ngful steps towards meeting the company’s 2030 GHG targets. In line with the company’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its own store and office operations by 90 per cent by 2030 (compared to 2019 levels), the new Maebashi store incorporates a number of features designed to help minimise energy usage. In addition, the store also brings together a range of the newest lifestyle services, including a florist shop, cafe, and Japan’s first permanent Re.Uniqlo studio – the company’s repair, reuse, recycle and remake service. Energy saving features Through the integration of various types of energy-saving lighting fixtures and other technologies, the Uniqlo Maebashi store is expected to use around 40 per cent less electricity compared to conventional Uniqlo roadside stores. Energy generated from solar panels is also estimated to offset around 15 per cent of the total power consumption (based on a calculation by Uniqlo). Skylights reduce the need for energy from lighting, while the glass facades and eaves increase natural light. Air curtains, brightness and motion sensors all work towards reducing energy consumption for cooling and lighting too. CO2 and temperature sensors, as well as total heat exchangers, remove thermal energy from the store and transfer fresh air into the store depending on the density of people in the store.  The building’s exterior walls are made from recycled materials to reduce energy for cooling, while solar panels are expected to generate one-third of the energy for the annual consumption of the store. A lot to love The General Store’s head of retail and design Reid Nakou told Inside Retail it’s positive to see how Uniqlo have taken advantage of the site and freestanding nature of the store to introduce sustainability-sound initiatives that would otherwise be challenging within a more traditional shopping centre environment. “There is a lot to love about this store, both architecturally and from a retail and customer experience perspective,” Nakou told Inside Retail. “Uniqlo has been very strategic with the introduction of supporting uses to increase attraction, dwell time and visitation for customers. An immersive kid’s play environment, flower shop, and café all play a role in stretching the life cycle of the space and shopper journey.” He also feels that the Re:Uniqlo initiative is wonderful to see, particularly for a large-format retail player and he would love to see more of this in the market moving forward. Sustainability is challenging Nakou believes that sustainability can be a challenging initiative to implement for retailers, namely due to commercial pressures and productivity requirements of space.  Having said that, retailers are often the most innovative and agile in this space, particularly as it relates to consumption and the circular economy. “Relevant brands are beginning to think very differently about energy efficiency and environmental design, and as such are exploring sites and opportunities which enable them to implement this – much like what Uniqlo has done here,” he said. On the Re: Uniqlo addition, he feels that it’s an excellent initiative that speaks to culture, resonates with today’s customers and provides a sense of retail theatre to the customer experience. “Whilst sometimes challenging to execute commercially for smaller brands, what’s promising is that we’re seeing a sensibility to this across a variety of businesses, of all shapes and sizes,” he opined. Competing for customers’ time Other touches in the store from the flower shop, to the cafe and kids play areas are nice elements too, and Nakou thinks that at the end of the day, brands and businesses are competing for customers’ time. Furthermore, in this current economic and social climate, he feels customers are becoming even more demanding of these parallel experiences to both inspire and support their ever-changing needs.  Ultimately, Nakou thinks the store does a lot right in terms of elevating customer experience, design, and architecture. It puts experience first and feels authentic to Uniqlo as a brand – reflecting two key trends across the retail industry, experience and authenticity. “Further to this and an alternative approach on the rise is how brands that specialise in certain categories are collaborating across various sectors to create “mixed-use” retail environments, for example hospitality, agriculture and fashion coming together,” he added. Irrespective of scale and sector, he is of the opinion that the best retailers are the ones thinking beyond what they’ve traditionally delivered for their customers and executing it in a way which feels inspiring, exciting and memorable.