Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
Corporate Aug 29, 2013
Uniqlo's largest flagship opens Sept. 30 in Shanghai
Fast Retailing Co., the operator of casual clothing chain Uniqlo, said Wednesday it will open the world’s largest Uniqlo flagship store in Shanghai on Sept. 30. The store will also offer some Uniqlo family brands. It will be housed in a building at the ...
Corporate Aug 26, 2013
Fast Retailing planning Hong Kong exchange listing in 2014: sources
Fast Retailing Co. the operator of the Uniqlo clothing stores, plans to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange early next year, three people with knowledge of the matter said Monday. The company, which is Asia’s largest clothing retailer and is headquartered in the ...
Business | notebook Apr 24, 2013
New-style Japanese souvenirs; Cinco de Mayo Festival in Tokyo
NEW PRODUCTS Japanese souvenirs Uniqlo, one of Japan’s biggest clothing retailers, launched a project called Nippon Omiyage (Japanese Souvenir) at some of its stores on Monday. As Golden Week — one of Japan’s major holiday seasons when many people travel abroad — is approaching, ...
Business Apr 23, 2013
Fast Retailing to unify wages worldwide
As part of its efforts to recruit skilled workers and expand its global business by offering higher wages, the operator of the Uniqlo clothing chain will unify its payment system for its employees and executives worldwide.
National Apr 19, 2013
Uniqlo agrees to sponsor MoMA events in U.S. push
Clothing chain Uniqlo said Thursday it had signed a multiyear sponsorship deal with the Museum of Modern Art in New York amid an aggressive international expansion push. Under the agreement, the company will sponsor a free admission program from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ...
Corporate Apr 13, 2013
Fast Retailing raises annual profit forecast as yen weakens
Fast Retailing Co. has raised its forecast for annual profit as the seller of Uniqlo-branded apparel benefits from a weakening yen. Net income will probably be ¥91.5 billion for the year ending in August, higher than its previous forecast of ¥87 billion, the Yamaguchi-based ...
National Apr 11, 2013
Clothing retailers boost large-size women's lineup
by Haruko Mera
Department stores and other retailers are expanding their lineup of large-size clothes to meet growing demand among big women wishing to don fashionable apparel. Nissen Co., a leading mail-order company based in the city of Kyoto, opened a store in the Parco Part3 building ...
Corporate Feb 15, 2013
Fast Retailing planning major push in Indonesia
Fast Retailing Co. is aiming to open its first Uniqlo clothing store in Indonesia in May or June. The clothing giant plans to open nine additional outlets in the capital as part of its bid to expand operations in emerging Southeast Asian markets, Naoki ...
Business Jan 23, 2013
Concierge-style customer service experts work shop floors
by Asako Sawanishi
As competition to attract customers grows fierce among retailers, some have begun hiring a new breed of customer-service experts — consumer “concierges.”