Brother International 2008 Annual Report Download - page 7

5Brother Annual Report 2008
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The Brother Group marks its first 100 years of business
The Brother Group was originally started in 1908 as the “Yasui Sewing Machine Co.” which operated a
repair business for sewing machines. After succeeding in domestic production of sewing machines,
the company specialized in the sewing machine business for a period of time. Later it aggressively diversified
and expanded into the typewriters and other business fields. Since then, the Brother Group has gone through an
enormous period of growth in the printing field, and now delivers products and services such as printers,
facsimiles and Multi-Function Centers.
The Brother Group will always place the customer first, demonstrating its motto “At your side.” Grounded in 100
years of history, we will blaze a new path to the future, striving to benefit worldwide customers and continue to be
a trusted brand in the days ahead.
100th anniversary celebration held
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Brother Group, a grand ceremony was held in Nagoya
Congress Center (Nagoya, Japan) on April 14, 2008, attended by about 3,000 participants, including interested
parties from Nagoya city, Aichi prefecture, economic leaders, business partners and employees.
In the ceremony, Mr. Koike, our President, delivered an address, and Brother’s history from the foundation to the
present was presented using images and videos. After the reception, the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra and
other performers gave an anniversary concert.
Accumulated production of domestic sewing machines has reached 40 million units
The Brother group has achieved total accumulated production of 40 million domestic sewing machines as
of April 2007. In commemoration of this milestone, a celebration was held in November 2007 at Zhuhai Brother
Industries, Co., Ltd. in China. Our domestic sewing machine production began in 1932 when we succeeded in
mass-production of our first domestic sewing machine, the “Type 15 Model 70,” at the former Tenma-Cho
Factory (Nagoya, Japan). Production is now continuing at two bases overseas: Zhuhai Brother Industries, Co., Ltd.
and Taiwan Brother Industries, Ltd.
Brother Group has played the role of an engine for the domestic sewing machine market for many years, includ-
ing the release of Japan’s first electronic sewing machine (1976) and first computerized sewing machine (1979),
and the world’s smallest and lightest domestic sewing machine with embroidery functions (1998). We will keep
our focus on product development to invigorate the domestic sewing machine market for many years to come.
BIC (USA) Receives Staples’ 2007 Global Vendor of the Year Award
Brother International Corporation (USA) (BIC (USA)) has been awarded the “2007 Global Vendor of the
Year Award” by Staples Inc. Staples, based in Framingham, Massachusetts, is the world’s largest office
products company. Staples operates more than 2,000 stores around the world along with their online, catalogue
and contract delivery businesses, with sales of 19.4 billion dollars in 2007.
The award ceremony held at Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 31, 2008. Staples has praised
BIC (USA) for its great contribution to Staples’ global business. By working closely with Staples’ US and European
sales teams, BIC (USA) provided Staples with direct links to Brother’s European counterparts and created a
“win-win” agreement that would benefit both companies in all of the European countries in which Staples and
Brother do business together.
This award is the highest award that Staples gives to a vendor. It recognizes the Brother Group’s global
contribution to Staples, including all of Brother’s efforts from manufacturing to sales.
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A scene from the anniversary
celebration
A special nameplate was placed on the
memorial sewing machine.
A scene from the award ceremony