This photo provided by LF, an apparel affiliate of LG Group, shows its LF mall store in southern Seoul.
SEOUL, March 29 (Korea Bizwire) — The so-called ‘pick-up services,’ where customers can order an item online and pick it up at an offline store, are gaining popularity.
A fashion store run by LF in Seoul’s Gangnam District was visited by some 1,000 customers last month to pick up the items they had ordered online.
The pick-up service is gaining popularity among customers since it allows them to access a wider variety of clothes, some of which are exclusively available online. Customers can try on the clothes they ordered at the shop.
They may return or exchange their items immediately if the items fall short of their expectations.
LF first introduced its pick-up service in October 2019. Now, some 30 stores are offering pick-up services.
The recent boom in online consumption had once led many to believe that offline stores are ‘unnecessary.’ However, offline stores are making a comeback as they can be used as platforms for exclusive services that e-commerce businesses cannot offer.
By targeting customers in their 20s and 30s, many of whom primarily use online platforms for shopping, the company has managed to utilize offline stores to maximize convenience for customers.
South Korean retail giant Lotte Shopping Co.’s integrated online mall, Lotte ON, introduced a tire-replacement service early this month in which customers can purchase tires online at a more affordable price and visit a nearby Lotte Mart repair shop for the replacement.
The tires are sold at more affordable prices online and customers can choose from a wider variety of products than what is available at offline repair shops at malls.
This service also allows repair shops to use space more efficiently since they don’t have to keep stock of so many products at the same time.
E-Mart Inc. and SSG.com, Shinsegae Group’s discount store chain and online mall, respectively, are offering pick-up services for customers who have purchased golf gear and equipment online.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
