Our Services

Full Service offer

Whether you’re seeking a one-off project or looking for an end-to-end marketing partner in Japan, McLaren Group has you covered.

We pride ourselves on offering a range of specialized services, from initial consulting to Marketing Strategy, Consumer Research, Plan Execution, and Business Development.

One of the most crucial steps in our engagement is the initial needs analysis, where we delve into understanding your unique requirements and market challenges. This ensures that every strategy we develop is tailored just for you. Take the first step toward success by filling out our contact form for a free 30-minute consultation. Let’s begin your journey to market leadership.

Problems we solve:
  • No local Marketing Team on the ground in Japan?
  • No dedicated Project Manager for a key initiative in Japan?
Solutions offered: 
  • Full-service engagement

Embrace a marketing journey that starts with clarity and culminates in success. McLaren Group’s full-service offer takes you from a meticulous understanding of your needs to strategic market mapping, plan formulation, and expert execution. With post-implementation reviews, we ensure consistent growth and lessons learned for future endeavors.

Diagram titled 'Full Service Engagement Flow' illustrating five stages of a marketing process. Each stage is represented by a circular icon and a brief description: 1) 'Client Needs Understanding' with a line graph icon and the question 'What are the key issues and opportunities?'; 2) 'Market Mapping' with a stack of coins icon and the question 'What is the market context?'; 3) 'Strategy & Planning' with a building icon and the text 'Develop Marketing Strategy & KPI setting'; 4) 'Marketing Execution' with a handshake icon and the text 'Execute with max quality and impact'; 5) 'Review & Learn' with a light bulb icon and the text 'Execute detailed PDCA cycle'

Modular Solutions

Top view of five business professionals seated around a table with open books and documents. They appear to be in a meeting or discussion, with one person holding a tablet displaying a graph. The setting is a modern office with large windows and natural light.

Marketing Strategy

Problems we solve:

  • No clear Marketing Strategy for Japan?
  • No local Marketing Team on the ground in Japan?
  • No dedicated Project Manager for a key initiative in Japan?
  • Brand/product not meeting goals?
Three business professionals, two men and one woman, are seated around a table in a bright, modern office. They are engaged in a friendly conversation, smiling and laughing. The woman holds a tablet, and one man gestures with his hands while the other man listens attentively. A laptop is open on the table in front of them, along with a coffee cup and some documents.

Consumer Research

Problems we solve:

  • No clear Marketing Strategy for Japan?
  • No local Marketing Team on the ground in Japan?
  • No dedicated Project Manager for a key initiative in Japan?
  • Brand/product not meeting goals?
A crowded crosswalk filled with people walking in various directions. The scene is slightly blurred, capturing the movement and hustle of the crowd. The crosswalk's white stripes contrast with the gray pavement, and the pedestrians are dressed in a variety of clothing, indicating a busy urban environment

Marketing Plan Execution

Problems we solve:

  • No local Marketing Team on the ground in Japan?
  • No dedicated Project Manager for a key initiative in Japan?
  • Unclear on the Agency landscape, and struggling to find the right partner?
Two businessmen in suits are standing on a city street at night, engaged in a discussion while looking at a tablet. The man on the left is pointing at the tablet screen, while the man on the right is attentively observing. The background is blurred, showing colorful city lights and illuminated signs.

Business Development

Problems we solve:

  • No local Business Development Team on the ground in Japan?
  • Having trouble building trust among potential partners?
  • Wanting to scale your business quickly?

Marketing Strategy

Solutions Offered:
  • Marketing Strategy Planning
  • OGSM / KPI Goal Setting
  • Strategic Workshops

Following on from an acute understanding of a company’s goals (which can be achieved through classic models such as OGSM Framework), at the core of every successful marketing strategy is a keen understanding of the landscape. In Japan, where business nuances can differ vastly from Western practices, having a “cultural bridge” can be invaluable. This is where our expertise shines. While we appreciate that theoretical models aren’t the be-all and end-all, they serve as pivotal checkpoints in our process. Among the various models we deploy, the Japanese classic, 3C Analysis holds a special place. Not only does it parallel the SWOT analysis, but it also delves deeper, offering a granular look into the competitive context. We find that this can often be a great starting point, to brand analysis and strategy. By intertwining such tools with our unique insight into the Japanese market, we ensure that your brand is positioned optimally, resonating with both local and global audiences.

