Beyond Spot Hiring: Nodake Shokai's Success Story in Reducing Recruitment Costs and Securing Talent by Leveraging an Alumni Network

Value Design Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Shuji Hayashi; hereinafter “Value Design”), a company under PayCloud Holdings Co., Ltd. (TSE Growth: 4015) that operates cashless payment services, has published an interview case study featuring Nodake Shokai Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Ginowan City, Okinawa; President: Tomomitsu Nakamura; hereinafter “Nodake Shokai”), a user of its in-house talent pooling platform 'Ripisuke' for re-engaging previously employed personnel. [Interview: Nodake Shokai's Implementation of 'Ripisuke'] https://cs.valuedesign.jp/case/interview/ripisuke-NodakeSyoukai Nodake Shokai, utilizing the 'Ripisuke' platform to pool previously employed talent Supermarkets and restaurants face ongoing challenges in talent acquisition due to labor shortages. While more companies are turning to spot hiring, gig work, and flexible staffing, new challenges have emerged—rising recruitment costs, difficulty securing repeat workers, and maintaining relationships with former employees. Nodake Shokai, a supermarket operator that participated in this interview, identified two key challenges: securing staff for new store openings and maintaining connections with employees who left due to marriage or relocation. To address these issues, the company adopted 'Ripisuke.' This enabled them to build a proprietary talent network, allowing direct job outreach to former and past employees. By integrating with their in-house e-money system 'Unicard,' they also provided tangible benefits for workers. As a result, they successfully leveraged past hires and secured repeat workers. This not only reduced recruitment costs but also created a virtuous cycle in talent acquisition—leading to rehiring of former staff and even increased applications from new graduates. Companies interested in maintaining relationships with former employees or utilizing repeat talent are encouraged to review this implementation case. [Interview: Nodake Shokai's Implementation of 'Ripisuke'] https://cs.valuedesign.jp/case/interview/ripisuke-NodakeSyoukai ■ What is 'Ripisuke'? (https://about.ripisuke.com) 'Ripisuke' is a platform that supports companies in building ongoing relationships with former employees (alumni talent) to promote re-employment and re-engagement. By leveraging Value Design’s digital gift issuance functionality, the platform offers incentives for alumni to remain registered, maintaining engagement with the company. This allows businesses to flexibly deploy experienced, ready-to-work talent for short-term gigs, while also creating pathways for future full-time hiring. The service holds a license for paid job placement (License No.: 13-Yu-314505), ensuring a secure and compliant user environment. ■ About Nodake Shokai Co., Ltd. (https://union-okinawa.com/) As the first 24-hour, year-round supermarket in Okinawa Prefecture, Nodake Shokai operates 'Fresh Plaza Union,' a community-focused supermarket with the motto 'Good People, Good Town, Good Living.' They are committed to customer-centric store operations, pursuing both affordability and high-quality, fresh products to deliver value to their customers. Company Name: Value Design Co., Ltd. (100% subsidiary of PayCloud Holdings Co., Ltd.) Headquarters: 14F, Tokyo Square Garden, 3-1-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo URL: https://www.valuedesign.jp/ Established: July 2006 Representative: President & CEO Shuji Hayashi Business: Provides proprietary Pay services combining cashless payments and marketing, including: - Cloud-based private-label e-money issuance service 'Value Card' - Store-branded mobile app with proprietary Pay functionality 'Value Wallet' - 'Value Gateway' for integration with major QR code payment services - Digital gift service 'Value Gift' that can be easily sent via email or social media *The content, contact information, and other details in this press release are accurate as of the announcement date. They may be changed without prior notice. Please understand accordingly.