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Uniqlo

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Uniqlo Co., Ltd.
株式会社ユニクロ
Company typeWholly owned subsidiary
IndustryFashion
Retail
FoundedUbe, Yamaguchi, Japan
1949; 75 years ago (1949)
HeadquartersMidtown Tower, Akasaka
9-chome, Minato, Tokyo,
Japan
Key people
Tadashi Yanai (Chairman, President & CEO)
Takahiro Wakabayashi (Senior Vice President)
ProductsClothing
Number of employees
30,000 (2008)
ParentFast Retailing
(2005–present)
Websiteuniqlo.com

Uniqlo Co. Ltd. (株式会社ユニクロ, Kabushiki-gaisha Yunikuro) (US: /ˈjuːnikloʊ/ YOO-nee-kloh;[1] Japanese: [jɯɲikɯɾo]) is a Japanese casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer.[2] The company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.[3] The company operates in Japan and several other countries.[4]

History

Uniqlo flagship store in Shinsaibashisuji, Osaka

Origins in Japan

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.[5]

In May 1984, they opened a unisex casual wear store in Fukuro-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima under the name "Unique Clothing Warehouse".[citation needed] Initially, from the contraction of "unique clothing", the brand was going to register under "uni-clo".[citation needed] However, in 1988, during administration work between Hong Kong in relation to the brand, staff in charge of registration misread the "C" as "Q", and that is how the brand name was born.[citation needed] From then, Tadashi Yanai changed the store name to "uniqlo" across Japan.[6] 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.[citation needed]

Private-label strategy

In 1997, Fast Retailing adopted a set of strategies from American retailer The Gap, known as "SPA" (for specialty-store/retailer of private-label apparel), meaning that they would produce their own clothing and sell it exclusively.[citation needed] They engaged the retail brand consultancy, CIA, Inc. / The Brand Architect Group, to guide the company through the realization of this strategy, including consulting on merchandise, visual merchandising and display, store design and a new logo designed by Richard Seireeni and Sy Chen of The Brand Architect Group's Los Angeles office.[citation needed] Uniqlo had begun outsourcing their clothing manufacturing to factories in China where labour was cheap, a well-established corporate practice.[citation needed] Japan was in the depths of a recession at the time, and the low-cost goods proved popular.[citation needed] Their advertising campaigns, clothing quality and new retail layouts also proved fruitful.[7]

In creating its clothing lines, Uniqlo embraces both shun and kino-bi. Shun [旬] means 'timing, best timing, but also at the same time it's a trend,' something that's updated and just in time, neither early nor late. The company offers clothing basics, but basics that are current, that respond to what's going on today in art and design. Kino-bi [機能美] means function and beauty, joined together: the clothing is presented in an organized, rational manner, and that very organization and rationality creates an artistic pattern and rhythm. All these qualities reflect the defining characteristics of modern Japanese culture, modern 'Japaneseness.'

— Nobuo Domae, CEO, Uniqlo USA (April 2007)[1]

In November 1998, they opened their first urban Uniqlo store in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku district, and outlets soon spread to major cities throughout Japan.[citation needed] In 2001, sales turnover and gross profit reached a new peak, with over 500 retail stores in Japan.[citation needed] When Uniqlo decided to expand overseas, it separated Uniqlo from the parent company,[1] and established Fast Retailing (Jiangsu) Apparel Co., Ltd. in China. In 2002 their first Chinese Uniqlo outlet was opened in Shanghai along with four overseas outlets in London, England.[citation needed]

2005 saw more overseas expansion, with stores opening in the United States (New York City), Hong Kong (Tsim Sha Tsui) and South Korea (Seoul), their South Korean expansion being part of a joint venture with Lotte.[citation needed] As of year-end 2005, in addition to its overseas holdings, Uniqlo had around 700 stores within Japan.[citation needed] By 2006 sales were $4 billion.[1] By April 2007, the company had set a global sales goal of $10 billion and a ranking among the top five global retailers, joining what at the time was Gap, H&M, Inditex, and Limited Brands.[1]

Fast Retailing signed a design consulting contract for Uniqlo products with fashion designer Jil Sander in March 2009.[8] Shiatzy Chen has been approached by Uniqlo to produce a capsule collection of ready to wear pieces to launch in November 2010 while Asia's largest Uniqlo store outside Japan opened its doors in Kuala Lumpur in the same month.[citation needed]

Uniqlo jeans at their Tokyo store

On 2 September 2009, Fast Retailing announced that the company would target annual group sales of 5 trillion yen (approx. US$61.2 billion) and pretax profit from operations of 1 trillion yen (approx. US$12.2 billion) by 2020. This means that the company is aiming to become the world's biggest specialty retailer of private label apparel with a continuous growth rate of 20% per year. The figure breaks down as one trillion yen from Uniqlo's Japan business, three trillion yen from its international business, and one trillion yen from "Japan-related and global brand business."[clarify] The company's international business target breaks down as one trillion yen in China, one trillion in other Asian countries and one trillion in Europe and the United States.[9]

