Due to an unprecedented heatwave, summer survival items are flying off the shelves at convenience stores. Not only staple summer products like ice and ice cream, but also non-food items such as hand fans, cooling patches, and sunscreen have seen a significant surge in demand.

According to the convenience store industry on July 14, sales of non-food items related to the heatwave at major convenience stores soared during the period from July 1 to 10. At 7-Eleven, sales of cooling patches skyrocketed by 900% year-on-year, marking the highest increase, while hand fans rose by over 500%. During the same period, sales of summer clothing such as T-shirts and sleeveless tops increased by 270%. Cooling items (including cooling sleeves, cooling towels, and cooling scarves) saw a 40% rise, and seasonal cosmetics (such as sunscreen and deodorant) increased by 80%.

These growth rates outpaced those of traditional summer staples: cup ice (30%), bottled water (30%), and ice cream (25%).

7-Eleven Cooling Patch Sales
Soar 900% Year-on-Year to 'Record High'
Hand Fans Also Up Over 500%

GS25's Arm Sleeves and Sunscreen
Outpace Growth Rates of Cup Ice and Ion Drinks

Strengthening Non-Food Items Amid Heatwave
Convenience Store Strategy Seems to Hit the Mark

Yonhap News

At GS25, a convenience store operated by GS Retail, sales of arm sleeves rose by 88.3%, sunscreen by 100.7%, and deodorant by 66.9% during the same period. These figures far exceeded the growth rates of cup ice (51.8%), ion drinks (52.9%), and ice cream (47.8%). At CU, a convenience store operated by BGF Retail, sales of clothing items increased by 36.7% and small home appliances by 39.0%.

With the heatwave arriving earlier than usual this year, not only have sales of typical summer products like ice and beverages increased, but more customers are also purchasing items to beat the heat at conveniently located stores. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, as of July 13, the national average number of heatwave days this month was 6.8, surpassing the record of 4.3 days in July last year. A heatwave is defined as a day when the highest temperature reaches 33 degrees Celsius or higher.

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This is seen as a result of convenience store chains significantly strengthening their non-food product lineups early in anticipation of this year's intense heat. Recently, convenience stores have been expanding their product ranges into non-food categories such as fashion and beauty to overcome market saturation.

Since the beginning of this year, GS25 has collaborated with the fashion platform Musinsa to launch new summer season products under the "Musinsa Standard Express" line (including T-shirts and banding shorts), and is selling exclusive Musinsa beauty brands like "Littley Witchy" at affordable prices. CU has strengthened its beauty product lineup through collaborations with brands such as VT Cosmetics and Angel Luca, while 7-Eleven has introduced its own private label (PB) fashion items like "Seven Select T-shirts" and "Seven Select Color Pop Socks."

As a result, since the launch of Musinsa Standard Express, GS25 has seen its fashion sales more than double, and cosmetics sales increased by 53.5% year-on-year over the two months following the introduction of beauty-focused displays. At CU, cosmetics sales from January to May this year rose by 18.1% compared to the same period last year. An industry official stated, "With the early and record-breaking heatwave, demand has increased across summer alcoholic beverages, ice cream, and cooling products," adding, "In response to the early heatwave, we are launching related products earlier than usual."

As the convenience store industry expects the record-breaking heatwave to continue throughout this summer, stores are targeting consumers by holding discount events on popular summer products. Throughout July, GS25 is running the "Drinking Festa," offering discounts on more than 300 types of alcoholic beverages, including a 50% discount when purchasing two or more non-alcoholic beers, and selling four 500ml cans of 1664 Blanc, Somersby, Heineken, and Tiger Lemon for 9,000 won. CU has also planned a large-scale discount event on more than 400 types of alcoholic beverages, including wine, Makgeolli, and beer. For beer, CU is offering "8 cans for 18,000 won" and "3 large cans for 9,000 won" promotions.