MANILA, Philippines – UNIQLO Philippines opened a big “roadside store” in a suburb east of Manila on Friday morning, March 7, signifying how retailers are tapping growth areas outside of the capital region.
UNIQLO Sierra Valley is located in mixed-used estate Sierra Valley Gardens of the Gokongwei Group’s Robinsons Land Corporation, in the densely-populated town of Taytay, Rizal, around an hour from the city of Manila. It is unique due to its large, hard-to-miss red logo.
Taytay, with a population of over 380,000, is an economically dynamic town in Calabarzon, south of the capital. Taytay ranked second on the country’s list of Municipalities Competitive Index, which is based on economic dynamism and other indicators. Taytay’s neighboring town, Cainta, tops the list.
“UNIQLO Sierra Valley is the first store in the Philippines to adopt the ‘logo store’ model, showcasing the red UNIQLO logo as a focal point and prominent part of the building’s facade,” UNIQLO Philippines told Rappler.
UNIQLO Sierra Valley is on a 2,500-square-meter lot, with “spacious” parking and PWD-friendly access and fitting rooms.
UNIQLO Philippines said its roadside stores are different from those found in many malls throughout the country as it provides “ease and convenience.”
“We are happy to bring LifeWear closer to our customers in Rizal through our newest store in the thriving community in Sierra Valley. Being our first roadside store in this area, we want to continue to elevate their UNIQLO shopping experience through providing our full product line-up for men’s, women’s and babies, as well as giving customers the ease and convenience of access to their LifeWear favorites,” UNIQLO Philippines chief operating officer Geraldine Sia told Rappler.
“Our goal is to continue to expand our presence in the Philippines, and we hope to be an integral part of the Rizal community through the opening of our newest store here in Sierra Valley,” she added.
UNIQLO Philippines also said its roadside stores offer an “elevated LifeWear shopping experience for customers, serving as a one stop-shop for all of their apparel needs.”
Japanese brands in the Philippines have been on the rise in recent years, especially post-pandemic, as visitor arrivals of Filipinos to their north Asian neighbor have hit record highs, exposing them to more Japanese products.
Filipinos who visit Japan often go to UNIQLO stores there to take advantage of the mostly lower prices and the tax-free privileges.
The Philippines has the highest number of UNIQLO stores in Southeast Asia, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said in a recent article for Japan’s National Day celebration. UNIQLO Philippines had 74 stores in the country as of April 2024.
More Japanese brands coming
Meantime, the Philippines’ trade department said on Wednesday that Adastria Company Limited, a Japanese apparel retailer with 45 brands, would be expanding its presence in the Philippines,.
In a meeting with Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, the Japanese firm said it would introduce more brands and “explore local manufacturing opportunities, capitalizing on the Philippines’ growing retail market and competitive advantages,” said a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) press release.
Adastria said it would build on the “success” of its niko…and flagship store that opened at the SM Mall of Asia in December 2024.
Among the other brands Adastria will introduce are Global Work, Lowry’s Farm, and LAKOLE.
The DTI said this was in recognition of the “strong demand for high-quality international apparel among Filipino consumers.”
“Adastria’s expansion into the Philippines with the launch of ‘niko and…’ is just the beginning of what we hope will be a broader introduction of their diverse brand portfolio into the market,” Roque said.
She also urged Adastria to consider local sourcing and manufacturing, citing the Philippines’ skilled labor force, geographic location, and the lower taxes from the new CREATE MORE law.
“As a company with a strong multi-brand strategy, Adastria operates numerous successful labels beyond ‘niko and…’, each catering to different consumer segments. Their expansion highlights the Philippines’ growing appeal as a retail investment destination,” said DTI Special Trade Representative Dita Angara-Mathay.
“We look forward to seeing more of their brands enter the Philippine retail landscape, further enriching the choices available to Filipino consumers and strengthening the retail partnership between Japan and the Philippines,” Roque said.
The DTI said Adastria’s Philippine expansion was part of its global strategy. It said Adastria had 1,282 domestic stores in Japan and 127 international stores.
“The company’s commitment to the Philippine market underscores the country’s rising prominence as a key player in Southeast Asia’s retail sector, the DTI said. – Rappler.com
