SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – IKEA Korea, the South Korean branch of the world’s largest furniture brand, has faced a continued downturn in its performance, reversing the growth observed last year. After experiencing a sales decline for the first time since entering the Korean market, IKEA Korea also posted its first fiscal-year loss this year. [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – The retail industry, traditionally centered on price and product competition, is now grappling with intense rivalry by adopting innovative approaches to store differentiation. In particular, there is a rising trend among consumers towards specialized stores that concentrate on a specific product category, acting as a catalyst for increased sales. A [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – Commemorative tumblers featuring Apple’s iconic logo sporting a blue wave motif have taken South Korea by storm. These limited-edition tumblers were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis during the grand opening of the Apple Hanam store in Gyeonggi Province, the company’s sixth store in the country, on December 9. A [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – In a trend reflective of the times, e-commerce platforms in South Korea are increasingly becoming the main stage for cost-effective consumption, witnessing a rise in so-called ‘frugal spending.’ With soaring prices increasing consumer sensitivity to costs, there’s a notable surge in demand for products priced below 10,000 won. One example [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress said Wednesday it plans to invest 10 billion won (US$7.6 million) in South Korea over the next three years to better protect the intellectual property rights of South Korean brands on its platform. Ray Zhang, head of the Korean unit of AliExpress, made the remarks [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – A unique convenience store offering a diverse selection of over 200 ramen varieties has made its debut. Convenience store chain CU launched the industry’s inaugural ‘K-Ramen Specialty Convenience Store’ in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul, centering its theme around ramen—a product category that has been a driving force behind recent convenience store [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – After becoming nuisances at department stores due to the growth of online shopping, young fashion brands are turning into cash cows amid an economic slump and consumption polarization. Young fashion brands, which cater to the consumption trend of the MZ generation with high cost efficiency and trendy design, are enjoying [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – Last Saturday, LG Electronics experienced a rapid sell-out of 300 limited edition Standby Me Go units within just nine minutes of their release on the company’s online brand shop. This exclusive release was in celebration of the LG Twins baseball club’s Korean Series victory, led by LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – While Costco, the U.S. warehouse discount store, achieved a milestone in South Korea with annual sales exceeding 6 trillion won for the first time, its social contributions in the country have dwindled. Moreover, the company remitted a dividend to its U.S. headquarters that surpassed its annual operating profit. Costco Korea’s [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – With the home shopping industry facing significant challenges, major players in Korea are grappling with a somber third-quarter performance. The primary culprits behind this downturn include dwindling television viewership and the growing burden of broadcasting fees, which home shopping companies must bear to maintain channels on pay-TV networks. Notably, the [...]