Manga Dream, LLC. Marketing Plan Prepared by: Takefumi Kawahara Hokutono Ken Product Information Manga is Japanese style comics, called “graphic novels,” and Manga indicates both contents and physical products. Manga differs from American comics. Abundant genres For various kinds of people Cheap Product Information American comics Only a few genres, mainly superheroes such as X-Men, Superman or Marvel Heroes. Mostly for children or comic maniacs Relatively expensive Product Background Big roll in the entertainment culture and industry in Asia, especially in Japan. Japan is the source of Manga Culturally—the way of story telling Economically—commercial success The father of Manga—Osamu Tezuka Product Background Most Manga artists are Japanese. Approximately 3,000 Japanese Manga artists Several institutions to learn how to draw Manga However, learning through Manga institutions is rare in Japan. They usually work under professional Manga artists as apprentices. Company Description Manga Dream LLC is a company that deals with Manga, and its related products, services and personnel. Location—Los Angeles County, California Source of fashion big Japanese community The large number of Asian-American Company Description Functions 1. Manga school division—education of how to draw Manga and supply of materials for drawing Manga. 2. Publishing division—compilation and issues of students’ works. 3. Copyright licensing division—acquirement of copyrights from students, and management and negotiation of copyrights. Company Description The flows & product 1. Collecting students and their works in America. 2. Issuing the works via magazines, comics, or online in America and Japan. 3. Permitting or selling the copyrights to media companies and merchandise companies both in America and Japan. Strategic Focus and Plan Mission and Vision Creating a new entertainment culture and business in America. Interchanging mutual understanding between Asian and Western culture. Promote a new field of education. Strategic Focus and Plan Goals Non-financial Goals Gaining company’s brand awareness, and market share by early entrance Financial Goals School division—Break even Publishing division—Raise $50,000 Copyright division—Raise $100,000 Location of Factor Type of Factor Favorable Unfavorable Internal Strengths •Early entrance to Manga school market •Connection to Japanese community in Los Angeles •Sister going to a top art college in Japan can draw Manga Weaknesses •No experience of working •No knowledge of drawing Manga or publishing •Possibility that ROI takes long time External Opportunities •The small number of American Manga artists •No Manga school in America •Market is growing by the young •Purchase of Manga by libraries Online-school has been accepted •∑Book Threats •Regulation for the minors •Graphic novels for only kids •Giant American and Japanese Manga publishers Situation Analysis Strengths Weaknesses ROI (Return on Investment) Opportunities Access to JBA (Japanese Business Association) ∑Book (Sigma Book)—portable digital reading book Threats Regulatory for Manga Demand Analysis Japanese Market Manga alone accounts for nearly 40 % of the Japanese publishing industry steady stability of 12% of growth in 2002 Demand Analysis U.S. Market The online distance learning market was expected to grow 38% in 2004 The number of American graphic novelists is increasing U.S. Manga market at retail stores grew approximately 25% in 2004 Segment Analysis Manga school division Residents in Los Angels, California, and its neighbor Distance online learners People majoring art Comics readers Pupils and students in public and private schools including home school, preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, and college and university. Segment Analysis Publisher division Magazines and comics readers Animation viewers Video-gamers Segment Analysis Copyright licensing division Animation companies Television companies Movie companies Game companies Toy companies Food companies Targeting Millenials Children from 1st to 12th grade Escape from social pressure Purchase of Manga by libraries due to the declining of children’s interests for novels Children born upper 1994 Help to understand contents of books Online education Positioning The first cultural and business organization The model of Manga school with moral and ethics A literal organization that produces culturally and socially significant Manga Differentiation Gaining its brand as the first Manga institution A pioneer to offer new Manga genres Ex.—Hip-Hop, American school Marketing Strategies Product Strategy 1. School division Offer very specific contents of classes The online access will be a main avenue Textbooks will be free No supply the materials to students Marketing Strategies 2. Publishing division Helps councils and discusses with students about structures, contents, the number of pages and schedules Online access will be focused Contracts with paper companies, markets, and sells magazines and comics to bookstores and retail stores or online Marketing Strategies 3. Copyright licensing division Manga Dream LLC possesses the copyrights of the students’ works The copyrights will be permitted to use by monetary deals or sold Marketing Strategies Price Strategy 1. School fees First membership fee of $100 Tuitions and textbooks will be free Fees for Manga materials contracts to an identified Manga material company Marketing Strategies 2. Prices of magazines, comics and eBooks Should be inexpensive Below American market prices of $5 to $8 Set $2 to $4 as same as Japanese Manga market prices Marketing Strategies 3. Prices of copyrights selling copyrights—based on the estimated profits including future values leasing copyrights—based on 20% of the estimated profits produced by the usage of copyrights Marketing Strategies Promotion Strategy Conventions and events—attend to conventions and events related comics, animations, toys and games Free Manga instruction—teach how to draw Manga free in local schools and libraries Free online Manga delivery—an electronic Manga book delivered free via online to schools nationwide Marketing Strategies Place (Distribution) Strategy 1. School Division The recorded video system through viewers such as Windows Media Player and RealPlayer No broadcasted on real time Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Illustrations, animations and the recorded video system Online chatting or e-mail Marketing Strategies 2. Publishing division real-time multimedia with ViewCam or WebTV 3. Copyright licensing division copyright agency companies such as Copyright Agency Limited Human Resources Plan Takefumi Kawahara—President, CEO, CFO, and human resources manager Future employee 1—Manga school instructor Future employee 2—Publishing manager and licensing manager Implementation Plan December 2005 – Continue research and development of the marketing plan of Manga Dream LLC June 2006 – Begin leaning basic of how to draw Manga and compile April 2007 – Hire a Manga school instructor July 2007 – Open Manga School April 2007 – Hire a publishing and licensing manager July 2008 – Establish the publisher division December 2008 – Begin publishing Manga July 2009 – Establish the copyright agency division October 2009 – Begin negotiation of copyrights to media companies. Evaluation and Control the innovation of creating excellent American Manga artists and Manga by the collaboration supported by technologies such as real-time multimedia and ∑Book regulatory changes or accounting systems changes