Uniqlo looking at multiple Metro Vancouver locations

We already know about Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo looking at entering Vancouver's downtown, but it's now being rumoured that the chain will be looking at multiple locations in Metro Vancouver.

I hope that Shape Properties is aware of the powerful draw that a Uniqlo would become for Brentwood Town Centre.

Vancity Buzz story below

UNIQLO NEGOTIATING TO OPEN VANCOUVER STORES

Japanese fast-fashion retailer Uniqlo is working with a broker to open stores in Vancouver.

Uniqlo tends to open several stores in each market it enters, and Vancouver will be no exception. In the United States, Uniqlo chose to open in prime retail space on busy streets and in prominent malls. We can therefore expect a large downtown Vancouver Uniqlo flagship, as well as several smaller stores within malls.

Uniqlo’s American expansion provides insight into what it has in store for Canada. First concentrating on metropolitan New York City and San Francisco, Uniqlo opened large flagships as well as stores in top local malls. It subsequently announced expansion plans for Los Angeles, Boston and Philadelphia. Its current strategy involves placing multiple stores in each market, leveraging advertising dollars in each city.

In Canada, Uniqlo will use a similar geographic strategy, concentrating its first stores in Vancouver and Toronto. Sources inform us that Uniqlo is in talks to open a Robson Street flagship, and that a Pacific Centre location could also be in the works. Several suburban Uniqlo stores are likely, all in high-traffic malls. Metropolis at Metrotown, Oakridge Centre, Park Royal and other busy malls could eventually house Uniqlo, and we’ll update you when we learn more.

Stay tuned for more exciting retail announcements from Retail Insider, here on Vancity Buzz.