Last Updated: 2021.01.14
to Japanese page
Company Introduction
Name: | G.U. CO., LTD. |
---|---|
Location: | 5F, 1-6-7 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0063, Japan |
Line of Business: | The design, manufacture and retail of GU brand clothing and other goods. |
First Store Opening: | October, 2006 |
Number of Stores : | 436 stores (As of November 30, 2020) |
100% consolidated subsidiary |
Greater Fashion, Better Prices
Our fun, low-priced GU fashion brand achieved record
results in FY2019, generating revenue of ¥238.7 billion
(+12.7% year on year) and operating profit of ¥28.1
billion (+139.2%). Having surpassed the ¥200 billion
mark, GU is now on par with Japan's other large
apparel companies, and can concentrate on building
business momentum. Underlying this strong
performance is the GU brand concept, which has been
embraced by a wide range of customers. It advocates
the free enjoyment of fashion and the exploration of
new forms of self-expression through clothing. We
have successfully fostered hit mass-trend products that
sold several hundred million units, such as oversized
sweatshirts, sweatpants, and knitwear. We have also
managed to greatly reduce costs by astutely adapting
business practices, including aggregating our materials
purchases and submitting our orders early.
I see strong potential in satisfying untapped
demand for the low-priced fashion that typifies GU.
Naturally, we will continue to pursue fashion, but we will
also work to attain overwhelming price competitiveness.
To uphold and improve product quality and achieve
amazingly low prices, we must overcome various
challenges. That means working constantly to maintain
win-win relationships with our production partners and
to reduce costs by rationalizing production processes
and stockpiling key materials. It is moreover important
to develop clothes-making processes that are
considerate of the environment.
In September 2019, GU moved its headquarters to
the Ariake head office to help with the thorough
implementation of transformative Ariake Project
practices. We are collecting and analyzing real
customer opinions to discover cutting-edge trends and
latent needs, and to enhance product development.
We seek to offer a variety of styles to satisfy a broad
range of customer lifestyles, and evolve GU into a
brand that excites and delights customers more than
ever before.
In Japan, we intend to open primarily large-format
stores and stores neighboring UNIQLO stores. These
stores have generated strong sales, and customers
like them because they offer UNIQLO basics and GU
fashion side-by-side. In fall 2019, our newly opened
GU global flagship stores in Shanghai and Guangzhou
enjoyed strong launches. As a fashion brand from
Japan, GU will continue to deliver clothes that allow
people to seize the day.
Osamu Yunoki
CEO, G.U. CO., LTD.
Group Executive
Vice President,
Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.


Latest Update