Fast Retailing in Mercari deal, signals new approach to marketplaces

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Mar 18, 2021

Uniqlo, GU and Theory owner Fast Retailing has struck a deal with Japanese e-commerce marketplace Mercari that’s a significant one for both brand owners and consumers.

While marketplaces having struggled with intellectual property issues for years, the two have concluded a Memorandum on Marketplace Co-creation. Under this, both companies will “jointly pursue a range of measures aimed at establishing a safer and more secure environment for the buying and selling of Fast Retailing Group brand products on the Mercari marketplace”.

The company said its brand products are widely traded on the Mercari marketplace app, with Uniqlo items being the most listed and purchased brand for the last three years. 

The deal means the firm will "closely cooperate to create an environment in which all users can obtain the products they want, anyplace and anytime”. They said that “by sharing product and launch information beforehand, and at the time of release for special new products, issuing reminders to customers and taking measures to counter rights-infringing products, the two companies aim to avoid confusion for their customers, and establish a safer and more secure trading environment”.

Importantly too, following consultation with Fast Retailing “and for special products that are subject to agreement, [Mercari will] take steps to remove listings that are against the Mercari terms of service”.

And Fast Retailing said it will also cooperate with other marketplace providers “to ensure a pleasant shopping environment for customers”.