Japanese Fast-Fashion Retailer Uniqlo Rises Above the Retail Fray, While Beams Launches CultuArt Tapping into the Sales of Japanese Urban Pop Culture

Uniqlo store opening in NYC

Japanese Fast-Fashion Retailer Uniqlo Rises Above the Retail Fray, Indicating a Formula for Success in a Climate of Economic Challenges
Uniqlo, the fast-fashion retailer from Japan and part of the company Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. reported thriving first quarter profits amidst most other retailers doing poorly, especially in Japan’s week economic climate. Uniqlo, which has been moving fast into Europe and new stores in North America, and doing well with their no-branded, but stylish basics and fast inventory, recorded a 51.2% increase or $389.2 million for the quarter with sales rising 21.8% to $1.55 billion for the first quarter. According to Uniqlo, boutiques in Japan did well thanks to the stylish inventory and modest prices of warm clothing, especially, the popularity of their fleece jackets. As we’ve reported before about Uniqlo (search “uniqlo” for more), like H&M, this store has gained major popularity among young people interested in stylish, yet modestly priced clothing, especially for the new generation of consumers looking for “no-branded” brands, which Uniqlo ubiquitously carries.

Ironically, because the apparel items have no branded names, the store name “Uniqlo” has become synonymous among fans of the apparel and accessories purchased at these stores. Whether Uniqlo meant this to be the case or not, it has become a stroke of genius marketing for the stores -which continue to be in high demand among a growing demographic in the United States.

In addition, Uniqlo said that there businesses in the Untied States, China, and Hong Kong also went well in the last 3-month period (November, December, January). The company revised their forecasts for by another 1.1% increase from their forecast in October. Uniqlo plans to open another Uniqlo in Singapore as part of their extension program the Tampines Central 1 in April another in June.

Famous T-shirt and Street Fashion Store Beams in Tokyo Launches CULTuART, Tapping into the Sales of Japanese Urban Pop Culture

Beams has always been one the best boutiques in Harajuku, featuring a dry-cleaner-like display of T-shirt graphics from a rotating crop of top street artist, to hosting several cultural events, collaborations, and fresh street art openings. At the tale end of 2008, Beams has gone one giant step further with Tokyo CultuArt, an art/design/culture project store that combines culture, apparel, books, urban vinyl toys including Yamanaya toys from M1GO, and of course top Japanese electronics such as cell phones and computers.

Nagi-san, the general manager of CultuArt said that the concept is to “sell culture” -which as we all known in youth culture, is a growing industry if done right. Pulling together urban Tokyo culture into a setting of not only sellable items at various price ranges, but also acting as a museum location, combines many aesthetics that are popular among fans of culture concept stores. CultuArt is by all means, doing quite well in Tokyo and has plans to expand the concept into other cities in the future.

For more on Japanese youth culture and Label Networks’ Japan Youth Culture Studies, email info@labelnetworks.com; (323) 630-4000. This Study is available for Premium Subscribers only.