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taimatsu

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Case Study (Retail / Wholesale): TAIMATSU Co., Ltd.

This interview was recorded with Nakamura (right) and Johannes (left) from TAIMATSU Co., Ltd., and Kin from Sanka. We asked about their Sanka rollout, focused on automating purchasing operations and multi-store plus Shopify inventory and purchasing management. Before and after adopting Sanka Kin: Thank you for your time today. To start, could you share the challenges you faced before adopting Sanka? Nakamura: We used to place orders with artisans via email or phone, which often led to issues like losing track of order details or forgetting orders altogether - a major challenge in “purchasing to payment” management. We also had unpaid balances, which prompted us to seek a better system. Kin: At first, the scope was purchasing management, but the requirements expanded over time. Nakamura: Exactly. We sell Japanese knives to customers overseas and operate multiple Shopify stores. As we grew rapidly, we needed a system that could manage purchasing, inbound, inventory sync, and outbound in one place. A single executive used to keep track of everything, but as the business grew, it became unsustainable. Sanka operations flow Kin: Next, could you describe your current operational flow? Nakamura: We integrate Shopify and Sanka to manage inventory across our online store and physical locations (Asakusa, Kyoto, etc.). Because physical stores account for roughly 60-65% of total sales, syncing store order data and inventory is especially important. Kin: You are also considering new initiatives to improve inventory accuracy, right? Johannes: Yes. Today, we enter inventory counts manually during stocktaking, but we plan to use hardware like handheld terminals to scan barcodes for faster and more accurate inventory checks. What matters in operations Kin: What do you prioritize most as you grow the business? Nakamura: Brand value and design. That is why we do not list on marketplaces like Rakuten or Amazon - we prioritize the world-building of our own site. We also plan to expand beyond product sales by offering cafes, bars, and experiential services at the Kyoto store, aiming to communicate Japanese culture as a whole. Expectations for Sanka Kin: What do you want Sanka to improve going forward? Nakamura: Stronger analytics. We want to analyze which attributes (knife types, handle styles, etc.) sell best and use that to plan inventory. Johannes: We also hope for clearer data synchronization during inventory updates and smoother integration with handheld terminals to further reduce operational load. Kin: Thank you. We will continue to support your fast-growing business, both in product and operations.