Social flower shop LORANS. creating jobs for workplace inclusion

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 1,104 people with disabilities lost their jobs between February and June 2020, increasing 16% from the same period last year. Such severe circumstances continue due to COVID-19. A plan to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities was postponed due to the pandemic.

Under these circumstances, however, LORANS. in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, is trying to make a difference to create 100 more jobs for people with disabilities. 75% of its 60 employees are already people who have disabilities or intractable diseases.

The company, which also actively hires LGBTQ, single child-rearing families and foreign nationals, has been widely featured in the media as a new employment model. Based on the idea of ​​”creating a society where everyone can bloom in their personal color,” the company develops businesses centering around a flower shop in Harajuku to eliminate the employment gap of minorities and introduce universal design in the workplace.

On this occasion, LORANS. is taking measures to make a breakthrough in the current situation of minority employment under COVID-19. It participated in the following projects in collaboration with numerous companies that support the colorful workplaces for people with disabilities.

LORANS. × Jias
“Interior × Flower Campaign” that circulates people’s lives with comfort

LORANS. and curtain fabric maker Jias worked together to put together a tie-up project at the Jias Shibuya showroom and LORANS. Harajuku store in September. Off-cut fabrics from curtains were transformed into fashionable pot covers by the hands of people with disabilities. They also participated in creating special menus at a café in Harajuku.

LORANS. × SHIBUYA TSUTAYA
“SDGs. and its future ~Living with greenery and books~”

A book exhibition of flower art was also held at SHIBUYA TSUTAYA 7F in Shibuya under the theme, LORANS. GREEN Gallery “SDGs. and its future ~Living with greenery and books~.” Staff members of LORANS. with disabilities and intractable diseases produced the event from scratch.

“LORANS. × American Holidays Art Flower Bouquet Project”

Next is a project to make artificial flower bouquets available for continuous use as batons to pass on to future happy couples. It is a collaboration between LORANS. and photo wedding specialist American Holidays. These bouquets will allow the circulation of materials, enabling environmentally friendly weddings to occur. Only LORANS. can produce artificial flower bouquets that are comparable to that of fresh flowers. LORANS. is jointly working with bridal staff of American Holidays to create these bouquets to develop a new form of bridal business, which has been declining due to COVID-19.

Unfortunately, most companies have not yet achieved the required employment rate for people with disabilities. This is in part because of the negative view on the employment of people with disabilities. LORANS. will continue its effort to develop businesses to eliminate these gaps in minority employment and realize work of universal design that will bring happiness to everyone.