‘Parallel importers’ join Korea Grand Sale event

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‘Parallel importers’ join Korea Grand Sale event

Small independent importers specializing in luxury goods are joining the ongoing Korea Grand Sale discount events.

According to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on Tuesday, small independent importers -- so-called parallel importers -- are offering discounts of up to 70 percent on luxury bags, purses, shoes and clothing.

The Grand Sale event is a public-private initiative to revitalize the nation’s economy by promoting consumption.

Products on discount are currently retailed at open-market e-commerce platforms, and home shopping companies, already at cheaper prices than the same models sold at department stores or flagship stores, the ministry said.

The discount event will be offered both online and offline, from tomorrow through Oct. 31.

The offline event takes place at G-CLEF Resort, a mall located right in front of the Chelsea Premium Outlet in Paju, Gyeonggi.

All online sales are made at a website called Alarm Mall (ALRAMM.com). It is a private online shopping mall that entered a business contract with the Trade Related IPR Protection Association (TIPA), a public organization operated by Korea Customs Service to check and officially certify authenticity of all products posted on the mall.

Limiting the retail channel was part of the government’s effort to ease consumers’ skepticism of products retailed by parallel importers. Local consumers have shown concern that some independent importers have been selling fake goods. Because of this, the government decided to allow only parallel importers with offline shops to participate to ensure the quality of products.

BY KIM JI-YOON [kim.jiyoon@joongang.co.kr]
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