Starting Next Year, 650 New Stores to Open Annually
First Prototype Store in the Honam Region
On December 5, Emart24 will unveil its prototype store, "Gwangju Cheomdan Main Store," in Cheomdan, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, for the first time in the Honam region. This store is set to become the standard model for next-generation franchise locations.
The "Gwangju Cheomdan Main Store" will serve as a standard model not only for new stores opening in the future but also as a benchmark for renovations of existing stores. Its key feature is a structure designed to enhance store profitability by innovating the customer experience.
This prototype store is significant not just for introducing a new location, but for presenting a standard model aimed at the success of prospective franchise owners and offering existing owners a competitive direction for renovation.
Prospective franchise owners can clearly identify Emart24’s unique store competitiveness here, while current owners can observe practical improvements and future growth directions on-site and consult with headquarters regarding store renovations.
Emart24 plans to expand the number of prototype stores to seven by the end of this year, placing them in landmark locations across major metropolitan cities nationwide. Starting in 2026, the company will gradually incorporate prototype elements into approximately 650 new stores opening annually, ushering in full-scale store innovation.
Through this new store, Emart24 will accelerate its transition from a "space for quickly purchasing necessary products," the traditional role of convenience stores, to an "experience-focused space" centered on discovering new products and trends.
The company aims to create a "trend curation convenience store," where customers can experience the latest trends first-hand through a complete reorganization of products and space. This is not simply to make the store more trendy, but is a strategic shift to establish a virtuous cycle that enhances store competitiveness for franchise owners.
The advanced prototype store covers approximately 113.3 square meters (about 34 pyeong) and consists of three main areas: Live Playground, Fresh Lane, and CVS Essential.
The interior and exterior design of the prototype store are distinctly different from conventional convenience stores. Emart24 has reinterpreted the convenience store not as a "place for a quick stop," but as a "space where customers want to stay."
Choi Jinil, CEO of Emart24, stated, "This prototype store is designed to quickly reflect changing consumer trends while providing practical support to franchise owners during actual operations. Through the prototype store, which serves as the foundation for new locations, prospective owners can clearly examine the standards for store layout, and existing owners will have an opportunity to identify ways to enhance their store’s competitiveness."
Meanwhile, from December 16 to 18, Emart24 will host a product briefing session for franchise owners at the Gwangju Cheomdan Main Store and the seven other prototype stores scheduled to open within the year in regions such as Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Daegu.
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