One of Japan’s top shopping sites, “Rakuten” announced its plan to expand the business in Europe. Their first European office is scheduled to open in Luxembourg in March. They will provide the market place model shopping mall services, and businesses and people in EU countries can sell their products and services by setting up a merchant site on Rakuten. Rakuten currently has offices in Japan and Taiwan.
This is a good news.
Since many Japanese go straight to Rakuten without using the search when they have an idea of what they want to buy, I’ve been recommending some of my clients to set up a merchant account with Rakuten. Though they let foreign businesses to open an account, the process is all done in Japanese. Once their European office is open, it would be much easier for non-Japanese businesses especially the ones in Europe to work with them.
Motoko Hunt
Latest posts by Motoko Hunt (see all)
- Yahoo Japan’s E-Commerce Revolution: No Fees Model - October 7, 2013
- Rakuten Inc. to invest US$100million in Pinterest - May 20, 2012
- Yahoo, Alibaba and Softbank have reached the agreement on Alipay - August 2, 2011
Hi Motoko san,
I’ve been searching and searching and wondering whether or not rakuten allows foreign merchants, and here you say it does allow it. I’m currently in Hong Kong, and I’m helping to set up an account/or store on rakuten to sell it but it is close to impossible!! how did your clients set up a store??? It is much much more difficult than what other people have said.
I am in dire straights! I need help! please help me!
To whom it may concern,
I am a Canadian Citizen living in Luxembourg full time and would like to know if there are any employment opportunites available for when you branch your online shopping mall here in March. I can forward you my CV upon your request and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind regards
Stacey Anne Grosser