CU, GS25 Prepare Over 700 Gift Sets
Seven Eleven and Emart24 Increase Cost-Effective Products
The convenience store industry has launched a gift set sales campaign ahead of Chuseok next month. Reflecting segmented consumer trends, the offerings range from cost-effective gifts to high-end whiskey, premium golf clubs, gold bars, and mobile homes, attracting attention.
According to CU, a convenience store operated by BGF Retail, last year's Chuseok gift set sales increased by 11% compared to the previous year. Gift sets from various categories such as electronics (153%), alcoholic beverages (45%), health foods (40%), and daily necessities (31%) were sold.
Unique Premium Gifts from 500 Million Won Whiskey to Mobile Homes
CU offers about 700 types of Chuseok gift sets by diversifying items by category. The most notable feature is the introduction of 'Loconomy' products in partnership with nationally famous restaurants. These include eight locations: Mongtan in Samgakji, Seoul; U Tender in Apgujeong; Saebyeokjip in Cheongdam-dong; Solgawon in Uijeongbu; Montrac in Jeju; and Goraesa Fish Cake in Busan.
This year, CU also prepared 'Wellness' gift sets targeting consumers highly interested in health. These wellness gift sets are high-priced; for example, Honma 5-star golf clubs cost around 60 million won for men's irons. They also offer four types of mobile homes consisting of single and duplex units. These products come fully equipped with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom, with a floor area of about 6 pyeong (approximately 19.8 square meters). Prices range from 18.2 million won to 25 million won. Four mobile homes were sold during the 2021 holiday season.
Saipan World Resort accommodation vouchers are also offered as unique gifts. The package includes up to 4 nights and 6 days with breakfast and dinner included, allowing customers to choose between peak and off-peak seasons, as well as daytime or nighttime flights for convenience. Prices range from 1,887,000 won to 3,261,000 won.
Practical gifts suited for the high inflation era are also prepared. Customers who purchase a certain quantity of Chuseok products can receive up to 30 additional items for free. For example, when purchasing four sets of a package containing two canola oils, one cooking oligosaccharide, and four cans of Spam (priced at 30,900 won), one additional set is given for free.
(From left) 1 bottle of blended Scotch whisky 'Windsor Diamond Jubilee' priced at 500 million KRW, 1 bottle of single malt Scotch whisky 'Gordon & MacPhail Generation Glenlivet 80 Years Old' priced at 250 million KRW product image. [Photo by GS25]
GS Retail's GS25 presents about 760 types of holiday gift sets under the theme 'Our Neighborhood Gift Shop.' The number of products has been increased to reflect the increasingly segmented customer demand.
GS25 offers the highest-priced Chuseok gift sets among convenience store chains. These products are designed considering the purchasing demand of liquor collectors and enthusiasts. The highest-priced blended Scotch whiskey, 'Windsor Diamond Jubilee,' is priced at 500 million won. The limited edition single malt Scotch whiskey, 'Gordon & MacPhail Generation Glenlivet 80 Years,' is sold at 250 million won per bottle.
To meet customer demand for holiday gifts that can substitute cash or for gold investment, GS25 also launched gold bars with 99.9% purity. There are six types, including 'Haitai Gold Bar' and 'Cheonnyeon Miso Gold Bar,' with prices ranging from 186,000 won per gram to 5,334,000 won for 37.5 grams.
GS25 also offers 620 cost-effective holiday products priced between 10,000 and 100,000 won to help stabilize holiday prices amid high inflation. These include a wide variety of practical products across almost all categories, from fruits and Korean beef sets to alcoholic beverages, canned goods, and electronic devices, greatly expanding customer choices and contributing to price stability during the holidays. A GS25 representative said, "We have prepared the industry's largest scale of Chuseok holiday sets, ranging from limited edition cost-effective products to high-end items, reflecting segmented consumer trends."
Gifts with Reduced Burden Amid High Inflation... Strengthening Mid-Range Products Priced 20,000 to 70,000 Won
Seven Eleven focused on the increase of 'YONO (You Only Need One)' consumers who only spend on essential items amid high inflation, strengthening the mid-range product line priced between 30,000 and 50,000 won. At Seven Eleven, the share of gift sets priced under 50,000 won accounted for 55% of total sales during the Lunar New Year, with gift sets under 30,000 won showing the highest sales growth rate at over 30%.
First, they introduced home appliance rental products available for 20,000 to 40,000 won per month. The 'LG StanbyMe' can be purchased for about 40,000 won per month, and the 'Samsung Smart Monitor & Mobile Stand' for about 20,000 won per month, both payable over 36 months with permanent ownership after payment. Additionally, high-priced home appliances such as the 'LG Objet Refrigerator,' 'LG Styler,' and 'Nuhas Massage Chair' are also available under the same payment plan to reduce price burden.
Fruits including apples are offered as part of the 'Price Stability' series. The 'Price Stability Good Apple Set' contains 13 to 15 apples grown in famous domestic regions, and the 'Price Stability Good Mixed Fruit Set' includes 6 apples and 5 pears. These sets are designed to provide ample quantities of raw materials while keeping prices under 50,000 won.
Special premium gift sets for parents are also prepared. Seven Eleven offers three types of pure gold products, including a 1g pure gold dragon figure commemorating the Year of the Dragon, as well as gold bars weighing 1 don and 10 don. They also offer gift sets of 'Herm?s' lotions, shampoos, and perfumes.
Jung Eun-gi, head of product strategy at Seven Eleven, explained, "As the high inflation situation continues and various saving challenges such as the no-spending challenge are popular mainly among people in their 20s and 30s, we have strengthened the mid-range product lineup to suit this trend."
Emart24 prepared Chuseok gift sets focusing on practicality and cost-effectiveness. Emart24 selected 16 cost-effective gift set products priced from 20,000 to 70,000 won and offers discounts until the end of this month. The main product categories include fresh foods such as Andong apples (large size, 8 pieces, promotional price 29,600 won), Seolsung moving beef rib gift sets (promotional price 74,400 won), cooking oil and canned goods sets (promotional prices ranging from 32,560 won to 47,120 won), and daily necessities sets (promotional prices ranging from 29,520 won to 33,520 won), totaling 16 non-food and daily necessities items.
Although Emart24 reduced the number of gift set types by about 50 compared to last Lunar New Year, they increased the number of best-selling products from 12 to 16 to focus on discount benefits. In particular, the proportion of cost-effective gift sets priced under 50,000 won increased by 10% compared to last Lunar New Year.
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