{"id":2159,"date":"2022-01-22T03:09:09","date_gmt":"2022-01-22T02:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/2022\/01\/22\/ricoh-to-cease-mass-production-and-sales-in-japan-opting-for-a-more-direct-to-consumer-and-workshop-like-approach\/"},"modified":"2022-01-22T03:09:09","modified_gmt":"2022-01-22T02:09:09","slug":"ricoh-to-cease-mass-production-and-sales-in-japan-opting-for-a-more-direct-to-consumer-and-workshop-like-approach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/2022\/01\/22\/ricoh-to-cease-mass-production-and-sales-in-japan-opting-for-a-more-direct-to-consumer-and-workshop-like-approach\/","title":{"rendered":"Ricoh to cease mass production and sales in Japan, opting for a more direct-to-consumer and ‘workshop-like’ approach"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ricoh Japan has announced<\/a> that it is ceasing mass production and mass sales of its Pentax and GR camera lineups in Japan, opting instead for direct-to-consumer sales through \u2018digital methods.\u2019<\/p>\n

In an announcement posted to Ricoh Japan\u2019s website, Ricoh president, Noboru Akabane, says the company \u2018will revamp its manufacturing system for the digital camera business and sales in Japan on April 1, 2022.\u2019 He further elaborates on the decision in the following message to consumers (and presumably shareholders as well):<\/p>\n

\u2018Until now, we have been doing business while feeling the strong feelings of our customers for PENTAX and GR brands. While I would like to respond to that thought as much as possible, I feel that the conventional method based on mass production and mass sales is becoming unfamiliar with the recent changes in the market environment.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

This transition consists of two distinct challenges, according to the announcement. The first is building a digital platform to \u2018stay close to customers\u2019 without a physical presence. The second is to rethink manufacturing, looking at product development and production as more of a \u2018workshop-like\u2019 experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Ricoh’s GR IIIx compact camera.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Ricoh elaborates on how it plans to approach both of these challenges, starting first with its customer relations through digital platforms. Ricoh says its plan is to \u2018strengthen Ricoh Imaging and the online\/offline contacts between customers more than ever before, and build a co-creation community where we can connect with each customer and activate mutual communication.\u2019 The announcement also says it plans to \u2018expand the opportunity to experience a wide range of PENTAX\/GR cameras and products to customers all over Japan,\u2019 which sounds more like Ricoh will be offering pop-up style experiences for customers to try out Ricoh\u2019s latest offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Ricoh’s new K-3 III DSLR.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

As for its production plans, Ricoh says it \u2018will shift from sales methods centered on distribution networks via dealers to sales through the Internet to improve the efficiency of business operations\u2019 and says that \u2018In addition to our own EC direct sales site, we also have directly managed malls in major marketplaces to expand opportunities and places where Ricoh Imaging and customers can directly connect.\u2019 If this sounds a little familiar, that\u2019s because it\u2019s similar to the approach Leica takes, as PetaPixel<\/em><\/a> pointed out, in that most Leica sales either happen through Leica\u2019s official online shop or through one of its many global stores, each of which presents a unique experience with plenty of equipment, both new and historical, to look at and spend some hands-on time with.<\/p>\n

By interacting with customers in a more direct, personal manner, Ricoh says it \u2018aim[s] to reflect the customer\u2019s voice in manufacturing more than ever and provide more attractive products to customers.\u2019<\/p>\n

At this time, these changes appear to be limited to the Japanese market. We have contact Ricoh for further clarification on whether this method will be replicated across the globe, but at the time of publishing have not received a response.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Author:
\nThis article comes from DP Review<\/i> and can be read on the original site.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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