Eating and drinking establishments affected by the spread of the new coronavirus are increasingly calling for support through crowdfunding, which raises a wide range of funds from individuals via the Internet.
In anticipation of a prolonged impact, the number of cases where it is used for new businesses is increasing recently.
According to the Crowdfunding Association, the amount of funds collected by the business operator in the six months to June last year through the mechanism of giving gifts to supporters was 22.3 billion yen, which is about three times the previous year and reached a record high. It has been increasing since then.
According to the companies that operate crowdfunding, not only have they recently obtained working capital, but they are also looking to prolong the impact, such as restaurants starting online shopping and event management companies providing services online. It means that the number of cases where it is used for new businesses is increasing.
Kana Bogaki, director of crowdfunding management company "Makuake", said, "In addition to temporarily obtaining funds, more and more businesses are collecting funds to develop new products and change business formats. Consumers are also moving in this way. I feel that there is an increasing need to spend money to support. "
Use of vegetables in a short-time business as a reward
At companies that operate seven restaurants in Tokyo, such as Tokyo and Shibuya, sales have fallen to about 40% of the previous level due to the short-time business after the declaration of an emergency.
The store offers vegetables grown on its own farm, which has a total of 13 hectares, such as Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture, but the use of vegetables has dropped sharply due to the short-time business.
For this reason, we are raising funds necessary for the business by crowdfunding, and we also aim to prevent food loss by sending farm vegetables such as radishes and burdock as gifts to those who supported 1000 yen.
Furthermore, by distributing the recipes that the chef of the store has devised on Instagram and letting them know the taste of vegetables in cooking, we are also considering acquiring customers in the vegetable mail order business that we will work on in earnest.
Takuya Terao, director of "ALL FARM", said, "As the impact is prolonged, it is difficult to continue the business unless we try various new things. I want to start with small efforts through crowdfunding. I'm talking.
Demand development with premium sake
On the other hand, a sake brewing company in Naganohara Town, Gunma Prefecture, has been selling sake at local tourist facilities, but after the state of emergency was declared, sales decreased to about 20% of the previous year.
In order to capture new demand, we have decided to make high-priced sake that exceeds 10,000 yen per bottle in cooperation with businesses engaged in online sales, and are calling for support through crowdfunding.
Takeshi Sakurai, president of Asama Brewing, said, "The third wave of corona has come and it has been very difficult mentally, but I am grateful for the unexpectedly large number of customers who have supported me through the site."