Shunsuke Sako
Japan-based marketplace operator Mercari Inc. has set up a re-commerce research institute to study the market trends, and appointed Shunsuke Sako as its director.
Mercari says the institute will conduct research into domestic and international market trends related to re-commerce and changes in consumer behavior. It will also explore the impact of the re-commerce market from various perspectives such as society, the economy and day-to-day life.
“Focusing on the role that the re-commerce market plays in realizing a recycling-oriented society, we will conduct research to find new perspectives in order to expand the possibilities of all people, as well as change the awareness and behavior of consumers. We will explore how the re-commerce market affects society and the economy, and what benefits it brings to consumers, and disseminate that information widely,” Mercari said in a news release.
Sako (LinkedIn profile) has served as VP cross border at Mercari since October 2021. Prior to that, the UCLA sociology graduate was CEO of global store chain Minit Asia Pacific.
Mercari was founded in 2013 and launched in the U.S. the following year. The company’s Japan operations are comprised of marketplace and fintech businesses accounting for 75% of the group’s revenue, with the remainder coming from the U.S.