#Japan #Osaka #Influencer Marketing #Unit #Lao Fu Tsai

UNIT Works Its Magic for Lao Fu Tsai

In a remarkable turn of events, the popular Chinese restaurant Lao Fu Tsai, located within the bustling Hanshin Umeda Department Store, has seen spectacular results thanks to the introduction of the influencer marketing platform, UNIT, managed by UNIT Corporation out of Shibuya, Tokyo.

The restaurant, part of a chain with over 15 years of heritage from Kobe, has recently partnered with UNIT to tackle a significant challenge: attracting customers during dinner. While lunch times drew strong crowds due to its prime location on the ninth floor of the department store, the dinner hour presented a unique hurdle. Faced with a need to refresh its operational setup, Lao Fu Tsai realized that they needed to explore innovative means of attracting new customers. Thus, they turned to UNIT, drawn by its appealing subscription model that promised ongoing exposure while keeping costs manageable.

Background of the Initiative

Lao Fu Tsai operates in a competitive food market where the traditional methods of promotion often fall short. By introducing UNIT, the restaurant sought to modernize its approach. UNIT enabled them to communicate continuously with potential diners through effective social media messaging, guiding them to the restaurant's offerings. The influencers associated with UNIT proved to be invaluable, sharing engaging content that resonated with their followers, leading to lucrative outcomes.

Impressive Engagement Results

The results from this collaboration have been outstanding:

• - Engagement Rate of 42.9%: More than 40% of viewers took action on posts by liking or saving them, far surpassing average engagement metrics. This indicates a deep connection between the content and its audience.
• - 4.5 Times More Impressions: Users revisited and interacted with the posts frequently, showing a growing interest in the restaurant's offerings.
• - Improved Search Presence: Lao Fu Tsai's keywords, such as 'Umeda Chinese', began to rank higher on search engines, thanks to the effective use of hashtags, enhancing their visibility in online searches.
• - Increase in Dinner Visits: By issuing tickets for their offerings that could be promoted by influencers, the restaurant encouraged customers to visit for dinner, shifting their patrons' mindset from merely eating at a convenient restaurant to seeking specifically what they crave.

Positive Feedback from the Business

The management at Lao Fu Tsai reported that during their collaboration with influencers, their promoted dishes saw a notable sales boost, confirming the tangible impact of their social media outreach. Reports from staff highlighted that many customers made their dining decisions based on what they saw online, particularly on Instagram.

Feeling optimistic about the future, the team recognized the critical role of influencer marketing in their long-term strategy moving forward, especially with plans to open a new outlet in the food court next month. They firmly believe that the momentum from this partnership will significantly enhance their promotional efforts for the new store as well.

Benefits of the UNIT Platform

UNIT's entrepreneurial approach provides unmatched advantages:

• - Cost-Friendly Subscription: For just ¥30,000 per month, businesses can request unlimited promotions from influencers, ensuring that they maintain a consistent presence online.
• - Targeted Influencer Selection: UNIT connects restaurants with foodies who live nearby, allowing for a more personalized outreach that aligns with their specific clientele.
• - Elimination of Mismatches: By letting restaurants review influencer profiles, UNIT helps prevent mismatches, ensuring only the most suitable influencers represent their brand.

Additional features of UNIT include simultaneous promotion across various social media platforms at no extra cost, valuable analytics for measuring reach and engagement, and flexibility for businesses managing multiple locations—all contributing to its effectiveness.

With a vision of supporting food businesses through specialized influencer outreach, the impact of this initiative and collaborations like it will continue to reshape food marketing strategies in Japan.