Retail/Muji first opening in Isan

Editorial staff

Central Khon Kaen reinforces its number one lifestyle destination by partnering with Muji, a leading Japanese brand, to open its first branch in the Northeast, or Isan.

SET-listed Central Pattana Plc (CPN), the operator of Central shopping plazas, has joined forces with Muji, a leading global lifestyle brand from Japan, to fulfill a comprehensive shopping experience to its customers.

Muji store has opened its latest new branch today as the first in the heart of the Northeast. This marks the 36th branch in Thailand, covering an area of over 1,700 square meters and featuring more than 5,000 products.

Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, CPN’s chief marketing officer, said that Khon Kaen province has the second-largest economy in the northeastern region. According to the latest statistics, the province's Gross Provincial Product (GPP) is valued at 213 billion baht, while the GPP per capita is 492,000 baht per year (based on the current population of 432,783 people).
It ranks as the 16th largest economy in the country and the 2nd in the Northeast.

Additionally, Khon Kaen's strategic location in the heart of the Northeast, along with its comprehensive transportation system—including major highways, the Khon Kaen railway station, and the Khon Kaen International Airport with daily flights from Bangkok and other provinces—adds to its economic significance.

Muji's mission is to become a community hub in each area they serve, aligning with Central Pattana's business approach of developing spaces to be more than just real estate.

The unique decor of the Muji store at Central Khon Kaen maintains the design concept of "simplicity." Upon entering the store, customers will experience a natural and warm atmosphere that feels relaxing, like being at home. The store offers a comprehensive range of products designed to cater to every lifestyle, with over 5,000 items to choose from.

These include a clothing section for men, women, and children, featuring simple and comfortable fabrics with a distinctive style. A home goods and furniture and snacks and food section also provide at this branch.

The store continues to emphasize prominent, organized, and clean product displays, using decor and lighting that create a warm and friendly atmosphere. This ensures customers can enjoy a seamless shopping experience. The interior design is a key strategy that Muji employs consistently across all its stores worldwide.
Additionally, there is a brand-new zone called the “Muji Community Market” which provides space for local community shops to sell unique and exclusive items that cannot be found elsewhere, all free of charge.

The Community Market will rotate its shops every month to ensure variety and prevent monotony, while also providing equal opportunities for small businesses.

In the future, Muji plans to collaborate with community enterprises to help solve problems, enhance, and add value to local products and materials. The ultimate goal is to support job creation, career development, and income generation for the community, which will lead to sustainable economic stimulation for Khon Kaen province and the surrounding region.

Akihiro Kamogari managing director of Muji Retail (Thailand) Co, said that the company has been operating in Thailand for 18 year. Since 2021, Muji Thailand has been implementing a strategy to expand into provincial areas, covering all major cities. This has increased Muji’s recognition and reach a wider and more diverse customer base.

In 2024, Muji will accelerate its expansion across all regions to . become the leading lifestyle brand truly beloved by Thais.

Muji at Central Khon Kaen is the 36th branch in Thailand and the first in the Northeast. Khon Kaen is a high-potential province, a major city in the Northeast with unique cultural characteristics and a large population.

Muji aims to make this regional expansion a significant step in increasing brand and product awareness among Thais.

Besides Khon Kaen, Muji will soon open a branch in Udon Thani and plans to renovate existing branches. The renovation will expand the space into a big-size model to accommodate more products and new services from Japan.