Integrated Platform Construction in February
Expansion of Sales Channels for Local Agricultural Specialties
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Pohang City will establish an integrated platform between the 'Pohang City Agricultural Specialties Shopping Mall Pohang Market' and the 'Gyeongbuk Province Agricultural Specialties Shopping Mall Saiseo' in February, expanding online sales of local agricultural specialties.
On the 8th, the city held a business briefing at the Pohang Agricultural Education Center attended by more than 60 representatives of related companies, where they presented best practices of the integrated platform, provided a full guide on the Pohang Market homepage and system overhaul, and conducted creator training.
Pohang Market, Pohang City's online shopping mall, has faced difficulties in developing sales channels in metropolitan areas such as Seoul and Gyeonggi, as well as in product branding and marketing with large shopping malls like Naver and Coupang. However, with the establishment of the integrated platform between Pohang Market and Saiseo Mall, it is expected that the sales channels for local agricultural, marine, and specialty products will expand through securing diverse consumer groups aged 20 to 50, increasing metropolitan area members, and expanding partnerships with large shopping malls.
Existing vendors can now manage products sold on both Pohang Market and Saiseo through a single administrator site, and consumers can easily purchase products from both malls using one main ID, enhancing user convenience.
The city plans to strengthen the competitiveness of registered farms through the integrated platform and aims to increase sales by providing Pohang Market gift certificates as return gifts for the 'Hometown Love Donation System,' which is being implemented for the first time this year.
Baek Sung-gyu, Director of the Agricultural Food Distribution Division, said, "We will strengthen promotions in metropolitan areas such as Seoul and Gyeonggi to expand sales channels for excellent agricultural specialties and raise the awareness of Pohang Market. We will promote Pohang’s outstanding agricultural specialties nationwide to contribute to increasing farm income."
Since its launch in 2013, Pohang Market's sales last year reached approximately 900 million KRW, a 400% increase compared to the previous year. This year, with the establishment of the Saiseo Mall integrated platform, the goal is to achieve 2.5 billion KRW in sales. Currently, there are 100 registered vendors selling about 1,200 items including agricultural, marine, livestock, and processed products.
The provincial Saiseo Mall has sales of 38.2 billion KRW, 86,746 members, 1,821 registered farms, and about 10,552 registered products. Currently, 11 cities and counties have established integrated platforms with the provincial Saiseo Mall.
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