I felt like we were all working on the project together, and that was very reassuring.
~Interview with Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd.~

Hello, this is the Monosus BtoB team. We are always working on proposing the creation and operation of websites for BtoB companies. As part of our activities, we conduct interviews with people in charge of the renewal of companies that we have worked on to look back on the projects.

Our partner this time was Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd., which completed the renewal of its corporate website in July of this year. The company is a solutions-oriented company that researches and develops ingredients for cosmetics and chemical products, with a focus on food, to meet the needs of its customers.

The sales representative for this project, Sakamoto, project manager and director Oyabuchi, and designer Hamabata spoke with Suzuki of Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd. about the background of the renewal, behind-the-scenes stories from the production, and the reaction since the release.

To communicate what kind of company we are on our website

Sakamoto : First, I would like to ask about the background to the renewal.

Suzuki: It all started with the president's idea. The previous corporate website was renewed in 2010, so the design and content were outdated and needed to be revised. There was also an issue that it was hard to understand what the company does when you look at the top page. So we wanted to create a website that would clearly communicate what kind of company we are.

Mr. Suzuki, Taiyo Chemical Co., Ltd.

Sakamoto: You contacted us through the inquiry form on our website. How did you find out about Monosus?

Suzuki-san: I searched the internet for "Website production BtoB" to find a production company. I looked for a few companies that seemed to be good at producing websites for BtoB companies, and chose from among them.

Sakamoto: How many companies did you contact?

Mr. Suzuki
There are four companies.

Sakamoto: What was the process that you went through before deciding on the production company?

Mr. Suzuki: The most important thing for me when selecting a production company was that the project should convey what kind of company we are. As the person in charge, I also wanted to be aware of attracting customers through the web, so I considered these two points. I then chose a company that seemed to be good at turning images into reality, and a company that seemed to be strong in B2B marketing.

Sakamoto : I see. So you were searching with a theme in mind.

Suzuki: That's right. Monosus seemed like a company that was good at turning ideas into reality (laughs). When I looked at their corporate website, there was a page called "BtoB Website Production Services" and it said that they had a team that specialized in BtoB, so that was a big factor for us.

When we actually looked at the plans from each company in the competition, Monosus not only proposed a design that seemed like it could realize the image we had in mind, but also had a solid logic behind the plan. It seemed like they had put the most thought into it, so that's why we decided to go with them.

From the left, salesperson Sakamoto, project manager and director Oyabu, and designer Hamabata

New content gives shape to the way people work and their thoughts

Sakamoto: Once the project actually started, were there any difficulties?

Mr. Suzuki : For the renewal, we didn't set up a project team within our company, but it was mainly me and another person who worked on it. We had meetings with people from other departments, we wrote manuscripts, and we also communicated with Monosas, so it was hard to balance that with my regular work.

There was a lot of volume in the Oyabu pages, so I think it must have been really difficult.

Mr. Suzuki: Depending on the company, they may just do what they're told or may not even consult with you. In that respect, Monosus was considerate and thoughtful, and I felt like we were "working together on the project," which was very reassuring.

Thank you Oyabu .
This time, we created a variety of content together, including some new stuff, but was there any that was the most difficult or that you feel most attached to?

Suzuki: The one I'm most fond of is " What is Taiyo Kagaku ?", a new project by Monosus. This content was mostly left to me by other departments, so I just kept thinking about it. It was hard work, but I think I was able to create something that I was satisfied with.

In addition, the "Product Information" page was a difficult one to coordinate internally. I had to ask people in other departments to write manuscripts. I was told, "I can't write this much!", but I'm relieved that I managed to get it done.

OYABU: Even though I am in a position to manage the entire project as a project manager, I cannot manage the client's internal affairs. Suzuki took on that role, and I imagine there were times as the project progressed when the burden became too great. I am grateful that he was able to see the project through to the end, even in such circumstances.

Hamabata: In producing "What is Taiyo Kagaku?", I was involved in designing content that embodied the overall picture and vision of the company, "This is the kind of company we are." This was a great experience for me as a designer.

Mr. Suzuki: The film has been well received within the company. People say, "You've made something amazing." It has a real emotional impact because it shows clips of employees actually working, and the employees seem to find it interesting.

Sakamoto : Usually, we purchase stock images from a stock photo site, and often use what are known as rental stock images, but it’s nice to have photos that actually feature employees in them.

"What is solar chemistry?"

The feeling that we were able to work together and have fun

Sakamoto : After the film was released, what was the reaction from outside the company and what comments were made within the company?

Mr. Suzuki: That's right. After the renewal, people in the company said, "We have a good website." We also heard from the sales department that "It's easier to introduce our company to customers." The bounce rate has also improved significantly compared to before the renewal.

Sakamoto: That makes me happy.

Before the launch, the sales staff had mentioned in conversation that the website was going to be updated. Later, we received feedback from customers saying, "It's a really great website."

Sakamoto : So expectations were already high even before the renewal (laughs).

Hamabata
Among the photographs used on the website, there were some that were taken under Suzuki-san's direction, and I was surprised at how high their quality was.

Mr. Suzuki , that was taken at this location.

Sakamoto: Amazing! That's an excellent arrangement.

Oyabu Suzuki helped us out in many ways, and we really felt like we were creating the website together. Without that kind of relationship, the project would not have progressed smoothly, and it would have been difficult to create a good website. It was a great experience for us, and more than anything, I think we had fun working there.

Suzuki-san, I had fun too.

Oyabu: I'm sure there were many difficult things, but where did your motivation come from, Suzuki-san?

Mr. Suzuki: Our company doesn't have a marketing department, but I'm personally interested in marketing. Website renewal also involves marketing elements, right? In that sense, I wanted to work hard on the renewal project. I think there is room for further evolution even after the website is launched.

Oyabu: I feel like this is just the beginning, and I want to make this an even better website. Thank you for today.

Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd. Yokkaichi Head Office: 800 Yamada-cho, Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture, 512-1111 Tokyo Head Office: 1-6-3 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0013 Business Description: We develop a wide variety of ingredients for food and industrial use, as well as functional food ingredients, from traditional natural ingredients to new ingredients using cutting-edge technology. We utilize the technology we have cultivated through daily research and development to meet our customers' needs and solve their problems with the "functions" of our ingredients.