This Chuseok, it’s socks and soap

At a time of burgeoning household debt and slow economic growth, retailers are introducing practical gift sets for Chuseok at reasonable prices.

According to the discount store chain Homeplus, sales of gift sets under 30,000 won ($27.67) shot up 311 percent Aug. 19 to Sept. 7, compared with the same period last year, and they accounted for 88.1 percent of all Chuseok gift sales.

Auction, an online open market, said that from Aug. 26 to Sept. 1, sales of gift sets under 10,000 won rose more than 80 percent year-on-year.

Online retailer G Market sold gift sets of household goods priced under 5,000 won until yesterday.

In line with the trend, 30 percent of all Chuseok gift sets for sale at Homeplus were 10,000 won or less and E-Mart, the nation’s largest discount store chain, introduced 120 gift sets at that price point.

E-Mart said sales of gift sets under 10,000 won surged 302.4 percent from Aug. 19 to Sept. 4, when it conducted preliminary sales by subscription, from a year earlier. Items included in the inexpensive gift sets were soap, shampoo and socks.

Lotte Mart also saw sales of gift sets under 10,000 won soar more than 70 percent year-on-year from Sept. 1 to Sept. 4 and expanded the number of gift sets priced 10,000 won or less to 100, increasing volume by 40 percent.

Food companies also have tried to offer some not-so-expensive options.

Ediya Coffee has the Beanist 25 Chuseok Gift Set of three packs of five original Beanist products, three packs of five mild Beanist 25 products, English Breakfast Tea, Earl Grey, Peppermint, Rose Jasmin and an Ediya mug.

Beanist 25, the first instant coffee beans introduced by the local coffee shop last August, use 100 percent Arabica beans. The beans dissolve well even in cold water and are popular among busy office workers and young consumers. The teas were the best sellers at Ediya Coffee shops nationwide from January through May. The price of the gift set is 29,500 won.

“Due to the recent economic slump, the number of customers looking for practical gift sets for Chuseok under 30,000 won is increasing. Ediya Coffee also prepared gift sets at reasonable prices that will be popular among men and women of all ages,” said Sung Jung-heon, director of the marketing team at Ediya Coffee.

CJ Olive Young introduced five Chuseok health and beauty gift sets priced from 10,000 won to 30,000 won.

Among them, the Cottage Happy Shower Set includes cocktail-fragrant body care products, which was produced by Olive Young’s most popular French body care brand. Cottage Happy Shower sets include three cocktail fragrances for women.

Lotte Confectionery introduced three kinds of snack sets using characters of Disney Pixar’s animated movie “Monsters University.”

In the Monsters University Snack Gift Set, there are Cheetos, Kkockkalcorn, Harvest and Lotte Sand. Children can also make masks with the wrapping paper. The sets range from 10,000 won to 20,000 won.

Dr. Chung’s Food, a local soy milk producer, introduced practical gift sets priced in the range of 10,000 won. The Vegemil Chuseok Gift Set consists of Vegemil A and Vegemil B, its flagship soy milk products made of fresh beans that have been ground. It also includes other best sellers, such as Black Bean Soy Milk High Calcium Vegemil, good for bone health, Black Beans and Black Sesame Vegemil and Vegemil Black Beans and 16 Grains.

By Kim Jung-yoon [kjy@joongang.co.kr]