Spikes Asia names Uniqlo Advertiser of the Year 2010

The award will be presented to Uniqlo senior vice-president Naoki Otoma (pictured) during Spikes Asia's awards ceremony taking place on Tuesday 21 September at the Esplanade theatre in Singapore.

According to a Spikes Asia release, the advertiser has "set itself apart through the quality of its campaigns with consistently high creative communications whilst encouraging and nurturing innovative marketing techniques produced by their agencies across the Asia-Pacific region."

Spikes Asia chairman Terry Savage added, “Without doubt, Uniqlo wholeheartedly embrace and encourage creative thinking. From working at the very core of creativity alongside artists, designers and musicians through to taking onboard the ground-breaking marketing ideas produced by their agencies, Uniqlo are not afraid to push the boundaries when promoting its products.”

Initially launched as men's clothing shop 'Ogori Shoji in 1949, the name Uniqlo was born following the opening of a unisex casual wear store called 'Unique Clothing Warehouse' in Hiroshima.

The first urban store was opened in Tokyo during 1988 following by domestic and international expansion to over 900 stores worldwide today. Currently Japan's leading retail chain in terms of sales and profits, Uniqlo now operates in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, United Kingdon, France, United States, Singapore and Russia.

In 1997, Uniqlo adopted the SPA (speciality store retailer of private label apparel) strategy meaning they would exclusively produce and sell their own clothing, controlling every aspect of their business.

Uniqlo won its first Cannes Lion in 2007 followed by a Cannes Lion Grand Prix in 2008. The leading Japanese retailer picked up a further three Spikes Asia awards last year.

Otoma commented, “It is indeed a great honour and a pleasure to receive this award. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the festival organisers for seeing fit to recognise Uniqlo with this highest honour for our advertising efforts in Asia."

We will continue to actively communicate, with innovation and humour, to make the lives of people better worldwide. We hope that you will look forward to our future activities as we continue with our mission of 'Changing clothes. Changing conventional wisdom. Change the world',” he added.

Spikes Asia will be attended by close to 1,000 people from 23 countires from 19 to 21 September in Singapore. The number of delegates continues to grow daily. Click here for more information.