PARTNER STORY
All the partners who support Urawa Reds in various ways.
We will talk about the history of the partners and the Reds behind it, as well as their passion.
Porras in its 8th year
What are the diverse partner activities?
♦ Consistent philosophy of “community-based” Established DNA that contributes to culture
The Polus Group became Urawa Reds' top partner for the first time in the 2013 season. For the 21 seasons up to that point, the logo on the chest of the Reds uniform, whether it was the company name or the product name, belonged to a company that operates nationwide. "POLUS" was the first time that the name of a company in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which is the commercial area, became the "face" of the Reds.
In 1969, Chuo Jutakusha was established in Soka City, Saitama Prefecture, with the aim of becoming the North Star of the housing industry. Initially, we expanded our business area from the Tobu Isesaki Line, which was based in Soka and Koshigaya, to the eastern part of Saitama Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Saitama City, central Saitama Prefecture, and part of Tokyo, and established an affiliated company. said. In 1991, CI was introduced and the group name was changed to "POLUS Group". POLUS means North Star in Latin, and expresses the thoughts at the time of the company's establishment.
One of the reasons why the Porus Group decided to sign a partnership contract with the Reds is the J.League's "community-based philosophy." Consistent with the company's philosophy from the time of its founding, and the fact that the Reds put it into practice was a major factor that brought the two together.
And one more thing. The main reason behind this is that the company has supported the Minami-Koshigaya Awa Odori festival every year since the first event. The late Mr. Shunzo Nakauchi, the founder of Porus Group, was from Tokushima Prefecture, and many people moved to Koshigaya, which used to be a commuter town. So, I started the Tokushima specialty "Awa Odori". The organizer is an executive committee that includes Koshigaya City, and as a Porus Group, the fact that employees fully support the preparations, operations, and dancers every year goes far beyond the level of "community contribution." The fact that the DNA of "contributing to the local culture" has been established in the group is also a background for "working with the Reds," and he says, "There is no doubt that it worked positively."
Finale of the 35th Minami-Koshigaya Awa Odori Festival (Photo courtesy of POLUS Co., Ltd.)
♦ Renewal of partner contract last year Brought about by increased name recognition
After 6 years of contract renewal every 2 years since 2013, he signed a new 4-year contract from the 2019 season. For the Reds, the same logo on the chest of the uniform for seven consecutive seasons is the longest except for Mitsubishi Motors.
From the beginning, it was never intended to end in six years. Nonetheless, since it is a project that involves a large amount of expenses, verification was carried out at the end of the 2016 season, the fourth year of the project. In the last four seasons, in 2016, they won the YBC Levain Cup and competed for the league championship every time. Especially in the three seasons from 2014, they were one step closer to the league title. In 2015, he advanced to the final of the Emperor's Cup. Opportunities to be picked up by the media have increased significantly, and the name recognition of "POLUS" has greatly increased.
However, it is difficult to grasp how the sponsorship of the Reds is connected to the performance improvement of the company, which handles large products such as housing. One of the indicators is the impact on recruitment activities. In particular, students from areas other than the Tokyo metropolitan area had no way of knowing the name "POLUS" before, but since 2013 it has become known nationwide. According to the Human Resources Department of POLUS Co., Ltd., the number of applicants increased by 10% year-on-year in 2013 (new graduates in 2014), and by 8% in the following year. This number would be good as evidence that becoming a partner of the Reds had a positive impact. It is said that "Urawa Reds" appears as a number in the questionnaire to students "Where did you hear about Polus?" Also, new high school graduates approach the school rather than the person themselves, but "Even when I talk to the teacher in charge, the company sponsors the chest of the Reds, so the trust level has increased."
The "POLUS" logo first appeared in a game on March 2, 2013, at the opening game of the J-League against Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Edion Stadium Hiroshima).
Active support activities by employees Fostering a sense of unity with local offices
Porus's "regional office", which has a commercial area near Saitama Prefecture, is the "precut business" operated by "Polatech Co., Ltd." We receive orders from local builders, etc., and process and sell the wooden building materials just before they are assembled. Currently, there are precut factories in Ibaraki, Shiga, Shizuoka, Miyagi, Saga, and Aichi prefectures. Both are areas where "POLUS" had little name recognition before, but since 2013 it has become known as "the company in the chest of the Reds".
When the Reds away game is held in the region, "watching the Reds game" is held as part of employee welfare programs, and some employees from the headquarters participate. It is said that this contributes to fostering a sense of unity with the head office and improving the sense of belonging.
Of course, being a partner of the Reds contributes to improving employee welfare and motivation to work, not only at regional offices, but also at the head office. We make original Reds goods and provide them to customers and employees, invite players to our Italian restaurant, hold a talk show for customers who have purchased homes at Porus, and have the opportunity to eat with their families twice a year. I have set it up a few times.
In addition, the in-house supporters club "RED POLUS STAR", which was born in May 2014, also holds game viewing parties and "public viewing" of ACL away games.
And Polas has hired Reds Ladies goalkeeper Sakiko Ikeda and midfielder Saki Yanagisawa as employees. "For people in the same workplace, I want to support my colleagues because they are practicing every day after work and doing their best," he said.
On October 29, 2016, the away watching party held at Ecopa Stadium was against Jubilo Iwata. It was a match that decided the second stage victory
Support from the back 2020 season Great support even after the restart
After 6 seasons with many positives in various aspects, PORAS signed a new partner contract in 2019, but for the 2020 season, which marks the 150th anniversary of the Mitsubishi Group's founding, it will be Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, a top partner with the same logo on the chest. "POLUS" will be on the back this season.
I renewed the contract after understanding the circumstances of the club, such as the relationship between the club and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, but I didn't want to be seen as a reduction in sponsorship by switching from the chest to the back.
So I made a new poster. The key phrase "WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK" (meaning "we are with you") is a design in which a strong player is standing upright or holding a muffler. The poster for PORAS, which had been bright and light until then, changed completely, not only dispelling the negative image of the logo on the back, but also the message that we will support it more strongly. . Former Reds DF Keisuke Tsuboi, who retired from active play last season and started working in the media such as commentary this season, was appointed as the model.
As we are currently facing an unprecedented crisis due to the corona disaster, Porras told fans and supporters, "Precisely because it's a time like this, we should accept the current situation that confronts us head-on, and what should we do, and what should we do?" I think it's time to think carefully and act." He added, "Maybe the environment in which we play or watch soccer will change. Now we are thinking carefully about what we can do. I think it's time to take action.You can't really feel the atmosphere of the stadium unless you're actually there, but since you've experienced it in the stadium, it's possible to double the excitement and excitement when you watch it on TV. I hope we can create a new environment where we can support soccer, and let's do our best now."
For the fans and supporters who understand that endurance and endurance are also part of the fight, Polas will be a reliable presence as they will continue to fight together tenaciously.
Leonardo, a new player who has scored 3 goals in the opening 2 games of this season. In the 2020 season, the letters "POLUS" will shine on the back (February 16, Levain Cup Vegalta Sendai match)
2020 season poster. The key phrase "WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK" contains a message that we will support you more strongly. Keisuke Tsuboi of Urawa Reds OB was appointed as a model.
