Uniqlo Fever

I am very sure that by now, everyone living in Singapore would have already heard of Uniqlo and judging from the queue formed everyday since the day Tampines 1 opened, most of you should have already stepped into the shop (realising that there is no mobile reception there, but that's not the point here) and many of you left with a Uniqlo plastic bag in the hand.

Uniqlo is just like any other normal retail shop selling cheap clothes like our Giordano, U2 (read: failure), even though it is compared to international brands like GAP. This Japanese brand, in my opinion, is a storming success all thanks to its marketing efforts and quality control. You would know what I mean if you take public transport, read newspapers and fashion magazines (their target group are exactly these people). I liked the way they created brand awareness and make people look cool wearing their merchandise with thousands of items in their catalog, updated frequently.

Founder of Uniqlo and CEO of Fast Retailing, Mr Tadashi Yanai, currently Japan's richest man, is a powerful character in the setup of this brand. He created a revolution to Uniqlo when they weren't so successful back then, by offering 1 million yen to the public on how Uniqlo can be done better. Yes, he has the resources to do that and you don't. Come on, if a retail line can rake in net sales of 500 billion yen (S$7.73 billion) when financial markets went south, there must be more than that.

I do not think any rational manager would throw 1 million yen to a stranger. Would you do that?
Probably keep it in your own pocket. Other than its marketing, the quality of its fabric is in the class where its price couldn't match. Not only that, they have their own patent fabric that enable users to keep warm in winter. Having patents create value for the firm. And no, we don't need these to be sold in Singapore.

The next one is opening at Orchard ION. As for now, make a trip down the eastern end of the line to satisfy your curiosity.

N.B. Information is extracted from my readings and a chunk of it from August magazine. To see a detailed and more professional article, please refer to the mag. I was also wrong to assume that the magazine is a yearly publication as suggested by the title.

Tampines 1

The anticipated mall that created some jobs amid this recession is going to open this week on 9 April!! Being a resident in Tampines, I am excited and can't believe that this neighbourhood has transformed to what it is today, creating so much value in such a short time. Three shopping malls surrounding the MRT station with so many office buildings sprouting out, there are still untapped space waiting for more change.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Tampines 1 is to be run by AsiaMalls. Looking at the existing malls managed by them (Century Square, Tiong Bahru Plaza, White Sands, the disaster goes on...), how is this going to mall leader? Will this be their saviour?

The delicious tenants line up seem to appeal to many. Myself included, I can't wait to visit Uniqlo, brought in from Japan, promising to deliver "cheap-chic" apparel. Japanese-themed food shops will feed teenagers who don't go home after school and make them more obese than before. My question is, will this last, and for how long? My guess is only till Ion Orchard opens.

And talking about ill-disciplined students studying in Tampines, they are becoming from bad to worse. So many fastfood restaurants around to stain bad influence on them, schools might consider holding their recess time in one of them as it does not make any difference at all.

Until the smell of paint fades in Tampines 1, we are in for more people visiting the second last stop in the East-West line. I will stay home during weekends and visit the malls when the kids are in school.