Interview
Connecting the World With Planning Power:
A Stage for Young Talent
Product Planning Department
Joined in 2024
From Concept to Launch
– Turning Ideas into Reality and Delivering Them to the World
I am responsible for product planning of consumable items for consumer cutting machines that are sold
worldwide.
Although I am only in my second year at the company, I have already been involved in commercializing
products such as sticker backing sheets and heat‑transfer vinyl that are used in conjunction with the
cutting machines.
The scope of the product‑planning department is very broad. From collecting basic information—market
research and sales data from all over the world—to drafting concepts, giving presentations, and even
planning and running an annual product‑launch event for customers worldwide, I am involved in the entire
process of bringing a new product to market.
During these launch events, I get to meet customers from all corners of the globe face‑to‑face, and I
see their excitement when they receive the new products we have designed. Those moments give me a strong
sense of fulfillment as a product planner.
Leverage Your English & Spanish Skills
– Flexible Work Arrangements for a Great Work‑Life Balance
Since I grew up abroad, I have always wanted a career where I could make use of my language skills. Photography is a hobby of mine, and while looking for a role that involved creative product development, a friend introduced me to Graphtec. I was attracted by the fact that the company globally markets cutting machines for the hobby market. As I delved into research on the company, I was drawn to its open corporate culture and generous benefits, and I decided I wanted to join. After I joined, I quickly felt the culture that actively gives young employees opportunities—such as presenting new product concepts to the president and department heads in my first year. The company offers a flex‑time system and an environment where it is easy to take paid leave. Last year, I took an extended vacation and traveled to Australia. The workplace is designed to allow employees to work freely while maintaining a healthy work‑life balance.
