3.1 Company Overview
UNIQLO Co., Ltd. (株式会社ユニクロ, Kabushiki-gaisha yunikuro) is a Japanese casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer.
Originally a division of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., on November 1, 2005, UNIQLO Co., Ltd. was born of corporate restructuring, and now exists as a 100% consolidated subsidiary of Fast Retailing, which is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
UNIQLO is Japan's leading clothing retail chain in terms of both sales and profits. The company also operates in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Singapore, Taiwan, and Russia.
3.2 Business Description
3.2.1 The Store
UNIQLO stores are the most direct link to its customers. UNIQLO creates distinctive merchandise and sales floors that faithfully project the heart and soul of the company. UNIQLO operates both stand-alone roadside stores in suburban areas and stores in shopping centers. A familiar sight in neighborhoods all across Japan, UNIQLO stores has become a popular shopping destination for the entire family (2005).
3.2.2 Store Count
Location | Store Number |
Japan | 703 (99 in Tokyo) |
South Korea | 41 (20 in Seoul) |
United Kingdom | 15 (14 in Greater London, 1 in Bluewater) |
China | 54 |
Hong Kong | 13 |
United States | 1 |
France | 2 |
Singapore | 3 |
Malaysia | 1 |
Taiwan | 1 |
Russia | 1 |
3.3 Company History
Since March 1949, a Yamaguchi-based company, Ogori Shōji (which, until then, had been operating men's clothing shops called "Men's Shop OS") existed in Ube, Yamaguchi.
In June 1984, they opened a unisex casual wear store in Fukuro-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima under the name "Unique Clothing Warehouse". It was at this time that the name "UNIQLO" was born, as a contraction of "unique clothing". In September 1991, the name of the company was changed from "Ogori Shōji" to "Fast Retailing", and by April 1994, there were over 100 Uniqlo stores operating throughout Japan.
For the following years, UNIQLO has greatly expanding to overseas by opening more and more stores in the most of the significant countries. As of year-end 2005, in addition to its overseas holdings, UNIQLO had around 700 stores within Japan.
UNIQLO (MALAYSIA) was established in June 2010 as a joint venture with the Malaysian apparel company DNP Clothing Sdn Bhd. In the fall of 2010, UNIQLO Malaysia gets to launch its first store, the Fahrenheit 88 Store. This first store will be a large-format store with a sales floor of approximately 2,140 square meters (650 tsubo) and be located in Bukit Bintang, the most vibrant commercial district in the city of Kuala Lumpur.
3.4 Key People
Satoshi Onoguchi
Managing Director
Hayashi Yasuhiro
Marketing & Store Development Division Manager
David Lim
Store Operation Division Manager
Shinichiro Tomita
Store Manager
Kazuki Hirai
Sub- Store Manager
Cindy Chong
Admin Manager
3.5 Location & Subsidiaries
3.5.1 UNIQLO Japan
UNIQLO Co., Ltd.
Head Office
717-1 Sayama, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi 754-0894, Japan
Tokyo Office
Midtown Tower, Akasaka 9-7-1, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6231, Japan
3.5.2 UNIQLO Malaysia
UNIQLO Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Lot 1.01, Level 1, 1 First Avenue,
Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia.
3.6 Brands, Major Products & Services
Generally UNIQLO focuses on top and bottom wears which included shirt, jackets, t-shirt and jeans. The significant brands among these are UT, UJ, Fleece Flanner, +J and so on. However, UNIQLO do provides others apparel like shoes, socks, inner wears, leggings, hats and other accessories. There is a Shoes Business Department in UNIQLO CO., LTD. that plans and produces CANDISH and UNIQLO SHOES. So far, both of the shoes products are not available in Malaysia yet.
3.7 Corporate Vision
· To be the Number One clothing retailer in the world
3.8 Corporate Mission
· To create truly great clothing with new and unique value, and to enable people all over the world to experience the joy, happiness and satisfaction of wearing such great clothes
· To enrich people’s lives through our unique corporate activities, and to seek to grow and develop our company in unity with society
3.9 Current Promotional Strategy
October 2010 - Countdown @ Official Website
October 2010 - Go UNIQLO Campaign
October2010 - RapidKL Bus UNIQLO
November 2010 - Pre-launching Party
November 2010 - Opening Specials @ Fahrenheit 88
3.10 Product Sales History
N/A*
*No official information available at the moments. However, there are 4000 people in queue for first day opening (4th November 2010) according to UNIQLO Malaysia’s Facebook page.
3.11 Current Marketing Objective
3.11.1 Long Term Objective
· Developing products of exceptionally high quality
· Further boosting the profitability
· Expanding the women’s line of apparel
· Developing HEATTECH innerwear
· Opening global flagship stores in major fashion centers worldwide.
· Accelerate large-format store openings in urban areas
3.11.2 Short Term Objective
· Make full use of all media to boost brand awareness among Malaysian
· Achieve more market share among the competitors in Malaysia
· Offer more promotions to maintain the enthusiasm of new launching
3.12 Media Expenditure
N/A*
*No official information available due to new launching of business. It is still in the very first month of operation until this report had been done.
