Uniqlo's Insightful & Awesome Sharing on Merchandising

Parent company of Uniqlo

• Fast Retailing

• GU

• Zara

• Muji

Answer explanation

GU- The brand, pronounced as the letters G and U, sounds similar to the word jiyū, or "freedom,” in Japanese. While GU, with slightly lower prices than Uniqlo and clothes aimed at younger clientele, has a solid presence in Japan, it's less known in other major markets.

To excel in merchandising, you need to fulfill ___ logic and __ magic.

• 30%, 70%

• 70%, 30%

• 40%, 60%

• 60%, 40%

Answer explanation

70% logic- business acumen, pick right products, do budgeting, forecasting, analysis, able to grasp market demand ..

30% magic- flair, sense of style, trends, patterns..

4 steps of Merchandising in Uniqlo (in sequence) are ....

• 1. Analyze & Plan
  2. Execute
  3. Assortment & Buy
  4. Sales Monitoring

• 1. Assortment & Buy
  2. Execute
  3. Analyze & Plan
  4. Sales Monitoring

• 1. Assortment & Buy
  2. Analyze & Plan
  3. Execute
  4. Sales Monitoring

• 1. 1. Analyze & Plan
     2. Assortment & Buy
     3. Execute
     4. Sales Monitoring

Answer explanation

1. Analyze & Plan
2. Assortment & Buy
3. Execute
4. Sales Monitoring

In anticipating Consumer Trends and designing products, Uniqlo will do all the following except _____.

• Voice of Stores (VOS)

• Voice of Customers (VOC)

• Competitor Research

• Copy Competitors' Best Seller

Answer explanation

Voice of Stores (VOS)

Voice of Customers (VOC)

Competitor Research

Voice of Market

Voice of Market covers both Macro & Micro environmental factors. Which of the following is correct?

• Micro - Economic, Political, Technological, Cultural, Natural, Demographic

  Macro- Customers, Media, Competitors, Suppliers
  

• Micro - Economic, Political, Technological, Cultural

  Macro- Customers, Media, Competitors, Natural, Demographic, Suppliers

• Macro - Economic, Political, Technological, Cultural, Natural, Demographic

  Micro- Customers, Media, Competitors, Suppliers

• Macro - Economic, Political, Technological, Media, Competitors, Suppliers

  Micro- Customers, Cultural, Natural, Demographic

Answer explanation

Macro - Economic, Political, Technological, Cultural, Natural, Demographic

Micro- Customers, Media, Competitors, Suppliers

In Uniqlo, Budget forecast is typically done in this sequence :

• -> Store

  -> Season

  -> Division (category)

• -> Season

  -> Store

  -> Division (category)

• -> Season

  -> Division (category)

  -> Store

• -> Store

  -> Division (category)

  -> Season

Answer explanation

-> Store

-> Season

-> Division (category)

In tropical countries like Singapore & other ASEAN/ warm countries , this could be the buying breakdown for Uniqlo FALL/ WINTER season:

• 100% Summer

• 100% Fall/ Winter

• 50% Summer
  30% Fall
  20% Winter

• 50% Summer
  50% Winter

Answer explanation

Also OK:
50% Spring/Summer
30% Fall
20% Winter

In Merchandise Selection, Uniqlo will pick based on the following principles EXCEPT _____.

• Variation of fit/ pattern/ Silhouette to cater to as many customers as possible

• Balance of core classic / fashion items / colours (accent vs neutral)

• Balance of entry/ mid/ high price points

• Min. 50%- 70% Newness vs last year

Answer explanation

Min. 30%-50% Newness vs Last Year

To calculate Buy Quantity:
Quantity = _____________

• Quantity = Average unit Sold per Week

  x Store Count

  x Launch Period

  (also factor Facing, Promotion duration)

• Quantity = Average unit Sold per Month

  x Store Count

  x Launch Period

  (also factor Facing, Promotion duration)

• Quantity = Average unit Sold per Week

  x Store Count

  (also factor Facing, Promotion duration)

• Quantity = Average unit Sold per Month

  x Store Count

  (also factor Facing, Promotion duration)

Answer explanation

Quantity = Average unit Sold per Week

x Store Count

x Launch Period

(also factor Facing, Promotion duration)

How many facings are there for WHITE and GREEN?

• 1, 1

• 2, 2

• 4, 2

• 4, 4

Answer explanation

Facings : number of products/ SKUs placed on the shelf facing out towards the customer. In this example, white is an essential / best selling colour hence has 4 facings. Green & blue are accent colours. (may not sell as well but are needed to complement other colours and add vibrancy to sales area).