NEWS

SoldOut, Inc., which uses digital marketing, technology, and HR support to assist medium, small, and venture companies in growing throughout all of Japan including in rural areas (main office in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, CGO and Representative Director Takeshi Ogiwara, referred to as “SoldOut” below) announces that it has entered into a capital tie-up contract with Linkers Corporation (main office in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, President & CEO Tomohiro Maeda, referred to as “Linkers” below), a company that runs the “Linkers” manufacturing matching service, with the purpose of revitalizing the domestic SMB market through a business alliance supporting the manufacturing industry.

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■Background
The digitalization of advertising is lagging behind in the 46 prefectures outside Tokyo. Although digital advertising makes up approximately 40% of advertising expenditures in the US, it only represents roughly 16% in Tokyo and 4% in the 46 prefectures outside Tokyo. (*See the following diagram)

*Diagram: Simulation of growth in regional net advertising/net advertising expenditures


 

Source: Support documentation from the second quarter financial results of SoldOut, December 2018

In order to accelerate the stalled introduction of Internet advertising and other forms of digital marketing by medium, small, and venture companies throughout Japan, both companies entered into a capital tie-up contract in order to collaborate on providing support for the growth of medium, small, and venture companies throughout the country, and are focusing even more closely on revitalizing the domestic SMB market.

■Outline
By offering digital marketing, technology, and HR support services to medium, small, and venture companies throughout Japan, SoldOut supports the growth of its client corporations. Linkers also works together with municipalities and industrial support agencies throughout the nation in order to respond to the needs of major corporations by offering technology matching services with leading medium and small corporations throughout all regions of Japan including rural areas, along with startups, industry, government, and academia, thereby supporting the manufacturing industry.

SoldOut is collaborating with Linkers and Linkers’ partners in order to further strengthen its activities supporting the net businesses of leading medium and small corporations in all regions. SoldOut is also providing digital support for Linkers’ customers while engaging in the joint development of new business support services.
Every employee of SoldOut will work as one to ensure that the latent capabilities of medium, small, and venture companies throughout Japan will flower as we focus on the challenges and growth of our client corporations.