"Catch November Shoppers" ... Major Discount Events in Retail for 'Kosepe'

Lotte Department Store Offers 'Car' Prize by Lottery for L.Pay Payments
Convenience Store CU Gives Over Half of Products as 'Plus' Gifts
'e-Coupons' at Half Price on Gmarket and Auction

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Starting from the 1st of next month, the domestic retail industry will engage in full-scale discount competition to coincide with the country’s largest shopping event, the ‘Korea Sale Festa.’ With the transition to a ‘With Corona (gradual return to normal life)’ quarantine system, an increase in year-end shopping demand is also expected, prompting department stores, outlets, and online shopping malls to hold various online and offline promotional events and carry out consumer stimulation marketing.

Car Prizes Reappear at Department Stores

Lotte Department Store, celebrating its 42nd anniversary, is attracting customers’ attention with car prizes and up to 36% cashback events for ten days from the 29th of this month to the 7th of next month. After refraining from various offline events such as giveaways due to the spread of COVID-19 last year, the transition to With Corona is now being discussed, so this year’s anniversary event has prepared the largest scale of customer purchase benefits of the year along with various exclusive products. Customers who pay with L.Pay at offline stores will be entered into a draw to win a ‘Hyundai Motor Casper,’ and those who download a gift coupon from the Lotte Department Store application (app) will receive up to 36% of their purchase amount in mobile gift certificates.

Hyundai Department Store is supporting fashion companies’ sales channels by holding the ‘Korea Fashion Market Season 4’ event at The Hyundai Seoul, Trade Center branch, Sinchon branch, Daegu branch, and Premium Outlet Gimpo branch, selling over 60 fashion brands’ leftover products at up to 60% discount. Additionally, until the 14th of next month, membership customers who purchase over 200,000 KRW will receive 10,000 KRW, and those who purchase over 400,000 KRW will receive 20,000 KRW in points as shopping support funds. Eight outlet stores will offer an additional 10-20% discount on top of existing prices until the 7th of next month.

Shinsegae Department Store is also holding an event to support fashion companies’ sales channels on the basement first floor of Centum City until the 4th of next month, selling products from over 20 brands at up to 80% discount. From November 8 to 14, SSG.com will hold an ‘Outdoor Winter Cold Protection Sale’ offering up to 75% discount on popular outdoor brands such as Nepa, Millet, and The North Face, and winter bedding products and electric blankets will also be sold at up to 15% discount.

Convenience store CU is holding its largest budget-friendly event of the year, offering N+1 giveaways and discounts on more than 1,800 products. The number of ‘+1’ giveaway event products across all categories including food, beverages, and daily necessities has increased by 50% compared to last year, and customers who order rice, kimchi, fruit, meal kits, and home appliances through the ‘Pocket CU’ app will receive discounted prices plus free delivery by courier.

Dining Gift Certificates at Half Price

E-commerce companies have also prepared their largest events of the year targeting the November shopping season.

Gmarket and Auction will release 360,000 random discount coupons ranging from 20% to 50% ahead of the ‘Big Smile Day’ event from the 1st to the 12th of next month. They will also sell popular brand e-coupons such as ‘Paris Baguette Happy Order Delivery 5,000 KRW voucher,’ Ediya Coffee, Baskin Robbins, Twosome Place, and Egg Drop at half price.

11st will feature a total of 80 popular brands, from top brands like Samsung, LG Electronics, and Apple to Amorepacific, Fila, and Pulmuone, in its ‘11th Festival’ held from November 1 to 11. During the event, 11st will conduct 121 live broadcasts daily, offering ‘Time Deal Specials,’ ‘100 KRW Deals,’ and ‘11st Exclusive Deals’ available only at the Amazon Global Store every hour.

An e-commerce industry official said, “This year, shopping demand is expected to increase significantly with the year-end peak season and the With Corona atmosphere. We will provide customers with more benefits by greatly increasing products related to fashion clothing, cosmetics, cold-weather goods, as well as travel and dining compared to last year.”