Takayama Consulting: Customer Insight

Takayama Consulting Customer Insight & Marketing Strategy

Takayama Consulting is committed to health and sustainability.

Founder, Wako Takayama, knows how to ask the right questions and listen with compassionate and strategic ears because of her training in anthropological research methodology.

She also understands what it takes to be "actionable" because of of her experience in developing consumer technology products and marketing consumer packaged goods.

Since 2003, Takayama Consulting has focused on supporting businesses with products, services and practices that are environmentally and socially responsible. These companies--in the healthcare, natural products, and renewable energy industries--serve the growing LOHAS (lifestyles of health and sustainability) market of conscientious consumers.

Recent project examples

Customer insight and marketing strategies

New energy-saving technology market opportunity assessment

Articulating market position within the competitive landscape (Patagonia: Energizing the Brand, Japan)

High-level insight into consumer electronics products (HP: Evolution of Images and Sony)

Eco resort concept validation

Launch of e-commerce business of natural products for women

Usability testing of consumer websites

Client categories: media, gaming, technology services

Web-based customer survey

Quick turnaround projects to understand customer trends in information-gathering and media-consumption, for the alternative healthcare industry.

Trendscape secondary research (online and print)

Rapid scans of cultural trends and movement, especially as sub-cultures impact mainstream culture; e.g. Asian and Latino cultural impact.

Anthropological Perspective

Provided a Japanese culture-perspective "reality check" in a design review process (Nissan)

About Wako Takayama

Wako Takayama founded Takayama Consulting in 1998.

Wako is passionate about learning how people relate and adapt to the ever-changing economic and cultural landscape.

For over 15 years Wako has helped deliver products that people love to use, and is known for her ability to bridge the gap between a company's vision and the needs of the customer.

Wako has worked in the US, Japan and the China region for Motorola and Leo Burnett, and includes among clients SONY, HP, Proctor & Gamble, Kellogg's and Patagonia. She has collaborated closely with Blue Marble Marketing in insight-based strategic marketing for the LOHAS market, and is a member of the Sustainable Business Alliance in the Bay Area.

Wako has a BA in Social Anthropology and East Asian Studies from Harvard, and an MA in Social Anthropology from Stanford. She speaks Japanese and Spanish, plays Latin jazz violin, practices Anusara yoga, and runs a wellness business dedicated to empowering people to live healthy and sustainable lives, WakoWa Wellness

info@wakotakayama.com :: 415.606.6168