Christmas season is here! What items do buyers recommend?
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2025 8:57 am
We spoke to Ayaka Nakai, manager of the MD team of Enfactory's Shopping Unit and chief buyer, about her experiences joining the company and her recommended Christmas items!
Please tell us the circumstances and background that led you to join Enfactory.
In my previous job, I worked as a chinese overseas america database sales assistant buyer at a department store, and was in charge of merchandising planning and editorial direction of the newsletter. At the time, even if there were good products on the sales floor, there was a big difference in what the sales staff conveyed, there were few opportunities for people to see them, and I felt frustrated that the quality of the products and the type of makers who made them were not being fully conveyed.
Among them, I discovered Style Store around 2008 (it's already been 14 years, from when I was a baby to when I was in second year of junior high school). At the time, the mainstream image of online sales was cheap mass-produced goods, and online shops that sold products made by small- to medium-sized manufacturers and properly introduced the background of their manufacturing were very rare. I was driven by the
desire to work at this store , and although they weren't particularly looking for staff, I sent an email and the store manager at the time interviewed me and I ended up joining the company. Even now, I'm grateful that he met with me and listened to me, and I'm thankful that I was given the opportunity.
What was the most difficult part? Please tell us a specific episode!
I want to continue working hard every day to be both a manager and a player. I think everyone will go through the process of being a playing manager...!
I want to continue working hard every day to be able to give my teammates a push, set up systems to make things run smoothly and improve , and above all, to be able to procure and develop products that make users feel like their lives have been updated.
Please tell us what you came up with and what you focused on.
I always keep in mind the following questions: "In what situations will this product be useful to the user?" and "What problems will it solve?" Rather than calling it a job, it now feels like a part of my life's work.
I also think it's important to read through all the feedback from users , talk to them to find out what the unique qualities of the creator are, and then digest them in my own way before giving them shape.
When I first joined the company, the thing that impressed me the most was the high level of the comments from our users. There were many positive comments, as well as sometimes harsh ones, and I could always sense their passionate desire to help other customers.
In response to such requests, when developing products, the starting point is often not only "It would be great if there was something that could solve this problem, but also "I want to solve this problem for the user," or "If we use the creator's strengths, we might be able to improve it or create something better . "
We receive comments on the products we create in this way, which we then provide as feedback to the creators, who then work together to come up with ideas to improve the product, further improving the lives of the users. I am not a manufacturer myself, but I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I am able to create this cycle.
The buyer-written columns introducing the products that have been created in this way are written for the users who have given us feedback, but in my heart I write as if I were writing a correspondence with them. Right now, I am working on a product for the spring, and I am preparing it with the hope that it will bring some joy to people, even if only a little.
Do you have any advice for people aspiring to become buyers?
I don't know if this is good advice, but I think it's important to think about others, imagine, and act in a way that's not limited to buyer work. It's important to think about the customers who use the products, the creators who are your partners, the members you work with, and your family, too. I myself still have a lot to learn.
Is there anything you like about Enfactory?
I am blessed with users, creators, and the members I work with . That is the main reason why I work at Enfactory. Thank you so much!
Please tell us about your future prospects and enthusiasm!
There are many things in the world, but I want to introduce things that can solve problems in daily life and are useful, things that you can use in various ways and think "this is the best after all" or "this is better than the others".
Personally, I would like to work more on product development, visit production areas, and improve my life with my family.
In two and a half years, Style Store will celebrate its 20th anniversary. I hope to have grown in many ways by then.
By the way, Style Store is currently focusing on Christmas specials . This year, we have prepared some original products
Please tell us the circumstances and background that led you to join Enfactory.
In my previous job, I worked as a chinese overseas america database sales assistant buyer at a department store, and was in charge of merchandising planning and editorial direction of the newsletter. At the time, even if there were good products on the sales floor, there was a big difference in what the sales staff conveyed, there were few opportunities for people to see them, and I felt frustrated that the quality of the products and the type of makers who made them were not being fully conveyed.
Among them, I discovered Style Store around 2008 (it's already been 14 years, from when I was a baby to when I was in second year of junior high school). At the time, the mainstream image of online sales was cheap mass-produced goods, and online shops that sold products made by small- to medium-sized manufacturers and properly introduced the background of their manufacturing were very rare. I was driven by the
desire to work at this store , and although they weren't particularly looking for staff, I sent an email and the store manager at the time interviewed me and I ended up joining the company. Even now, I'm grateful that he met with me and listened to me, and I'm thankful that I was given the opportunity.
What was the most difficult part? Please tell us a specific episode!
I want to continue working hard every day to be both a manager and a player. I think everyone will go through the process of being a playing manager...!
I want to continue working hard every day to be able to give my teammates a push, set up systems to make things run smoothly and improve , and above all, to be able to procure and develop products that make users feel like their lives have been updated.
Please tell us what you came up with and what you focused on.
I always keep in mind the following questions: "In what situations will this product be useful to the user?" and "What problems will it solve?" Rather than calling it a job, it now feels like a part of my life's work.
I also think it's important to read through all the feedback from users , talk to them to find out what the unique qualities of the creator are, and then digest them in my own way before giving them shape.
When I first joined the company, the thing that impressed me the most was the high level of the comments from our users. There were many positive comments, as well as sometimes harsh ones, and I could always sense their passionate desire to help other customers.
In response to such requests, when developing products, the starting point is often not only "It would be great if there was something that could solve this problem, but also "I want to solve this problem for the user," or "If we use the creator's strengths, we might be able to improve it or create something better . "
We receive comments on the products we create in this way, which we then provide as feedback to the creators, who then work together to come up with ideas to improve the product, further improving the lives of the users. I am not a manufacturer myself, but I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I am able to create this cycle.
The buyer-written columns introducing the products that have been created in this way are written for the users who have given us feedback, but in my heart I write as if I were writing a correspondence with them. Right now, I am working on a product for the spring, and I am preparing it with the hope that it will bring some joy to people, even if only a little.
Do you have any advice for people aspiring to become buyers?
I don't know if this is good advice, but I think it's important to think about others, imagine, and act in a way that's not limited to buyer work. It's important to think about the customers who use the products, the creators who are your partners, the members you work with, and your family, too. I myself still have a lot to learn.
Is there anything you like about Enfactory?
I am blessed with users, creators, and the members I work with . That is the main reason why I work at Enfactory. Thank you so much!
Please tell us about your future prospects and enthusiasm!
There are many things in the world, but I want to introduce things that can solve problems in daily life and are useful, things that you can use in various ways and think "this is the best after all" or "this is better than the others".
Personally, I would like to work more on product development, visit production areas, and improve my life with my family.
In two and a half years, Style Store will celebrate its 20th anniversary. I hope to have grown in many ways by then.
By the way, Style Store is currently focusing on Christmas specials . This year, we have prepared some original products