Preventing Novel Coronavirus, E-commerce Also Rolls Up Its Sleeves

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] As interest in preventing the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) has increased recently, e-commerce companies have rolled up their sleeves to ensure smooth supply of related products. Currently, masks, hand sanitizers, and other products rank at the top of search results on e-commerce sites, and sales are rapidly increasing.

Tmon (CEO Lee Jin-won) has organized a special exhibition gathering various products such as masks and hand sanitizers for virus prevention measures to reduce the cost burden of purchasing related prevention products amid growing anxiety about the novel coronavirus, and to help consumers who want to avoid going out use daily necessities more conveniently. Discounts and free shipping benefits were also provided.

Tmon explained that consumers' interest in preventing the novel coronavirus is reflected in product purchases, with masks and hand sanitizers ranking high in shopping search terms. During the Lunar New Year holiday weekend, mask sales surged 23 times compared to the previous week and 35 times compared to two weeks ago. Hand sanitizer sales also increased more than fourfold.

A Tmon official said, "It is difficult to meet the rapidly increasing demand for masks with sellers' existing inventory alone, so we are making all-out efforts by closely cooperating with major manufacturers to urgently secure supplies and by increasing production at factories of our private brand products," adding, "We will do our best to ensure stable supply."

At Wemakeprice, purchases of masks and hand sanitizers have also rapidly increased. From January 24 to 27, during the Lunar New Year holiday, sales of 'KF94 masks' surged about 30 times (3213%) compared to the previous week, and hand sanitizer sales increased about 8 times (837%).

From January 20 to 23, when the first domestic confirmed case of the novel coronavirus was reported, sales of 'KF94 masks' increased about 2 times (196%) compared to the previous week, and hand sanitizer sales also rose about 2 times (192%). However, from the Lunar New Year holiday period when the third (confirmed on the 25th) and fourth (confirmed on the 27th) cases were reported, fear of novel coronavirus infection spread in earnest, causing explosive increases in mask (30 times) and hand sanitizer (8 times) sales. Among masks, the KF94 model sold better than the KF80 model.

A Wemakeprice official said, "We are currently working closely with partners to quickly deliver KF94 masks and hand sanitizers to customers."

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