GU, a Japanese discount casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer operated by Fast Retailing, will now offer customers at a new store in Yokohama the feel of online shopping. Beginning September, customers there will find attached to their carts tablets that will present a range of outfit, size and colour options once an item is tossed into the cart.
This is part of GU’s effort to raise the share of online sales from 5-6 per cent to at least 30 per cent, according to GU chief executive Osamu Yunoki.GU, a Japanese discount casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer operated by Fast Retailing, will now offer customers at a new store in Yokohama the feel of online shopping. Beginning September, customers there will find attached to their carts tablets that will present a range of outfit, size and colour options once an item is tossed into the cart.#
The brand, which at present operates 360 stores in Japan and 14 overseas — four in mainland China, two in Hong Kong and eight in Taiwan, wants to reverse a steep fall in sales growth in the current fiscal ending in August, according to an Asia-focussed English language publication from Japan.
At the Yokohama store, comments from other customers can be viewed in the tablet, which will direct shoppers to GU's e-store for out-of-stock items. Online orders will be delivered free.
Standing in front of a mirror with a GU garment, a customer can also view style suggestions and customer comments. The company will analyse consumer preference by digitally tracking the items.
Fast Retailing faces competition from online players such as Amazon.com. (DS)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India