Marui Group establishes incubation company "okos" to create new businesses.

 Marui Group Business Direction

Marui Group has been shifting its business structure and business model in response to changes in customers and society. As the world's environment is currently undergoing major changes due to the evolution of digital technology, Marui Group's business model is also facing a major transition from tangible to intangible investments. By promoting a new trinity business model that combines retail x fintech with "investment in the future" consisting of co-creation and new business investment, the Marui Group aims to evolve into a "knowledge-creating company" and further expand its corporate value.

 About "okos

The Group's "future investment" aims to achieve both impact and profitability through "sustainability," "well-being," and "digital (DX)" investments. New business investment aims to create innovation through internal business development, while co-creation investment aims to introduce innovation through collaboration with external parties.

To date, the company has promoted open innovation with a variety of partners, including internal new business development such as "tsumiki Securities Co., Ltd." specializing in reserve investment and "MARUI TOCLUS," a share house living with MARUI, as well as holding internal and external pitches.
The new company "okos" was established to accelerate these efforts. okos" will operate as an independent company, not as a business development division, and will function as a platform for the development of internal entrepreneurial talent, as well as incubating businesses with speed.
In addition, Mr. Yuichi Gu, who has extensive experience in startup support, has been invited to serve as an outside director of okos. Mr. Gun has been involved in the Minebea Group's new business development programs and has provided a wide range of support to the company.

Mr. Yuichi Kori

After graduating from Hitotsubashi University, he worked as PM for F-Code Inc. and RenRen (NYSE:RNRN)'s social game platform for the Japanese market before founding Otsumu K.K. in 2010. He launched the venture capital firm NEXTBLUE, which invests in Japan and Europe, and has supported business onboarding, including mentoring of more than 200 startups. He has also been instrumental in our new business development program.

<My thoughts on naming and logo design

The name of the new company "okos" is derived from "to create something new that has never existed before" and "to start something new," and is meant to "start" a new business. The logo design uses a flag motif to symbolize "holding up a vision of what we want to achieve" and "continuing to create and blow the wind," expressing the will and attitude of entrepreneurs toward the future. The naming and logo design are by nendo, a world-renowned design office led by Oki Sato.

Future Initiatives

What "okos" incubates is a business with EC, not real stores, at its core. okos begins its relationship with customers by communicating online through websites, SNS, owned media, etc., and sending customers to EC. At the same time, the company will complement its web media and EC with permanent stores, pop-up stores, events, and other activities at its real stores to enhance the value of the customer experience. For customers who become fans through these efforts, the company will develop a unique business model to increase LTV (lifetime profit) by providing payment and credit functions in EC and stores and recruiting members.

okos" will start with businesses in the areas of "sustainability," "well-being," and "digital (DX)," and will further spin off profitable businesses into subsidiaries, thereby contributing to the Group's medium- to long-term earnings.
The Group aims to continuously expand its business by launching and quickly commercializing new businesses through the "okos" initiative. In doing so, the Group intends to achieve both impact and increased corporate value by leveraging resources such as the 200 million annual visits to Marui stores, the more than 7 million Epos Card members, and human resources with expertise in manufacturing, customer service, and sales, as well as by co-creating with various stakeholders, including individuals and companies that share the Marui Group's vision. Marui intends to achieve both impact and increased corporate value.