About project

Who can participate?

SMEs in the cosmetics and food industries from the project area shown on the map. Also, if your company meets the following criteria, this project is your chance to scale internationally and reach new customers in Japan and South Korea:

• You have an existing online store (quick localization).
• You are a manufacturer of local products.
• Your brand embodies the Nordic spirit, with organic or sustainably designed products made in Finland or Estonia.
• You are financially prepared and ready to grow through exports.
• Your business is equipped for warehousing and can manage inventory effectively.
• You are motivated to expand globally and have the resources to make it happen.
• Sufficient staffing resources.
• You are committed to transparency and collaboration in logistics and delivery processes.

This is a unique opportunity to boost your brand globally with minimal risk. This is what you will gain for free:

• Product market Fit for 1- 5 products and translations into local languages.
• Listing on Coupang and Amazon Japan for an already established sales accounts.
• Warehousing services provided.
• Consolidated shipping to reduce costs, with customers covering delivery fees.
• Team of experts on cross-border e-commerce, local culture & marketing and export logistics
• Market research material
• While you will need/can to invest 500-5000 EUR in marketing as you wished

Application time is: 1.10.2024 – 31.8.2026 and please, apply here.

What project offers?

The project provides participating companies direct access to the leading e-commerce platforms in Japan and South Korea, Amazon Japan and Coupang, without the need to open or manage their own seller accounts. All products are listed under a shared, professionally operated account managed by Flying Lynx, selected through a public tendering.

How the process works for participating companies?

1. Application
Submit your application by filling in the online form.

2. First meeting
After receiving your application, the project team will contact you to arrange an introductory Teams meeting. During the meeting, we will review your company’s product selection and assess export readiness.

3. Product selection & market fit
You will choose which products (max. 5) you wish to include. Local experts from Japan and South Korea will provide feedback and recommendations on suitable products. A Product–Market Fit analysis, including keyword research on Amazon Japan and Coupang (South Korea), will be carried out to identify market potential.

4. Product localization preparation
Selected products will be entered into a shared Excel file where key information and preliminary translations will be added by the project team. At this stage, marketing texts should already be adapted for the target markets. Pricing and product bundling options are also considered here.

5. Review by local experts
Local experts in Japan and South Korea will review and refine the translations and marketing texts. They may suggest improvements to better suit local customer expectations. The project will deliver the materials to the experts and cover all related costs.

6. Product images
Your company will upload product images to a shared Drive folder for use in the online stores (Amazon Japan and Coupang).

7. Product page creation
The project will deliver your product materials to the online store operator, who will create the product pages in both marketplaces.

8. Marketing activities
Marketing activities will include automated campaigns, manual campaigns on the marketplaces, and additional promotional actions managed by your company. (Marketing costs are carried out by companies themselves)

9. Sales, logistics & customer service
When your products begin to sell, the online store operator and logistics partner will handle payments and deliveries. Customer service in the local languages will be managed by the online store operator.

Costs caused by activities above, except marketing, are carried out by the GGM project.

What benefits does an SME participating in the project receive?

1. Entry to Japan and South Korea: SMEs will get help to gain access to fast-growing consumer markets with high demand for quality cosmetics, superfoods, and beverages from clean, natural environments.
2. Detailed insights into local consumer preferences, trends, and regulatory requirements in Japan and South Korea, ensuring SMEs are well-prepared to meet market demands and information on competitors in the target markets and strategies to differentiate their products.
3. Guidance on cultural nuances, business etiquette, and communication styles, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and helping SMEs build stronger relationships with local partners.
4. Assistance in developing targeted marketing campaigns tailored to Japanese and South Korean consumers, including product packaging, messaging, and branding
5. Guidance on creating eco-friendly and efficient supply chains, ensuring products are delivered sustainably and cost-effectively.
6. Practical advice on choosing the right logistics partners and optimizing shipping routes to minimize costs and delivery times.
7. Tailored process improvements for international deliveries, helping SMEs manage complex logistics operations smoothly.

Project goals

• To support Finnish and Estonian SMEs in the cosmetics and food industries in starting export activities to Japan and South Korea through cross-border e-commerce.
• To build networks that facilitate entry into new markets.
• To provide intercultural training that enhances cross-cultural business competencies.
• To conduct market research for identifying growth opportunities and understanding local market dynamics.
• To develop local marketing strategies tailored to target consumer needs and preferences.
• To digitalize order-delivery processes for improved efficiency and customer experience.
• To improve logistics strategies to ensure reliable and cost-effective distribution.
• To ensure sustainable supply chains that align with environmental standards and market expectations.