International operations

As of 31 August 2017, the company reported that 1920 Uniqlo stores were in operation worldwide.[10]

Australia

Uniqlo opened its first Australian store in Melbourne in 2014.[11] In 2015, it expanded into Queensland, with the introduction of two stores in Brisbane.[11]

Bangladesh

Uniqlo started their first store at the New Elephant road in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 5 July 2013. Uniqlo is known as Grameen Uniqlo there due to their social business concept JV with Grameen Bank. There are currently 15 stores in Dhaka.[12]

Belgium

The first Belgian Uniqlo store opened in October 2015 at Meir, Antwerp.[13] A second store followed suit at the Wijnegem Shopping Center on March 25 in the same year.[14] 19 October 2017 saw the opening of a third store in Brussels.[15]

Canada

UNIQLO in Canada

Uniqlo opened their first Canadian store at the Toronto Eaton Centre in September 2016, followed by a second store at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in October 2016.[16] Measuring at 28,000 and 24,000 square feet, both stores are five times the size of the Muji store that opened in Toronto in 2014.[17] A third Canadian store, the first outside of Ontario and the first in Western Canada, opened at Burnaby's Metropolis at Metrotown in October 2017 [18] to be followed by Surrey's Guildford Town Centre[19] and Richmond Centre[20] in Richmond, BC. There will also be a new store opening in Edmonton's West Edmonton Mall in 2018.[citation needed]

China

Uniqlo in Sanlitun, Beijing, China

Uniqlo entered the Chinese mainland market in 2002. As of August 2017, there were 555 stores in China, including in Beijing, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Nanjing, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Shijia, Tianjin and Xi'an.[21]

In May 2011, the magazine Shukan Bunshun[clarification needed] published a story alleging that Uniqlo had forced employees at its stores and factories in China to work long hours for little pay. In response, Uniqlo unsuccessfully sued the weekly's publisher, Bungeishunjū, for ¥220 million for libel.[22][23]

A 2015 online video of a couple having sex in a Beijing Uniqlo store changing room became notorious among Chinese internet users. Chinese police arrested at least five people in connection with the incident, allegedly including the couple and three other disseminators of the video, for having 'severely violated socialist core values'.[24] The New York Times noted that the store's exterior had become a popular venue for people to gather and take pictures in poses reminiscent of the video.[25]

Hong Kong SAR

Uniqlo has 27 stores in Hong Kong SAR as of May 2018.[26]

France

On 17 November 2014, Uniqlo opened its first store in Eastern France (and the second store in France outside Greater Paris) in the city of Strasbourg.[27]

Germany

Their German flagship store opened on 11 April 2014 at Tauentzienstraße, Berlin.[28] Uniqlo now has 5 stores, 4 in Berlin and one in Stuttgart.

India

Uniqlo is set to open a store in India in 2019, as the company announced on 9 May 2018.[29] The company will set up a wholly owned subsidiary in India.[30]

Malaysia

In fall of 2010, Uniqlo opened its first store in Malaysia in Fahrenheit 88[31][32] located in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Uniqlo now has 47 outlets located across Malaysia.[33]

Russia

On April 2nd 2010, Uniqlo opened its first store in Moscow, Russia. By July 2017 there were 19 Uniqlo outlets in the country, 15 of them in Moscow.[34]

Singapore

In April 2009, Uniqlo opened its first store at Tampines 1.[35] Its first flagship store in Singapore and Southeast Asia opened 7 years later on 2 September 2016 at Orchard Central.[36] As of 2017, Uniqlo has 25 stores located island wide.[37]

South Korea

Uniqlo in Lotte World Mall, Seoul, South Korea

In November 2011, Uniqlo generated more than 2 billion won ($1.7 million) in one day's sales on November 11 when it opened Asia's largest flagship store in central Seoul. The sales figure was the highest ever set by a fashion outlet in Korea.[38]

Taiwan

Uniqlo has 67 store fronts in Taiwan as of June 2018.[39]

Thailand

In September 2011, Uniqlo opened its first store at CentralWorld. Its largest flagship store in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Uniqlo has 38 store fronts in Thailand as of February 2018.[40]

Philippines

Uniqlo opened stores at SM City Fairview on June 14 and Glorietta on 28 June 2013.[41]

Uniqlo Philippines COO Katsumi Kubota said that the company is opening at least 200 outlets in the country by 2020, when he was interviewed at the SM City Clark during the third anniversary of the global retail brand. It started with five branches three years ago and now has 27 stores.[42]

Uniqlo has 53 stores in the Philippines as of October 2018. [43]

The Philippine flagship store of Uniqlo, located in Glorietta 5, is scheduled to open on 5 October 2018. [44]

Spain

Uniqlo began operations in Spain in 2016[45] with its on-line store and in September 2017 opened its flagship store in Barcelona[46] (Passeig de Gràcia). Nowadays, it also owns a second store in Barcelona.

