SmartRese, the Cloud POS System, Becomes Title Sponsor of 'STAFF OF THE YEAR 2026', Supporting the Empowerment of Store Staff

VANISH STANDARD Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Naoaki Onozato), provider of the store staff DX application 'STAFF START', announces that SmartRese Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka; CEO: Ryuhei Miyazaki), provider of cloud POS systems, has been selected as the title sponsorship partner for 'STAFF OF THE YEAR 2026', Japan's premier competition to recognize outstanding store staff.

Accordingly, this year’s competition will launch on June 25 as 'STAFF OF THE YEAR 2026 supported by SmartRese'. SmartRese, which supports store operations through technology, and STAFF OF THE YEAR, which aims to elevate the value of store staff, will collaborate to widely promote the appeal and potential of in-store employees to society.

Background of the Title Sponsorship Decision

'STAFF OF THE YEAR' is a competition that highlights the customer service skills, communication abilities, and human qualities of store staff, aiming to elevate their societal value.

Meanwhile, SmartRese promotes the vision of 'Revitalizing Stores, Revitalizing Towns!' and provides technological solutions such as cloud-based POS systems to support store operations.

POS systems are among the closest technological systems to frontline store operations, used daily by store staff. STAFF OF THE YEAR, which shines a spotlight on store employees, and SmartRese, which supports store operations with technology, share a common belief: empowering those who work in stores and enhancing the value of both employees and stores. This title sponsorship goes beyond a simple sponsorship arrangement—it represents a strategic partnership to elevate the social recognition of store workers. Based on this strong alignment and shared vision, SmartRese has joined as the title sponsor of 'STAFF OF THE YEAR 2026'.

Comment from SmartRese Executive: Mr. Sosuke Sugimoto, Executive Officer and Head of Sales Department

“Our company has long upheld the vision of 'Revitalizing Stores, Revitalizing Towns!' and provided platforms that support retail businesses.

Revitalizing stores isn’t achieved by technology alone.

It is the frontline staff, engaging directly with each customer, who create a store’s charm and bring vitality to our communities.

We deeply resonate with STAFF OF THE YEAR’s mission to highlight the value of store staff as a profession and elevate their social recognition.

In an era of declining population and increasing AI-driven efficiency, the uniquely human value of customer service is becoming more important than ever.

This belief strongly aligns with SmartRese’s own philosophy of supporting retail businesses.

We believe in the synergy between our technology that supports stores and this event that celebrates frontline staff. As title sponsor, we will fully support 'STAFF OF THE YEAR 2026'.

We hope to co-create a future where being a sales associate is an aspirational and proud career choice.”

Comment from Organizer: Naoaki Onozato, CEO of VANISH STANDARD Inc.

“STAFF OF THE YEAR is a competition designed to elevate the value of in-store staff and expand the potential of retail careers. We are deeply encouraged that SmartRese, a company that shares our vision of 'Revitalizing Stores, Revitalizing Towns!' and supports store operations through technology, has joined us as our title sponsor. By uniting STAFF OF THE YEAR, which honors frontline workers, with SmartRese, which empowers store operations, we believe we can significantly expand the circle of support for store staff. Through 'STAFF OF THE YEAR 2026 supported by SmartRese', we aim to showcase the brilliance of store staff across Japan and work toward a future where being a store employee is a career people can take pride in—and one that inspires the next generation.”

Official Logo for 'STAFF OF THE YEAR 2026 supported by SmartRese'

With the announcement of the title sponsorship, the official logo for this year’s competition is unveiled as follows.

About 'STAFF OF THE YEAR'

'STAFF OF THE YEAR' is a competition that recognizes outstanding store staff based on in-store customer service, online engagement, and social media presence, ultimately crowning Japan’s best store employee.

Through the competition, we aim to make visible each staff member’s service skills, proposal abilities, and communication power, thereby elevating the value of those working in retail.

Since its launch in 2021, winners have been featured in numerous media outlets such as TV, magazines, and radio. Many have also advanced within their companies, becoming de facto 'charisma staff' both in name and reality.

Highlights from last year: 'STAFF OF THE YEAR 2025' crowned Nito from Tomorrowland as the top apparel salesperson, and Mari from JINS won the inaugural retail category Grand Prix.

2026 Competition Overview

Title: STAFF OF THE YEAR 2026 supported by SmartRese

Competition Period: June 25, 2026 (Thu) – November 12, 2026 (Thu)

Preliminary Stage: June 25, 2026 (Thu) – August 12, 2026 (Wed)

Semi-Final Stage: Mid-September 2026

Final Stage: November 12, 2026 (Thu) @ Shibuya Hikarie Hall A

Additionally, this year will feature 'STAFF OF THE YEAR 2026: NEXT AGE supported by SmartRese', a parallel competition for staff aged 25 and under, aimed at discovering and nurturing young talent.

*Schedule and judging criteria are subject to change without notice.
*For more information, please contact the inquiry details below.
*We welcome inquiries from companies and organizations that support the mission of this competition.

About the Staff DX Application Service 'STAFF START'

'STAFF START' is a staff DX service that supports store staff in delivering customer service across both physical stores and e-commerce, maximizing sales performance.

It features an online customer service function that enables staff to post product styling and reviews to their company’s e-commerce site and social media. In offline (in-store) settings, it enables 'omnichannel service' by using AI to analyze customers’ purchase and behavior data across both store and e-commerce platforms. Armed with these insights, staff can deliver personalized, rich customer experiences.

Over 3,000 brands use STAFF START, spanning diverse industries including apparel, cosmetics, furniture, home appliances, general goods, food, and services. The service has achieved a transaction value of ¥221.2 billion through referral sales.

*Transaction value via referral: Sales generated through content posted by STAFF START on each company’s e-commerce site (Period: September 2024 – August 2025). Multiple co