspiring. If I were to start a business, what kind of company would I create? I hope to one day recount my current efforts at the Shibuya store as a success story. As I left the seminar, I felt a surge of new motivation within me.

Chapter 6: Prelude to an Unexpected Future

6.1 The Christmas Miracle

In December 2004, as the city lights turned to Christmas illuminations, a Christmas tree contest was held in the shopping mall. The trees were provided, but decorations were free to design. I asked a staff member with design sense for an idea sketch.

On my day off, I scoured Shibuya for materials. A white tree adorned with large red ribbons and ornaments resulted in a gorgeous tree! It received praise from neighboring stores, and I began to think we might win.

At the end of the year, a staff party was held at a hotel within the fashion building. Amidst mixed nerves and expectations, the results were announced: we placed third out of 60 stores! Along with a 30,000 yen prize, our Shibuya staff won movie tickets, Disneyland pair tickets, and an electric toothbrush in the raffle. We had an incredibly lucky streak!

Amid our excitement, I pondered. “Is it just a Christmas tree, or is it more than that?” This difference in mindset might have determined the outcome. It became a great opportunity to boost the store’s morale and was a fruitful experience. The Christmas tree lights seemed to illuminate our hopes for the future as well.

6.2 The Banner Visible from Shibuya Station

For the winter sale display, I conceived an expanded version of the summer “SALE” tank top display. Whether we do it seriously or not could change the future. The finished image vividly floated in my mind, making me smile. I came up with the idea of hanging a large banner at the store entrance visible from Shibuya Station.

I bought a 5-meter white cloth and painted “SALE” in red paint using a method my sister taught me in the summer. This large-scale project required staff assistance. Some declined due to clumsiness, but unexpected talents were discovered.

Thanks to their help, the banner turned out just as I imagined. Then I realized, “How do we hang this?” It’s not uncommon for me to take action on whims and deal with the aftermath later.

After some thought, I rushed to the building management office. “Excuse me, could we borrow a ladder that reaches the ceiling?” I asked. A staff member offered to help.

After closing, an extremely tall ladder was brought to the store, and it was clearly a two-person job. We laughed at the absurdly tall ladder, knowing it was a dangerous task. Holding the ladder steady, we finally hung the banner. The store was instantly enveloped in a sale mood.

This event brought us closer to the building management, and I thought, “It’ll be easier to ask for cooperation from now on.” Our store was at the building’s entrance; increased traffic would benefit the whole building. They’d surely cooperate.

I recalled myself the previous year, always thinking about how to raise my salary. Now, I saw things from a much broader perspective. Looking up at the banner, I quietly acknowledged my growth at the end of 2004.

6.3 Customers Non-Stop

On January 2, 2005, customers flooded in as soon as the store opened. The number of visitors exceeded the previous year’s by 100, and the momentum continued on the second day, accelerating even more. By the third day, the number of customers increased further, turning the store into a festival-like atmosphere. On the night of the fourth day, the start of the work week, the fitting rooms were constantly full. “Please sign this form for a fitting!” a staff member shouted. Amidst the chaos, a notable figure entered the store — the female entrepreneur who started the charismatic sales staff trend at 109.

I remembered her commenting on the noisy air conditioning when I first transferred to Shibuya. Tension rose, but this time she pointed to my new wide pants and said, “Those are cute!” Her casual compliment brought relief.

The store pulsed with upbeat music, and the staff radiated enthusiasm. I brought energy drinks to keep everyone smiling and engaged with customers. The sale’s energy and music created a unified rhythm within the store.

Noticing the major staff were almost the same as a year ago, I saw remarkable growth. Their confident expressions, efficient movements, and natural customer conversations were striking. Over these four days, our store had undoubtedly become the hottest apparel shop in Shibuya. Witnessing this growth firsthand filled me with pride. I wondered how much further we could grow, excited by the possibilities. At the store managers’ meeting in Kobe, I confidently advocated for more products for Shibuya.

On the blog, I provided daily updates on best-sellers, new arrivals, and popular items’ stock status to attract customers at the right time. Starting January 5, 2005, I added a “Join our popular blog ranking” banner at the end of posts, unaware it would lead to an unimaginable future.