Lotte Hi-Mart Opens 'Mega Store' the Size of a Soccer Field... "Online Sales Target 1 Trillion Won"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Lotte Hi-Mart has unveiled the 'Mega Store Jamsil Branch,' the largest of its kind in South Korea. By expanding its offline store footprint, Lotte Hi-Mart plans to strengthen its O2O (online-to-offline) services to drive growth in online sales as well.

On the 7th, Lee Dong-woo, CEO of Lotte Hi-Mart, stated at a press conference, "We expect online sales to reach approximately 800 billion KRW this year," adding, "Our goal for next year is 1 trillion KRW."

CEO Lee explained, "We will consider ways to link online and offline services at the Lotte Hi-Mart Mega Store Jamsil Branch, which opens on the 9th," and noted, "(Online sales) are growing steadily without losses, although the pace is slow."

This year, Lotte Hi-Mart expects about 800 billion KRW in online sales, aiming to reach 1 trillion KRW next year. Last year, online sales accounted for about 12.4% of total sales.

This year, Lotte Hi-Mart plans to open 10 new stores, including the Mega Store Jamsil Branch. Stores designated as 'Mega Stores' are those with over 600 pyeong (approximately 1,983 square meters). Mega Stores will be prioritized in locations such as Suwon, Ansan, and Ulsan.

CEO Lee also shared his stance on consolidating underperforming stores. He said, "Before consolidating stores, we intend to proceed with employee consent," emphasizing, "We are very conservative about shifting the burden onto employees. We take the principle of continuity very seriously."

Furthermore, CEO Lee stated, "We have strived to embody the image of a 'Home and Lifestyle Retailer' that Lotte Hi-Mart aspires to be," and added, "Going forward, Lotte Hi-Mart will establish itself as a company that offers customers enjoyable experiences along with diverse lifestyle proposals."

Meanwhile, the newly launched Mega Store Jamsil Branch, opening in September, spans a total area of 7,431 m² (approximately 2,248 pyeong), making it the largest in the country. It houses over 1,300 brands.

The Jamsil Branch, which previously operated on a single floor, has been renewed as the Mega Store Jamsil Branch and expanded to two floors. This transformation reconfigures the space from a simple electronics purchase location into a place where consumers can directly experience premium electronics and enjoy relaxation and cultural activities.

The first floor focuses more on 'fun,' differentiating itself from existing experiential stores. It features mobile devices, Internet of Things (IoT), and digital/IT appliances, along with an e-sports stadium, a one-person media zone, and a smart mobility experience area.

In collaboration with custom PC specialist Sysgear, a 231 m² (approximately 70 pyeong) 'e-sports arena' has been created, where visitors can watch popular online game matches such as 'Battlegrounds' and 'League of Legends' up close. Large screens and digital signage displays (DID) enhance the viewing experience. When no tournaments are held, the space operates as a gaming PC experience center.

The 'Makers Lab by Hi-Mart,' an innovative product experience exhibition hall, is also introduced for the first time. It is an exhibition space that discovers excellent products from small and medium manufacturers and startups and presents them to customers visiting the store.

The second floor houses premium specialty zones for major domestic and international brands, as well as kitchen and home appliances. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics flagship brand zones are located here, showcasing single-person appliances suitable for studio apartments and officetels, as well as premium products such as LG Electronics' 'Signature' and 'Objet,' Samsung's QLED TVs, and 'Bespoke' refrigerators.

Additionally, the 'High-Class Seminar Room' offers various lecture contents utilizing home appliances, with plans to operate 180 lectures annually. The curriculum includes cooking classes using kitchen appliances like air fryers, toasters, and ovens, as well as tutorials on new mobile products, catering to all ages and genders.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.