Due to High Inflation... More Thrifty Shoppers Opt for Cost-Effective Chuseok Gifts and Pre-Order Discounts

30-40% Discount on Pre-Orders
Lotte Mart Sales Increase 20% This Month
Under 50,000 Won Sales Up 35% from Last Year
Homeplus Also Accounts for 90% of Total Sales

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] As soaring prices dampen consumer sentiment, cost-effective gift sets for Chuseok are gaining popularity. The number of thrifty shoppers seeking additional discounts through pre-orders has also increased.

According to Lotte Mart on the 30th, pre-order sales of Chuseok gift sets from the 1st to the 28th increased by 20% compared to the same period last year. Among these, gift sets priced under 50,000 won rose by 35% year-on-year. Currently, Lotte Mart offers apple and pear gift sets for under 30,000 won, with pre-sale performance jumping over 300% and 100% respectively compared to last year. Lotte Mart increased the proportion of gift sets priced under 50,000 won by about 10% from last year, making up more than half of all products.

Emart also saw a 47% increase in pre-order sales of Chuseok gift sets during the same period compared to the previous year. Among these, gift sets priced under 100,000 won accounted for 90% of reservations. The joint purchase gift set, introduced for the first time this year, sold out within three days of funding launch.

Homeplus reported an 18% increase in sales from the 21st of last month to the 21st of this month compared to the previous year since starting pre-order sales of Chuseok gift sets. Gift sets priced under 50,000 won accounted for 90% of total sales. Homeplus structured about 80% of its gift sets to be priced under 50,000 won.

The reason pre-orders are gaining popularity appears to be the gradual spread of practical consumption due to rising prices. Consumers can receive discounts of around 30-40% when pre-ordering. From the mart’s perspective, pre-orders allow for better forecasting of actual demand and early sales, creating a win-win situation for both customers and the industry.

An industry insider said, "As prices continue to rise, more consumers are looking for reasonably priced gift sets, and the industry is actively responding to this. Additionally, as the advantages of pre-ordering, such as discount benefits, become known, reservations from individual customers as well as companies are increasing recently."