u0127907 comments

When you walk into the NY store, do you hear 20 associates all yell "Welcome!!" simultaneously from all the way across the store as they do here in Japan?

I don't think there is any way that this company can thrive in N. America. There are already a handful of comparable companies who offer far superior clothing in the same price tier that Uniqlo does. Companies like American Eagle, Old Navy, GAP, etc. I find the Uniqlo designs ugly, the materials cheap and for the 5 years I have been in Japan it seems like they are reintroducing the same product season after season with the only improvement being a new color scheme.

I think the reason this company has done so well in Japan is because its only real competitor is Shimamura, however I think once they are in a market where there are actually comparable alternatives being offered, the are going to find themselves at the bottom of the totem-pole and need to actually put some effort and care into their product if they want to last longer than six months.

Great for him! And I hope he had a great birthday! Yesterday wasn't it?