" Isetan Men's Staff Profiles " is a series that spotlights the unique stylists working at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . This time, we introduce Saeko Shibuya, a first-generation Men's Attendant and a specialist in smart casual style.

"I love supporting people!" she says, and when serving customers, her motto is "No two customer interactions are the same." She continues to hone her customer service skills every day. What supports her is her daily "fandom activities." She listens to SPEED (*1) on her daily commute. On her days off, she supports the Yokohama DeNA BayStars (*2), so for her, work is also one of her "fandom activities."

Putting our hearts into every encounter

I joined Isetan as a new employee and was assigned to Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . My first sales floor was GIORGIO ARMANI . On my first day, completely clueless, a customer bought two ties. I still remember how incredibly happy I was when my supervisor said to me, "You did a great job today." It was the moment I realized, "Ah, I love customer service."

Twenty years have passed since then, but no two customer service experiences are ever the same. It's truly a case of "customer service is a miracle." Different customers have different preferences and moods, and even with the same product, you need to change how you present it. There's no single right answer, which means there's no end to it. And that's why there's no end to improving yourself. I think that's what makes it so enjoyable.

When assisting customers, I always cherish the "encounter." For both myself and the customer, that day is a day of important encounters. I would be truly happy if the time we spent together became a pleasant memory and they thought, "I want to shop with that person again." I strive to wholeheartedly engage with customers so that I can recommend them, and eventually they will recommend me.

"Fan activities" are my source of energy.

As someone from the SPEED generation, I listen to SPEED every day, both on my way to and from work. It's become a daily routine, and I feel restless all day if I don't listen to them (laughs). Depending on the song, all sorts of things come flooding back—feelings, events, and so on. It's like going back to my roots, or returning to my childlike innocence, and somehow I can become my pure self again. SPEED's singing voices have that kind of mysterious power.

I've been a fan since before their debut, back when they appeared on a show called "THE Yoru mo Hippare" (*3). At the time, they held a contest on the show to name the group, and they debuted as SPEED. I own almost all of their CDs, I've listened to their solo songs countless times, and I've been to their live shows many times. In 2015, when the release party for ERIHIRO, the unit the members belonged to, was held at Ikspiari in Maihama, I lined up from 8 a.m. and finally managed to get my picture taken just before the live show started in the evening. That picture is still a treasure to me.

Another thing I've recently gotten into is watching baseball. I'm a fan of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, and I've even subscribed to DAZN (*4) to watch their games. Their merchandise is cute, and I liked their previous mascot, Starman, but I think their current mascots, DB Starman, Kirara, and Bert & Chappy, are the cutest of all 12 teams. I can totally see why they're so popular with girls.

What SPEED and the Yokohama DeNA BayStars have in common might be that "I'm drawn to the people." I love both groups and teams, but I also love each individual member and player. I'm drawn to them because each and every one of them is full of charm. People often ask me why I like them so much... I think it's because I'm the type of person who can't cheat on someone once I like them. It's the same with work, people, and things; there's a moment when the feeling clicks, and I think that's what leads to me "supporting" them.

The happiness of having a place where you can grow.

Currently, my favorite brand at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building is Santa Maria Novella , a long-established pharmacy from Florence, Italy. The fragrances I discovered during my time at Isetan Haneda Store are not overly assertive, yet they have a gentle quality that leaves a lasting impression. My particular favorite is "Pomegranate." Its powdery, soapy, and slightly smoky scent makes me feel more upright just by wearing it. I gave it as a gift to my parents for Mother's Day and Father's Day, and they were very pleased. Fragrance is a tool that conveys feelings more effectively than words. Just as I talk about my favorite items, sharing my favorite scents with others is a way of "fragrance enthusiastizing" that accompanies me every day.

After my childhood and student years, I now feel like I'm walking the path I chose for myself for the first time as a working adult. Because it's a path I found myself, I want to face it with all my heart. As one of the first Men's Attendant , I returned to Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building from the Haneda Store because there were people who recognized my work. I later realized that the supervisor who guided me back then had continued to look out for me all this time. I believe that I am where I am today because there were people somewhere in the company who were supporting me.

Customer service is a continuous process of improvement. Even when I think, "I did a good job today," I take a moment to reflect and think, "Maybe it would have gone more smoothly if I had suggested a different product," or "Maybe the customer's reaction would have been different if I had said that different thing." This kind of reflection helps me next time. It's a job where I can really feel myself improving as I accumulate these experiences. I'm very happy to have a place where I can meet different customers every day, hone my skills, and continue to grow. I want to continue listening to SPEED and focusing on customer service so that I can be someone that people want to see again.

Shibuya is someone who is wholeheartedly dedicated to both his hobbies and his work. When you visit Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building why not ask Shibuya to be your guide?

►View Santa Maria Novella products at the Mitsukoshi Isetan Cosmetics Online Store, ISETAN BEAUTY online.

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At Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building we offer a full range of services to assist you with your shopping needs, including consulting and escort services. Feel free to consult with us about smart casual attire for any occasion, or dressy outfits for special events.

Personal consulting service "Isetan Men's Meet Ism"

A stylist at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building who holds professional qualifications in personal color analysis and body shape analysis®, will propose a "suitable styling" that enhances your charm based on the diagnostic results. ▶ Learn more here
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Photograph: Tatsuya Ozawa
Text: Yasuyuki Ikeda