Convenience Stores are More Than Meets the Eye
South Korean convenience stores offers unique products and services in collaboration with sports, education and finance companies to attract more customers. Emart24 has started selling a shipping container equipped with a screen golf range, called "Swing Cube," for 58 million won ($45,651) from April 27, which can be purchased at any of its convenience stores in the country. Customers can set up the screen golf container at any outdoor spot, such as a garden or a vacation home. "Of course, we are not getting a lot of orders for Swing Cube yet because it is so expensive, but many operators of hotels and other lodging services are inquiring about the product. It is drawing the interest of people," an Emart24 official said.
The country's top convenience store brand, CU, has introduced an instant noodle product with Etoos, a local education service firm, which offers 5,000 won worth of e-coupons for students to take online classes in various subjects. The item was designed to target high school students during their midterm and final exam periods. "The product was designed to support young students while promoting our cup noodle, which is a favorite snack among teenagers at conveniences stores. We made the food sweet and salty to suit their palates," a CU official said.
A customer purchases a luxury product at a Seven Eleven store in Seoul on April 28. (Courtesy of Lotte Duty Free)
Seven Eleven is offering a maximum 50 percent discount on luxury products sold on its mobile shopping platform. The convenience store joined hands with Lotte Duty Free to target customers in their 20s and 30s, who have become important customers in the local luxury goods market. "In order to survive in a saturated market, local convenience stores are introducing various collaborative products, which aim to create synergy with other industries," a convenience store firm official said.
Source: Kim Jae-heun from The Korea Times
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