[Sponsored Report] Olive Young sets the trends at Gangnam store

The first floor of Olive Young’s flagship Gangnam District store in southern Seoul is a makeup playground, where customers can try out their favorite cosmetics. [CJ OLIVENETWORKS]

Olive Young’s four-floor flagship store in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, has emerged as a mecca of shopping for people who enjoy cosmetics. After opening on Sept. 30, the location went viral on social media, attracting more than half a million people in its first month. The store’s concept, “Lifestyle Trend Curation,” is incorporated throughout the store using the latest digital and in the store’s location, as Gangnam is home to all the latest trends.

The store’s floors are divided into separate categories.

The first floor is a makeup playground. Taking into account that consumers in the Gangnam area are highly interested in color cosmetics, the first filled with only color cosmetic-related products.

According to statistics, color cosmetics make up 40 percent of sales at Olive Young’s Gangnam flagship store. Olive Young offers a diverse selection of brands in its stores, giving space to small- and medium-sized indie brands and overseas premium brands that have become popular on social media.

The store’s second floor is a space for skin care, aiming to help customers maintain healthy skin. The floor features a “hydro-therapy zone” to allow consumers to experience the essence of the brands available in an interesting way. Moreover, a “smart mirror” device has been installed which analyzes the age customer’s skin and recommends cosmetic products accordingly.

On the other side of the skin care zone, customers can easily choose from carefully curated selection of base and cleansing products, beauty masks, and sun care goods. A cosmetic vending machine also attracts customers with its fun approach to giving out product samples. A washing area is also located on the second floor so customers can test body-care products conveniently.

The keyword for the third floor is “style.” Olive Young strategically created a space dedicated to men’s grooming, since men are often shy to shop for their own beauty and wellness products. The company is planning to expand male-only categories such as shaving goods, men’s cosmetics and body shaping underwear, beginning at the Gangnam flagship store.

The Olive Young Gangnam flagship store is the company’s first location to introduce a resting place where visitors can charge their smartphones and take a break.

A company spokesperson said that “Olive Young’s Gangnam flagship store is the result of the company’s efforts to liven up customers’ experience, as young customers follow the rapidly changing trends and are always looking for something new.”

By Yee Jae-eun [yee.jaeeun@joongang.co.kr]