UNIQLO's Gross Sale Up for 12 Years in a Row

First Retailing's consolidated accounts for August 2015 marked 21.6% over the previous term aggregating 1,681.7 billion yen. Their operating profits rose by 26.1% to 164.4 billion yen or final profit up by 47.6% to  110.0 billion yen, both record highest.

Chairman/President Tadashi Yanai said UNIQLO's increase in profits was instrumental to the company's strong performance.

UNIQLO's overseas sales increased by 45.9% to 603.6 billion yen or 35% of the total sales - up over 30% for the first time. The operating profits aggregated 43.3 billion yen or up by 31.6%. At end August, their 467 stores in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan sold 304.4 billion yen or up by 46.3%. South Korea sold over 100.0 billion yen. The number of customers in the existing stores, however, dropped y 2.9%. But the gross sales of the existing stores increased by 6.2% as the average amount from one customer rose by 9.4%.

Meanwhile, at home UNIQLO did well with a thermal clothing HeaTetch and items for Fall and Winter up by 9% for a total sale of 780.1 billion yen or operating profits of 117.2 billion (+10.3%).

Apart from UNIQLO, the low-price brand G.u. brought home operating profits of 16.4 billion yen or 2.7 times the previous term. The roomy wear Gaucho Pants was also popular.

Commenting on China and its economic slowdown, Yanai said it is unlikely that China's economy should "go haywire". First Retailing will go on opening stores overseas also in August term, 2016, he says, targeting an aggregate sale of  1,900.0 billion yen (+13%) or operating profits of 200.0 billion yen (+21.6%).

Meanwhile, a day after on October 9 the company's stock price dropped 10% from 48,640 yen to 43,900 yen. In a nutshell, the stockholders had expected of the company a bit higher.