Maori Inc has open market in Japan
Friday 17 August 2007, 6:20PM
By GC&M
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A 6.am flight to Seoul, South Korea from Fukuoka Japan for a day’s business and then return to Japan for dinner with family at 7.30pm is becoming a normal work day forKupa Hokianga
The ability for Hokianga to swap between Japanese, Korean & English languages and cultures has now put his company and services in demand with niche exporters from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand wanting a foothold in the region.
Specialising in NZ & Australian premium food & beverage, Hokianga’s new marketing company in Asia ‘Gallerie’ have customised a barcode technology in Japan that allows shoppers in a supermarket to scan a barcode using a mobile phone which can view a mobile phone website explaining the health aspects and ingredients of any product.
Gallerie also use a sales database of several hundred thousand Japanese consumers who can request product further information or purchase direct from their mobile phone.
Hokianga believes this is a classic opportunity for Maori businesses, exporters and tourist operators to work together and develop a direct relationship with Japanese consumers.
Japanese spend at least one and a half years planning a five day vacation. If the awareness of a products origin and the regions cultural significance is explained, a natural curiosity, communication and education can begin. Tagging a tourism experience related to a skincare, food or beverage is a holistic way to enhance a brand.
Japanese have a genuine interest in Maori culture however very little if any current information available in Japan. A cooking show screened on Japanese TV recently featuring Charles Royal cooking with traditional Maori herbs. This created tremendous interest however there was no infrastructure to capture the response.
That particular opportunity was lost, however Hokianga is determined not to allow this to happen again.
Maori business and its international brand could be the real benefactors of technology convergences in Asia as its looks for more than just another bus tour and hotel room.