YASS’S-3-

Hello dear friends! So today is our last day together. I hope that you enjoyed reading my last posts and hopefully this one as well… let’s not get too emotional so let’s get to it! In this blog I am going to talk to you guys about product hierarchy, range plan and financial forecasting. Such big important words I know! But I’m going to make this easy for you don’t worry!

Fig1

Let’s start with the product hierarchy strategy: it’s a ‘classification of a product into its essential components. It is inevitable that a product is related or connected to another’ (Cleverism 2017). I chose the T-shirt section in the Women’s category because UNIQLO has a big range of T-shirt and tops. I drew a pyramid on Illustrator in order to place them by product and price (from lowest to highest).

Fig2

As you might see in the pyramid above, T-shirts and tops are divided into multiples categories with a price range varying from 9,90 to 19,90GBP. Prices are very reasonable and affordable for such good quality products. Indeed, UNIQLO uses fabrics such as polyester, cotton, cupro, spandex, lyocell and acrylic (for Airism and Heattech). The 100% Supima cotton t-shirts are exclusively made out of cotton, which is a very gentle and soft material for sensitive skins, supple feel and elegant texture.

Moving on to the range plan analysis for UNIQLO, a range plan is ‘an overview of your collection with all of the design and financial parameters set out. The plan outlines the specifics of your collection; from how many styles you will have, to what fabrics and colourways will be used. It is used before you dive into large scale production’ (Ross 2015).

Fig 3

The following range plan is for the Women’s products a UNIQLO, starting from the lowest price to the highest:

Bras and Underwear: from 5.90£ for panties to 19.90£ for bras.

Materials: Nylon, Cotton, Spandex, Lace.

Socks Tights & Leggings: From 9,90£ for socks to 19.90£ for leggings.

Materials: Acrylic, Nylon, Cotton, Spandex, Polyester.

T-shirts and Tops: from 9.90£ for short sleeve to 19.90£ for long sleeve Airism.

Materials: Cotton, Spandex, Polyester, Lyocell.

Skirts and Shorts: from 14.90£-19.90 for shorts and from 24.90£ to 34.90£ for skirts.

Materials: Linen, Cotton, Rayon, Polyester.

Jeans: Skinny, Fit, Wide, Relaxed and maternity are for 34.90£.

Materials: Cotton, Polyester, Spandex.

Dresses and Jumpsuits: from 34.90£ for a jumpsuit to 39.90£ for a dress.

Materials: Cotton, Rayon, Lyocell.

Coats, Jackets, Parka and Vests: from 39.90£ for shirt jacket to 89.90£ for ultra light coat.

Materials: Nylon, Feathers, Polyester.

Fig 4

Financial forecasting for UNIQLO: According to Tadashi Yanai, Chief executive of fast retailing in 2013, UNIQLO will become the number one brand in Asia and will continue its strategy of store launching in order to expand their territory, especially in North America (Visioncritical 2019).

Table of illustrations:

Figure1 : Uniqlo colorful wind. Source (Emmanuelle Moureaux 2014)

Figure2 : personal credit/work

Figure3 : Uniqlo Women. Source (Uniqlo 2020)

Figure4 :Uniqlo’s unique assortment. Source (Edited 2018)

References:

– K Smith Secret ingredients of uniqlo’s strategy (2019) [online] available from

https://edited.com/resources/key-data-uniqlo-strategy/ ( 20 february 2020)

– Cleversim Product Hierarchy [online] available from

https://www.cleverism.com/lexicon/product-hierarchy/ ( 20 february 2020)

– The sustainable fashion collective What is a range plan for fashion designers? [online] available from

https://www.the-sustainable-fashion-collective.com/2015/06/11/what-is-a-range-plan-for-fashion-designers ( 20 february 2020)