Japanese chain UNIQLO chooses Phatthanakan roadside store as first in SEA
The Japanese casual-wear chain, UNIQLO will debut an expansion into Southeast Asia with the March 23 launch of its first Bangkok store, to be located in bustling East Bangkok, close to the inner city area.
The company is known in Japan, Korea and Taiwan for its popular roadside stores, designed to offer customers a more personal, convenient shopping experience. The central promise of the roadside store model is simple: local, one-stop shopping for customers to enjoy in a quick-and-convenient trip close to home, said a company press release on Thursday.
“Southeast Asia is now a key growth engine for UNIQLO globally,” Satoshi Hatase, CEO, UNIQLO Southeast Asia said in the release.
“In line with the philosophy of our roadside stores, a central aim of UNIQLO Phatthanakan is to boost the vitality of the local area, becoming a lifestyle and cultural hub and driver of local economic development and prosperity. We hope UNIQLO roadside stores will stimulate local communities across the region, improving convenience for customers, raising property values and attracting new and sustainable businesses around each new store location.”
Local restaurant owner Mrs Duanporn welcomed the company’s local foray.
“We have a strong community here in Phattanakan and we always work together to support local business. We are delighted that UNIQLO has seen the potential of Phattanakan, and we are pleased to welcome UNIQLO as the newest member of our community. I believe the new UNIQLO store will help stimulate business in the local area.”
UNIQLO Phatthanakan has a sales floor of around 1440 square metres, and will carry a full range of UNIQLO LifeWear items for men, women, kids and babies. As a roadside store, it includes a large parking lot exclusively for UNIQLO customers, and is designed to ensure enough space and accessibility for all needs – families with children, elderly people and people with disabilities.