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HEATTECH - The Warm-up and Stay-warm Range of Wear Global Try It Campaign
TOKYO, October 16 /PRNewswire/ -- - 1,000 consumers, 100 media representatives will be given a free HEATTECH trial kit - In the second of its UNIQLO TRY programs, UNIQLO is conducting a Global Try It Campaign for HEATTECH - try out both the "heat creation function" that absorbs moisture evaporating from the body and turns it into heat energy, and the "insulation function" that prevents the heat from escaping. We are launching an entry website which will invite consumers and media representatives from around the world to apply for the trial. (Deadline for kit applications - midnight on October 26, 2008, Japan time). UNIQLO TRY is a user participatory program where customers actively express their views on the website about how comfortable they felt or how they did when actually wearing UNIQLO products. In this second round, we will be expanding the reach of the program to cover the whole world. All those who would like to try out the HEATTECH heat creation and insulation functions, read on... (1) Presenting free HEATTECH trial kits to 1,000 global consumers We will distribute HEATTECH trial kits to 1,000 applicants from anywhere in the world. We will share the experience of people trying the products all over the world by getting participants to post their impressions along with video (pictures) of both before and after putting on the clothing. Application site for the public: URL >>> http://www.uniqlo.com/try2 (2) Distributing of free HEATTECH trial kits to the world's media We would very much like anyone from the media keen to experience HEATTECH warmth to try it out, so we will be giving out HEATTECH media trial kits (10 sets in each kit) to 100 media representatives and organizations. Application site for the media: URL >>> http://www.uniqlo.com/try2/media.html We are aiming to spread HEATTECH brand recognition by conducting these activities. We will release all the experience and information posted by our participants for the world to see on our UNIQLO TRY website which is set for launch towards the end of November. The site will also offer a corner which introduces news and issues for discussion concerning HEATTECH which have come up either on the website or in blogs. All of those who take part in the project posting their views and video (pictures) of themselves actually wearing the HEATTECH clothes will be eligible for our draw with the first prize being a tour of Japan to experience Japanese technology. We eagerly await the honest opinions and impressions of people from around the world on our HEATTECH range of which we are very proud. --Campaign Outline-- (1) Global Try It Campaign for 1,000 consumers from around the world (Deadline for kit applications: midnight October 26, 2008, Japan time) We will distribute free of charge HEATTECH trial kits to 1,000 consumers from among the general public. The participants will be selected from among those who applied through the UNIQLO TRY entry site below. URL: http://www.uniqlo.com/try2 1. If we receive a large number of applications, we will select participants by means of a random draw. 2. There will be no formal announcement of results but a kit will be dispatched to successful applicants. 3. The kits will be sent out from the end of October onwards. (2) Presenting HEATTECH media trial kits to 100 media representatives or organizations from around the world (Deadline for kit applications: midnight October 26, 2008, Japan time) We will send HEATTECH media trial kits (10 sets each) to those among the media who express interest in trying out HEATTECH products firsthand. Media members or representatives, please apply through the URL below: URL: http://www.uniqlo.com/try2/media.html 1. If we receive a large number of applications, we will select participants by means of a random draw. 2. There will be no formal announcement of results but a kit will be dispatched to successful applicants. 3. The kits will be sent out from the end of October onwards. --What is HEATTECH?-- 1. Functional wear that offers both a "heat generation function" which absorbs moisture evaporated from the body and turns it into heat energy, and an "insulation function" which prevents the heat escaping. 2. Products with a proven track record - approximately 20 million items sold in the autumn/winter 2007 season in Japan. 3. Clothing that can boast functionality with a slim and soft feel. Clothing that you can wear in a variety of ways thanks to our plentiful range of colors and designs. --HEATTECH Trial Kit-- Packages containing the HEATTECH trial kits to be distributed for this campaign are designed by Kashiwa Sato's creative agency SAMURAI. The design concept is "Japan Technology". The HEATTECH trial kits contain the following: 1. Men's kit: 1 long-sleeved HEATTECH crew-neck close-fitting top, 1 pair of HEATTECH tights. 2. Women's kit: 1 long-sleeved HEATTECH turtleneck close-fitting top, 1 pair of HEATTECH tights. *Contents may differ slightly depending on location. (3) Japan Technology Tour lottery prize We will invite one winner selected by lottery from among those participants who posted their impressions along with video (pictures) of themselves before wearing and wearing HEATTECH products within the required timeframe. The winner will be invited to a tour of Japan to experience "Japan Technology". Please check out the campaign site (opening in a few days) for more details. (Deadline for participants to register interest in the tour: midnight, December 7, 2008, Japan time). -- What is "UNIQLO"?-- - The Evolution of a Global Brand The first UNIQLO store opened its doors in June 1984. We proved the success of an SPA manufacturer/retailer model controlling the entire process from product planning, production, distribution and marketing. UNIQLO enjoyed superb growth by providing high-quality casual wear at remarkably low prices. Our business expanded significantly on the back of a boom in our fleece products in 1998. Following a subsequent period of reduced revenue and profit, UNIQLO once again generated healthy rises in both revenue and profit in 2004. Our sales have risen favorably ever since thanks to our committed policy on store network expansion and our aggressive store review and renewal. We now have a network of over 780 stores in Japan and we are currently looking to boost the UNIQLO appeal through the development of more large-format stores with shop floor space of 1650 sqm and 3300 sqm. In the area of product development, we established a global R&D system in the fall of 2005. With bases in Tokyo, New York, Paris and Milan, we seek to catch local trends early and incorporate them in our product development and design. On the international stage, our global flagship New York SOHO store was opened in November 2006 and has proved a great success. We are looking to evolve UNIQLO into a global brand centered around the New York SOHO store. For more details on corporate development, please go to the FAST RETAILING website: http://www.fastretailing.com/eng/about/history/ - Comparison with Major Global Specialty Clothing Retailers UNIQLO accounts for roughly 90% of total sales at the FAST RETAILING holding company. FAST RETAILING is clearly in the top class if you compare its scale of sales with that of other specialty clothing retailers from around the world. Company Name Country End of Sales (billion yen) (Flagship Brand) Fiscal Year GAP USA Jan. 2007 1,851 INDITEX(ZARA) Spain Jan. 2007 1,299 Limited Brands USA Jan. 2007 1,238 Hennes & Mauritz Sweden Nov. 2006 1,155 NEXT UK Jan. 2007 767 Liz Claiborne USA Dec. 2006 579 FAST RETAILING Japan Aug. 2007 525 (UNIQLO) Polo Ralph Lauren USA Mar. 2007 499 Esplit Hong Kong Jun. 2007 441 Abercrombie & Fitch USA Jan. 2007 385 Source: Compiled from the annual reports of the companies listed above. Figures calculated in yen using August 31, 2007 foreign exchange rates. Contact: Junichi Yagura, Yoshitada Hirobe BILCOM, Inc. Phone: +81-3-5766-8411 Fax: +81-3-5766-8419 E-mail: bil-press@bil.jp Web site: http://www.uniqlo.com/try2 http://www.uniqlo.com/try2/media.html http://www.fastretailing.com/eng/about/history/
