A 70th year anniversary is called a Platinum Jubilee, but Boysen does not call it that. Instead the company just simply calls it a 70th anniversary.
Startups are the norm in today’s digital age, where technological developments have changed the way we live, work, and play. However, there are a handful of Filipino companies that stand out because they have been around for more than a century.
Century-Old Companies
A Bank of Korea report in 2008 said that 56% of 5,586 companies older than 200 years in 41 counties are found in Japan. A research firm Teikoku Data Bank reported that in 2018 there were 33,000 businesses in Japan that were over a century old.
Shinise, which literally means “old shop”, is the Japanese word for established businesses that have been around for at least 100 years.
One such company that has leveraged technology to their advantage is Nintendo. which started out in 1889 as a maker of playing cards, and now is a global commercial success with their computer games and systems. Nintendo has stayed true to their core skill of “how to create fun”.
What are the possible reasons why Japan has so many centuries-old companies? From hotels, tea houses, confectioners, to distilleries, these companies are navigating the fast-paced Information Age masterfully.
The Secret of Shinise’s Longevity
What is the secret to the longevity of these companies, some of which are older than a thousand years? Here are some reasons given in an article written by Bryan Lufkin.
- Yoshinori Hara, dean and professor at Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Management, “says that Japanese companies’ emphasis on sustainability, rather than quick maximisation of profit, is a major reason why so many of the nation’s businesses have such staying power.”
- Hara continues that sticking to core competency helps a company to survive, despite the fast changes in technology or the world around it.
- Hara also says that high-level customer service is important to shinise, right down to anticipating the customer’s needs.
- Innan Sasaki, an assistant professor at the University of Warwick says, “More generally, we could say that it is because of the general long-term orientation: the culture of respecting tradition and ancestors, combined with the fact that it has been an island country with relatively limited interaction with other countries.”
Boysen at 70
Granted, Boysen is 30 years shy of a century but being 70 years old is still remarkable. Read more about the 70th anniversary of Boysen in this link.
These were the men who founded Boysen in 1953. Their sons and daughters took over when they retired. Today, members of the second generation, as well as those belonging to the third generation, continue the legacy. They continue to live the Boysen purpose of helping Filipinos enrich their lives by creating products that can beautify and protect their living and work environments.
From being a repacker of paint and thinner, Boysen has harnessed technological developments through the years to enhance its manufacturing prowess. If you will follow this blog, you will realize that Boysen has so many products, from architectural paint that beautifies the home to one that can clean the air, is antibacterial, kills mosquitoes upon contact, or that can help bring down the temperature in the home so that the owners can save on their electricity bills. There are also construction chemicals that make it easier for construction workers to achieve their tasks and thereby help bring down construction costs.
Another plus for homeowners are the thousands of paint colors that they can choose from. In 2015, the company started Boysen Color Trend to help customers get their hands on trending colors.
The Boysen Customer Service
The Japanese have omotenashi, or hospitality, which means to wholeheartedly and sincerely look after guests, even anticipating their needs. This is deeply rooted in the Japanese tradition and elevated to an art form.
Boysen has its own take on customer service and that is to be accessible and highly responsive to its customers’ needs. In this blog, we often end our posts with an encouragement to readers to get in touch with Boysen through its different social media channels. If you want someone to consult with about your project, our Technical Department can be reached at (02) 8363-9738 local 417 to 418 during office hours.
Boysen Through 70 Years
This video may be six years old but this is as relevant today as it was then. Boysen continues to strive to be your partner as it remains committed to understanding and serving your needs in helping you make your living and work environments beautiful and safe.
