Interview
First, please give us a brief introduction to your company.
Mac-House operates approximately 480 casual wear retail stores, selling a wide range of clothing and miscellaneous goods.
Originally, the company was established as a subsidiary of Chiyoda (https://www.chiyodagrp.co.jp/), which operates Tokyo Shoes Retailing Center and other businesses. It was formed as a spin-off from Chiyoda’s apparel division.
What led you to implement GulfNet’s system (Gulf CSM)?
As mentioned earlier, we initially utilized Chiyoda’s existing business system by sharing their framework. However, as the number of stores increased, it became increasingly difficult to manage operations with the existing system alone.
Since we deal primarily in clothing, our stores handle an enormous variety of products. The existing system made it difficult to track individual items, so we needed a system that could properly manage each product.
You likely considered other systems as well. What was the deciding factor in choosing GulfNet’s system?
I was not in charge of the selection process at the time, but when implementing the system, we prioritized not just having a “management tool” but also ensuring that store staff could clearly understand “what actions to take.”
For that reason, we have had GulfNet customize the system extensively since its introduction.
At the time, GulfNet did not offer EDI functionality, but they enabled smooth integration with third-party EDI systems. Now, we also use GulfNet’s own EDI system.
Currently, your parent company, Chiyoda, is also using GulfNet’s system (Gulf CSM), correct?
Yes, that’s right. When Mac-House separated from Chiyoda, we had no business relationship with GulfNet.
Later, when our company was considering a new system, our team was introduced to GulfNet, and we decided to implement their system. Subsequently, we introduced GulfNet to Chiyoda as well.
Rather than being approached by GulfNet’s sales team, we were the ones who requested their services.
You must have reviewed many different systems. Why did you ultimately choose GulfNet’s system?
Since I was not directly involved at the time, I can only speculate. However, I believe GulfNet’s system was the best fit for our business model.
I also heard that GulfNet provided the most user-centric proposals. Their system was well-suited to retail operations, and beyond that, the company itself was highly committed to supporting the retail industry.
Large-scale system providers often have slower response times and require multiple layers of communication. In contrast, GulfNet has a quick response time and a deep understanding of the industry.
How do you feel about using GulfNet’s system in practice?
In addition to Gulf CSM for store operations, we also rely on GulfNet for Time and Attendance Management, order processing, company-wide networking, system support, and PC setup services.
They have a very agile approach—when we make a request, they respond quickly and sincerely.
It almost feels like they are part of our department! (laughs)
Finally, what are your expectations for GulfNet moving forward?
We have already made quite a lot of requests over the years. (laughs)
There’s nothing particularly new that we want at this moment. We often make difficult requests, but they are always based on GulfNet’s proposals.
At times, we may voice concerns, but GulfNet always responds with additional value-added suggestions.
Moving forward, rather than implementing large-scale systems all at once, we hope to continue working closely together, refining the system to meet our evolving needs.
That concludes our interview. Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Implementation Benefits
- Order Processing System
Regarding the order processing system (Gulf EDI), our company operates as a retailer that primarily “buys and sells” products, resulting in a high volume of procurement transactions.
Our business partners range from large trading companies with their own systems to small manufacturers, some of whom do not use any system at all.
By implementing GulfNet’s order processing system, we were able to streamline transactions with smaller manufacturers that previously lacked such infrastructure. - Time and Attendance Management System (Gulf CSM Time and Attendance Management)
The biggest advantage of using Gulf CSM Time and Attendance Management is that it provides visibility into store managers’ operational awareness.
Each of our stores typically has only one or two full-time employees, so tasks must be delegated to part-time staff and hourly workers.
With this system, managers can naturally develop a mindset that considers factors like the number of staff, hourly wages, shift scheduling, estimated labor costs, and year-over-year improvements in operational efficiency. - Help Desk (ICT Concierge)
With the ICT Concierge service, we have seen a decrease in the number of inquiries from stores to our headquarters.
If store employees have questions about the system, GulfNet serves as the first point of contact, which is extremely helpful.
Of course, if a cash register malfunctions, GulfNet alone may not be able to resolve the issue, but even in such cases, they assist by contacting the POS system manufacturer on our behalf.
