Securing First US Orders in as Little as 15 Days: SOMA Strengthens Overseas Wholesale Support Through Partnership with HLP
SOMA Inc. has partnered with US-based Horizon Leap Partners (HLP) to strengthen support for Japanese companies entering the US market via Faire, without the need for a local office. Leveraging a track record of 125.6 million JPY in wholesale trade across 18 companies, SOMA provides end-to-end logistics and sales support.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 2, 2026 at 10:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 2, 2026 at 10:37 (37 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 10:50 (12 min after Collected)
SOMA Inc. (Headquarters: Yokohama) identified through client surveys that 95% of companies interested in overseas sales are deterred by the lack of local support capabilities. To address this, the company developed support services utilizing the BtoB wholesale marketplace 'Faire.' To date, SOMA has assisted 18 companies, achieving 72 retail contracts and a total wholesale transaction volume of 125.6 million JPY.
Through a new business partnership with Colorado-based Horizon Leap Partners LLC (HLP), SOMA will further strengthen local sales and logistics functions.
■ The 'Local Barrier' Hindering Japanese Brands
When negotiating with overseas buyers, success depends on more than just product appeal. Responsiveness to sample requests, communication via local phone numbers, and proactive sales activities—these all require the ability to function as if one were physically present in the market. Many Japanese companies have retreated in the early stages due to these hurdles. SOMA's survey confirmed that 95% of interested companies struggle with this issue.
■ Proven Reality of 'Wholesale Without a Local Office'
SOMA's record in Faire support includes:
- Total companies supported: 18
- Total retail contracts: 72
- Total wholesale transaction volume: 125.6 million JPY
A manufacturer in the Kanto region secured its first order just 22 days after launching, eventually contracting with 5 retailers and generating 3.2 million JPY in wholesale trade over six months, with repeat orders continuing. Another company from Kyushu secured its first order in 15 days, achieving a 70% repeat rate and an average order value of 150,000 JPY, successfully establishing its brand with US retailers.
SOMA also has a track record of supporting over 30 overseas crowdfunding projects, totaling over 200 million JPY. Their Faire support service leverages this promotional expertise for wholesale channels.
■ What Changes with the HLP Partnership?
HLP brings the following functions to the partnership:
- Buyer acquisition: Proactive sales using a database of over 20,000 international buyer targets.
- Sample responsiveness: US logistics hub allowing sample shipments within 4 business days.
- Local communication: Buyer support using a local US phone number.
Being able to interact as a 'local business partner' significantly changes the initial dynamics of business negotiations.
■ Future Outlook
Moving forward, SOMA will deepen its cooperation with HLP to provide end-to-end support, from launching on Faire to establishing and scaling operations. The goal is to establish a system where Japanese brands can sustainably operate overseas wholesale channels without needing a local office.
Through a new business partnership with Colorado-based Horizon Leap Partners LLC (HLP), SOMA will further strengthen local sales and logistics functions.
■ The 'Local Barrier' Hindering Japanese Brands
When negotiating with overseas buyers, success depends on more than just product appeal. Responsiveness to sample requests, communication via local phone numbers, and proactive sales activities—these all require the ability to function as if one were physically present in the market. Many Japanese companies have retreated in the early stages due to these hurdles. SOMA's survey confirmed that 95% of interested companies struggle with this issue.
■ Proven Reality of 'Wholesale Without a Local Office'
SOMA's record in Faire support includes:
- Total companies supported: 18
- Total retail contracts: 72
- Total wholesale transaction volume: 125.6 million JPY
A manufacturer in the Kanto region secured its first order just 22 days after launching, eventually contracting with 5 retailers and generating 3.2 million JPY in wholesale trade over six months, with repeat orders continuing. Another company from Kyushu secured its first order in 15 days, achieving a 70% repeat rate and an average order value of 150,000 JPY, successfully establishing its brand with US retailers.
SOMA also has a track record of supporting over 30 overseas crowdfunding projects, totaling over 200 million JPY. Their Faire support service leverages this promotional expertise for wholesale channels.
■ What Changes with the HLP Partnership?
HLP brings the following functions to the partnership:
- Buyer acquisition: Proactive sales using a database of over 20,000 international buyer targets.
- Sample responsiveness: US logistics hub allowing sample shipments within 4 business days.
- Local communication: Buyer support using a local US phone number.
Being able to interact as a 'local business partner' significantly changes the initial dynamics of business negotiations.
■ Future Outlook
Moving forward, SOMA will deepen its cooperation with HLP to provide end-to-end support, from launching on Faire to establishing and scaling operations. The goal is to establish a system where Japanese brands can sustainably operate overseas wholesale channels without needing a local office.
FAQ
SOMA株式会社の主な事業は何ですか？
海外BtoB卸マーケットプレイス「Faire」を活用した支援、海外クラウドファンディング支援、越境販売支援を行っています。
日本企業が海外卸で抱える課題は何ですか？
SOMAの調査によると、海外販売に関心を持つ企業の95%が「現地対応できないため踏み出せない」という課題を抱えています。
今回の業務提携による強化ポイントは何ですか？
米国Horizon Leap Partners LLCの現地物流拠点、バイヤー開拓リスト（2万件）、および米国現地電話番号を活用し、営業・物流機能を強化します。
Faire支援における実績はどの程度ですか？
累計18社を支援し、72件の小売店成約、卸取引総額は1億2560万円に達しています。
日本ブランドが最短で米国へ進出できる期間はどれくらいですか？
事例として、最短15日で初回注文を獲得するケースがあります。