Seoul Jung-gu Supports Non-Face-to-Face Sales at Dongdaemun Shopping Complex with 40 Smart Store Openings

Promotion of live commerce linked with buyers and influencers at Buyer Lounge... Along with content production and marketing, providing C/S training and 1:1 customized consulting services

Filming the promotional video for Buyer Lounge

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Seoyangho) has taken steps to support the activation of non-face-to-face sales for Dongdaemun merchants by utilizing the 'Dongdaemun Buyer Lounge.'

The 'Dongdaemun Buyer Lounge,' measuring 165㎡ (50 pyeong), first opened in November 2018 on the 4th floor of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) Fashion Mall. It was created by Jung-gu as a convenience space for business use by domestic and international buyers and merchants visiting Dongdaemun Market, as well as a promotional space for excellent market products and specialized brands to attract new buyers.

However, with the spread of COVID-19 reducing visits from foreign buyers and online sales surging, Jung-gu decided to utilize this space more actively to pioneer new opportunities for Dongdaemun merchants.

This marked the official start of the long-conceived plan by the district and Dongdaemun merchants to support non-face-to-face sales.

First, the district plans to support non-face-to-face sales by opening 40 smart stores online. By mid-September, they will recruit merchants who wish to sell both offline and online simultaneously and open open markets on portal sites such as Naver.

At the Buyer Lounge, comprehensive support is provided, including content production, product registration, sales management, delivery, marketing, as well as customer service training and one-on-one customized consulting services. They also plan to build networks linked with foreign buyers and influencers and promote live commerce.

To this end, the district has been conducting regular training for merchants since July using the Buyer Lounge to lay the foundation for their online advancement.

Courses such as 'My Own Shooting Skills Class,' which helps merchants who are inexperienced in filming easily shoot and upload products, and the video practical commerce 'Everyone, Turn On Live Broadcast!' which allows live promotion and sales of products, are popular among merchants interested in online sales. Going forward, the district plans to organize various training programs that reflect the rapidly changing trends and directly collect merchants' opinions to provide practical assistance.

The existing functions of the Buyer Lounge will be further strengthened. Staff will be on-site from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. to handle consultations with small business owners and foreign buyers. The space rental will cater to various needs such as customer meeting places, studios, and showrooms, and will also help merchants more easily access various government and local district support projects.

Additionally, the Buyer Lounge supports Dongdaemun marketing by posting videos and activities of the Dongdaemun shopping district on various SNS channels including the website, Naver, KakaoTalk, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Recently, they also established Naver Live Broadcast and Taobao Live Broadcast channels for online live sales. Merchants wishing to promote videos, materials, or live broadcasts can apply via email (aboutdfwm@naver.com).

Buyer Lounge Interior

Seoyangho, Mayor of Jung-gu, said, "We have strengthened the functions of the Buyer Lounge so that merchants can respond flexibly to the rapidly changing distribution environment. Through this, we hope it will revitalize the stagnant Dongdaemun commercial district and serve as an opportunity to find new avenues."

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