Outdoor Activity Restrictions Boost Outdoor Furniture Specialty
Products Like Pyeongsang More Than Double Growth
Increased Sales of Laptops and Desks Due to Extended Remote Work
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] Outdoor furniture is selling like hotcakes due to the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This appears to be because more people staying at home (who mainly live at home) are creating relaxation spaces by utilizing areas such as apartment balconies, house yards, and rooftops instead of outdoor activities.
According to Gmarket on the 16th, the total sales volume of outdoor furniture in the past month increased by 43% compared to the same period last year. Specifically, sales of one of the representative outdoor furniture items, flat benches, rose by 61% compared to the same period last year. Outdoor tables and bench chairs also sold 19% and 25% more, respectively. Swing chairs, popular in households with children, also saw a 13% increase in sales during the same period, and especially, assembly-type storage sheds, which can store bulky miscellaneous items, showed an increase of more than double (116%).
Among the popular products on Gmarket is the ‘Ibestar Outdoor Flat Bench (188,100 KRW)’, which offers a countryside atmosphere at an affordable price. It is a semi-assembled product made from European natural wood. The tabletop is smooth, waterproof, and insect-resistant, and is made without gaps, making it comfortable to sit or lie on. The ‘Rattan Combi Outdoor Table Set (63,000 KRW)’ is also useful as a home cafe item in small spaces such as balconies. It is a set of indoor/outdoor tables and chairs with good aesthetics and durability.
A Gmarket official explained, “As outdoor activities are restricted, it seems that people are trying to create spaces at home where they can lift their spirits,” adding, “This demand is expected to continue for the time being until COVID-19 stabilizes.”
A similar trend appeared on Auction. Sales of outdoor chairs increased by 22%, and assembly-type storage sheds sold 42% more. An Auction official said, “There are items that are selling better than before due to COVID-19, and besides outdoor furniture, IT devices and desks are also popular.”
In fact, Rethink Mall announced that sales of IT and laptop device product groups reached about 2 billion KRW in the past two weeks. This is double the amount compared to the previous two weeks. The company explained that the demand for IT devices increased due to the continuation of social distancing, online classes, and telecommuting. Desks are also selling like hotcakes. On G9, adult desks sold 58% more and children's desks 31% more in the past month compared to the same period last year.
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