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    The Miracle of Zappos - A good book.

    Akira Tsuchiya(en)
    Akira Tsuchiya(en)

    The Miracle of Zappos - A good book.

    I read "The Miracle of Zappos" (Tokyo Book Publishing Co., Ltd.) through someone's introduction.




    Zappos is the name of an American online store company.

    It was acquired by Amazon last year.

    It has grown as an Internet company in a completely opposite way to Amazon.

    Amazon, a company growing through thorough IT

    Zappos, an IT company with a thorough philosophy, people-oriented and service-oriented.




    The company I founded in 1995 set forth its philosophy almost as soon as it was founded.

    "A business that shares inspiration."

    A company without a philosophy cannot grow.

    No company can survive without profit.




    This philosophy was unique in the restaurant industry at the time.

    Needless to say, this philosophy influenced the surrounding companies.

    The company's management was centered on its corporate philosophy.




    In 2001, the company went public, and I think it took almost as long as the shortest record at the time (6 years and 2 months).

    At that time, I wanted to build a company like this, and I always kept a book as my bible, "The Unbreakable" (Southwest Airlines), as a guidebook.

    (Southwest Airlines), a book (I wrote about it on my blog before) that I always kept on my desk and read over and over again. It is now in tatters.

    I admired Herb Kelleher's humanistic management.




    Reading "The Miracle of Zappos" this time brought back my passionate thoughts of those days after a long time.

    What this company is trying to do is exactly what I want to do.




    I wanted to create such a company with the same passion back then as I do now.




    Every time I read the book, I wondered (with all due respect) if there is a business manager who is running a business with so many of the same ideas as myself,

    I would love to meet Tony Shay, the CEO.




    In the future, the source of growth of corporate management will be people, and it goes without saying that the corporate philosophy that serves as the foundation of that growth is important.




    It is the foundation on which employees base their daily work and on which the company makes its final decisions.




    There are many philosophies that are merely "add-on" to the company's philosophy.

    It is not enough to copy the philosophy of another company.

    Unless the management truly and sincerely believes in the philosophy, it is a mere shell.




    There are many companies that have a fine philosophy but end up with the manager's self-satisfaction.

    When it comes to philosophy, there is no such thing as "real intention" and "front.

    Only true intentions are necessary.




    It is better to put the manager's sense of life and the way he or she has lived up to now directly into the philosophy.

    Do not imitate. Do not borrow from others. Do not put up something that you do not think.

    If you don't have true feelings, the surface that you have mended (tatemae) will peel off someday.

    Employees will not follow you.




    It does not have to be a cool philosophy.




    It only has to contain the manager's thoughts.




    Thank you very much.

    Mr. Ishizuka




    Assentia Holdings Inc

    Akira
    Akira Tsuchiya(en)

    Akira Tsuchiya(en)

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    Our background In 1991, we started the business that was not yet found in Japan, or even in the world. That business was to become an agency who provides franchise store-development service. We came up with the idea to persuade companies to join a franchise as their new business; our target was not individuals, but the small and medium-sized enterprises who already established with their businesses. With that as a start, we managed to expand over 30 franchise brands including various restaurant brands i.e. Bakery Restaurant St.Marc(650 uint in Japan, BBQ “Gyu-kaku”(850 unit in Japan), Katsudon “Katsuya”(350 unit in Japan), Sushi delivery “Gin-no Sara”(730 unit in Japan), and from other hospitality business categories i.e. Second-hand automobile dealer “Gulliver”(450 unit in Japan), Second-hand golf club dealer “Golf Partner”(350 unit in Japan), Women’s fitness club “Curves” (2,000 unit in Japan as a master franchisor of the American brand), by selling new businesses to small to medium-sized enterprises in Japan. Number of the stores we successfully opened are over 8000 ! During this time, in 1996, Akira has established a company, Prime Link Co.Ltd., to start a business that we become franchisee ourselves to grow the business. In 2001, Prime Link Co, Ltd., became the very first franchise business company that is listed on the stock market(Nasdaq Japan). In 2006, Akira left Prime Link and started our company, Assentia Holdings, Inc. In 2010, Akira has established Assentia Holdings PTE. Ltd. in Singapore, and started the business to connect Japan and the world. During the last 5 years, our client’s franchise stores have spread in 19 countries（180 unit) in the world. Japanese food business and Japanese-style service are catching a great deal of attention from the world. Our work is spreading out from Asia to Oceania, Middle Eastern, Europe and North, Central and South America. Published a business book "Gain F&B franchise business opportunities in Asia"