One of my projects this semester is to create an international marketing plan for Coca-Cola specifically pertaining to the market in Japan. Since I like to talk about international topics, I’ll pick on a couple of interesting things I noticed about Japan, aside from the renown anime scene widely accepted within western culture.
Vending Machines
As I did research, I realized how important vending machines were to the Japanese Market. A couple of blogs I skimmed through joked about how, in Japan, everything you’ll ever need will be in a vending machine, although their humor may not be so far from the truth. Here are a couple of sites that demonstrate the wide variety of items found in vending machines:
Initially I was surprised, but after learning a little more about the Japanese culture, especially in the bustling cities like Tokyo, vending machines fit the market perfectly. They tend to be time-savers when people have little time to actually stop inside a full-fledged store.
- 14 Cool Vending Machines from Japan: http://www.toxel.com/tech/2009/06/08/14-cool-vending-machines-from-japan/
- Japan, Land of Vending Machines: http://www.kuriositas.com/2012/07/japan-land-of-vending-machines.html
Initially I was surprised, but after learning a little more about the Japanese culture, especially in the bustling cities like Tokyo, vending machines fit the market perfectly. They tend to be time-savers when people have little time to actually stop inside a full-fledged store.
Coca-Cola Japan
Since my project is on Coca-Cola, it would only be fair to mention something about them as well. Coca-Cola is leading in Market share in the beverage industry; however, it is not the “Coke” brand that leads, but another Coca-Cola brand, Georgia, that has oddly taken lead in the Japanese market. Georgia is a brand of coffee from the Coca-Cola Company. From preconceptions about Japanese culture, one would assume that at least Coke’s tea products would be more popular, and they are still pretty well liked; but still working men of Japan, a segment in the Japanese market, find Georgia coffee to better meet their tastes and needs.
Do you live in Japan? Have you ever visited?
What interesting aspects of marketing have you found in your country or a country you have visited?
Leave a comment and let me know!
What interesting aspects of marketing have you found in your country or a country you have visited?
Leave a comment and let me know!