Carrot Market Biz Profile Promoting Local Shops
A Supporter Leading Growth for Startups and Small Business Owners
Jang Jun-hyun, who runs the flower shop 'Drop Flower' in Songpa-gu, Seoul, has secured over 1,000 regular customers through 'Danggeun Market.' This was achieved via the 'Biz Profile' feature that promotes neighborhood stores on Danggeun Market. As the number of regulars who continuously receive store updates increased, Drop Flower became a popular shop with lines forming despite the recent decline in flower consumption. Jang said, "I upload daily changing flower prices on the Biz Profile," adding, "We highlight the advantage of being able to sell flowers at affordable prices depending on the season."
Startup services are fostering small business owners. They promote stores located in less frequented areas and connect them to global markets to sell products. They also provide information so that small business owners can focus solely on their business without worrying about cumbersome marketing or complex administrative procedures. Although startups are new companies, they act as growth enablers for small business owners.
On the 9th, Danggeun Market announced that nearly 700,000 local small business owners are currently communicating with regional consumers through Biz Profile. Biz Profile is an online space on Danggeun Market that promotes stores. As a region-based secondhand trading service, Danggeun Market launched Biz Profile in 2021 to help consumers find local businesses more easily. Here, local residents can become 'regulars,' receive updates, and stores can issue coupons for use in-store. In the first year of the service, 340,000 stores signed up for Biz Profile, but this number has nearly doubled this year. According to Danggeun Market, word of mouth among self-employed people says it is effective for gathering regular customers. A Danggeun Market representative explained, "In the case of flower shops, the types and prices of flowers vary depending on the season and weather, and Biz Profile is used as a channel to deliver this news promptly."
There are also startups supporting small business owners in securing overseas sales channels. Linkshops, which connects merchants and sellers in the domestic fashion wholesale market, exported approximately 200,000 types of clothing last year. A representative example is their partnership with China's global fashion commerce platform 'Aikuchun' to export domestic small business products. The cumulative number of Dongdaemun wholesale small business vendors receiving overseas orders through Linkshops is 2,300, with over 1 million orders in total. In the first half of last year, actual exports were made to 23 countries, and this number increased to 39 countries earlier this year.
Korea Credit Data, which operates the management service 'Cash Note,' launched a content service for small business owners called 'Sajangnim 119' this month. It provides essential know-how from experts in various fields such as taxation, branding, marketing, and policies necessary for small business operations. The service delivers helpful information and know-how to small business owners daily. Son Seong-jun, head of content business at Korea Credit Data, said, "Many small business owners spend time and money to acquire useful know-how for their business but found it difficult to obtain satisfactory information," adding, "We will continue to introduce various content and services that can solve the concerns of small business owners."
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