Popularity of ‘Untact’ Services Soars as Coronavirus Outbreak Spreads

Cosmetics stores in the popular shopping district of Myeongdong in downtown Seoul. (image: Yonhap)

SEOUL, April 2 (Korea Bizwire) — With the ongoing coronavirus outbreak weighing heavily on consumption habits, the beauty and fashion industries are introducing same-day delivery services to follow the trend of so-called ‘untact’ services.

South Korean budget cosmetics brand Missha Missha said Wednesday it will launch a cosmetics delivery service at six stores in partnership with an online-to-offline (O2O) service company.

Customers living in apartments or studio flats located within 1.5 kilometers of the six designated stores can order Missha cosmetics products and receive them on the same day.

All products sold at the store can be ordered and there is no minimum order value. However, customers will have to pay 2,000 won (US$1.62) for the service.

Cosmetics companies have usually sold products only through online shopping platforms with regular delivery services.

“Up until now, cosmetics have been in low demand for fast delivery, unlike food and food materials,” an industry source said.

“However, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, more customers are reluctant to even go to cosmetics stores, and these changes are reflecting this reality,” the source added.

Meanwhile, fashion companies Hansae MK Co. and Hansae Dreams Co. also launched a “clothing bullet delivery service” this month, which offers same-day delivery for the first time in the clothing industry.

The online shopping mall site operated by the group allows users to receive the goods on the same day when they complete the order between midnight and 10 in the morning.

Hansae MK explained, “As more customers find it difficult to visit offline stores with the continuing COVID-19 outbreak, we have moved up the schedule of these services.”

“In the case of clothing, it usually took two to three days to ship because of the difficulty in inventory management,” a company source said. “We will expand the delivery area to allow more customers to enjoy our bullet delivery service.”

D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)