Naver Supports Local MZ Generation Entrepreneurs... 'Local Food Brand School'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Naver is helping those who run small but distinctive food businesses in local areas to become entrepreneurs with their own brands.

On the 24th, Naver announced the launch of a 10-week 'Local Food Brand School' education program. The plan is to fully utilize Naver's educational capabilities to help smart store sellers in their 20s and 30s, who make up 44% of the total, to revamp their brands. Through this program, Naver aims to nurture young food entrepreneurs who actively use popular local delicacies or ingredients from production areas as brands with unique stories, enabling them to respond actively to the online market and be discovered by consumers with new tastes.

In July, Naver supported an education program for 10 MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) smart store operators under two years of local-based food business through the online education institution 'Naver Business School.' The program provides relevant education to help early-stage entrepreneurs grow into sustainable brands.

Naver leverages its accumulated know-how in SME education and expert coaching systems since 2013. It also provides simultaneous online and offline consulting and educational support, including studio and office support at Naver Square Gwangju, a food-specialized space.

Naver will offer ▲ education on product stories and branding, smart store inspection, and overall marketing strategies ▲ practical brand design and rebranding consulting such as brand storytelling and logo development suitable for products ▲ special lectures by local brand experts and networking among business owners ▲ opportunities to showcase new brands to consumers through a graduation ceremony, participant performance sharing sessions, and local brand market events.

Choo Youngmin, leader of the Naver Education Center, said, "We have prepared a specialized education program so that the value of the region and the characteristics of products, which only local SMEs can boast, are well known to consumers and can establish themselves as representative local food brands." He added, "Going forward, Naver will plan various growth programs by leveraging its differentiated educational capabilities and synergy with offline spaces so that local SMEs can grow with their own brands across both online and offline."

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