Chilly Weather Boosts Outdoor Sports Popularity... GS25 Launches Padded Vests and Hot Packs

Release from the 19th

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As outdoor sports are expected to remain popular during the winter season, convenience stores are also expected to diversify their selection of cold-weather products.

GS25, a convenience store operated by GS Retail, announced on the 14th that it will exclusively launch a total of nine differentiated cold-weather products on the 19th, including ▲two types of Tottenham lightweight padded vests, ▲four types of Volvik cold-weather items, ▲and three types of Volvik hot packs.

The two Tottenham padded vests being introduced this time are products jointly developed by GS25 in collaboration with the apparel company SJ Trend. Officially licensed from Tottenham Hotspur FC, the team of player Son Heung-min, the padded vests were co-designed by both companies and made in the Tottenham brand’s signature melange navy color. The inside of the padding is designed with the Tottenham brand logo. Filled with 100% duck down, the product offers a lightweight feel and excellent warmth. It also comes with a packable pouch for easy storage and portability. The unisex product is available in two sizes, medium and large, priced at 24,900 KRW each.

Additionally, four cold-weather items including neck warmers and gloves, jointly planned with Korea’s leading golf brand Volvik, and three types of Volvik hot packs will be released. Following the success of six golf products such as premium vivid color golf balls launched through a business partnership between GS25 and Volvik, which saw sales double monthly from May to September, the lineup has been expanded to include essential winter outdoor sports items like cold-weather gear and hot packs. The four cold-weather items are priced between 7,000 KRW and 8,000 KRW, while the three hot packs are priced between 1,000 KRW and 1,200 KRW each.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the preference for outdoor sports over indoor activities is expected to continue during the winter season, and GS25 anticipates higher-than-usual interest in Volvik cold-weather products and hot packs. These products will be sequentially launched not only at GS25 but also at the supermarket GS The Fresh and the health & beauty (H&B) store Lalavla.

Lee Yoon-sung, MD in charge of the Life Living Team at GS Retail, said, "With sudden cold snaps and large daily temperature fluctuations of over 10 degrees recently, we have quickly introduced differentiated cold-weather products that were pre-planned for the winter season." He added, "As convenience stores have grown into consumer-centered platforms, customer demand for diverse products is increasing, so we will focus on diversifying our product offerings by continuously developing differentiated items."