Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo is aiming to open 50 stores in Australia within the next three years, eventually topping out at 100 stores.
The Australian reports that Tadashi Yanai, chief executive of parent company Fast Retailing, said Uniqlo is looking at additional stores in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. The retail giant's first Australian store, part of Melbourne's new-look Emporium, opened last night with a VIP party. featuring Japanese drummers and a traditional barrel breaking ceremony.
"You have 20 million population in this marketplace," Yanai said, "and we aim for one store per 20,000 people, so 100 stores will be just enough to cover it."
Uniqlo is just the tip of the Fast Retailing iceberg, of course — Yanai added that the company is also looking to launch fashion chains GU, Theory, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse TamTam and J Brand into the Aussie market.
If you were planning a trip to Melbourne just to see Uniqlo, it looks like it might be worth holding off for a little while.
