Camping Population Doubles Year-on-Year... Homeplus Holds 'Camping & Outdoor Expo'

Models are showcasing Homeplus camping products at the Korea Scout Association Seosamneung Youth Camp in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. (Photo by Homeplus)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] It has been revealed that the number of citizens seeking non-face-to-face leisure activities such as camping has significantly increased due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to Homeplus on the 4th, sales of camping supplies in October grew by 117% compared to the same period last year. Sales of camping tables and chairs increased by 160%, children's pop-up and Indian tents by 155%, BBQ grills and charcoal by 118% and 43% respectively. As the weather turned chilly, sales of sleeping bags, an essential camping item, surged by 350%, and the response to the Paseco camping kerosene heater was explosive, with 600 units of prepared stock sold out on the day of arrival.

During the same period, fishing gear sales also increased by 32% compared to the previous year, and foldable storage boxes necessary for moving to campsites and transporting equipment recorded a sales growth rate of 104%, causing related vehicle supplies sales to jump significantly. Considering the reality that offline large mart industries are experiencing sales slumps due to COVID-19, this is an even more exceptional record.

Accordingly, Homeplus will hold a ‘Camping & Outdoor Fair’ at nationwide stores and online malls until the 25th, offering popular camping supplies as well as fishing, vehicle, storage products, and related food items at affordable prices.

First, camping supplies will be offered at super special prices. For the first time in a large mart, the Nonil camping swivel chair, which can rotate 360 degrees, will be sold for 34,900 KRW and 49,900 KRW each. The Nonil field bed is priced at 39,900 KRW, and the recliner chair providing a zero-gravity seating sensation is planned in a limited quantity of 1,000 units and sold for 34,900 KRW. Children's pop-up and Indian tents usable both indoors and outdoors are priced at 19,900 KRW each.

Items that add romance to emotional camping have also been prepared. Wood stoves and mini firewood (1kg), perfect for 'Bulmeong' (staring blankly at the fire), are sold for 27,900 KRW and 3,890 KRW respectively, and decorative lights and lanterns are priced between 7,900 KRW and 14,900 KRW. Additionally, retro-sensibility stimulating Seoul Milk boxes and wooden tops made of cypress wood, each limited to 3,000 units, will be introduced at nationwide stores from the 26th, and various camping cooking supplies will also be offered at affordable prices.

Fishing sets that anyone can easily enjoy and species-specific gear are also sold at up to 15% discount. Camping storage products and vehicle supplies that help safe and comfortable movement are offered at low prices. Furthermore, until the 11th, camping-related food items such as cleaned mussels, scallops, branded pork belly and neck meat, and three types of Chilean Casillero wines are also on sale at discounted prices.

Seo Byung-gu, head of the Homeplus leisure product team, said, “As the popularity of untact outdoor activities increases, some products are in such short supply that it has become a frenzy,” adding, “This event was prepared to stably supply customers with products that have good quality and reasonable prices.”

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