"Spring Comes Even Amidst Corona" ... Retailers Hold Special Sales on Home Interior Products

Transforming Everyday Spaces with Furniture, Bedding, and Tableware

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the time spent at home increased due to COVID-19, the distribution industry is diversifying related product assortments and expanding quantities to capture the growing demand for home interior, holding special spring sales events. The demand for furniture and bedding rises during the moving season and seasonal change, and newlyweds are investing more in household goods instead of honeymoons due to difficulties in overseas travel.

Expanding Living Products from Imported Brands to Private Brands

Lotte Department Store will hold a large-scale 'Home Styling Fair' at all stores from the 19th to the 7th of next month. Lotte Department Store usually holds two major living events a year in February and August, featuring special price products and gift events, but this year, to stimulate consumption weakened by COVID-19, the event scale has been increased and the period extended by a week to 17 days to disperse customers.

During this event, over 50 special price products from 31 popular living brands such as Balmuda, Ace, Tempur, and Allermang will be sold at discounts up to 70%. The quantity prepared is 11 billion KRW, double that of last year. Among home appliances and furniture, Downing's 'Alpha 204 Single Recliner' is priced at 1.15 million KRW, Italian Home's 'Cleto 4-Seater Full Leather Sofa' at 2.09 million KRW, and the 'Balmuda Air Purifier' at 479,000 KRW. Kitchenware representative products with even greater discounts include the 'Staub Pure Grill (26cm, Cherry)' at 133,000 KRW and the 'Portmeirion Fluted Serving Set (5P)' at 29,900 KRW.

Shinsegae Department Store opened a lifestyle specialty store focused on experiential spaces on the 6th floor of its Gyeonggi branch on the 5th. The store covers approximately 3,300㎡ (about 1,000 pyeong) and houses 71 brands.

In the 'Sleep Experience Zone,' composed of premium lines from bed brands such as Ace Heritz and Simmons Black, customers can lie down on various mattresses and purchase them. The lighting edit shop 'Light Now' showcases seven specialized lighting brands, from the world’s top brand 'Louis Poulsen' to 'Herman Miller,' offering visual enjoyment. At the espresso machine brand 'Jura' store, counselors prepare various specialty coffees and home cafe menus, and professional sellers introduce coffee machines and home cafe tools tailored to customers.

CJ O Shopping has diversified its living private brand 'Atssential' products. The 'Roll-up Memory Foam Portable Pillow,' which can be comfortably used anywhere such as camping or in the car during commuting, is easy to store, weighs only about 320g, and is washable. The 'Washable Short Pile Carpet,' made of 6mm microfiber material with a soft texture, serves as a point interior item that effectively changes the atmosphere of a space. It is available in ivory, green, beige, charcoal colors, and six sizes.

Longer Stay-at-Home Life Calls for Healing... Companion Plants and Home Gardening

Convenience store Emart24 is taking pre-orders until the 20th for 17 types of companion plants and 'home gardening' products that help relieve feelings of stuffiness or depression while staying indoors. These include five types of small plants (each 7,900 KRW) that are easy to grow indoors and have air-purifying effects, and three gardening kits (each 4,000 KRW) for easily growing basil, cherry tomatoes, lavender, etc. The kits contain seeds and potting soil in a pouch, allowing cultivation without separate pots.

Lotte Mart is also holding a 'Spring Full of Home, Living Fair' at all stores, showcasing over 50 products including furniture, bedding, tableware, and diffusers. The focus is on Lotte Mart’s home living brand 'Room by Home,' which features restrained forms and colors, functional designs that maximize space utilization, and hygienic and eco-friendly materials.

The 'Room by Home Anti-Dust Bedding Series,' made with fabric processed to resist dust adhesion and prevent house dust mite penetration, is sold at 49,900 to 59,900 KRW. The entire 'Room by Home Wood Steel Soho/Black Series (desk/desk & bookshelf set/shelf),' suitable for use in small spaces, is offered at a 20% discount, priced between 27,120 and 51,920 KRW. The 'Gold Line Tableware,' suitable for meals or tea time, creates a luxurious atmosphere just by setting the table and is effective for changing the mood.

Han Ji-hyun, head of the home division at Lotte Mart, said, "Due to COVID-19, the boundaries between school and home, office and home have become blurred, increasing customers’ interest in space interior. Especially with spring approaching, we expect more customers to start interior decoration, so we have prepared a variety of products ranging from furniture to anti-allergy bedding."

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