SHIPS | Moe Aoki, the star of SHIPS Yurakucho

SHIPS

“The staff’s friendly personalities are a major draw.”

SHIPS Yurakucho Store Staff: Moé Aoki

Starting April 5th (Thursday), SHIPS will host a fair featuring items steeped in the vintage flavor of GITMAN BROS., a traditional shirtmaker founded in 1978. The Yurakucho store will showcase original name tags with GITMAN BROS.'s green label and classic half-placket designs.
Moé Aoki, a six-year veteran at SHIPS and staff member at the Yurakucho store—a combined men's and women's boutique—laughs, "Personally, I'm a suit fetishist."

Text by KAJII Makoto (OPENERS)Photographs by HOZUMI Hitomi (fixakey)

Customer service informed by buyer experience

Aoki joined SHIPS as a part-time employee during her fourth year of university. After graduating, she gained sales experience at the Ikebukuro and Shibuya stores. She then moved to the product department, serving as an assistant women's buyer before taking on the role of buyer for two and a half years. She has since returned to sales. "I used to shop at SHIPS a lot myself, and I was so impressed by the customer service that I thought, 'I'd love to be that kind of salesperson,' which is why I joined SHIPS."

SHIPS fosters a friendly relationship between staff and customers, where people feel comfortable talking openly. Aoki explains, "In customer service, I always make an effort to listen carefully to what customers say, such as the occasions they plan to wear an item. When they try something on, I ask why they were drawn to it, and use our conversation to build up to styling suggestions."

Her customer service also benefits from her experience as a buyer. "I returned to sales because I wanted to stand on the shop floor again and gain more retail experience. Having been a buyer, I believe I can communicate to the product department what customers genuinely want, and then introduce those items in the store."

The SHIPS Yurakucho store sees many businessmen from Marunouchi on weekdays, and on weekends, it's popular with fathers and families. "As this is a business district, we have a solid selection of business items like suits, but we also offer suits in interesting fabrics and imported items unique to a select shop. You can enjoy coordinating outfits with a distinctive flair, something you won't easily find at department stores," says Aoki.

"I feel that the true appeal of menswear lies in how one wears a suit, especially here at the Yurakucho store. I personally have a suit fetish; I find men attractive when they wear suits stylishly. Those who pay subtle, meticulous attention to detail are truly fashionable. I can't help but notice the length of their trousers."

Gentlemen, let's aim for a flawless style that appeals to women.

SHIPS Yurakucho Store
1-12-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Shin Yurakucho Bldg. 1F
Tel. 03-5252-7748
Hours: 11:00–21:00 (Mon–Sat), 11:00–20:00 (Sun & Holidays)
http://www.shipsltd.co.jp/