Carnations, Gold Bars, Jukeboxes... Convenience Stores Become Gift Purchase Destinations

CU, Flower Sales Up 57.7% Year-on-Year
GS25 Launches Over 100 Planned Products
Emart24 Sells 2.98 Million Karaoke Boxes

Convenience stores are emerging as popular destinations for purchasing gifts during Family Month. In the past, people had to visit department stores or large supermarkets, but now it is an era where gold bars, luxury goods, health supplements, and home appliances can be purchased at the nearest retail channel to one’s home.

Carnation Gold Bar sold at GS25.
[Photo by GS Retail]

According to CU on the 3rd, flower sales increased by 57.7% from April 25 to May 1 compared to the previous year. During the same period, toy sales rose by 101.9%, fancy goods by 279.2%, and party supplies by 35.7%. CU introduced about 20 character collaboration products for Children’s Day. Notable items include Baby Shark mini cars, Pok?mon face figures, Pikachu automatic bubble guns, Jjanggu mini cars, and Esther Bunny random keyrings, which were exclusively sold and pre-launched by the company. For Parents’ Day, CU is selling carnation artificial and fresh flowers, red ginseng, and massage chairs.

GS25 prepared about 100 planned products for Family Month. In line with the recent trend of gold preference, they are selling two types of carnation gold bars weighing 3.75g (415,000 KRW) and 7.5g (804,000 KRW). General gold bar products are available in various weights ranging from 1g to 37.5g (141,000 KRW to 3,925,000 KRW). Customers can pre-order and pay for the carnation gold bars at a nearby store and receive delivery to their designated location within about seven days.

At 7-Eleven, sales of Family Month gifts increased by 50% compared to the previous year. In particular, toy sales such as Sanrio figure stamps and Secret Cute Tank Rings surged by 120%, and health supplements doubled. Unique products include two limited-edition pure gold items: a gold carnation badge and a Year of the Rabbit gold bar. Additionally, about 50 products such as Korean beef gift sets, carnation money boxes, Apple tablets, and luxury wallets are available for pre-order.

Emart24 saw high sales growth rates in pure gold products (76%), meat gift sets (53%), and fruit gift sets (34%). Popular products include the Cosyma massage chair (ranging from 1.5 million to 2.3 million KRW), Fuji Nikon Coolpix camera (around 990,000 KRW), and Lesporink Plus foldable premium bicycle (around 250,000 KRW). This year, Emart24 partnered with TJ (Taejin), a karaoke equipment specialist, to launch the Karaoke Box for the first time, which sold one unit. The product includes the TJ B2 accompaniment device, monitor, high-power amplifier, speakers, wired microphone, remote control, mirror ball, and songbook, allowing users to enjoy singing indoors with soundproofing. The Karaoke Box is available in three types: single-person (2.98 million KRW), two-person (3.48 million KRW), and three to four-person (3.98 million KRW).

A convenience store industry official said, “With the sale of high-priced items such as gold bars and electric vehicles, we continue to introduce unique high-end products,” adding, “We will continue to offer various products and events to establish ourselves as the closest and most friendly shopping platform.”