"Fiscal 2022 Onward Group Awards Ceremony"
First ceremony for three and a half years with new criteria and awards
- Focusing on the Group's business to recognize employees with outstanding contributions -

Onward Holdings Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Michinobu Yasumoto) held the Fiscal 2022 Onward Group Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 26 at Tokyo Kaikan in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo to recognize the employees (teams) who made outstanding contributions in fiscal 2022.

The Onward Group Awards Ceremony began in fiscal 2008 and has been held 23 times (twice a year) so far for outstanding fashion stylists (sales staff) and employees who have developed outstanding products or created mechanisms that encourage customers to make purchases. The ceremony had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is being held for the first time in three and a half years under the theme of "Moving on!! Sailing ONWARD" with some new criteria and awards. The number of people eligible for an award has been expanded with the creation of a new award for the staff category, a new award was established for the fashion stylist category with a focus on individuals, and there is also an award for the product category. The target period has also been changed from half-yearly to the full year, with a focus on the Group's business as the culmination of the year, and commending employees (teams) with outstanding contributions. The goal is to increase motivation and share superior know-how, leading to further improvements in sales, planning, and proposal capabilities.

In the staff category, the President's Award has been established to highlight back office staff, such as those in administrative and logistics departments. Ten teams and one person at each Group company were recognized for making the greatest contributions to promoting business through outstanding mechanisms, services, and projects.

In the product category, five teams received the "Best Challenge Award" and three teams received the"BEST PRODUCT AWARD" annual grand prize. The "Best Challenge Award" was presented to planning and production teams at each Group company that have contributed to sales growth by developing highly competitive products that show originality and foresight. The "BEST PRODUCT AWARD" is presented quarterly to planning and production teams at ONWARD KASHIYAMA that have developed products highly rated by selection criteria based on evaluation points from stores, sympathy and support from the other brands of the Company, the number of "favorites" registered on the Onward Crosset and the percentage of new "Onward Members" acquired. At the ceremony, three of the 22 teams that won awards in fiscal 2022 received the Gold, Silver and Bronze annual grand prize.

In the fashion stylist category, nine teams and two people received the President's Award, seven teams and eight people received the "Best Challenge Award," and 10 teams received the "BEST SHOP AWARD" annual grand prize. The "President's Award" recognizes the stores and fashion stylists who have made the greatest contributions to notable achievements and impressive customer service at each Group company. The "Best Challenge Award" was established and divided into four categories, "Click & Try," "Sustainable," "Digital Communication," and "Staff Coordination," to recognize the teams and fashion stylists who performed well in each field. The "BEST SHOP AWARD" was presented to 10 stores at ONWARD KASHIYAMA selected for the annual grand prize by the selection committee after achieving the annual budget and recommendation of each area from among the 132 teams which received the monthly "BEST SHOP AWARD" in fiscal 2022 selected by the selection committee based on criteria including sales, headcount sales, area efficiency, and competitor comparison. Ten store managers were also awarded badges of recognition as outstanding stylists. Teams were also evaluated for notable achievements and inspiring customer service, and the best three teams were announced at the event on the same day.

In addition to the winning employees and teams, representatives of the top 100 teams in terms of budget achievement were invited to attend the award ceremony. A total of 430 people, the largest ever, participated in the ceremony to recognize daily achievements and increase motivation. At the post-ceremony party, communication within the group was promoted by holding a raffle with luxury prizes and setting up photo booths where people could take commemorative photographs. We will aim to enhance the Group's employee satisfaction (ES) to further improve customer satisfaction (CS).