Global fashion brand moves step closer to opening Glasgow store

Our sister title The Herald previously revealed that Japanese-owned apparel retailer UNIQLO is to open a 22,500 square foot store in the St Enoch Centre on Argyle Street. 

Now we can reveal that Glasgow City Council has approved UNIQLO’s plans for the display of various illuminated and non-illuminated signage outside the store.

Planning papers indicate that the new store will have a 44-meter frontage between the entrance to the shopping centre and the H&M store at 55 St Enoch Square.

Storefront elevation of UNIQLO Glasgow (Image: THiRTYONE Design & Management)

The store comprises a large retail unit spread across two adjacent buildings; the former St Enoch Picture Theatre and a 1930s commercial tenement which was significantly amended in the late 1930s and then extended by a storey in the late 1940s. Both buildings, which have primarily been in retail use for most of their lives, form part of the St Enoch Centre estate.

The UNIQLO Glasgow store update comes amid an ambitious expansion plan which has pushed the retailer’s global footprint beyond the 2,500-store mark.

UNIQLO opened its first store in Scotland on Edinburgh’s Princes Street back in April. In anticipation of the opening, customers began gathering in front of the store at 4.00am, forming a queue of about 700 people by the time the store opened.

Ahead of the store opening in Edinburgh, Alessandro Dudech, Uniqlo’s UK chief operating officer, said flagship stores have been the key driver for growth.

He said: “When we look at the results by region right now, as of today, four of the European flagship stores are now ranked in the top 10 globally [by sales]. Store expansion has been the real engine of growth.

“I think it’s a testament to the business growth that has taken place in Europe. It’s also a testament to our store expansion strategy [which focuses on flagship stores] because flagship stores are where we believe that the full experience comes to light in our stores.”

Originally founded in Yamaguchi, Japan in 1949 as a textiles manufacturer, UNIQLO’s product lines include cotton tees, curved jeans, light down coats, cropped sleeveless bra tops and pleated wide leg trousers. 

The retailer’s Round Mini Shoulder Bag, costing £14.90, has been a best-seller for the chain and helped drive stronger sales in Europe, particularly among young women.