The 40thuncomfortable feeling
Due to the frequent flyer program, Japanese airline customers can be divided into two groups: JAL or ANA. To earn miles efficiently, choose the same airline or one of its alliances. Some people are even forced to earn miles by flying with JAL, calling it "training" because of the various benefits that come with being a member of an airline's elite class. Indeed, once you have earned a certain number of miles and made a certain number of appearances, you can apply for a credit card with a permanent qualification. By the way, I have one myself.
I did not do any training. I was just a regular user and they sent me an application form. And I have had this qualification for over 20 years .
. about 20 years ago, I was called to Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, every week. I would board a plane first thing in the morning, have a meeting, and return on the evening flight. It was not unusual for me to go twice a week.
At the time, there were only ANA flights from Haneda to Yamaguchi-Ube Airport, so the miles naturally accumulated.
This was because UNIQLO's headquarters was still in Yamaguchi, and there was no Tokyo office.
I still remember that UNIQLO had 300 stores in Japan at that time, with sales of 80 billion yen. It seems a world away now.
At the time, for some reason, I was in charge of all the visuals for the company's advertisements, catalogs, and campaigns. It would be a long story, so I won't go into the details, but in short, I was filling a gap between contracts at a major advertising agency.
It was before the company was listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange , and I watched from the side all the way to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It was a very dynamic time, and I helped with the fleece boom of 1998-99 and the opening of the Harajuku store.
At the time, Mr. Yanai had said that his goal was to grow the company into the world's largest casual wear company, with sales in excess of 1 trillion yen, but I thought that would be a long shot.
Not only have I been true to my word, but I have now surpassed that goal, and I can only laugh at my own lack of foresight.
When UNIQLO was gaining power, apparel makers tended to view it as an enemy. . There may still be such people today. After all, UNIQLO democratized apparel and caused price destruction, so it is understandable that vested interests would be displeased. However, the times are changing. All things are impermanent.
Some people still working in the fashion field said they would never wear only " UNIQLO.
So is a designer friend of mine in New York.
However, when I met him last year, he told me that he was going to work for " UNIQLO " next year. He said he would make several polo shirts in the spring and a fleece in the fall. He asked me to keep this between us.
It is a terrible turnaround.
The polo shirts seem to have sold okay there, but this time the fleece sold out very quickly, and they seem to be adding more and more, but they are quickly running out of stock. I wonder how many they are making. I'm actually asking for a number. . but I can't write it here.
. it's already fleece season in town. I am sure there is batting going on all over the place and many people are feeling batty.
But still, I can't sell my other clothes if they're offered this kind of clothes, at this kind of price.
¥3,990+TAX (Due to its popularity, this item may be sold out.)
This fleece combination jacket is from the second collaboration between Engineered Garments and UNIQLO. It is a fusion of the good old American essence and UNIQLO's sense of aesthetics, and its affordable price range and high quality have led to phenomenal sales.
PROFILE
After working as a freelance editor for Magazine House and Popeye, he managed stylists and started his own editing/production company, which was renamed Rhino Inc. in 2006.