United Kingdom

Ambitious expansion plans in the early 2000s were reversed, with 16 stores being closed in 2003,[47] including those in Manchester,[48] Coventry,[49] and Leicester.

United States

Uniqlo's flagship store in Chicago on the Magnificent Mile

In November 2006, Uniqlo opened its first store in the SoHo fashion district of Manhattan, New York City. New fashion designers joined the store's team to boost and rebirth fashion concepts catering to the US market.[50]

As part of Fast Retailing's 2020 plan the company has stated that it plans to generate $10 billion in annual sales in the United States from 200 stores, which will lead to a location in every major U.S. city. This goal was stated when the company's only U.S. presence was its handful of stores in the New York City area,[51] soon after the company began an expansion in the United States.

In October 2015, Uniqlo opened its first store in the Midwest with a Chicago store on Michigan Avenue.[52]

Labour rights

In January 2015, a number of labour rights violations were reported at Uniqlo suppliers in China.[53][54][55][56] Uniqlo pledged to remedy the violations.[57][58]

In June 2015, Uniqlo factory workers went on strike in relation to lay-offs.[59][60]

In November 2015, investigations into the measures Uniqlo introduced in the wake of the January 2015 revelations found that Uniqlo's remedies had been only partially successful, with significant violations continuing to occur.[61][62]

In October 2016 the report 'This Way to Dystopia: Exposing UNIQLO’s Abuse of Chinese Garment Workers'[63] by SACOM and War on Want claimed that it was still the case that "excessive overtime, low pay, dangerous working conditions and oppressive management" were common in Uniqlo factories in China and Cambodia.

Notable projects

"Art for All" partnership with Jeffrey Deitch

Launching on 20 January 2017 "Art for All" is a partnership with New York art dealer and curator, Jeffrey Deitch. The project is centered around the sale of 65 limited-edition products made by commissioned artists such as Marie Roberts, Starlee Kine and Ken Kagami. With a focus on making the collecting of artworks available to a larger audience, the items on sale will all be available for under $100.[64]

