It sounds like you’ve made impressive progress with your hair care product and eCommerce store. Here’s some practical advice to help you move forward with marketing and scaling your business: 1. Reevaluate Your Influencer Strategy Upfront Payments: Since many influencers declined profit-sharing, consider offering upfront payments or a hybrid model that combines an initial fee with a performance-based bonus. Micro-Influencers: Try reaching out to micro-influencers (10,000 to 100,000 followers) who might be more open to collaboration, and who often have highly engaged audiences. Product Reviews: Send samples to influencers or beauty bloggers in exchange for honest reviews, which can be a lower-cost way to generate buzz. 2. Refine Your Marketing Strategy Target Audience: Ensure you have a clear understanding of your target audience and tailor your marketing messages to their needs and preferences. Social Media Marketing: Utilize platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, which are popular for beauty products. Share engaging content, such as tutorials, user testimonials, and behind-the-scenes looks. Content Marketing: Start a blog or YouTube channel offering hair care tips, which can drive traffic to your eCommerce store and establish you as an authority in the field. 3. Explore Funding and Partnerships Crowdfunding: Platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo can help raise funds and create pre-launch buzz. Crowdfunding can also validate your product idea and build a community around it. Grants and Competitions: Look for small business grants, beauty industry competitions, or startup incubators that offer funding or resources. Strategic Partnerships: Partner with other beauty brands or retailers who align with your brand values. Cross-promotions can expand your reach. 4. Leverage Paid Advertising PPC Ads: Use pay-per-click advertising on Google and social media to drive targeted traffic to your eCommerce store. Retargeting Ads: Implement retargeting campaigns to reach visitors who have shown interest but didn’t make a purchase. 5. Optimize Your eCommerce Store User Experience: Ensure your website is user-friendly, mobile-optimized, and has a smooth checkout process. SEO: Optimize your store for search engines to improve organic traffic. Use keywords relevant to hair care and your products. 6. Build a Community Engagement: Foster a community around your brand through social media groups or forums where users can share their experiences and provide feedback. Customer Loyalty Programs: Implement rewards or referral programs to encourage repeat purchases and word-of-mouth marketing. 7. Seek Mentorship and Networking Industry Mentors: Find mentors with experience in the beauty industry who can offer guidance and introduce you to valuable contacts. Networking Events: Attend beauty and entrepreneurship events to connect with potential partners, investors, and advisors. Summary Reevaluate Influencer Strategies: Offer upfront payments or hybrid compensation to attract influencers. Refine Marketing: Focus on targeted social media marketing, content creation, and paid ads. Explore Funding: Consider crowdfunding, grants, and strategic partnerships. Optimize Your Store: Ensure a seamless user experience and strong SEO practices. Build Community: Engage with your audience and implement customer loyalty programs. Seek Mentorship: Connect with industry mentors and attend relevant events. By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your marketing efforts, attract funding and partnerships, and ultimately scale your business.

Starting a new life in Japan and preparing for retirement there is an exciting endeavor. Given your situation—retirement plans, a modest budget, and the desire to run a small business without hiring local employees—here are some visa options and considerations that might suit your needs:1. Assess Your Financial Situation Budget: Determine how much you can comfortably invest in starting a business and living expenses in Japan. Retirement Savings: Ensure you have sufficient savings or income to support yourself in retirement. 2. Consider the Right Visa Since you have a modest budget and don’t want to hire local employees, here’s a focused recommendation: Investor/Business Manager Visa: Investment: Although this visa usually requires a minimum investment of 5 million yen, consider whether you can manage this or look into starting a low-cost business that fits this requirement. Office Space: Ensure you can secure a physical office space as required by the visa. Alternative: Long-Term Stay Options: Tourist Visa: Initially, you could start with a long-term tourist visa if available. This allows you to get a feel for living in Japan while you explore more permanent visa options. Student Visa: If you are willing to study Japanese, a student visa could be a temporary solution. It’s a longer-term approach but can give you time to establish yourself. 3. Prepare for Moving Language: Start learning Japanese if you haven't already. Basic proficiency will be helpful for daily interactions and business operations. Cultural Understanding: Familiarize yourself with Japanese customs and business etiquette to make your transition smoother. 4. Seek Professional Help Consult an Immigration Lawyer: They can provide tailored advice on the best visa option for your situation and help with the application process. Business Consultant: If you're starting a business, a consultant can help you with the planning, legal requirements, and operational aspects. 5. Set Up Your Business Business Plan: Develop a clear and detailed business plan. This will be crucial not only for visa applications but also for the successful operation of your business. Networking: Build connections within the local business community to support your venture. 6. Plan for Permanent Residency Residency Requirements: Understand the requirements for permanent residency, such as the length of stay and financial stability. Start planning early to meet these requirements. Summary Determine Your Budget: Ensure you have enough funds for living and business expenses. Choose the Right Visa: Consider the Investor/Business Manager Visa if you can meet the investment requirement, or explore alternative visas for a longer stay. Prepare for the Move: Learn Japanese and understand Japanese culture. Seek Professional Advice: Consult with immigration and business experts. Develop Your Business: Create a solid business plan and network locally. Plan for Permanent Residency: Understand and prepare for the requirements for permanent residency. Taking these steps will help you make a smoother transition to life in Japan and work towards your goals of retirement and business ownership.