Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.518

Today, we like to write about our routine work again. We like to focus on shipping.

When we receive order, customers choose the shipping method. Express and Standard-sometimes by SEA, of course this option is available too.

We ship all parcels abroad, from Japan Post,(except the special request from customers who have FeDEX or other international courier account).

For domestic delivery, we use Sagawa Express. Customers can choose the convenient delivery date and time. The available delivery time request is, A.M., 0:00 to 2:00 P.M., 2:00 to 4:00 P.M., 4:00-6:00 P.M., and 6:00-9:00 P.M. and also `husband's absence'( we wish we could request that-since we receive this request often, but Sagawa does not have this option!).

He comes to pick up parcels at 3:00 P.M. every day:

The blue stripe is Sagawa uniform. Sagawa and Kuroneko are the two biggest courier companies. Sagawa is said to be FAST and Kuroneko is said to be careful. Sagawa originally work mostly with compnies and organizations. Kuroneko work with individuals- they are rivals always.

He is always running (and smiling!)

We hear Sagawa Express recently retreated from Amazon Japan delivery- so Kuroneko is now doing delivery for Amazon Japan-in any case, delivery companies are facing intense competition.  Each driver is working so hard-pressed for time always but never forget to smile! They come to  pick up parcels to individual houses. You can bring parcels to any convenience stores also. They accept parcels any time as long as the convenience store is open. So it is quite convenient. The have `cool' delivery also, so we can send food in ice box also.

Soon after Sagawa leaves, Japan Post delivery man comes, around 3:30 P.M. to collect parcels abroad.

We remember, when we started the business, we brought a few parcels to the nearest post office ourselves, by bicycle, and gradually we used a small carriage- then when parcels increased, and we asked Tondabayashi Post Office for collecting, anxiously, they accepted our request and started to come to our house(at that time, our home was our office).

He checks the shipping slip and bring them to Tondabayashi Post office(the biggest post office of the city) so they can be transferred to the international shipping section at the night. It seems Express (EMS)leaves Japan at the night to the addressed country. It depends on the address, but to big cities, it seems it is taking around 3-5 business days(depending on the country, it takes more time) Usually, EMS is very reliable and trackable, so we recommend EMS(sorry, to some countries, it seems not so fast).

For the first time customer, we include `fabric sampler card' along with our `thank you' card. Yoko is doing the final check of the parcels abroad:

It used to be each room was separated with walls, but this summer, we removed the part of walls, so we can walk through from main room to other stock room without going out. It became more convenient this way. Another stock room is on the same floor but other companies offices are in between,  so we could do nothing about it.

Photo taking staff come back from photo taking room around 2:30, and start to register the photos for listing on our website. They check the colors, and make sure the close up photos are showing the flaws.

Some kimono are photogenic but sometimes the charms cannot show well with some items- so in that case, the writing staf try to convey the charms in description. Some light color stains or slight discoloration cannot show well in the photos, photo staff point out in the chart.

Ichiro's desk and my desk are TOO MESSY, so we did not take photos...

At 3:30 P.M. we take a short break. This time, every one was very shy, but next time, we like to introduce our staff. I forgot to take the photos of `photo taking room', so next time, I hope to show that also!