Diagram titled '3C Analysis' with three overlapping circles, each labeled with a different component of the analysis. The top circle is labeled 'Competitors' with the text 'Who are your competitors, and what are their strengths and weaknesses?'. The bottom left circle is labeled 'Company' with the text 'What are your company's strengths and weaknesses?'. The bottom right circle is labeled 'Customer' with the text 'Who is your target, and what are their pain points?'. The overlapping area of the three circles contains a yellow star and is labeled 'Your Value Proposition
Diagram titled 'OGSM Framework' depicting a structured approach to strategic planning. At the top is a blue section labeled 'Vision & Mission.' Below it is a section labeled 'Objectives,' which spans the width of the diagram. The main body of the diagram is divided into columns labeled 'Goals,' 'Strategies,' 'Tactics,' 'Measures,' and 'Actions.' The 'Tactics,' 'Measures,' and 'Actions' columns are repeated in three rows, suggesting different sets of tactics, measures, and actions corresponding to specific goals and strategies

Consumer Research

Solutions Offered:
  • Traditional Quantitative Solutions (online, offline)
  • Traditional Qualitative Solutions (online, offline)
  • Secondary Research (Desk research)
  • UX Research
  • Semiotics
  • Innovative AI Techniques

Understanding the Japanese consumer requires a balance between art and science, emphasizing the selection of the most appropriate research tools based on objectives. Whether the aim is exploratory, to uncover unique market nuances, or explanatory, to clarify and understand these intricacies, the choice between primary and secondary data becomes crucial. Japan boasts a rich reservoir of secondary data, offering rapid and in-depth insights, though primary research undoubtedly has its merits. By comprehending the objectives and astutely selecting data sources, we pinpoint the “zone of max ROI,” ensuring efficient research deployment. This is not merely about methods but encompasses bridging cultural divides, grasping the subtle undertones of the Japanese consumer mindset, and crafting tailored strategies in response.

Diagram titled 'Client Needs-Based Research (Example)' featuring two overlapping circles. The left circle is labeled 'Exploratory' with the text 'For when you need consumer data to make key decisions' and an icon of a camera. The right circle is labeled 'Primary' with the text 'Data gathered from engaging directly with consumers/customers' and an icon of a pencil. The bottom left of the left circle has a label 'Explanatory' with the text 'For when you need consumer data to justify key decisions.' The bottom right of the right circle has a label 'Secondary' with the text 'Data gathered from researching existing data sources.' The overlapping area of the two circles contains a yellow star and is labeled 'Zone of Max ROI.' Inside the circles, there are additional icons representing speech bubbles and data sources

Marketing Plan Execution

Solutions Offered:
  • Digital Advertising
  • Social Media Marketing
  • SEO and SEM
  • Content Creation’Influencer Collaborations
  • Outdoor and Print Advertising
  • Event and Experience Marketing
  • PR and Public Relations

Effective marketing, especially in a multifaceted market like Japan, doesn’t just halt at strategy formulation. It’s about navigating the nuances of Japanese consumer behavior, cultural idiosyncrasies, and media consumption habits with finesse. It demands a meticulous execution where creativity and media are synergized, all under a shared vision crafted specifically for the Japanese audience. The linchpin, though, remains consistent: an overarching strategy fortified with clear KPIs that understands and addresses the larger company goals, and unique challenges and opportunities of the Japanese market. The chart below encapsulates this synergy, illustrating the importance of an integrated approach that not only amplifies your message but also ensures it resonates deeply and authentically with your Japanese audience.

Diagram titled 'Marketing Execution Approach' featuring two overlapping circles within a larger oval labeled 'Strategy + KPIs.' The left circle is labeled 'Creative' with the text 'What do you want to tell potential consumers about your product/brand?' The right circle is labeled 'Media' with the text 'How are you going to tell your message? Ie. Through what channels?' The overlapping area of the two circles contains a yellow star and is labeled 'Zone of Max Impact

Business Development

Solutions Offered:
  • Bespoke Partner Introductions
  • Sales Agent Support

The first step to business success is mastering distribution – your ticket from a standstill to momentum. In Japan, this challenge is amplified by the inherent complexity of its relationship-based distribution channels. Through our deep-rooted connections, we simplify this puzzle, facilitating not just distribution but the essential visibility that can transform your brand’s ascent. The chart below offers a glimpse into our Marketing Mix Model which clarifies that Placement (Distribution) is taking you from 0 to 1, and in the FMCG Category, levers like Shelf Visibility and Innovation, can step-change growth.

Diagram titled 'Marketing Mix Model (FMCG Example)' showing the impact of different marketing mix elements on incremental sales. The horizontal axis is labeled 'Change in Marketing Mix Element,' and the vertical axis is labeled 'Impact on incremental sales.' The diagram features an upward sloping line with five labeled points: 'Placement (Distribution),' 'Price,' 'Shelf Visibility,' 'Product (Assortment),' 'Promotions (In-store),' and 'Promotions (Advertising).' Additionally, there are two labels placed above the line, 'Innovation' and 'Shelf Visibility,' indicating their positions in relation to the main elements