As part of our growth into international markets, our Managing Director, Ana Mardell, and our Sales and Marketing Director, Adrian Coleman, were delighted to join a recent trade mission to Japan. The trip, which included face-to-face trade meetings, a medical expo and a series of other business meetings, was part of a wider EU trade delegation.
Upon their return, Ana and Adrian explained that it had been a whistle-stop two weeks, with even the flights both ways spent working, either preparing for or beginning the follow up to meetings with prospective buyers and distributors.
During the official trade mission activities, Ana and Adrian not only had the chance to meet a number of other EU and UK based manufacturing business, striking up some valuable relationships, but they also had time with Patricia Flor, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Japan.
Whilst Japan represents a future growth area for sales for Thesis, the company has actually had strong connections with the country for many years as it is home to Yamamoto Corporation - suppliers of the neoprene used in our flagship LimbO product line. Yamamoto is a critical supplier and so it was nice to have the chance to spend some time together, talk through the product and our mutual future ambitions. For Ana, it provided an opportunity for the principals of the two businesses to meet. Yudai Yamoto who hosted Ana and Adrian, is the son of the President of Yamamoto Corp, Tommy Yamamoto, and grandson of the founder.
These trips help pave the way for long term opportunities and we look forward to growing our partnership with our new friends in Japan and the EU in the coming months and years.