Awards

The German fashion designer Jil Sander joined Uniqlo in 2009, and was appointed creative director of the brand's menswear and womenswear – as well as launching a new label, +J collection, which won 2011 Brit Insurance Design Fashion Award.[65]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Hyde, Katherine (26 April 2007). "Uniqlo: From Tokyo to New York to Global Brand". Japan Society. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  2. ^ "About Uniqlo | UNIQLO". www.uniqlo.com. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Group Companies | FAST RETAILING CO., LTD". www.fastretailing.com. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  4. ^ "For Tadashi Yanai, nothing less than being No. 1 will do- Nikkei Asian Review". Nikkei.com.
  5. ^ "1949-2003 | FAST RETAILING CO., LTD". www.fastretailing.com. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  6. ^ "寫錯公司名 將錯就錯作品牌". mpfinance.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Nagata, Kazuaki, "Choice, chic, cheap — no one feels fleeced", Japan Times, November 17, 2009, p. 3.
  8. ^ 2009 | FAST RETAILING CO., LTD. Fastretailing.com (2010-12-20). Retrieved on 2011-02-16.
  9. ^ Kensuke Kojima (2011). Uniqlo Syndrome. Toyo Keizai Shinpo Sha. ISBN 4-492-76191-8 Tenkai Japan. ASIN: B004PYDPOK.
  10. ^ "Group Outlets | FAST RETAILING CO., LTD". www.fastretailing.com. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Uniqlo heads to Queensland". 1 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Stores". 26 September 2018.
  13. ^ Uniqlo opent eerste winkel in hartje Brussel. De Standaard. 18/05/2017 at 10:34 by edm.
  14. ^ Uniqlo opent op 25 maart in Wijnegem Shopping Center. Nieuwsblad. 08/03/2016 at 11:41 by inke.
  15. ^ Tine Stoop Uniqlo opent derde Belgische vestiging in Brussel Marie Claire, 19 October 2017
  16. ^ Delap, Leanne (29 September 2016). "Uniqlo set to launch first Canadian store at the Eaton Centre". Toronto Star.
  17. ^ Kopun, Francine (19 June 2016). "Uniqlo targets a unique apparel market: Everyone". Toronto Star.
  18. ^ Lau, Lucy (5 October 2017). "Photos: Uniqlo finally lands on West Coast with third Canadian location". The Georgia Straight.
  19. ^ https://www.guildfordtowncentre.com/stores/unisex-apparel-3/uniqlo-coming-soon/
  20. ^ http://www.richmond-news.com/news/uniqlo-coming-to-richmond-centre-1.23153895
  21. ^ "China - FAST RETAILING CO LTD". www.fastretailing.com.
  22. ^ Staff (5 June 2011) "Uniqlo Takes Bungeishunju to Court for Libel". The Japan Times. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  23. ^ "Court tosses Uniqlo defamation lawsuit". The Japan Times Online. 19 October 2013. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  24. ^ Jiang, Stephen. "Chinese police detain suspects linked to viral Uniqlo sex video". CNN. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  25. ^ Ramzy, Austin. "Beijing Police Detain at Least 4 Over Uniqlo Sex Video". New York Times. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  26. ^ "店舖資料 - UNIQLO". www.uniqlo.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  27. ^ "Uniqlo ouvre à Strasbourg, une centaine d'emplois à la clé - France 3 Alsace".
  28. ^ First German Uniqlo Store TrendJam Magazine. Retrieved on 2014-04-06
  29. ^ Iyengar, Rishi. "Uniqlo is entering India's booming retail market". CNNMoney. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  30. ^ Post, The Jakarta. "Uniqlo owner targets 1.2 billion people with first India store". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  31. ^ http://www.uniqlo.com/my/corp/pressrelease/2010/11/countdowntothefirstuniqlostore.html
  32. ^ http://www.fastretailing.com/eng/group/news/1007281600.html
  33. ^ http://www.uniqlo.com/my/shop/
  34. ^ Алина Дидковская. Uniqlo приоденет провинцию // Ведомости, № 146 (4381), 09 августа 2017
  35. ^ "Uniqlo's first store in Singapore opens to great success". www.uniqlo.com. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  36. ^ "Uniqlo to Open First Global Flagship Store in Singapore and in Southeast Asia Region". www.uniqlo.com. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  37. ^ "Store Locator – Uniqlo". www.uniqlo.com. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  38. ^ "Uniqlo posts record daily sales at new flagship store". Korea Herald. 20 November 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  39. ^ "店舗資訊". www.uniqlo.com/tw/. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  40. ^ "สาขาของ UNIQLO". www.uniqlo.com/th/. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  41. ^ "Uniqlo opens in Makati". Business World Online. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  42. ^ "Uniqlo to open 200 stores by 2020". www.businessmirror.com.ph. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  43. ^ "Uniqlo Stores PH". www.uniqlo.com/ph. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  44. ^ "Uniqlo PHL's biggest store to open on Oct. 5". 20 June 2018.
  45. ^ https://www.elespanol.com/economia/20160420/118738470_0.html
  46. ^ https://www.elespanol.com/economia/20160420/118738470_0.html
  47. ^ "Uniqlo retreats from British fashion market". The Guardian. 8 March 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  48. ^ "Uniqlo to close Manchester stores". Manchester Evening News. 10 August 2004. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  49. ^ "Uniqlo going after just six months; STORE IN LOWER PRECINCT TO CLOSE ALONG WITH 15 OTHERS". Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  50. ^ Basic Chic From Japan. But Will It Sell?, New York Times, 10 November 2006
  51. ^ Wahba, Phil (13 October 2011). "Reuters". Reuters. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  52. ^ "Chicago's 1st Uniqlo Store, Opening Oct. 23, Will Be Country's 2nd Largest". Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  53. ^ "The reality behind UNIQLO's corporate social responsibility promises". 16 June 2015.
  54. ^ Kuo, Lily. "Your Uniqlo skinny jeans may have a dark past".
  55. ^ "CorpWatch : UNIQLO, Japanese Fast Fashion Label, Accused of Labor Violations".
  56. ^ "Uniqlo under fire for dealing with Chinese factories accused of putting workers at risk ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion".
  57. ^ "In Response to Working Condition Claims at UNIQLO Garment and Textile Suppliers in China - FAST RETAILING CO., LTD".
  58. ^ "Uniqlo owner promises to improve working conditions in China". 16 January 2015.
  59. ^ "Workers on strike at China factory supplying Uniqlo owner -rights group". 16 June 2016 – via Reuters.
  60. ^ Roeland, Paul. "UNIQLO under fire for factory closure after worker uprising".
  61. ^ "[Report] [Revised Edition 2016] Unveiling The Labour Rights Violations – The Second Investigative Report on UNIQLO's Suppliers in China - Sacom".
  62. ^ "China labor groups chide Uniqlo over continued worker abuses, pollution". 27 November 2015 – via Japan Times Online.
  63. ^ "This Way to Dystopia: Exposing UNIQLO's Abuse of Chinese Garment Workers". War On Want. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  64. ^ Sherman, Lauren (12 January 2017). "BoF Exclusive – Uniqlo Partners With Jeffrey Deitch on 'Art for All' Shop-in-Shops". The Business of Fashion.
  65. ^ "Jil Sander's new range for Uniqlo".
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