A member of the Operations Team, responsible for shipping preparation and procurement, and for customer inquiries and review replies. She holds the Japanese Certified Sleep & Bedding Advisor (sleep-environment bedding adviser) qualification.
What I do each day
I am in the workshop’s Operations Team, mainly responsible for shipping preparation, procurement, and customer inquiries and review replies — “I do everything except making and delivering the futon.” From sorting the morning’s shipping list, to answering emails and reviews in the afternoon, to coordinating the next restock — this business chain needs no elaborate craft, but it needs every link done right.
Noting the date a customer needs
I try to see each order from the customer’s point of view. If someone is moving home on a particular date, I note that request for the delivery team. I also take care with packing and the card enclosed in the parcel. Small details help customers feel looked after.
Why I took the bedding-adviser qualification
The year before last I obtained the Japanese Certified Sleep & Bedding Advisor qualification. I took it not for a promotion, but because more and more of the daily inquiries are about “sleep” itself — “why do I still sleep badly after changing my shikibuton,” “what bedding does my child’s sleep need.” Studying sleep-environment knowledge systematically lets me give advice that is actually useful.
The workshop as a team
Once we agree on a change, our team acts quickly. We can discuss a problem together and put a solution into practice. That responsiveness is one of the things I value about a small workshop.