Illum Castanets, Sales Double Due to Increase in Petkokjok

A staged cut of Illum's 'Castanets'. From the left in the photo, 'Bookshelf Cat Tower', 'Hammock Sofa Table', 'Pet Sofa Set'. [Photo by Illum]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Il룸, the home furniture brand of the Persis Group, announced on the 16th that sales of its pet furniture series "Castanets" have approximately doubled before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the number of "Petcokjok"?people spending time at home with their pets?increased due to COVID-19, the pet market is growing. Interest from consumers in Il룸's pet furniture series Castanets, launched in November last year, has also increased compared to before the spread of COVID-19. The prolonged stay-at-home period has led to increased demand for pet furniture and interior items that enable a happier life with pets, which is believed to have influenced the sales of Il룸 Castanets.

Il룸 Castanets is a pet furniture series designed for a better life shared by people and their pets. It features natural colors and designs that satisfy pet owners' interior tastes, and is stably designed reflecting pets' behavioral characteristics, allowing both owners and pets to use it together. The Castanets series consists of five products: "Bookshelf Cat Tower," "Stair-type Hideout," "Desk Step," "Hammock Sofa Table," and "Pet Sofa Set."

Il룸 Castanets has shown about a twofold sales growth since the end of February when COVID-19 began to spread in earnest (comparing orders from December 2019 to February 2020 with those from March to May 2020).

The "Bookshelf Cat Tower," which combines bookshelf and cat tower functions for versatile use, has maintained steady popularity since its launch. The Desk Step and Hammock Sofa Table saw sales increase by 330% and 200%, respectively, as remote work increased and people spent more time at home due to COVID-19.

The Desk Step is a mini cat tower placed next to the owner's desk to increase interaction time with pets, while the Hammock Sofa Table creates a cozy space under the table where pets can rest comfortably, making it a table for both people and animals to use together.

Another factor contributing to its popularity is that from the early stages of product development, Il룸 collaborated with in-house pet caretakers, its own research institute, and incorporated feedback from the creator of the cat YouTube channel "Kim Meju and Cats." Actively reflecting actual users' opinions led to a warm response from pet owners, known as "Jipsa" (caretakers), after the product launch.

Riding on this popularity, Il룸 is planning a second lineup of the Castanets series in collaboration with the "Kim Meju and Cats" creator and cat specialist veterinarian Dr. Noh Jin-hee. A related video was released on the "Kim Meju and Cats" YouTube channel on the 14th, raising expectations for the new Castanets.

An Il룸 official said, "Il룸 Castanets was developed to create a happier daily life for families living with pets and to make pet life at home more convenient amid the increase caused by COVID-19. Going forward, Il룸 will continue to research and strive to approach consumers not just as a furniture brand but as a lifestyle-leading brand."

Meanwhile, Il룸's Castanets series is available at the Il룸 online shopping mall and major Il룸 stores nationwide.