KOTRA Invited by Japan's Largest Variety Store Chain LOFT to Open Export Path for K-Consumer Goods

One-on-One Consultation Meeting with LOFT
Expansion from Cosmetics to Fashion and Lifestyle Goods
Pre-Sales Linked with October Event in Japan
Efforts to Expand Brand Awareness in Japan

KOTRA is partnering with Japan's largest general merchandise distribution chain, LOFT, to assist domestic consumer goods companies in entering the Japanese market.

On the 15th, KOTRA announced that it will host a 'One-on-One Export Consultation Meeting for LOFT Store Entry' with LOFT, a leading Japanese lifestyle goods chain, at its Seoul headquarters. Following last year, this second consultation meeting has expanded the range of participating companies to include not only cosmetics but also fashion and lifestyle goods.

This year, a total of 25 promising domestic companies from the beauty, lifestyle goods, and fashion accessories sectors will participate. LOFT, which operates 171 stores across Japan, is a large lifestyle specialty distribution chain handling a variety of products such as cosmetics, stationery, and lifestyle goods. Securing a spot in LOFT stores is expected to enhance brand awareness and provide opportunities to enter other distribution channels.

At this consultation meeting, more than 20 buyers, including key purchasing managers from LOFT and Ooyama, Japan's largest beauty vendor, will visit Korea to conduct tailored consultations with individual companies. After the consultations, LOFT plans to select outstanding products and link store entry with promotional activities. In particular, they will propose collaboration in the form of 'shop-in-shop' for domestic home living brands.

LOFT has consistently shown interest in Korean products. Through its own special exhibition, the 'Korean Beauty Festival (KOSFES),' it has been expanding the promotion of Korean consumer goods. KOTRA plans to utilize this event in October to promote exclusive pre-sales and display stands for domestic products at LOFT.

Park Yong-min, head of KOTRA's Japan regional office, said, "Entering Japan through LOFT is a great opportunity for domestic consumer goods companies to assess their overseas market potential," adding, "We will continue to actively support the entry of domestic products into Japanese distribution networks through customized buyer matching."