$9983 (-0,4 %)
@Iwamoto

The hyped fashion brand "Uniqlo" from Japan opens its first store in Frankfurt - complete with Japanese drum art. Customers are queuing up.

Over the past few decades, Tadashi Yanai has managed to turn his holding company Fast Retailing, which he still runs, into the third-largest fashion manufacturer in the world. In the 2024/25 financial year, turnover rose by 9.6% year-on-year to the equivalent of 19.2 billion euros, with his fashion brand being the growth driver. Uniqlo's international segment alone contributed the equivalent of 10.8 billion euros.

Uniqlo stores from New York to Frankfurt

Uniqlo now operates more than 2,500 stores worldwide: the brand's red logo is not only popular in Asia, but also in North America. In New York, it has a two-storey flagship store on the famous Fifth Avenue shopping street. Expansion is also underway in Europe, home to competitors such as Zara parent company Inditex and H&M; there are already 86 stores: six in Berlin alone. Frankfurt will have its first store in a prime city center location in Biebergasse on Thursday (October 16). Munich follows

There are many reasons for the success: the prominent panel in New York will be hosted by renowned fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, who was hired as Uniqlo's creative director last year. The British designer was previously at home in the world of haute couture and shaped the style of brands such as Chloé and Givenchy. The fashion designer also designed the royal wedding dress for Meghan Markle. Sitting next to Keller are Hollywood star Cate Blanchett and tennis great Roger Federer. They chat about why they love the fashion brand and its values so much: The words come up again and again: a better world, sustainability, functional, comfortable basic clothing that, unlike its competitors, doesn't focus on trends but on timeless designs, and should last a long time ("lifewear").

https://youtu.be/o_O6GULoPUA?si=rMx-I7uJoxW2nLnD

https://www.fr.de/frankfurt/innenstadt-ort904326/uniqlo-eroeffnet-ersten-store-in-frankfurt-und-setzt-auf-langlebigkeit-innenstadt-93988414.html

19 photos under the link ⬇️

https://www.fr.de/frankfurt/neuer-uniqlo-store-in-frankfurt-die-fotos-der-eroeffnung-93991508.html

Will the preppy look be the megatrend of 2025?

@Iwamoto
@EpsEra
@Semos25 ????

Uniqlo x JW Anderson make the start

https://www.vogue.de/artikel/preppy-look-2025-uniqlo-jw-anderson

$9983 (-0,4 %)

The Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo has relocated and is opening this Thursday at its new location on Schildergasse opposite Galeria Kaufhof. Japanese drummers will be performing to celebrate and the mouse and elephant will also be present in the pedestrian zone.

Uniqlo had previously been at home on the corner of Hohe Straße and Gürzenichstraße, 120 meters away, since 2018 - in a building newly constructed by Art-Invest with particularly large windows that were praised at the time as ideal for presenting the brand. The product range was offered there on five floors.

Now there are only three floors in the more conventional former H&M premises on Schildergasse. The sales area is a third smaller.

The decision to relocate was made because the Schildergasse location is "more prominent", according to a spokesperson. The business in Hohe Straße had "worked very well". But it was also the case that the fifth floor had been rather poorly frequented. The smaller space now makes it easier for both customers and employees. The move is a "commitment to Cologne", the city was one of the first locations in Germany.

Cooperation with Zappes-Broi

According to the spokesperson, the brand is not particularly "loud" - there is very little advertising, for example. Now the aim is to attract even more attention with local collaborations, including WDR-Maus, Zappes-Broi and Cologne artist Marcel Kreuzer.

Uniqlo continues its expansion in Germany with three new openings

The global clothing company Uniqlo will open three new stores in fall 2025, including the first stores in the cities of Frankfurt am Main and Munich. In addition, Uniqlo will relocate its presence in Cologne to a more prominent location on Schildergasse. The openings mark the next step in the company's expansion plans in Germany, bringing its presence in the country to twelve stores. In Frankfurt am Main, Uniqlo will open over two floors on around 1,600 square meters in the Taurus project at Biebergasse 6-10. The new store in Munich will open at Leopoldstrasse 35, also over two floors in the space formerly occupied by Zara. In Cologne, the store will move from Hohe Strasse to Schildergasse 24-30, taking up a total of around 1,450 square meters over three floors.

"We are looking forward to expanding our business in Germany, where Uniqlo will increase its presence from ten to twelve stores and relocate to Cologne before the end of 2025. Our aim is to bring LifeWear, clothing created on the basis of our Japanese values of quality, simplicity and durability, to a wider audience in Germany. After more than ten years in this market, we think this is a great moment to launch our brand in two new cities,' comments Kohsuke Kobayashi, Chief Operating Officer for Uniqlo Germany and Poland on the upcoming openings.

Uniqlo is a brand of Fast Retailing Co. Ltd, a leading Japanese group of companies with global headquarters in Tokyo. In addition to Uniqlo, the group also owns the brands GU, Theory, Helmut Lang, PLST (Plus T), Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam and J Brand. The company currently operates more than 2,500 Uniqlo stores worldwide. The total number of stores of the Fast Retailing brands now amounts to almost 3,600.

https://www.ksta.de/koeln/koelner-innenstadt/koeln-uniqlo-eroeffnet-auf-der-schildergasse-neu-1109527

https://www.retailatlas.de/magazin/uniqlo-setzt-seine-expansion-in-deutschland-mit-drei-neueroffnungen-fort

Hermes $RMS (-1 %) (very expensive 🤑 )

Ferrari $RACE (+1,37 %)

Lululemon $LULU (-0,18 %)

Just do it $NKE (-0,74 %) (supposedly cheap at the moment, please do not reach into the falling knife)

Booking $BKNG (+0,72 %)

Marriott $MAR (+1,23 %)

Ulta Beaty $ULTA (-0,95 %) and/or L'Oreal $OR (-0,56 %) (much more expensive)

Mercadolibre $MELI (+0,32 %)

Texas Roadhouse $TXRH (-0,68 %)

Chipotle $CMG (-1,83 %)

Fast Retailing $9983 (-0,4 %)
(doesn't fit with the others on the list but I could imagine it as a speculative stock)

"Everything" very expensive, luxury.

