Increased Demand for 'Self-Interior' Due to COVID-19 Boosts Visits to Building Material Specialty Stores
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] The growth of specialty stores for interior and building materials is steep. This is analyzed to be due to the increased time spent at home caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), leading to a continuous rise in demand for home repairs and self-interior projects.
The 'DIY (Do It Yourself)' group, who prefer to repair or renovate their homes themselves, contributes to sales growth by visiting specialty stores for interior and building materials in person.
KCC HomeCC Interior, 30,000 Items, Workshop and Classes Open
Recently, KCC's 'HomeCC Interior' and Eugene Group's 'Ace Hardware,' which operate large stores targeting these customers' tastes, have been competing in sales. HomeCC Interior operates two large stores: the Incheon branch, opened in June 2010, and the Ulsan branch, opened in 2016, as well as eight showrooms that do not sell products, under the concept of a comprehensive department store for building materials and interior.
HomeCC Interior was created with the purpose of providing a marketplace where small-scale interior companies, responsible for partial repairs or construction that cannot purchase many materials at once, can easily buy materials. Recently, influenced by COVID-19, it has become a playground for DIY enthusiasts and a landmark leading the trend of specialized shopping culture for building interiors.
The HomeCC Interior stores are stocked with over 30,000 various interior materials, ranging from basic interior-related products such as wood and tools to adhesives, hardware, paint, electrical supplies, lighting fixtures, bathroom materials, tiles, flooring, wallpaper, interior accessories, furniture, windows and finishing materials, as well as blinds and curtains.
Moreover, the store offers various services for DIY enthusiasts. There are large workshops dedicated to DIY and DIY classes are held. They also provide a service to cut wood to the desired size. From interior concepts to selecting materials and furniture, built-in appliances, and ordering construction, everything can be resolved one-stop within the store.
A KCC official stated, "Sales in the first half of this year jumped 34% compared to the previous year, and sales in the interior kitchen sector soared by a whopping 1384%," adding, "Despite the recent COVID-19 situation, the number of customers visiting the store to browse and purchase has significantly increased, making it a local shopping landmark."
Eugene Affiliate Ace Hardware, Also Equipped with Cleaning Supplies and Gardening Corner
Eugene Group's affiliate Ace Hardware has operated five stores nationwide, including Geumcheon, Mokdong, Yongsan, Goyang Ilsan, and Namyangju Toegyewon branches, since partnering in 2018 with the world's largest home improvement company in the housing renovation sector, the U.S.-based 'Ace Hardware.'
They offer about 40,000 products across more than 10 categories such as interior and building materials, tools, paint, and hardware. Recently, due to the resurgence of COVID-19, they have separately operated a 'Cleaning Zone' gathering hygiene and cleaning supplies, and depending on regional characteristics, also stock gardening and agricultural materials.
An Eugene Group official said, "Sales in the first half of this year rose 228% compared to the previous year, and just last month increased by 198%," adding, "Online registered customers exceeded 150,000 last month, and recently, the number of customers visiting stores mainly looking for DIY-related products for self-interior projects has greatly increased."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
