The Gift Set Market Changed by COVID-19...Consumers Choose Red Ginseng Over Cooking Oil

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] It has been revealed that the demand for health food gift sets has significantly increased due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to Emart on the 14th, an analysis of pre-order sales of Lunar New Year gift sets from December 24 last month to January 12 this year showed that sales of health food gift sets grew by 374.4% compared to the previous year.

Since the last Chuseok holiday, demand for health food gift sets has greatly increased due to COVID-19, and for the first time, health food gift sets surpassed seasoning gift sets to achieve the second highest sales. Seasoning gift sets have been popular gifts ranking first or second in sales since the Lunar New Year holiday in 2015.

In response to this trend, Emart is offering a total of 57 types of health food gift sets during the Lunar New Year gift set pre-order period (12.24~1.31). This is more than four times the 14 types offered during last Lunar New Year’s pre-order period.

Benefits for purchasing health food gift sets have also been greatly expanded. Emart planned ultra-low price sets selling the 'Hurum Daily Habit Night Pumpkin & Morning Apple' products at a 50% discount when purchased with event cards, and is running a ‘1+1 promotion’ for five types of ‘Green Cross Wellbeing Extract Sets’ and three types of ‘Dongwon Cheonjihin Sets.’

Additionally, for major products with high customer preference such as red ginseng and wild ginseng cultured extracts, planned quantities have been increased up to twice as much, and the operation of new products such as the ‘Momenyong Nokyong Set 4 types,’ first introduced last Chuseok, has been expanded.

Meanwhile, Emart is also increasing the quantity and expanding sales of the 'Hygiene Gift Sets' first introduced last Chuseok. For this Lunar New Year, they planned to sell 30,000 units, three times the 10,000 units sold last Chuseok.

Kim Ga-eun, Emart’s health food buyer, said, “Interest in health has increased due to COVID-19, and health and hygiene-related products are gaining popularity. During this Lunar New Year pre-order period, we have greatly increased quantities and benefits to prepare various health food products at reasonable prices.”