The Real Cold Starts This Weekend... Retail Industry's Padding Sales Expectations Soar

Sharp Cold Drives Surge in Winter Gear Sales
Electric Mats Up 271%, Down Jumpers Up 150%

Retailers Expect Weekend Padding and Coat Sales to Grow

As the perceived temperature drops below freezing, winter protection products are selling like hotcakes. Despite entering November, the distribution industry, which had sluggish sales of winter goods due to an unseasonal warm spell, is showing growing expectations for sales increases with the onset of genuine cold weather.

A customer is choosing a padded jacket at the department store. [Photo by Lotte Department Store]

According to the distribution industry on the 8th, the daily sales of the fashion event 'Fashion Week' by home shopping company CJ OnStyle as of the 6th increased by 51% in sales and 86% in order volume compared to the previous week (October 30). The heart-neck knit bustier from 'The Edge,' aired that day, sold 12,000 pieces in just 30 minutes.

The fashion sector is directly affected by the weather. Until early November, daytime temperatures hovered around 20 degrees Celsius with warm weather, but as the weather suddenly turned cold, it is analyzed that more consumers are buying winter clothes in advance.

On the open market platform Gmarket, sales of clothing and heating devices surged. As of the 6th, electric mat sales jumped 271% compared to the previous week, and most heating devices showed triple-digit sales growth rates: electric blankets and electric pads (262%), heating mats (222%), hot water mats (115%), electric heaters (143%), and warm air machines (188%). In clothing, sales of men's padding and down jumpers (157%) and women's padding and down jumpers (149%) also showed rapid growth.

Additionally, demand increased for representative winter snacks such as fish cakes (50%), steamed buns and hobang (8%), and kalguksu and sujebi (105%).

The distribution industry expects winter protection product sales to increase significantly starting from the weekend as the cold weather continues. The weekend is expected to bring even colder temperatures. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that from the weekend, the Siberian high pressure system bringing winter cold waves will expand toward the Korean Peninsula, causing temperatures to drop below freezing. From next week, temperatures in Seoul are expected to fall to minus 2 degrees Celsius, signaling an earlier-than-usual arrival of winter cold.

An e-commerce industry official said, "Sales in the fashion sector have not been as good as in previous years due to the late arrival of the cold," adding, "Since it is expected to get colder from the end of this week, we anticipate a significant increase in sales of padding, coats, and other fashion items."

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