ecbo Co., Ltd.
ecbo, which operates the luggage storage service “Ekbo Cloak”, enters into a capital and business alliance with Microad
Strengthen promotions by companies and local governments to domestic and foreign tourists
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ecbo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Shinichi Kudo, hereinafter referred to as ecbo) is a joint venture with Microad Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo,
Representative Director and President Executive Officer: Kentaro Watanabe, hereinafter referred to as Microad). We would like to inform you that we have entered into a business partnership.
[Image 1: https://prtimes.jp/i/21088/143/resize/d21088-143-e5ecb05b6f9e8b42a167-1.jpg&s3=21088-143-801beaa6505e8f58f74268a318eb5dc2-1386×390.jpg] By strengthening promotion support business for domestic and foreign tourists using the luggage storage area of ecbo cloak for Japanese companies and local governments, we will solve the problems faced by customers including ecbo cloak users. We will try to find a solution. In addition to jointly developing promotional services for tourists with MicroAd, we will also receive support for ecbo cloak’s domestic expansion and overseas business development in collaboration with MicroAd Taiwan (Headquarters: Taipei City, Chairman: Hayato Maruki). , we aim to improve the convenience and value of ecbo cloak.
Regarding the number of foreign visitors to Japan and the number of domestic travelers in Japan
The number of overseas visitors to Japan in December 2023 was approximately 2.73 million, 108% compared to the same month in 2019, the highest number since the coronavirus pandemic (*1). Additionally, the total number of Japanese domestic travelers in the July-September period of 2023 was approximately 140 million, an increase of 12% compared to the same period before the coronavirus pandemic (*2). On the other hand, tourists have been facing the issue of a lack of places to leave their luggage, such as coin lockers, even before the coronavirus pandemic. According to a survey conducted by ecbo, there are approximately 176,000 tourists nationwide who are unable to store their luggage while traveling, and there is a shortage of
approximately 300,000 coin lockers. Additionally, according to a survey of approximately 2,000 people, mostly from Taiwan and Hong Kong, 400 people, or 20% of the total, cited “lack of luggage storage” as the third most important issue when traveling to Japan. *3).
*1 JNTO: Number of foreign visitors to Japan/Japanese departing from Japan in 2023
*2 Japan Tourism Agency: Travel and Tourism Consumption Trend Survey July-September 2023
*3) January 2024 Questionnaire survey targeting approximately 2,000 people / Conducted by Microad Taiwan
About business development through partnership
We have entered into a capital and business alliance with the belief that we can expect further business development by strengthening promotions that leverage the strengths of both companies, targeting both domestic and foreign tourists, whose demand is expected to continue to increase in the future.
・Joint development of tourist attraction promotion services
We will jointly develop a unique promotional service for Japanese companies and local governments that utilizes ecbo cloak’s luggage storage area as a touch point with domestic and international tourists, and promote business development.
・Promotion of business development including supported companies In cooperation with companies that are developing business for tourists visiting Japan, which MicroAd has supported in the past, we will support the promotion of ecbo cloak’s business development, such as expanding the number of storage locations and acquiring new ecbo cloak app users.
・Support for domestic and overseas expansion of ecbo cloak
We will provide support for marketing to increase awareness of ecbo cloak in Japan and Asia, mainly Taiwan.
ecbo will continue to strive to improve the value of our management services through business alliances and collaborations with various companies both domestically and internationally.
About microad
Since 2015, MicroAd has been supporting Japanese companies’ overseas expansion and inbound promotion, including marketing and cross-border e-commerce in Greater China, through collaboration with overseas branches in Greater China and alliances with partner companies. I did. We also provide promotional support for local governments to attract domestic and international tourists.
Microad Co., Ltd. Company Profile
Company name: Microad Co., Ltd.
Representative: Kentaro Watanabe, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer
Head office location: 13F Shibuya Infos Tower, 20-1 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
U R L: http://www.microad.co.jp/
Main business: Data platform business
About “ecbo cloak”
[Image 2: https://prtimes.jp/i/21088/143/resize/d21088-143-b07660d731b7106e9757-0.jpg&s3=21088-143-5e9547e2d53dd511c92a21b1671397d5-3840×2160.jpg] “ecbo cloak” is a service that allows you to easily store your luggage by making a smartphone reservation. You can search for facilities that allow you to store your luggage near your current location, such as inside a station, post office, or cafe, and make a reservation in advance to ensure that you can store your luggage.
After starting the service in January 2017, in February 2018, we raised funds from JR East, JR West Innovations, and others, and the luggage storage service was introduced at more than 1,000 locations in Japan, including inside JR stations, to fill the shortage of coin lockers. We offer new solutions for
In August 2023, we will expand into Taiwan, our first overseas base, and provide luggage storage services.
URL: https://cloak.ecbo.io/ja
ecbo Co., Ltd. Company Profile
Company name: ecbo Co., Ltd.
Representative: Shinichi Kudo, Representative Director and President Head office location: Forest Gate Daikanyama MAIN Building 3F, 20-23 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Established: June 2, 2015
U R L: https://ecbo.io
Main business: Operation of luggage storage service “ecbo cloak” and delivery receiving service “ecbo pickup”
Contact information regarding this matter
ecbo Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department
TEL: 03-4405-8929 MAIL: pr@ecbo.io
More details about this release:
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