March 30, 2023. An entrance ceremony was held for twenty-seven new employees joining Primo Japan at Tokyo Station Hotel. Thanks to the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first time in three years that the company hosted the entrance ceremony without masks. Selected through a recruitment exam from among approximately 2,000 applicants, the 27 new employees who, after orientation for prospective employees, underwent a training period prior to joining the company as trainees, showed nervous but hopeful smiles on the day of the event.

 

At the start of the ceremony, President Fujie greeted new employees and celebrated their new beginning by saying, "Congratulations on joining Primo Japan today. I have really been looking forward to this day. I was appointed president in September 2022, so I consider us to be peers and look forward to working together to vitalize the company." He then gave the message, "Diversity has become a buzzword in recent years, and I hope that you will become workers who respect one another and are able to think in diverse ways to improve your soft skills while you work.”

This year's formal response was read by Ms. Koike, who stated, "What I focused on during my job search was the warmth of human connection that AI can never replace. In an era of convenience where online shopping is readily available to anyone, I have continued to believe in providing warm customer service that makes visiting a physical store worth it. When I joined the internship and first witnessed the embodiment of this policy, I was deeply impressed and decided to join the company, which shares the same values and  goals as mine, to strive for better customer service with like-minded colleagues." She also spoke of her resolve during the training period starting in October when she witnessed staff members providing sincere customer service, saying, “I was overflowing with positive feelings, thinking, 'I want to be like this salesperson.' When I participated in handing the ring over to the customer, I got to experience the philosophy of Primo Japan, which is to transform a couple’s feelings from the happiest moment in their lives into a ring they will keep forever. I will not forget the resolve I felt there and will work with pride to provide customer service that will create joyous memories in the lives of as many customers as possible.”

 

With Ms. Koike's powerful words, twenty-seven new employees joined Primo Japan. During the new graduate garnet training held after the entrance ceremony, new employees learned about our customer-oriented "FOR YOU" service and have since been assigned to their respective stores. Let all of us at Primo Japan work together with our new colleagues to continue providing personalized support tailored to the customers that responds flexibly to the different values they hold.