A Day in a Lifetime: A Look Back at the First Week of September ~Even in the Scorching Heat, My Heart is Filled with Autumn Colors~

Hello everyone.

How are you all doing with the lingering heat of summer that continues into September? This week has been incredibly hot. There have been days when the temperature exceeded 35°C, and I'm sure many of you have sighed and thought, "It's already September..."

World events this week

There was a wave of great change taking place in the political world.

A series of events have occurred that suggest an era of change, such as the Liberal Democratic Party's strong words about "dissolution and a fresh start" and the large-scale restructuring of the Seven & i Group.

I feel that it is becoming increasingly important for small businesses like ours to be able to adapt to change. However, change is not something to be afraid of; it is also an opportunity to discover new possibilities (positive).

The Tama Plaza store pop-up has finally started!

And the biggest topic this week is that our pop-up at Tokyu Department Store Tama Plaza branch started on September 4th! This marks the start of an important challenge for us, and will run for two weeks until September 17th.

Preparation is always a hassle, but it was really hard work.

What products to bring, what fixtures to use, how to layout the limited space in an attractive way...I've considered this countless times.

From arranging each and every piece of equipment to creating displays that take into account the flow of customers, we were busy every day making detailed preparations.

Then came delivery day on September 3rd. Working in this scorching heat was harder than I imagined!

The work of assembling the fixtures and carefully arranging each product can be quite sweaty, but the sense of accomplishment when the vibrant African fabrics and ethical items are lined up on the shelves is exceptional.

What kind of customers are waiting to meet?

I am already excited about the wonderful women I will meet in the high-end neighborhood of Tama Plaza. Just imagining how our products will be received and the conversations that will ensue is enough to get my heart racing.

Through conversations with each customer, we hope to convey the appeal of African fabrics and their ethical stories.

Each item has its own story, something you can't get from mass-produced items.

As I spent this hot week, I was reminded once again that I want to continue making such products.

Starting next week, we may start to feel signs of autumn, but the heat of summer is likely to continue for a while longer. Please take care of your health.

And if you happen to be in the Tama Plaza store, please feel free to stop by our section. We would love to talk to you about the appeal of African fabrics.

I am looking forward to meeting you all in a wonderful way.

Representative Kaoru Tsuji