Uniqlo Thailand, a Thai unit of the global casual apparel retailer, remains committed to continuing its business expansion in the country despite lingering uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Oguri Tomoyoshi, the company's chief operating officer, said Uniqlo has continued to receive very positive feedback from Thai people since the day it opened its first store in Bangkok in 2011.
"Thailand is one of the strongest markets in Southeast Asia, so the company believes that spending power is still at a potential level where we could see opportunities for store expansion," he said.
According to Mr Tomoyoshi, the company plans to open two new Uniqlo stores this year at CentralPlaza Sri Racha and Central Ayutthaya. It also plans to renovate existing stores in Bangkok.
"With our store plans and what we have studied, we can still see potential spending power among Thai consumers for Uniqlo products,'' Mr Tomoyoshi said.
Mr Tomoyoshi said although Covid-19 had seriously impacted Thailand's economy and fashion business, Uniqlo Thailand discovered that there were still new demands from customers occurring amid the pandemic, and that lead Uniqlo to adapt its strategies and services to respond to the changing behaviours of Thai customers.
The company also plans to open Uniqlo roadside format stores and will keep pace with digital trends to seek potential growth in areas that provide more convenient ways of shopping.
Mr Tomoyoshi said the provision of a drive-thru service at Uniqlo roadside stores, the Uniqlo app and website were generated in order to meet new normal lifestyles.
Yoshitake Wakakuwa, the company's chief executive, said Uniqlo Thailand is not only focusing on its business but also aiming at creating sustainability initiatives for Thai society and the community. Through Uniqlo's mission statement 'Unlocking the Power of Clothing', Uniqlo believes the brand can turn the power of clothing into a force for good.
Uniqlo is committed to reducing single-use plastic in its stores to align with the government's initiatives. The company also has a paper or no plastic packaging policy, while it is reducing the use of single-use plastic for shirt clips, size label seals, and transport packing materials.
In the future, it plans to reuse single-use plastic hangers and switch to other more environmentally-friendly materials.
Currently, there are 54 Uniqlo stores in Thailand with sales of 10 billion baht, recording a profit of 2 billion baht in 2020.
