UNIQLO moves Chip & PIN into 5th Gear

Fleet, Hampshire, November 9th 2005: UNIQLO, the leading Japanese retailer of casual clothing, has completed the implementation of a new ADSL network to speed up Chip & PIN transaction times across all eight of its UK stores including two new stores in Wandsworth and Bromley. As the long-term in-store solution provider for UNIQLO, Itim worked with its partners, The Logic Group and TFM Networks, to provide a new Internet Protocol (IP) MPLS based managed service for card payments.

The IP based managed service supplied by Itim enabled UNIQLO to move from using ISDN lines to extending its existing TFM ADSL network to support payment connectivity and On Line Authorisation over IP. Whilst this brought immediate cost savings, The Logic Group’s Managed Network Service offering completed the solution by managing the translation of store payment transactions over IP into X25, a service accepted and preferred by the bank. This resulted in further cost savings and reduced transaction times.

Speaking about the solution Mark Bulmer, property & IT manager at UNIQLO said: “The new system has not only dramatically reduced our costs by nearly 90% per store per year but has also enabled a much faster transaction time. In addition, the solution has enabled a much-improved service level and single points of failure have been removed. It is vital for us to get this right now, in line with our expansion plans for 2006. Most importantly, these changes at the centre have noticeably improved staff and customer satisfaction in each of the stores.”

Simon Curtis, MD of Itim is delighted with the success of this latest UNIQLO project and sees the implementation as an indication of emerging market trends. He comments: “We're seeing strong demand for IP networking solutions from our customers. Our clients are increasingly looking to process card transactions through these new networking options. We are pleased to be able to work with our strategic partners for payment systems and to provide customers with the benefits of modern communications whilst satisfying bank security concerns." Logic Group Marketing Director Mark McMurtrie concurs, adding “Forward thinking retailers like UNIQLO have recognised the financial savings available and the efficiency improvements they can gain by upgrading to modern networking.”

Note to Editors

About the Logic Group
The Logic Group manages information and transactions securely for large and medium sized businesses across its European home market. The company delivers unrivalled business value to its customers through the secure provision of card transaction processing and communications infrastructure services, together with delivering comprehensive management information and customer insight.

The group has won a number of major awards including the 2005 Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the central role it played in the UK roll-out of EMV Chip & PIN.

www.the-logic-group.com

About Itim
Originally a retail consultancy company founded in 1993, Itim established its technology solutions business in 2000. Itim is now positioned to become one of the most exciting specialist providers of end-to-end retail and supply chain solutions. Itim’s head office is based in London, with regional development centres in Plymouth, Huntingdon and Hull. The company is backed by the leading venture Capital groups 3i and Foresight Venture Partners. Itim offers an impressive suite of integrated solutions, which include:

•	The highly acclaimed Chameleon EPoS solution
•	Reflex Merchandise Management
•	Tradewind and Tradeledger for electronic collaboration across the supply chain
•	Zygon which provides rich Product Information Management (PIM) across the retail enterprise

Itim solutions are used by many leading UK and international brands such as Halfords, Argos, Brantano, Ottakar’s, Whitbread, McDonalds, Pizza Express and Harvey Nichols.

For further information, contact:
Linda Meehan, Marketing and Customer Relations Manager

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7598 7700
Email: info@itim.com
Web: www.itim.com

About TFMNetworks
TFM Networks is a Virtual Network Operator (VNO) that has built an impressive client list of blue-chip customers. Being first to market is no guarantee of quality - but experience and heritage isn't a bad start!! By deploying our first VPN in June 1999, before the mainstream telcos had woken to the power of enterprise IP networking, we established a key principle. It's not ownership of technology and the network that adds client value but the mastery of its capability and its alignment with purpose - YOURS! As Internet Protocol (IP) rapidly predominates in the application environment, it makes increasing sense to employ the same IP technology throughout your network.

TFM Networks is a rapidly growing company showing 100% year on year growth since 2003, without ever losing that personal touch that all our customer delight in. Today, with the benefit of experience and expertise, our principles are to design, deploy, and manage cost-effective, client-centric network solutions.

For further information, contact:
Email: sales@tfmnetworks.com
Telephone: 01844 296 530
Web: www.tfmnetworks.com

About UNIQLO
•	UNIQLO was established in 1981 and entered the UK market in 2001 selling high quality, casual clothing for men and women at affordable prices
•	The largest fashion retailer in Japan and the seventh largest in the world, UNIQLO has 700 stores in Japan*
•	UNIQLO UK has eight stores in Greater London: Regent Street, Oxford Street, Richmond, Wimbledon, Kingston, Croydon, Wandsworth and Bromley.
•	UNIQLO also has stores in China, Hong Kong, New York and South Korea.
•	UNIQLO UK plans to open more stores early next year within the M25
•	Tadashi Yanai is the founder, chairman and CEO of Fast Retailing (UNIQLO) and Masayuki Nagatake is Managing Director of UNIQLO UK Ltd.
•	In Autumn 2004, UNIQLO UK launched the Kaihara denim collection, selling premium quality Japanese denim - as used by many designer brands - starting from £19.99
•	In the same season, the UNIQLO cashmere campaign was launched with 100% pure cashmere sweaters in a range of colours and styles, starting from £39.99

Web: www.uniqlo.co.uk