Former LINE CEO Ryo Murakawa's Initiative! The Next Step in SNS Marketing in the AI Era. The Current Status of "C CHANNEL," Renewed as a Live Commerce Channel.

C Channel Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Ryo Murakawa), which has championed the philosophy of "Energizing Japan" as a pioneer in vertical video media and achieved profitability in its 10th year, is embarking on a new challenge in its 11th year. The company will significantly strengthen its investment in live commerce business through the influencer platform "Lemon Square," offering a "Full Funnel Solution" that supports the entire customer journey from awareness to purchase.

From Media to "People": 10 Years of Progress and a Shift to a Platform

For the past decade, C Channel has been at the forefront of SNS marketing since the dawn of vertical video media. As times have changed, users' sources of information have shifted directly from centralized media to "trusted individual voices (people)." Recognizing this major paradigm shift, we have pivoted to developing a platform centered around influencers, launching "Lemon Square" to circulate the authentic enthusiasm of everyday life. We are convinced that creating opportunities for everyone to shine, where each individual becomes a media outlet, is the optimal solution for "Energizing Japan" in the modern era.

The Universal Value of "Real Human Voices" Stands Out in the AI Era

In an era where digital marketing, particularly mass production of creative content, is increasingly being replaced by AI, the nature of SNS marketing is also being forced to change. However, no matter how much technology advances, the enthusiasm and trustworthiness of "real human voices" remain universal, truly moving people's hearts and driving purchasing behavior (the moment things move).

In the leading US market, approximately half of all digital marketing investment is already allocated to SNS marketing, with investment in "TikTok Commerce" showing rapid growth. Even in Japan, where SNS marketing is said to be saturated, the next breakthrough lies precisely in the realm of "social commerce." (Source: https://massdriver.net/blog/us-digital-advertising-trends/)

Focused Investment in Live Commerce: Overwhelming Results Leading to Stockouts

As part of our recent growth strategy, we are strengthening our investment in "live commerce" platforms such as TikTok, and we are beginning to see dramatic results on our TikTok account, which boasts approximately 1.3 million followers.

Highly influential influencers registered on "Lemon Square," as well as our own employees with a deep affection for products, appear in live streams, engaging in real-time, two-way communication with viewers. This has led to rapid sell-outs of long-selling products and specific items that had previously seen little market movement, creating a wave of enthusiastic purchases so intense that it has caused unexpected stockouts for manufacturers.

【Case Study: Sell-out Achievements through Live Commerce】 In a live commerce initiative using specific products from the original serum brand "TUNEMAKERS," we implemented a streaming design to maximize viewer engagement. The products sold out at an unprecedented speed, achieving high results that temporarily depleted the manufacturer's stock. *Reference for the product: https://tunemakers.net/products/0210502

Furthermore, our joint account management with cosmetics manufacturer Rainmakers Inc. is also performing exceptionally well, steadily building a strong foundation for social commerce that combines entertainment with practical benefits.

※Live Commerce Image

【Knowledge Accumulated Over Approximately 10 Years of Media Operation】 The vertical video media "C CHANNEL" for beauty and lifestyle, and the media for mothers "mamatas," were operated by former TV station and publishing house employees who handled scriptwriting, filming, and editing. This expertise has been applied to digital content and the operation of vertical video media. The composition and direction developed for these platforms are now being leveraged in live commerce. By combining this with communication methods that move viewers in real-time, we are creating a unique winning formula.

Offering a "Full Funnel Solution" that Integrates Upper to Lower Funnel Stages

By merging our accumulated creative production assets with the enhanced live commerce capabilities of "Lemon Square," we have established a "Full Funnel Solution" that supports corporate marketing activities from awareness to purchase in an integrated manner.

1 Upper Funnel (Awareness & Branding Domain): High-quality vertical video and other creative production that captures user attention, a strength since our founding, as well as new product event production.

2 Middle Funnel (Interest & Consideration Domain): Authentic "product reviews (fostering high-enthusiasm word-of-mouth)" from a user's perspective by influencers registered on "Lemon Square."

3 Lower Funnel (Purchase & Acquisition Domain): The overwhelming direct path to purchase through "live commerce," where influencers and employees connect deeply with viewers during streams.

With the completion of this Full Funnel Solution, we will not only achieve mere awareness expansion (buzz) but also reliably commit to final sales (movement of goods), providing strong support for the complex marketing activities of modern corporations.

【TikTok Shop Seminar Held!】 On July 15th, we will co-host a seminar with Mindfree. For companies starting with TikTok Shop, we will discuss how to conduct LIVE commerce and key points for utilizing in-house streams and creators, with case examples. Those interested are invited to participate via the URL below. https://mindfree.jp/solution/seminar/260715-cchannel

Towards Our 11th Year Challenge (Comment from President and CEO Ryo Murakawa) "C Channel has navigated a turbulent 10 years with your support, reaching the milestone of profitability. However, our challenge truly begins now. Our 11th year marks a major turning point in marketing history, with the fusion of AI technology development and social commerce. We will maximize the "real voices" with human warmth, rather than symbolized advertising, through technology, and revitalize Japan's economy and individual creativity." We will build a system for selling and a platform for an era where all service industries become influencers.

About C Channel Co., Ltd.

Founded by Ryo Murakawa, former CEO of LINE, with the philosophy of "Energizing Japan." Starting with the operation of the vertical video media "C CHANNEL," the company now develops social marketing and live commerce businesses centered around the influencer platform "Lemon Square." We aim to realize a society where everyone can shine as an individual media outlet.

【Contact Information for Inquiries】

C Channel Co., Ltd.

Contact: Watanabe

Email: [email protected]

URL: https://corp.cchan.tv/