Over the past decade, ith has focused on enhancing its brand value while expanding to 11 domestic and 3 international stores. This growth has been supported not only by concierges and craftsmen but also by back-office staff, who play a significant role in enabling customers to experience the joy and excitement of ring creation at ith. This time we highlight the often-unseen efforts of back-office personnel, exploring how their daily activities enrich the allure of ith.
Leveraging Personal Traits at ith
What prompted your decision to join ith?
Sato: I first created my wedding ring as an ith customer. My wife suggested working at ith after seeing my passion for the process—it was as if she could read my mind (laughs). That comment sparked my desire to work here.
Wada: Initially, I juggled my studies at a voice acting school while working temporarily at ith. Even after graduating from the voice acting school, I struggled to find voice acting jobs. As I began exploring other career options, ith offered me a permanent position. Working behind the scenes at ith helped me discover a new passion, which seemed more suited to my skills than voice acting.
Harada: I was simultaneously searching for a new job and a wedding ring when I stumbled upon ith's rings. My wife and I had been sharing interesting ring designs with each other, and ith kept appearing. Then, I saw a job posting for ith, and I thought, "I have to go for it," so I switched jobs (laughs). I got to create my ring shortly after joining.
Learning and Challenging Through Work
What are your current roles at ith?
Sato: After several years as a concierge, I moved to the Brand Promotion Department, where I now oversee training for new and experienced employees, primarily focusing on training new concierges.
Wada: My role involves supporting executive tasks to ensure smooth operations, including handling internships and other secretarial duties.
Harada: I create and manage website and internal systems. My previous job involved creating promotional sites for anime. At that time, I created over 100 websites, but I never had the chance to manage their operation after going live. However, at ith, I can directly see customer feedback on the websites I build and also participate in subsequent improvements. Additionally, I receive direct requests for system improvements from coworkers, which gives me a strong sense of fulfillment knowing that my work is making a significant impact across various aspects of ith.
Are there any challenges in your current roles?
Sato: Coming from a retail background where I mostly dealt with products rather than people, I find personal interaction challenging, particularly selecting the right words and timing in conversations.
Wada: In my case, I occasionally encounter unexpected tasks, which can be challenging to manage time-wise. However, I find the varied nature of my work suits me well, and I enjoy it.
Harada: My challenge lies in managing systems and programming, areas I wasn’t involved in my previous jobs. I've been studying a lot since joining the company.
As a fan, I want to share the allure of ith
How do you contribute to ith through your roles?
Sato: I prioritize focusing on our customers over contributing to the brand itself. That's why I aim to nurture concierges who can solidly support our customers' journey in creating their rings. This, I believe, not only satisfies our customers but also contributes to the brand. This approach might be influenced by my own experience creating a ring with ith before I joined the company. I would be thrilled if more customers felt 'ith was the right choice,' just like I did. Harada, you also want to make the website clean, easy to navigate, and interesting for the customers, right?
Harada: Indeed, by properly managing the ith website, customers can truly appreciate their rings, enhancing their perceived value. That's why I also focus on design aspects.
Wada: What I can do is ensure that our executives have the time to focus on the business. When we receive inquiries about ith or our craftsmanship, I strive to respond with more than just formal replies. It's important to convey that not only the frontline concierges and craftsmen but also the back office staff share ith's concept of valuing "cherishing one more than many." This collective ethos is something I aim to communicate.
Harada: In my role, I focus on developing systems to streamline operations for concierges, craftsmen, and production management while ensuring our website is user-friendly from a customer perspective. By enhancing our internal systems and creating a user-friendly website, everything operates more smoothly, making life easier for both customers and staff. I also consider how our internal atmosphere can be enhanced through the systems I develop. For instance, I deliberately use emojis in the admin panels of our systems to soften the interface.
Everyone approaches their work differently, but we all continually think about how we can contribute to ith's growth.
Harada: The back office staff have diverse responsibilities and handle many tasks individually. The responsibility is significant, but everyone is committed to their roles.
Sato: If you were to ask other staff members, you would likely get a variety of answers. But that diversity is what makes it interesting and truly characteristic of ith.
Left: Mr. Sato [Brand Promotion Department]
Center: Ms. Wada [Strategic Planning Office]
Right: Mr. Harada [IT System Department]
Profiles:
Mr. Sato [Brand Promotion Department]: Ordered his wedding ring at ith's Kichijoji Atelier in 2015, then joined ith in 2017 after being inspired by his wife. He was the first concierge at ith who was a customer, and the first male concierge. After being a chief at the Ginza Atelier, he has managed several other ateliers and now works in the Brand Promotion Department, overseeing education for new and experienced employees.
Ms. Wada [Strategic Planning Office]: Started as a temp at ith in 2017 and became a full-time employee in 2019. She manages various administrative tasks, including customer information and training schedules for concierges. After the establishment of the Brand Promotion Department, she also supported the consulting business, expanding her range of duties. She had her wedding ring made at ith after joining the company.
Mr. Harada [IT System Department]: Joined in 2020, seeking a shift from a web production company to a manufacturer with own content, which led him to join ith. He handles the creation and management of ith's website and internal and external system developments. He also ordered his wedding ring upon joining the company.
