"Weekend Crowds" Emart Ssuk Sale Hits 2.1x Sales "Home Run"

Emart SSG Sale Nationwide Stores Buzz from 18th to 20th
Sales Up 2.1 Times YoY, Exceeding Plan by 140%
Event Pork Belly and Neck Meat Sales 3.3 Billion KRW in 3 Days, Ipamran Sold Out
Major Food and Daily Necessities Like Ramen, Tuna Cans, Detergent Sales Up to 7 Times

Customers are shopping at Emart Seongsu in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the 20th, as the 'SSG Sale' celebrating the SSG Landers' victory continues. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Shinsegae Group's 'SSG Sale,' celebrating the SSG Landers' championship, has hit another home run. Among the 19 affiliates participating in the SSG Sale, Emart, the leading player, exceeded its planned sales by 140% over three days.

According to Emart on the 21st, sales during the three-day SSG Sale from the 18th to the 20th were 2.1 times higher than the same period last year (the third weekend of November). Emart prepared 230 tons of pork belly and pork neck, equivalent to a month's supply, and sold them at a 40% discount, recording sales of 3.3 billion KRW over the three days. The 60-pack eggs (30 eggs × 2 trays) prepared to stabilize grocery prices were completely sold out, driving a 160.7% increase in overall egg sales. Bagged ramen, offered as a buy 2 get 1 free deal, saw sales increase fivefold, while canned goods like tuna and whelk, sold as buy 1 get 1 free, increased sixfold. Household items such as detergents, paper products, toothpaste, and shampoo, all offered with buy 1 get 1 free or 50% discounts, saw sales rise from four to as much as seven times compared to the previous year.

As news spread that Emart was holding a 'generous sale' with major products at up to half price to celebrate the SSG Landers' championship, major Emart stores nationwide were bustling throughout the weekend. Emart sold key food items and essential household goods at the lowest prices of the year during the three-day SSG Sale. As a result, major Emart stores experienced 'open runs,' with large crowds gathering even before opening, creating scenes of packed stores. Due to the influx of customers, shopping carts placed at store entrances ran out, causing customers to wait. At the Incheon Yeonsu branch, the store temporarily closed its shutters and restricted customer entry on the morning of the 18th due to the overwhelming crowd. Afterwards, customers were admitted in groups of 100, and normal operations resumed in the afternoon. During peak hours, checkout lines extended around the entire store.

Customers are shopping at the Emart Yongsan Station branch in Seoul on the 18th, when the 'SSG Sale' celebrating the SSG Landers' victory of Shinsegae Group began. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Customers entering the stores targeted key discounted products while holding flyers. As a result, eggs, pork belly, and pork neck sold out in major stores by mid-morning. Shine Muscat grapes and tangerines, offered at up to half price, were loaded fully into shopping carts. Popular 'buy 1 get 1 free' items like canned tuna quickly disappeared from shelves. Every corner was crowded, and staff were busy restocking items frequently. A clerk organizing household product sets at Emart Mapo branch in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 18th said, "There has never been a day with such good sales," adding, "We are extremely busy restocking the sold-out items."

Although the event was nominally held as an 'SSG Landers Championship Celebration,' Emart's ability to attract customers exploded, leading to a successful marketing outcome. The professional baseball team won the championship, and Emart's sales surged, achieving two goals at once.

Some customers noted that certain items discounted by 50% or offered as buy 1 get 1 free were not significantly different from usual sale prices. However, throughout the weekend, reviews using the keyword 'SSG Sale' were actively shared, with comments such as "Pork neck was sold out at the OO store," "I went shopping at the supermarket in person for the first time in a while," and "I bought many unplanned items due to the half-price discounts."

Emart stated, "Before the SSG Sale, we issued safety guidelines to all stores and thoroughly prepared to create a safe shopping environment," adding, "We believe the event was especially popular because it focused on frequently purchased food items and essential household goods."