I would be interested to know what your favorites are for a long-term investment?

Japanese equities: a promising outlook for 2024

Imagine Japan is a giant sushi bar and the stocks are the nigiri appetizers. For a long time, no one really looked, but now everyone realizes: "Hey, this tastes really good!" This is exactly what is happening with Japanese shares at the moment. Investors are starting to pull out their chopsticks, and for good reason. I'll give you a brief overview of the pros and cons & draw a short conclusion.

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Reasons for optimism:

Monetary policy and reforms:

• The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is gradually moving towards a normalization of monetary policy. In March, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) raised its key interest rate for the first time in 17 years. The interest rate is now in a range between zero and 0.1%, which could further improve the investment climate (Nikko AM, 2024; Asia Fund Managers, 2024).

Strong corporate earnings and share buybacks:

• Japanese companies are showing strong earnings and increasing their dividends and share buybacks. This is partly driven by the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) reforms, which are pushing companies to increase their return on capital and make their business strategies more transparent (Nasdaq, 2023; Nikko AM, 2024).

Growth in the technology sector:

• Demand for semiconductors and other technology products, particularly related to artificial intelligence, is contributing to a positive outlook for Japanese technology companies (Nikko AM, 2024).

Foreign investment:

• International investor interest in Japanese equities is increasing. This is supported by attractive valuations and improved corporate practices. Experts predict that both local and foreign investors will increase their positions in Japanese equities (Asia Fund Managers, 2024; Goldman Sachs, 2024).

Regulatory changes and stock market initiatives:

• The TSE (Tokyo Stock Exchange) is continuously introducing reforms to increase capital market efficiency. These reforms include the unknotting of cross-selling and the promotion of management buyouts (MBOs), which could further improve corporate governance (Trustnet, 2024).

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Challenges and risks

• Despite the positive outlook, there are also challenges. The Japanese economy still shows weaknesses, such as shrinking consumer spending and slow wage growth. These factors could slow down the economic recovery and market growth (Interactive Investor, 2023).

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Conclusion

• The Japanese stock market offers many opportunities for investors in 2024, particularly due to the continued reforms and increasing interest from international investors. However, it remains important to keep a close eye on economic conditions and monetary policy developments.

Right after the sources used, there is a sexy overview of some possible investments!

Sources

• Byrne, M. (2023). EWJ: Japanese Stocks Look Well-Positioned for Gains in 2024, Nasdaq.
• Nikko Asset Management (2024). Japan equity outlook 2024. Nikko AM Insights.
• Trustnet (2024). 5 key themes for Japanese income investors in 2024.
• Goldman Sachs Research (2024). Japan stock market outlook 2024.
• Hobson, R. (2023). Japan stock market outlook 2024: a good time to buy? Interactive Investor.
• CTMfile (2023). US and Japanese stocks to rally in 2024.
• Asia Fund Managers (2024). Japan Outlook 2024.
• Morningstar (2024). Japan Stocks Outlook.
• BlackRock (2024). Japan Equity Themes.
• Yahoo Finance (2024). Best Japanese Stocks to Buy in 2024.

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Toyota Motor Corporation (Ticker: $7203 (+0,82 %)
)

• Innovation and technologyToyota is a global leader in the automotive industry and is investing heavily in electric mobility and hydrogen technology.
• Strong financial position: The company has a solid balance sheet and plans significant share buybacks, which should be positive for shareholders.
• Market presence: With a global market presence and continued expansion into new markets, Toyota remains a major player in the global automotive sector.

Sony Group Corporation (Ticker: $6758 (-1,01 %)
)

• Diversification: Sony operates in various industries, including consumer electronics, film, music and financial services, which diversifies risk.
• Gaming sector: The success of the PlayStation 5 and expansion into cloud gaming strengthens Sony's position in the lucrative gaming market.
• Technological innovations: Sony continuously invests in research and development to stay at the forefront of technology.

SoftBank Group Corp (Ticker: $9984 (+4,85 %)
)

• Technology investmentsSoftBank is known for its strategic investments in technology companies worldwide, including the Vision Funds.
• Telecommunications: As a major player in the telecommunications sector, SoftBank is benefiting from the increasing demand for 5G technologies.
• Risk ManagementDespite some high-risk investments, SoftBank has shown an impressive ability to adapt and continue to grow.

Fast Retailing Co, Ltd (Ticker: $9983 (-0,4 %)
)

• Fashion industry: As the parent company of Uniqlo, Fast Retailing is a major player in the global fashion industry.
• Expansion: The company is aggressively expanding into new markets, particularly in Asia and North America.
• E-commerce: The strong online presence and investments in digital platforms strengthen the growth potential.

--> I do not hold any of the stocks mentioned.

Are you invested in Japan? Why yes, why no? What insider tips do you have?

So, this post has been a while in the making. I hope you like it 💕 If any information is out of date, please let me know! The stock market world is big and turns fast. 😉

GG