Cross Media

What Cross Media does

Cross Media Limited is a London-headquartered professional services firm founded in 1987 that helps Japanese businesses, government agencies, and local authorities expand into the UK and European markets. The company operates an integrated five-capability service framework — AGENT (strategy and marketing), OPERATION (event and POP-UP execution), MERCHANT (local sales, test marketing, merchandise production, and IP licensing coordination), PLATFORM (direct audience access), and SALES REP (channel development) — designed to be deployed end-to-end rather than as discrete agency engagements. Its flagship owned asset is HYPER JAPAN, launched in 2010, which is the UK's largest Japanese cultural event, drawing 70,000+ annual visitors across London and Manchester venues and anchoring an owned media ecosystem of 130,000+ social followers and 40,000+ newsletter subscribers.

Cross Media monetizes primarily through professional services fees for consulting, event management, POP-UP operations, and sales representation, supplemented by transaction-fee revenue from wholesale distribution of officially licensed Japanese merchandise via the Faire marketplace and licensing-related revenue from locally produced IP merchandise. The firm uses a network of 600+ local business and retail connections across the UK and continental Europe for channel development and consumer distribution. Since 2024, Cross Media has operated as a group company of TOPPAN Holdings, leveraging TOPPAN's European manufacturing network for EU-compliant merchandise production.

The company's customer base spans Japanese central government (National Tax Agency, MAFF, JETRO, Tokyo Convention Bureau), regional governments (Kanagawa, Okinawa, Hachinohe), and large enterprises (Japan Airlines, Ajinomoto, Tobu Railway, Kikumasamune, SEMIC/Studio Ghibli). Notable engagements include the JAL Airbus A350-1000 inaugural launch event, the UK's first official Studio Ghibli POP-UP in Kensington, and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage commemorative event for traditional sake brewing executed in Brussels for the NTA. Cross Media reports 11-50 employees and is privately held, with no public revenue or funding disclosures.

Name

Cross Media

Legal name

Cross Media Limited

Website

https://crossmedia.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Market Entry Consulting

NAICS

Media Representatives (541840), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-Border & International Commerce Platforms (BPAMAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Media Localization Operations & Fulfillment (Packaging, Naming, File Prep, Delivery) (MPAHAFAI), Cross-border Import/Export Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAE)

Keywords

• Market entry consulting
• Event management services
• Cross-border business consulting
• Retail channel development
• Cultural event production

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services and Consulting: Cross Media charges for integrated business support services including market research, strategy design, digital marketing, PR, and partner coordination. Services are tailored to client needs across various business phases from market entry to scaling.
2. Event and POP-UP Operations: Revenue generated from event management, POP-UP shop operations, store setup, logistics, staffing, and operational outsourcing. Services include venue sourcing, design, build, and on-site execution.
3. Sales Representative and Channel Development: Cross Media acts as sales representative in Europe, leveraging local networks for channel development, deal negotiation, and ongoing sales support. The 7-step sales rep model guides clients from market research through launch and ongoing support.
4. Wholesale Merchandise Sales: Cross Media supplies officially licensed Japanese brands and merchandise to retailers across the UK through their Faire shop. They also produce licensed merchandise locally in Europe, reducing logistics costs and inventory risk.
5. Local Merchandise Production: Using TOPPAN's manufacturing network, Cross Media produces IP-licensed goods and merchandise in European factories, compliant with EU regulations. Revenue comes from production services and licensing coordination.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cross Media is an integrated business support company that helps Japanese businesses, government agencies, and IP/content owners enter and scale in the UK and European markets. It delivers services across five capabilities — AGENT (strategy, marketing, PR), OPERATION (event and POP-UP operations, logistics, staffing), MERCHANT (local sales, test marketing, merchandise production, IP licensing), PLATFORM (HYPER JAPAN event plus SNS/newsletter audience), and SALES REP (retail/wholesale channel development). It also runs a wholesale channel distributing officially licensed Japanese merchandise to UK retailers via Faire.

