Design One Japan Co., Ltd. (CEO: Yasuo Takabatake, TSE First Section 6048) conducted a survey of users of Ekiten, the store review and ranking site it operates, asking them about the online lessons they would like to try during the COVID-19 pandemic. We present the results in a ranking format.
In the first half of 2020, many stores were forced to close due to the declaration of a state of emergency. At that time, many classrooms and schools began offering "online lessons" using Zoom and other platforms as a temporary measure, but it seems that many classrooms have continued offering online lessons even after the state of emergency was declared, realizing that there were unexpected benefits to this, such as "expanding their business area" and "broadening the range of customers."
When did you start offering online lessons?
In a survey conducted in July 2020 by Ekiten Research Institute, a research institute for small and medium-sized businesses operated by our company, when schools offering online lessons at stores listed on Ekiten were asked when they started offering these services, a whopping 70% answered that they started offering them after April 2020. With the self-restraint of business under the state of emergency declaration, demand for online lessons increased, and many schools began offering the service.
Now that COVID-19 has led to an increase in the number of schools offering online lessons, we conducted a survey of Ekiten users nationwide asking them to rank the online lessons they would like to try.
[I want to try it!! Online lesson ranking]
■ Survey Overview
Target audience: Users of the store review and ranking site "Ekiten" (men and women aged 20 to 70 nationwide)
Answers: 500
Survey period: April 26, 2020 to May 28, 2020
Survey method: Internet survey
Research organization: Ekiten Research Institute (Design One Japan Co., Ltd.)
Main free comments
1st place: Exercise (all sports, ballet, dance, yoga, training, etc.)
- I want to exercise, but I don't have the time or energy to go to the gym. (Man in his 40s)
- I want to exercise at home, but it's pointless if I don't use the correct form and movements, so I want to receive proper instruction. (Woman in her 50s)
2nd place: English conversation
- It helps me kill time at home. If I like it, it will become a habit, and I want to improve my English conversation skills to a level that I can use when traveling abroad (woman in her 20s).
- I want to study English in my free time and become able to speak English better than my children. (Man in his 40s)
3rd place: Computer operation
- To become a YouTuber (woman in her 60s)
- Due to work circumstances, it's difficult to make time to go to class, so I would like to learn online (man in his 60s)
4th place: Qualification exam preparation
- There are few places nearby where I can take the course (man in his 40s)
- I think it's good for time management because it saves you the trouble of going to classes, etc. (Woman in her 40s)
5. Cooking
- My job requires me to travel far away often, and I'm getting bored of making frozen meals for my family, so I want to learn how to cook in my free time. (Woman in her 40s)
- It's easier than going to a class. (Woman in her 50s)
6. Music (instruments, singing, composition, etc.)
- I want to get a better score at karaoke. (Man in his 50s)
- I want to learn an instrument. Even if it's just for a short time, if I can learn online, I think I can continue for a long time without paying for transportation costs (woman in her 50s)
7. Programming
- In this age where PCs are used so frequently, I want to acquire knowledge and skills that I can use both at work and in my personal life (man in his 30s)
- To improve my skills. I want to acquire skills that will allow me to work from home (man in his 40s)
8th place: Art (painting, photography, pottery, handicrafts, flower arrangements, etc.)
- My children are still small and I can't go out much. (Woman in her 40s)
- For special training and other things that cannot be taught nearby, online lessons can be taken from famous teachers far away (man in his 40s).
9. Camera
- I really want my husband to take the course. I want him to learn how to take family photos and take natural photos of me and my children. I don't think he'll be able to do it alone (woman in her 30s).
- My hobby is photography, and I want to take good photos using manual controls (man in his 60s)
10. Other foreign languages
- I want to learn a language in preparation for the resumption of overseas travel (man in his 50s)
- I lived abroad for a while in the past, so I'd like to try speaking the local language again (man in his 60s)
The top choice was "Exercise (all sports, ballet, dance, yoga, training, etc.)." In Tokyo, the governor has called for people to refrain from going out over the New Year holidays, but it seems that many people are staying at home due to the COVID-1 pandemic and are not getting enough exercise. We found that there is a great demand for professionals to teach them how to move their bodies online so that they can exercise effectively at home.
In second place and below, it seems that many people want to acquire knowledge and skills that will be at least a little useful in these uncertain times, such as English conversation, computer operation, and preparation for qualification exams.
Online lessons may become a new standard that enriches people's lives, as they eliminate the geographical constraints of "I want to attend a class, but there isn't one nearby" and the time constraints of "I want to attend a class, but I don't have time to go," and they allow people to deepen their learning without interacting with others, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reference document
[Survey on online lessons]
■ Survey outline
Target audience: Store managers and sales promotion staff nationwide who are listed on the store review and ranking site "Ekiten"
Answers: 1,545
Survey period: April 30, 2020 to May 3, 2020
Survey method: Internet survey
Research organization: Ekiten Research Institute (Design One Japan Co., Ltd.)
Of the 369 schools that responded, 228 answered that the best thing about starting online lessons was that they "were successful in retaining customers." It seems that many schools were successful in retaining customers by continuing to communicate with their students and customers even during the closures.
Other free comments included a piano school that said, "We started it as a substitute during the state of emergency, but it's good to see that it's a convenient tool that can be used on a daily basis, such as allowing parents to see lessons that we couldn't do before," and an English conversation school that said, "We started streaming videos as a result of COVID-19, which has given us more options for dealing with future student absences. Also, by responding quickly to online lessons, we've gained more trust from students and parents." Some schools have also felt secondary benefits.
When asked, "Will you continue offering online lessons in the future?", a whopping 75% of schools answered yes. Considering the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic, it seems that many schools plan to continue offering online lessons in the future.
Additionally, most of the schools that responded to the above questions that their business area has expanded and their customer base has expanded have indicated their intention to continue offering online lessons, so it appears that many schools will continue to offer online lessons not only as a COVID-19 countermeasure, but also as a new strategy for expanding their business.
[About "Ekiten"] https://www.ekiten.jp/
Ekiten is one of Japan's largest review and ranking sites, listing information on all types of stores and facilities, including relaxation and body care, hair salons, clinics, and gourmet restaurants. It boasts a total of approximately 505 million listed stores* and a cumulative total of approximately 339 million reviews*. Since its service launch in June 2007, it has been connecting consumers across Japan who want to find a store with businesses who want to attract more customers. *As of the end of February 6.
[About Ekiten Research Institute]
Ekiten Research Institute conducts surveys of stores listed on Ekiten to identify and research trends and issues regarding store operation and management for small and medium-sized businesses.
[About Design One Japan Co., Ltd.] https://www.designone.jp/
At Design One Japan, we operate services that utilize IT to connect consumers and businesses, in order to make the lives of all consumers more discoverable and enriching. Through these IT services, we aim to achieve our mission of "revitalizing the local economy, the Japanese economy, and ultimately the world."
Company name: Design One Japan Co., Ltd.
Address: 8F Nishi-Shinjuku Prime Square, 7-5-25 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023
Representative Director: Yasuo Takabatake
Date of establishment: September 2005, 9
Capital: 648,092,000 yen
Listed market: First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Business: Internet media business
[Inquiries regarding this matter]
Public Relations Officer, Design One Japan Co., Ltd.
TEL:03-6908-7820 FAX:03-6421-7463 Mail:pr@designone.jp