Keyrings and Jibbitz Lead the Trend at Play Spot
Kipling and Crocs Capture the Hearts of Young Shoppers
Gwangju Shinsegae (CEO Lee Donghun) announced on the 24th that it will introduce keyrings and Jibbitz, which are trending items in the current "Aboha" era.
"Aboha," meaning "Aju Botongui Haru" or "an ordinary day," refers to an attitude that values a calm and uneventful life over the obsession with being happy. As more people focus on the value of everyday life rather than pursuing great happiness, there is a growing trend of customers finding joy in small accessories like keyrings.
A model is showcasing keyring products at Gwangju Shinsegae Play Spot Kipling. Photo by Gwangju Shinsegae
At Play Spot (formerly the New Building), "Kipling" is seeing high demand, with 30-40% of bag buyers also purchasing keyrings.
Kipling, a Belgian brand established in 1987, is loved by consumers worldwide for its lightweight and practical bags. The recent trend of attaching keyrings to bags has made Kipling’s keyring products especially popular.
One notable example is the keyring featuring characters from last year's movie "Wicked," which continues to sell steadily despite its price of 68,000 KRW. The most sought-after keyrings at Kipling are the gorilla-shaped ones, with the standard size selling for 20,000 KRW and the smaller size for 15,000 KRW.
At Play Spot, "Covernat" is also gaining attention for its wide variety of keyrings. As more customers prefer keyrings, all six types of backpacks sold at Gwangju Shinsegae's Mahagrid come with a basic backpack-shaped keyring attached.
Consumers in their teens and twenties use keyrings to express their individuality and often purchase them to store wireless earphones. Keyrings sold separately at Covernat are available for 29,000 KRW.
Crocs' Jibbitz are also items that attract the attention of customers in the Aboha era. At Gwangju Shinsegae Play Spot, Crocs offers hundreds of Jibbitz, which are accessories inserted into the holes of the shoes. With prices ranging from only 3,400 KRW to 9,000 KRW each, Jibbitz are popular among young female customers looking to express their unique style at an affordable price.
In fact, at the Gwangju Shinsegae Crocs store, shoe buyers purchase an average of 40,000 to 50,000 KRW worth of Jibbitz per person, showing significant interest. In response, Gwangju Shinsegae Crocs is currently offering discounts on Jibbitz: 20% off for purchases of 6 or more, 30% off for 12 or more, and 40% off for 24 or more.
Lee Jeongil, Team Leader of Play Spot, said, "As the Aboha trend rises, keyrings and Jibbitz that can decorate bags and shoes are now popular not only among those in their teens and twenties but also among customers in their thirties and forties. We hope many customers visit Gwangju Shinsegae, where you can find a variety of small items to express your individuality."
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