Product overview

Cross Media is a services company, not a software product company. It offers five integrated service capabilities (AGENT, OPERATION, MERCHANT, PLATFORM, SALES REP) that work together as a unified end-to-end business execution framework. The flagship PLATFORM capability is HYPER JAPAN — the UK's largest Japanese cultural event (70,000+ annual visitors) combined with owned media reaching 170,000+ audience — which serves as the primary brand engagement channel. These five capabilities combine event management, strategic consulting, sales channel development, and retail operations to help Japanese businesses expand into the UK and European markets. The company also operates a wholesale channel through Faire for licensed merchandise distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HYPER JAPAN: UK's largest Japanese cultural event, operated by Cross Media since 2010, attracting 70,000+ annual visitors and serving as a platform for Japanese brands to test market and build awareness in Europe.

Products and services

• HYPER JAPAN UK's largest Japanese cultural event (70,000+ annual visitors across London and Manchester) and owned media platform (170,000+ combined SNS/newsletter audience), serving as Cross Media's flagship brand engagement channel connecting Japanese brands with Japan-interested UK/EU consumers.
• AGENT — Strategy & Marketing

Quantifiable outcome

• 70,000+ annual event visitors and 170,000+ social audience for brand exposure and test marketing
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• FaireminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCross Media operates a wholesale shop on Faire, supplying officially licensed Japanese brands and merchandise to retailers across the UK. This marketplace channel enables B2B sales to retail buyers.
• SEMIC (Studio Ghibli European Distributor)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEMIC is Studio Ghibli's official European distributor. Cross Media provides comprehensive UK market support including HYPER JAPAN exhibition sales, the first official UK POP-UP shop, venue management, operations, and promotion.
• Japan Airlines (JAL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross Media planned and executed the Airbus A350-1000 inaugural launch event, managing venue sourcing, staging, logistics coordination, catering, and guest management.
• JETRO LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross Media has conducted food-related market research surveys for JETRO London, supporting market understanding for Japanese food companies seeking UK market entry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Dentsu Inc. Japan's largest advertising and marketing services group with global offices including the UK. Comparable to Cross Media at scale on Japan-brand marketing strategy, media, and event execution for international markets, but serves a much broader enterprise and multi-market client base.
• Ogilvy: Global advertising, PR, and consulting network with deep experience serving Japanese clients across categories and markets. Comparable to Cross Media on integrated marketing services, brand strategy, and cross-cultural execution, though without the owned cultural-event platform.
• TBWA Worldwide: Global creative agency network with TBWA\Hakuhodo joint venture and Japan-desk capabilities serving Japanese brands internationally. Comparable on agency services and cross-border campaign execution, but lacking Cross Media's owned consumer event platform.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Japanese government-affiliated trade-promotion body that conducts food surveys and market entry support for Japanese companies expanding overseas. JETRO is a current Cross Media client (market research for JETRO London), and the two operate as adjacent sides of the same Japan-export facilitation value chain.
• Hakuhodo Inc. Japan's second-largest advertising agency network with extensive international operations. Comparable to Cross Media as a marketing and brand-strategy partner for Japanese companies seeking global expansion, though operating at significantly larger scale and across multiple geographies beyond Europe.

Others

• Mintel: Global market research consultancy that provides consumer insights and category entry analysis for brands expanding internationally. Comparable to Cross Media's Agent (market research, strategy design) capability, but operates purely as a research and insights provider without event or retail execution.

Emerging players

• Fever (event platform): Global event experiences platform operating cultural festivals and consumer events in major European cities. Comparable to Cross Media on consumer event operations and audience activation, but operates at a much larger scale and is not a B2B agency.

Direct peers

• Appear Here: UK-based POP-UP retail and short-term retail-space marketplace with European operations. Comparable to Cross Media on POP-UP shop operations, venue sourcing, and brand-retail activation, though Appear Here is a digital marketplace platform rather than a full-service agency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cross-media-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cross Media