"Free Shipping on SSG and Product Discounts on Gmarket"
Integrated Membership 'Smile Club' Launches from May 12
Common Benefits like Discounts and Points + Exclusive Benefits Depending on Joining Platform
First Step in Building an 'Online-Offline Ecosystem' Connecting Affiliates
Offline Benefits to be Added Within the Year, Considering Partnerships with Leading Companies Outside the Group
[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The paid integrated membership service of SSG.com and Gmarket Global will launch on the 12th of next month. Shinsegae Group plans to use this as a starting point to actively build an 'online-offline ecosystem.'
By subscribing to the integrated membership, customers can receive free shipping, product discounts, and rewards on SSG.com as well as on Gmarket and Auction, operated by Gmarket Global. Additional benefits and costs vary depending on the subscription platform, allowing customers to choose the option that best suits their needs.
Shinsegae Group announced on the 27th that it will newly unveil the 'Integrated Membership' service based on these details and begin full-scale operations from May 12.
The name of the integrated membership will retain 'Smile Club,' the paid membership service first launched in 2017 by Gmarket Global (formerly eBay Korea), the first in the domestic e-commerce industry. The company explained that combining the loyalty of over 3 million customers with Shinsegae Group’s distribution capabilities will create a synergistic effect.
The integrated membership benefits are divided into 'common benefits' and platform-specific 'exclusive benefits.'
Common benefits are provided regardless of whether the membership is subscribed through SSG.com or Gmarket Global. On SSG.com, these include ▲5% rewards on grocery shopping products such as SSG Delivery and Dawn Delivery ▲one 10% discount coupon and three 5% discount coupons issued monthly for all products excluding grocery items. Gmarket Global offers ▲automatic free shipping on Gmarket and Auction Smile Delivery regardless of usage frequency ▲four monthly discount coupons of up to 12% for Gmarket and Auction. Additionally, ▲a size upgrade twice a month on Starbucks beverage purchases ▲exclusive sales of Starbucks e-frequency goods for membership customers are also provided to all members.
Furthermore, 'exclusive benefits' vary depending on which platform the membership service is subscribed through. SSG.com focuses on 'online grocery shopping' usage, while Gmarket Global emphasizes immediate subscription benefits.
When subscribing through SSG.com, customers pay 3,900 KRW per month and receive one free shipping coupon for grocery shopping and one 10% product discount coupon. Discounts of up to 10,000 KRW are available in all categories except grocery items, so including the free shipping benefit, the company explains that members receive at least 10,000 KRW worth of benefits monthly. Gmarket Global maintains its existing payback benefits. Customers subscribing through Gmarket and Auction pay an annual fee of 30,000 KRW and immediately receive 35,000 KRW worth of 'Smile Cash,' which can be used like cash when paying for products.
Starting with the launch of the integrated membership, point conversion between 'SSG Money' and 'Smile Cash' will also be implemented for the first time. SSG.com and Gmarket Global will add functions on their platforms to exchange SSG Money and Smile Cash at a 1:1 ratio. This enables Smile Cash, previously usable only on Gmarket and Auction, to be used across all Shinsegae Group online and offline channels. SSG Money earned through online and offline channels can also be converted into Smile Cash.
To commemorate the launch of the integrated membership, special benefits are prepared for new subscribers. All new members will receive a 3-month YouTube Premium subscription, and the first 100,000 subscribers per company will additionally receive a Starbucks Americano beverage coupon. Until August, all SSG.com membership customers will receive one free shipping coupon and one 10% discount coupon for grocery shopping as a bonus.
A Shinsegae Group official said, "The integrated membership is the first signal to activate synergy between SSG.com and Gmarket Global," adding, "Ultimately, an 'online-offline ecosystem' connecting various affiliates of Shinsegae Group will be established."
Leveraging Shinsegae Group’s strength in offline channels and supporting infrastructure, SSG.com and Gmarket Global, as well as Shinsegae Department Store, E-Mart, Starbucks, and other diverse content and assets, will be organically connected. The goal is to build a 'Shinsegae Universe' where customers’ online and offline daily lives are all resolved within Shinsegae.
Shinsegae Group plans to gradually expand the scope of benefits after launching the integrated membership service. They intend to broadly add online and offline channel benefits by the end of this year. They are also considering comprehensive partnerships with leading companies outside Shinsegae Group.
A Shinsegae Group official said, "We established the integrated membership service by distinguishing common benefits and exclusive benefits, considering platform characteristics and customer demands," and added, "We will continuously upgrade the service so that members can enjoy VIP-level benefits anywhere online or offline with a single subscription."
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