Struggling to Attract Customers... Large Supermarkets Continue Discounts and Launch Massive 'Shopping Support Funds'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Recently, large discount events have been held consecutively to attract customers, and now major supermarkets are providing large-scale 'shopping support funds.' Through shopping support funds given in the form of gift certificates and coupons, they plan to draw customers back to stores who had distanced themselves due to being excluded from disaster relief fund usage.

According to the distribution industry on the 16th, Emart will provide shopping support funds as gift certificates based on purchase amounts from the 17th to the 21st. This is the first time Emart is offering up to 10,000 KRW in gift certificates regardless of payment method at all stores.

During the event, customers who purchase over 100,000 KRW will receive a 5,000 KRW gift certificate, and those who purchase over 200,000 KRW will receive a 10,000 KRW gift certificate. The total amount of gift certificates to be distributed is expected to reach 3 billion KRW.

Emart has expanded the gift certificate event, which was previously only held at newly opened stores, to all stores, and changed the condition from being limited to purchases made with event cards to being available regardless of payment method.

The gift certificate amount, which was previously capped at 5,000 KRW, has been increased to 10,000 KRW this time. Gift certificates are issued immediately at the checkout, but purchases of tobacco, alcohol, books, and volume-based waste bags are excluded from the total purchase amount.

The reason Emart is conducting such a large-scale shopping support fund event is to provide greater benefits to customers visiting offline stores. Since June has two fewer public holidays compared to last year, special measures to stimulate consumption are necessary, leading to the preparation of this gift certificate event.

In fact, as a result of Emart offering daily necessities at super special prices over the weekend from the 6th to the 7th, sales of key items rose significantly compared to the previous year: bananas by 71%, cup noodles by 567%, diapers by 390%, and detergents by 167%.

Emart explained, "It has been proven that when the benefits available at large supermarkets are substantial, customers visit offline stores and consumption is stimulated."

In addition to gift certificate distribution, discount events on major daily necessities will also be held. The discount period for major daily necessities is from the 17th to the 24th. Furthermore, through card promotions, all Peacock meal kits can be purchased at up to 40% off, and U.S. flame grapefruits and New Zealand Zespri green kiwis are available at a 30% discount when purchasing two or more.

Lotte Mart will also provide shopping support coupon books worth 10 billion KRW starting from the 18th to support consumer living expenses.

From the 18th, at all stores nationwide, L.POINT members who purchase over 30,000 KRW and customers who pay with designated cards (Lotte, KB, Kookmin, Samsung) will receive two types of weekly coupons worth up to 47,000 KRW each.

L.POINT members can get a 3,000 KRW discount when purchasing over 50,000 KRW on weekdays and a 5,000 KRW discount when purchasing over 80,000 KRW on weekends. Customers using the designated cards who purchase over 30,000 KRW can receive a 5,000 KRW discount on purchases over 50,000 KRW on weekdays and an 8,000 KRW discount on purchases over 80,000 KRW on weekends.

Gift certificates can be received immediately upon payment at the checkout, and customers using self-checkout can receive them at Lotte Mart’s service desk called ‘We Will Help You.’ The coupons can be used at all stores nationwide from the 20th until the 12th of next month.

In addition to the gift certificate distribution event, Lotte Mart will hold a popular fresh food discount event from the 18th to the 24th.

Sangjin Lee, head of marketing at Lotte Mart, said, “This event was planned to ease the financial burden on customers who are struggling due to COVID-19. We have prepared shopping support funds worth about 10 billion KRW, and we hope many customers will benefit from it.”

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