Uniqlo US to offer clothes via vending machines

Japanese casualwear brand Uniqlo plans to begin rolling out vending machines for clothing in airports and malls across the US.

The Wall Street Journal says Uniqlo intends to introduce at least 10 of the machines by the end of this month, specifically targeting high-foot-traffic cities like New York and Houston, and possible the international terminals at JFK airport in New York.

Uniqlo is not releasing details, though Uniqlo US marketing chief Marisol Tamaro has hinted that the machines will include “heat-retaining shirts and lightweight down jackets”.

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“At the airport you don’t have a lot of time to wait in line and explore a store,” she says, noting the convenience of just pressing a few buttons to get the items should have major appeal to travellers in a hurry.

“We’re trying to understand where we can be more successful without making a big commitment.”

Uniqlo says its 1.8m vending machines will offer clothing items in boxes and cans. Buyers can return items they don’t like under the same conditions as if they had been bought in a regular store.

Uniqlo has previously offered vending machines in other countries as part of marketing strategies.

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