Creema

Creema Inc. operates as a pivotal entity in the creator economy, focusing on establishing a fair and extensive marketplace for handmade goods. The company was founded in March 2009 by Kotaro Marubayashi, who currently serves as the President and CEO. Marubayashi's background as a professional musician during his university years, where he witnessed talented artists unable to sustain a living, fueled his mission to create a platform where creators are justly rewarded for their talent and effort. This personal experience shaped the company's core philosophy of empowering creators.

The firm's primary operation is the CtoC (creator-to-consumer) online marketplace, "Creema," which launched in May 2010. This platform enables creators and designers to directly sell their original works to consumers. The business model is centered on transaction fees; Creema facilitates the payment process between the creator and the buyer, charging a commission on the sales price. The platform serves a broad market, featuring over 240,000 creators and more than 14 million items across various categories like accessories, fashion, interior goods, and even food. To expand its global reach, Creema launched a Chinese-language version in July 2016 and established a subsidiary in Taiwan.

Beyond the core marketplace, Creema has diversified its revenue streams and services to further support its creator community. It operates a platform service offering marketing support to creators, corporations, and local governments through advertising features. The company has a significant offline presence through its craft event business, organizing large-scale events like the "Handmade In Japan Fes'," which connects creators with a wider audience. Creema also runs permanent editorial shops, such as the one in Lumine Shinjuku, providing physical retail channels. Further expanding its ecosystem, Creema introduced a crowdfunding service, "Creema SPRINGS," in June 2020 and entered the EdTech domain by acquiring the lesson video platform "FANTIST" in April 2021. After securing multiple rounds of funding from investors including KDDI, Globis Capital Partners, and Japan Post Capital, the company went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers market in November 2020, a significant milestone in its journey.

Keywords: handmade marketplace, creator economy, CtoC e-commerce, craft events, online marketplace, creator empowerment, artist support, direct-to-consumer, Japanese crafts, Asian marketplace, creative platform, design goods, unique gifts, custom-made products, art fair, crowdfunding for creators, online-to-offline, craft culture, Kotaro Marubayashi, Creema SPRINGS, Handmade In Japan Fes'