ZenGroup Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka), which provides total support for cross-border e-commerce, presented its latest strategies for the overseas expansion of Japanese apparel at the "Fashion DX & AI Summit 2026" hosted by Senken Shimbun Co., Ltd. in Shibuya, Tokyo, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. This article introduces the forefront of the cross-border e-commerce market and practical initiatives based on our company's presentation.

Event Overview The "Fashion DX & AI Summit 2026," hosted by Senken Shimbun, was held for the first time as an event aiming for the sustainable development of the entire industry through exchanges between textile/fashion companies and fashion tech companies. The environment surrounding the fashion industry is undergoing significant changes, including the gradual expansion of the EC market, changes in the role of physical stores, and the acceleration of AI adoption. This event introduced advanced solutions supporting corporate transformation, along with the latest case studies of companies working on DX promotion, AI utilization, and sustainability.

ZenGroup Presentation Content "Three Strategies to Transform Cross-Border EC 'Stagnation' into 'Growth'"

ZenMarket Domestic Sales Team Tokinori Shin

In this presentation, we explained market trends and challenges in the overseas expansion of Japanese apparel, as well as perspectives for growth.

Expanding Overseas Demand and Strengths of Japanese Apparel While the growth of the domestic EC market is slowing, demand for Japanese apparel is expanding overseas. Japanese fashion items are highly valued for their "meticulous craftsmanship," "unique designs," and "high quality at reasonable prices," with demand particularly expanding in Asian regions.

Furthermore, the spread of social media has accelerated the dissemination of brand awareness, and new demands are emerging, such as "Used in Japan" (Japanese second-hand goods) gaining attention as a sustainable option in Western markets. Source: Created by ZenGroup based on data from Global Information, Inc. The global fashion e-commerce market size is expected to grow in the coming years (CAGR of 11.7%), indicating a tailwind for Japanese apparel to approach the global market.

"Three Walls" Standing in the Way of Overseas Expansion On the other hand, Japanese companies still face significant barriers when attempting overseas sales. The "three walls" listed below are particularly challenging: ・Language Barrier: Burden of multilingual support and communication with overseas customers. ・Payment Barrier: Need to support various payment methods in different countries and risks of fraudulent use. ・Shipping Barrier: Complexity of costs, lead times, and operations in international shipping. Additionally, securing human resources and establishing marketing systems are also challenges, and the current situation is that "many companies are interested but haven't been able to start."

Perspectives for Transforming Cross-Border EC into Growth To make cross-border EC not just a channel expansion but a driver of business growth, the following perspectives are crucial: 1. Verification through a small start 2. Product and creative design from an overseas user's perspective 3. Continuous improvement based on data Furthermore, strategies tailored to demand characteristics of each country and region are necessary. For example, in Europe and the US, men's products and highly collectible items tend to be supported, while in Asia, practical items such as everyday wear are favored. *Based on our company's data

Customer Experience Spanning Online and Offline To maximize the results of cross-border EC, it is important to design a customer experience that includes inbound tourism, not just EC alone. By consistently designing the journey from information contact before visiting Japan, to store visits, and then EC purchases after returning home, it leads to continuous relationship building and improvement of LTV (Customer Lifetime Value).

Comment from the Speaker "While the domestic market is shrinking and competition is intensifying, the necessity of overseas expansion is growing, but for many businesses, the first step is a major hurdle. Although the cross-border readiness rate in the domestic fashion industry is relatively high, it often doesn't lead to expected results. In addition to ZenLink, which allows you to start cross-border EC with no risk, we can provide comprehensive support, from proposals for awareness acquisition and sales improvement measures tailored to individual companies, to opening stores on ZenMarket, and inbound tourism support. Please feel free to consult us."

▼ Details of cross-border EC support services here https://zen.one/ Contact Us

【About ZenGroup Inc.】 ZenGroup Inc. aims to "bring 20% of the world's cross-border EC sales to Japan" and provides one-stop support for functions necessary for overseas expansion, from overseas sales platforms to promotions and creative services.

・ZenMarket: Overseas purchasing agency platform ・ZenLink: Customer acquisition support cross-border EC banner (supporting Japanese companies' overseas expansion) ・ZenPromo: Overseas promotion service (advertising agency/marketing) ・ZenPop: Overseas EC service for stationery ・ZenPlus: Cross-border EC mall (store opening/sales support) ・ZenLuxe: Cross-border EC mall specializing in luxury brands ・ZenStudio: Creative agency (multilingual production/branding)

Currently, the total number of group members exceeds 3 million, and over 9.5 million items have been shipped to 175 countries and regions. Through creating a system to "simply" deliver excellent Japanese products and culture to the world, we drive the global growth of Japanese companies.

Company Profile Company Name: ZenGroup Inc. Established: April 2014 Representatives: Andriy Naumov, Oleksandr Korop, Vyacheslav Solovyov, Margarita Son Address: Osaka Sakaisuji L Tower 8F, 10F, 1-7-7 Kawaramachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka Capital: 80,000,000 JPY URL: https://zen.group/

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  • Source: PR TIMES
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