Happy in his work

 Boys be ambitious! Girls too!" This nugget of advice comes from Tadashi Yanai, chairman and chief executive officer of Uniqlo, one of the world's most successful apparel companies.

 Yanai was in Bangkok last week to open the Uniqlo store at CentralWorld, toasting the new flagship branch with barrels of Japanese sake. A fashion show and celebrities added glamour to the occasion. With the concept "From Tokyo to Bangkok", the brand's largest store in Southeast Asia occupies 2,750 square metres of the mall's third floor.

Trend-following shoppers, eager to snap up Uniqlo's affordably fashionable casual clothes, formed a queue that stretched all the way down the escalators to the ground floor.

Operated by Fast Retailing Group, Uniqlo is ranked the world's fourth-largest apparel company and No 1 in Japan and Asia. There are 2,003 stores in Japan and another 1,003 Uniqlo shops overseas.

Yanai says in a firm voice that his working principle is, "Life is equal to work". Work has always been my No 1 priority: It is the most important part of my life," he says.

And he certainly has worked hard. Two decades ago, Yanai took over his father's chain of men's clothing stores and quickly turned them into Uniqlo, sourcing clothes directly from Chinese factories.

It wasn't easy at the beginning, he says.

"I used to work much harder when I was younger but now I'm 62. In the past, it was about building and making the brand stand out. Uniqlo is a status symbol but I don't think Uniqlo is successful yet. Apart from in Japan, there aren't many Uniqlo stores. There are lots of possibilities around the globe, where is there is high potential and high expectations."

Staff have always played the important role and been part of the company's success, Yanai says. They have to be dedicated, work for the success of the company and what they must always bear in mind is their duty to provide service to customers, he stresses.

These days, lifestyles are constantly changing and that's reflected in the way people dress. Uniqlo's concept "Made for All", matches every lifestyle. The clothing is very accessible and expresses individuality, no matter the age or the lifestyle of preference. Yanai says he doesn't want to dominate the apparel market but wants to be able to sell his clothes everywhere whether in New York, Paris, Tokyo or Mumbai. "Everybody is happy wearing Uniqlo's clothes," he says with a smile.

He denies that he's a perfectionist, insisting that he is actually very realistic.

"A truly realistic person works hard every day without looking ahead to the future. A perfectionist dreams about the future and neglects the present. I combine both characters. I work every day but aim high. My ultimate goal is perfection," he says.

"Everyday I work from 7am to 4pm. I work with concentration, I'll plan for the next day. I'll do as much as I can. And on Saturday and Sunday, I play golf to relax. The truth be told, I work very hard on the weekdays so that I can really enjoy playing on the weekend," he laughs.

Yanai recalls his teacher in an English-language class at school in Supolo. "His motto was 'Boys, be ambitious!'" The future, he points, is created for the young generation. "Today, people speak of the global economy and young people need to visualise a bigger picture. The more the economy grows, the more youngsters ought to develop themselves. Here in Thailand, I think there is very high potential. Young Thais must be eager to learn and to improve themselves.

"Young people also need to learn how to deal with failure. They must realise that failure is normal and success is rare. We all fail many times and that's okay. Every time you fail, it means you are closer to success," he continues.

"Don't think it is the end. Just set a goal and try to reach it.

"At 62, I'm still setting goals. My ultimate goal is to make Uniqlo a global brand."

 KUPLUTHAI PUNGKANON

THE NATION