<figure style="margin-bottom:2rem;border:1px solid var(--color-brass-dark);"> <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1497366216548-37526070297c?w=960&h=400&fit=crop" alt="Analyst workspace with brass instruments, printed charts, and walnut shelving" width="960" height="400" loading="eager"> </figure> <p class="eyebrow">About</p> <h1>Benchmarking practice rooted in Gyeongsangbuk-do</h1> <p class="lead">Poplar Way Analytics prepares regional franchise performance comparisons for multi-unit operators across the Republic of Korea. We are not a software vendor—we are analysts who assemble peer cohorts, validate unit submissions, and deliver reports your leadership team can act on.</p> <h2>Registered business</h2> <p>The official registered business name is <strong>Poplar Way Analytics Co., Ltd.</strong> (Korean filings: 포플러 웨이 애널리틱스 주식회사). We operate from our office in Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and serve franchise networks nationwide.</p> <h2>Established 2016</h2> <p>Founder Seo Joonseok opened the practice in 2016 after eight years as a regional operations analyst for a Gyeongbuk-based food franchise. The first engagements were informal peer comparisons requested by franchisee associations in Pohang and Gyeongju—hand-built spreadsheets shared at quarterly meetings.</p> <p>By 2018, word spread to master franchisees in Daegu and Ulsan who needed defensible benchmarks before area development renewals. We formalised intake templates, anonymisation rules, and quartile chart standards that remain the backbone of every report today.</p> <p>In 2021 we incorporated as Poplar Way Analytics Co., Ltd. and expanded cohort coverage to Jeolla and Jeju categories where sample sizes allow. We deliberately remain a small team—four analysts and one intake coordinator—so every report receives partner-level review.</p> <h2>What we believe</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Named cohorts over mystery averages.</strong> If we cannot identify at least eight matched peers, we say so before you pay a deposit.</li> <li><strong>Format context matters.</strong> A mall unit in Centum City and a street-front unit in Seomun Market should not share a single comparison line.</li> <li><strong>Reports should survive the meeting.</strong> Charts are annotated for executives who will not read a methodology appendix.</li> </ul> <h2>Our team</h2> <div class="card-grid" style="margin-top:1.5rem;"> <article class="card"> <figure class="card-img"> <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1560250097-0b93528c311a?w=400&h=300&fit=crop" alt="Portrait of Seo Joonseok, founder" width="400" height="300" loading="lazy"> </figure> <div class="card-body"> <h3>Seo Joonseok</h3> <p class="card-meta">Founder · Lead analyst</p> <p>Former regional ops analyst; designs cohort matching rules and leads flagship report reviews. Based in Pohang.</p> </div> </article> <article class="card"> <figure class="card-img"> <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1573496359142-b8d87734a5a2?w=400&h=300&fit=crop" alt="Portrait of Kim Yeo-jin, senior analyst" width="400" height="300" loading="lazy"> </figure> <div class="card-body"> <h3>Kim Yeo-jin</h3> <p class="card-meta">Senior analyst · Food service cohorts</p> <p>Specialises in bakery, coffee, and quick-service poultry benchmarks. Handles Jeolla and Chungcheong peer panels.</p> </div> </article> <article class="card"> <figure class="card-img"> <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1472099645785-5658abf4ff4e?w=400&h=300&fit=crop" alt="Portrait of Lee Dong-wook, analyst" width="400" height="300" loading="lazy"> </figure> <div class="card-body"> <h3>Lee Dong-wook</h3> <p class="card-meta">Analyst · Retail &amp; personal services</p> <p>Builds expansion feasibility models and franchise council presentation packs. Covers Seoul metro and Busan networks.</p> </div> </article> </div> <h2>Working with clients</h2> <p>Most engagements begin with a brief form or phone call. We respond within two business days with a cohort feasibility note—not a sales deck. If we accept the work, you receive a written scope memo before any deposit is invoiced.</p> <p>We maintain long relationships with a handful of operators who commission quarterly refreshes. We turn down work when peer sample sizes are too thin to produce honest quartile bands.</p> <p style="margin-top:2rem;"><a href="/contact/" class="btn btn-primary">Request a feasibility note</a></p>