We interviewed our rug-loving colleagues at Layout to find out where their love for rugs comes from.
This time we have Akiyama, a former chef and staff member who works there as a mom!
A chemical reaction between the customer and the rug
"Whenever I send a rug to a customer, I feel like I'm giving it away as a wedding gift."
Akiyama says this, and in addition to serving customers at the showroom, he is currently in charge of tasks that are essential for promoting the appeal of rugs.
"In addition to administrative tasks such as data entry and sales management, I also update Instagram and manage customer surveys. On Instagram, I aim to post warm and intimate photos that allow people to feel the presence of our staff. I also spend a lot of time editing the photos I upload multiple times to make the colors as close to the real thing as possible."
"The monitor surveys we ask customers who have purchased our rugs are full of learning experiences for us. It makes us happy when they feel glad that they bought it from Layout after taking the rug home. We also receive photos of how the rug is laid out in their homes, which are wonderful! The combination of flooring and other furniture gives us an idea of the kind of lifestyle people have, so we use these as reference when helping other customers find rugs. Because no two homes and rugs are the same, a wonderful chemical reaction occurs."
The strength we all create together
Akiyama is in his second year at the company, but he actually has a deep connection with this showroom along the Meguro River.
"I was the owner and chef of a restaurant that was here before Layout opened here for about 14 years. It was a place I loved and treasured, but after my daughter was born it became difficult for me to stand in the kitchen at dinnertime. I was wondering what to do, and then the coronavirus hit, and although I wanted to keep the restaurant open, I had no choice but to close it down. However, I was relieved to find out that the restaurant that would be taking over would be Layout, from which I had also bought a rug."
"During the handover meeting, President Maeda and Brand Manager Hirai invited me to come work for them. They said, 'Wouldn't it be a good idea for you to work for us and spend time with your family until your children are older?' They understood my desire to open a restaurant again someday, and invited me to work with them at Layout until that time came. I was genuinely happy to hear their words, and thought I might be able to be of some help by working in the same place again, so I took the plunge and decided to join the company. In fact, many remnants of the restaurant have been preserved in this showroom to this day. The interior, which I was fond of, such as the counter and herringbone floor, is still nearby."
"Currently, I come to work an hour earlier in the morning and work until 5pm so that I can spend as much time as possible with my daughter. I'm also given weekends off, which I'm grateful for. But even so, two years at Layout has flown by...! It's not just my way of working that has changed, but perhaps my mindset has as well. I really feel the reassurance of knowing that I'm not the only one responsible, but that all the staff are involved in creating Layout."
The best proposals as professionals
For Akiyama, who says he "absolutely loves one-of-a-kind handmade items, such as cooking and pottery," it was perhaps inevitable that he would be drawn to rugs that are individually handwoven by artisans. In fact, although at first glance they may seem like completely different jobs, there are actually similarities between being a chef and working at Layout.
"The way we interact with customers in both the restaurant and rug businesses is actually similar. In the restaurant business, we deliberately suggest dishes and ingredients that customers are unfamiliar with, allowing them to experience new discoveries and be moved by them. And for customers who come looking for a rug, we believe that by showing them a wide range of products, they will be able to find one that will truly delight them. I think both are the same in the sense that as professionals, we exceed customers' expectations and provide the best possible product. The difference is that while food is a momentary enjoyment that is savored with all five senses, rugs are something you spend a long time with. That's why at Layout we also place importance on offering cleaning and maintenance suggestions so that customers can live with their rugs for a long time."
"The great thing about Layout is that it brings together people with all sorts of backgrounds and is open-minded, accepting a wide range of work styles. Some people work at Layout while having other jobs, and others, like me, adjust their work hours to be with their families. It's not just a side job, and the charm of it is that everyone is connected by the feeling that 'we love Layout.' Right now, I'm working hard to make the shop even better, in order to give back to Layout, who supports what I want to do."