As the market becomes ever more cut-throat...
with stores seemingly opening on every corner in Korea these days,... convenience stores
are turning to novel ways to attract and keep customers,... offering high tech devices and
unconventional services on top of their usual fare of drinks and snacks.
Kim Min-ji reports.
"Convenience stores in Korea are pushing to become more convenient than ever evolving
into so-called "living stores" that cater to the everyday needs of consumers."
The number of convenience stores has more than doubled from just four years ago.
This translates into roughly one convenience store per 2-thousand people.
And it′s growing to become a 12 billion dollar industry.
But with quantitative growth at its peak,... convenience stores are now seeking new sources
of profit by offering a new range of products and customizing stores to meet the individual
needs of customers.
"7-Eleven offers diverse products depending on store locations.
In this store, we sell flowers and have imported a French underwear brand.
We′re also planning to offer more products that meet the needs of single-person households."
Non-food products now make up about 17-percent of 7-Eleven′s sales,... and the plan is
to boost that figure to 20-percent, next year.
GS25 another popular convenience store is offering a lineup of tech goods,... from cellphones
and televisions to water purifiers.
Some take it to another level... by offering space to enjoy a cup of coffee or hold meetings.
"I didn′t know these rooms existed.
I hope to use one in the future with my friends when I do team assignments."
Customers can reserve these rooms at just one dollar per hour,… along with free WiFi
access, printing facilities and laptop rentals.
"We created this space with the purpose of attracting more customers by offering convenience.
People visit our store not just to buy food but to spend time."
By shifting focus from their traditional moneymakers, like instant foods, towards new goods and
services,… convenience stores are striving to be more than just a quick stop shop.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.