Achi news desk-
Alessandro Dudech told the Herald: “This has been a particularly busy month. This is the second store we opened in April. We have just come from London, where we have opened our One Oxford Street (store). this [Edinburgh] a store particularly close to my heart because we are opening in a new country.
READ MORE: Ian McConnell: Huge boost for major global fashion brand coming to Scottish city
“There is a view of the Old Town. We have been clamoring to come and now at last the day has come.”
Asked if UNIQLO could open in Glasgow, Mr Dudech said: “Obviously, you can imagine at the moment we’re focusing on Edinburgh. We are extremely excited to be opening in Edinburgh, in Scotland, a new country for us.”
When asked if other Scottish stores would follow the Princes Street store in Edinburgh, he replied: “Obviously you can imagine this is the first store in Scotland so we’re all very excited to see how the customers will respond. We are laser focused on making sure we have the best experience for us.
“It’s really a moment where we get to make a first impression. First impressions can be so important in establishing a relationship of trust. We want to focus 100% on this project. Hopefully, by creating a relationship of trust, we will be able to build a long-term relationship. That’s really our goal – to make customers happy.”
Asked if he believed the Princes Street store would be a destination store, attracting customers from outside Edinburgh, Mr Dudech replied: “I hope so because we’ve worked quite hard.”
Noting that UNIQLO already had an e-commerce platform that Scottish customers could access, Mr Dudech added: “We’ve already been able to engage and connect with Scottish customers. It also guided some of our choices with which products will appeal.
“It also helped us gain confidence with how much the Scottish online market was growing.”
READ MORE: Ian McConnell: Those who caused Britain a sick note continue to strike it
Noting the scale of the social media response to the opening of the UNIQLO store in Edinburgh, he said: “That gives you a lot of confidence.”
Mr Dudech noted that there would be special offers with the Edinburgh store opening.
He pointed to a “four seasons in one day concept” at the new store, which had partly emerged from discussions with staff and customers.
Mr Dudech noted that there are linen collections when entering the store, then hand-resistant ranges, then summer t-shirts, and then goods including cashmere.
He highlighted a partnership with Social Bite, a Scottish charity and social business which describes itself as “a movement to end homelessness” providing “homes, jobs, food and support to empower people to transform their own lives “.
And he noted that “every single” member of staff at the Edinburgh store had the opportunity to volunteer at Social Bite.
Mr Dudech added that he had the “privilege” to volunteer at Social Bite on Tuesday afternoon.
READ MORE: Ian McConnell: A truly terrifying Tory proposal
He also highlighted “an opportunity for Social Bite to provide employment in our store”.
Mr Dudech said he was “excited” by a partnership with Irn-Bru, the soft drink produced by AG Barr.
This will see UNIQLO’s Edinburgh store offering embroidered t-shirts and bags in partnership with Irn-Bru.
Highlighting UNIQLO’s drive to connect with “local communities”, Mr Dudech added: “What better way to do this than with a household name like Irn-Bru?”
When asked how long UNIQLO had been looking at opening in Edinburgh, Mr Dudech said: “Our opening strategy… when we open a store especially of this size, 1,400 square metres, we’re not going to any place only. We are very careful when choosing buildings.”
READ MORE: Ian McConnell: This may stick with those who would bring Scotland down
He highlighted the importance of cultural heritage, from both historical and architectural perspectives.
Mr Dudech noted that the building that houses the new shop was designed in its current form around six decades ago.
He said: “In the shop, we’ve really tried to stay true to the heritage of the building.”
The modernist retail space was designed by Johnson-Marshall and Partners in 1965.
