Looking back on the year
This is the last installment of "Looking back on the year."
We are currently preparing policy presentation materials for the new term.
I feel like I say this every year, but it's been a very intense year.
If every year I think that this year was intense, it must be because it's getting more intense with each passing year. I wonder if in 10 years, it will be so intense that I'll look back at myself now and be surprised at how shallow my life was.
If that's the case, I'm looking forward to it. Anyway, I'll be 40 in six years, so I'm looking forward to what it will be like when I'm 40.
January 2021
So now it's time to start looking back at January.
As I wrote in my blog before, January was my first time participating in an exhibition. Given the current situation, I approached it with great caution.
Most of the products from the exhibition are now available in stores. It's exciting to see new products lined up in stores.
Since there are two stores, the appeal is that there are more exciting opportunities than at regular stores.
We work hard to create a space that customers will find beautiful, and our staff also study so that they can communicate this to customers. Introducing new products is a good opportunity to do so.
Only three times in my life
It is said that people only choose furniture three times in their entire lives.
Three times: when you get married, when you build a house, and when you have children.
There may be more small, incremental purchases, but it seems that the three largest purchases are those.
We bought furniture so that we could live together as a couple, then we had to re-buy it when we built the house, and then we bought a desk for our child.
To ensure that customers are satisfied with their three precious purchases at our store and feel that they made a good purchase, we believe that it is important not only to focus on the quality and design of the products, as well as their safety and security, but also to have staff who can communicate this effectively and help customers imagine their lives with them. Introducing new products gives everyone an opportunity to re-learn.
It's also a good opportunity to create new opportunities. Doing the same things every day can easily lead to a rut. Being in a rut is scary. In any situation in life, being in a rut doesn't produce anything good. I always think it's important to live in an environment that doesn't allow for ruts.
The introduction of new products led to learning and refreshment for staff, and also broadened the scope of proposals they could make to customers. It was a great experience being involved in the exhibition in January.
February 2021
And then February.
It's my favorite month after all. It's my birthday.
I love birthdays as much as I love Christmas, no matter how old I get.
I love being celebrated and having people say congratulations to me. This year, for the first time, I even tried buying my own birthday present.
I've heard of people giving themselves presents when they turn 20 or 30, and I've seen people do it, but for some reason I thought I'd give it this year, so I gave myself a present.
I was very nervous about going alone for the first time, but I was able to make the purchase without any problems.
I was very happy that the store clerk knew my birthday month and prepared a present for me.
I have a feeling that my awkward 34th birthday will be a good year filled with new experiences.
March 2021
Finally, the last March was last month, so my memory is still vivid.
Looking back on March, I think it was the culmination of the year, so it was a month where results were key!
Overall, it was a month of great results and accomplishments.
During that time, I received a lot of encouragement and rewards, which made it a fulfilling experience.
Looking back over the past year, I have seen huge waves come at me one after another, changing my way of thinking about work, my approach to it, and the way I do my work.It was a year in which I desperately clung to it, taking occasional short breaks, while at the same time running through it, even though I felt like I couldn't keep up with the speed of change.
There were days when all the feelings I had been holding up until then welled up and I felt like I was going to cry for no apparent reason.
On the final day, we prepared a whole cake for everyone.
Each person was presented with a cake and the words, "Thank you for the past year."
It made me very happy to see the excited faces of the staff as they chose their cakes and squealed with delight.
I would like to work hard so that I can give a cake of gratitude in the new term that is about to begin.
Continue learning with excitement
Looking back on the past year, many memories come back to me.
It's often said that time flies, but as I steadily get older, I grow one year at a time, and I'm deeply impressed by the fact that humans are creatures that continue to learn.
I look forward to looking back again next year, and I want to live the year ahead with excitement so that I can see a new me.
(text: Shimazaki)
SHIMAZAKI AYAKO
I loved redecorating and constantly rearranging my room as a child, and before I knew it, 12 years have passed since I started working in interior design. I am the manager of two different interior design shops, and I've recently started working in the e-commerce business. I'm a bundle of curiosity, and although I have a high level of concentration, my persistence is quite low, so I'm secretly worried about writing a blog.