Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Korea, updated continuously by our newsroom.
L’Oreal Travel Retail Asia Pacific has launched US-based professional skincare brand SkinCeuticals into the Asian travel-retail market. Together with China Duty-Free Group, L’Oreal opened a pop-up store in Haitang Bay Duty-Free Shopping Center in Sanya to…
Several major K-beauty companies were found guilty of misinforming consumers after paying influencers on social networks like Instagram to promote their products. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) ordered seven companies including AmorePacific, LG…
After a tough year, South Korean retail giants are tipped to log a modest improvement in their earnings next year on the back of improved business conditions and cost-cutting efforts, industry sources say. This year has been the toughest ever for two…
Uniqlo Korea has sparked yet another round of controversy, this time by distributing free Heattech shirts as part of a new marketing offensive. The Japanese apparel company, as part of its 15th Anniversary promotional event, is giving away 100,000 heat-tech…
South Korean coffee chain Ediya Coffee has opened its 3000th store. The new Daejeon outlet is a significant milestone for the local franchise, matched only by competing for cafe and bakery Paris Baguette. Ediya has opened 300 locations each year for the past…
South Korean furniture maker Hanssem affiliate Nexus has launched a new flagship store in Seoul. The 3300sqft store targets Korea’s burgeoning luxury lifestyle consumership from its location in Nonhyun-dong, retailing 16 ultra-luxury and exclusively imported…
South Korean consumers’ love for luxury labels is encouraging high-end brands to take bold, innovative moves into the market, opening pop-up stores and staging world-exclusive fashion shows. Louis Vuitton, listed by Forbes as the most powerful luxury brand,…
South Korean retail conglomerate Lotte is bringing London mobile shopping tech startup Rezolve into its market. The Korean firm will incorporate the startup’s IT product, which allows customers to take advantage of deals in print by scanning them with their…
The number of coffee shops in South Korea continues to grow. More than 71,000 coffee shops are now operating nationwide, with 14,000 openingsz last year alone. According to a report by KB Financial Group Management Research Institute, the increase in the…
The new Louis Vuitton Seoul flagship store has opened, its design collaboration with renowned architects Frank Gehry and Peter Marino. Located on Cheongdam-dong Avenue in the Gangnam district, Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul features Korean culture-inspired…
Massive discount offers have failed to stem a plunge in Uniqlo sales in South Korea, where the Japanese fashion retailer has been targeted by the boycott movement. Rep. Park Kwang-on reported based on a compilation of data collected from eight credit card…
GS25 Vietnam, a joint venture between South Korea’s GS25 and local retailer Son Kim Group, opened up its brand to franchisees beginning Friday. Interested franchisees can choose from one of three models offered by GS25 Vietnam: investing in a standalone…
South Korea’s outdoor-fashion industry is in “dire” condition according to a report by Korea Bizwire, with brands and retailers once the leaders of the fashion industry “slowly fading into obscurity”. Ashley Son writes that LF, the apparel affiliate of LG…
South Korean companies are engaged in a fierce battle with Japanese rivals in the Vietnam retail market, which has emerged as a “post-China.” According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, the Vietnam retail market has been growing rapidly, with an…
Facing an unprecedented boycott campaign Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo has launched a comeback campaign in South Korea – only to stumble almost immediately. Uniqlo South Korea’s new television commercial rekindled controversy following complaints that the…
South Korea’s big-name beauty retailers are prepared to defend their market share from the launch of Sephora South Korea, which debuts this week. The first Sephora South Korea store will open in Parnas Mall in the upscale district of Gangnam in southern Seoul…
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