'No Impossible in the COVID-19 Era'... Successful Export Using Video Consultations and Online Platforms

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) announced that the marketing support results from 42 online export consultation meetings held since March, when the COVID-19 pandemic began in earnest, and from its self-operated online platforms have started to show significant outcomes from the second half of the year.

On the 9th, KITA revealed that it had compiled major success stories into the publication series titled "Export Marketing Success Stories in the Untact Era (Volumes 1 and 2)."

Since early this year, Korean companies have faced comprehensive difficulties in product manufacturing, distribution, logistics, new product promotion, and new buyer acquisition due to the sudden cancellation and postponement of large-scale marketing events such as exhibitions both domestically and internationally amid the spreading pandemic, compounded by the ripple effects on global supply chains.

In response, KITA held a total of 42 video consultation meetings from March to December 7, at least once a week, and expanded support through its B2B buyer matchmaking platform tradeKorea and overseas direct sales platform Kmall24 to minimize damage to Korean companies. As a result, achievements such as export contracts and entry into new markets began to emerge from the second half of the year, and 39 success stories in sectors including cosmetics, food, information and communication technology (ICT), content, and machinery equipment were compiled into a casebook.

Woldin, a manufacturer of multi-purpose kitchen appliances, was designated as a representative Korean joint brand "Brand K" company in May and participated in the "Brand K Video Export Consultation Meeting" held the same month, engaging with buyers from China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Among them, Malaysian company P showed the greatest interest in Woldin’s products and actively engaged in consultations, resulting in a total product distribution contract and a sales agreement worth $2 million over the next three years. In August, an initial shipment of 100 units was dispatched, and from September, orders of 300 units per month continued, with exports expected to reach $300,000 by the end of the year.

Yeongsin Food, a seaweed manufacturer, had successful consultations with Eastern European buyer A at the May New Northern Market video export consultation meeting and sent samples immediately after the event. The buyer, upon receiving the samples, promptly ordered $6,000 worth of roasted seaweed for gimbap, and in November, placed an additional order worth $20,000, officially starting the business. Since then, Yeongsin Food has participated in several more video consultation meetings and is currently on the verge of signing export contracts with four Southeast Asian buyers.

Morning Farm, a fresh fruit export specialist, secured a total export contract worth $5 million this year with Vietnamese company V through tradeKorea’s buyer matching service, while Art Arm, an arm wrestling training equipment company, expanded its export countries from 18 to 40 by joining Kmall24 and utilizing the Fulfillment by Kmall (FBK) system and marketing services.

The two volumes of the casebooks not only include success stories but also contain various tips related to overseas marketing, making them expected to serve as useful guides not only for Korean companies but also for export-related organizations. Volume 1 introduces diverse information and know-how on video consultations, including ▲the status of KITA’s 2020 video export consultation meetings ▲consultation strategies by product and market ▲interviews with video consultation experts ▲methods for utilizing video consultations, while Volume 2 covers ▲major countries’ e-commerce trends ▲post-COVID marketing trends and promising export items ▲logistics innovation in the new normal era.

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