Details
📈 Milestone: For the first time, a Japanese fashion company has surpassed 1.03 trillion yen (about 7 billion USD) in annual revenue in its home market.
🏬 Store Network: In Japan, Uniqlo operates 784 directly owned stores, 10 franchises, and a strong online business. Its international footprint is now even larger.
📊 Growth Drivers: Bigger store formats and the analysis of millions of customer reviews through the “Management Cockpit” platform helped identify trends early and manage inventory more efficiently.
🌡️ Weather Factor: Hot spring and summer months boosted sales of the AIRism line. Continued warmth, however, could hurt autumn and winter collections.
🎨 Design Collaborations: Collections like Uniqlo:C and Uniqlo U with British and French designers attracted new customers. CEO Tadashi Yanai admits, however, that it’s mostly these collaborations that are driving demand. The core brand itself needs to become more appealing.
Big Picture
The record in the home market is an important signal, but the real growth story is abroad. Fast Retailing, Uniqlo’s parent company, ranks third globally behind Inditex (Zara) and H&M. Its largest overseas market is China, with more than 900 stores already contributing over one-fifth of group revenue.
In Europe and North America, the company is focusing on building flagship stores — a crucial step in Uniqlo’s push to become the world’s number one.
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