Japanese firm is country’s largest mobile marketplace
Portland, Ore – Mercari, Inc., the marketplace app that allows customers to buy and sell items easily and securely, is officially celebrating its newest office at 110 SW Yamhill St., Portland, Ore., with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, February 13, 2017. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler will be in attendance.
Continuing its fast-paced growth, Mercari opened the office in Portland on October 31, 2016. The new office consists of approximately 20K square feet in downtown Portland’s historic Yamhill district. The office opened with 10 customer service employees and has since increased that number to 50 current employees, with plans to hire at least 50 more people.
Mercari has experienced rapid growth the past few years. The company launched its app in Japan in 2013, becoming the country’s largest mobile marketplace. Since launching in the U.S. in 2014 with headquarters in San Francisco, Mercari has been downloaded more than 20 million times in the U.S. alone and over 60 million times worldwide. Its fast-growing customer base led to the decision to expand to Portland.
“With the new Portland office, Mercari is able to provide excellent support to its customers and solidify its place as the biggest peer-to-peer shopping app in the U.S.,” said Mercari co-founder and U.S. CEO Ryo Ishizuka.
Robin Clark, VP Finance & Operations from Mercari, along with Jeff Pappas, managing director of Dallas-based E Smith Realty Partners, assisted in the site selection and real estate negotiations.
“Mercari’s selection of Portland for its growth plans proves that our region remains a choice market for Japanese investment,” said Janet LaBar, president and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, the regional economic development outfit. “We’re pleased to welcome Mercari to Portland and look forward to supporting the company’s operations in our community.”
“This project highlights both the astounding growth of the software industry in Oregon and our continuous work to promote Japanese business investment in the state,” said Chris Harder, director of Business Oregon. “Mercari could grow its business anywhere, but like so many others, they see the value of an investment in Oregon.”
“We are becoming a go-to destination for growing Japanese companies, thanks to our strategic advantages in talent and business costs,” said Kimberly Branam, executive director of the Portland Development Commission. “This expansion further affirms the strong ties between Portland and Japan.”
The company’s recruitment was supported by Business Oregon, Greater Portland Inc, Portland Development Commission, Portland General Electric, Technology Association of Oregon and Worksystems.