Retailers roll out deals for homebound holiday revelers

Industry

Published: 07 Dec. 2020, 18:00

Retailers roll out deals for homebound holiday revelers

Christmas decorations available at Shinsegae Department Store’s lifestyle brand Pishon. [SHINSEGAE DEPARTMENT STORE]

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, retailers are diversifying the alcoholic beverages and packaged food they have on offer, targeting people planning to host a party at home this Christmas.

Usually, toys for kids and electronics goods are popular items promoted at this time of the year, but due to the resurgence of Covid-19 and the heightened social distancing measures, packaged meals, wine and Christmas decorations have become some of the most popular items for retailers this year.

E-commerce operator SSG.com, for instance, is releasing three types of pasta meal kits from popular Italian restaurant O Roma Roma located in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, from Dec. 10 through Dec. 16. One is a truffle cream pasta, priced at 9,800 won ($9). A Christmas-themed tiramisu from Starbucks and two ice cream cakes from Haagen-Dazs will also be available for a week from Dec. 17.

Another e-commerce platform 11st is focused on meat. It has released Texas barbecue pork ribs and steak in packaged meals, while convenience store franchise 7-Eleven is offering cheese platters and mozzarella cheese salad.

As alcoholic beverages have proven particularly popular over recent months, Shinsegae Department Store has started selling more wine and champagne.

Popular products include Mosel Christmas Riseling and Mosel Christmas Rose, as well as Champagne Drappier, which was enjoyed by former French President Charles de Gaulle.

Shinsegae said sales of wine in November jumped 120.9 percent on year. It believes the demand will continue throughout the end of the year.

It is also offering German Christmas decorations, like a music box, through its lifestyle brand Pishon.

Convenience store franchise GS25 has been successfully targeting cocktail fans.

On Nov. 27, GS25 released a so-called Campari hometending, a portmanteau of home and bartending, kit. It contains liquors and tools like a mixing glass, strainer and bar spoon to help make cocktails.

Five hundred of the 145,000 won kit sold out on the day they hit the market.

“As drinking at home becomes more popular due to Covid-19, demand for special alcoholic beverages like cocktails and magnums of wine has risen,” said a spokesperson for GS25.

For those still wishing to enjoy a party with a crowd, but online, online shopping platform 10x10 is running a promotion on products that help people communicate with their friends and family through the internet.

Items on sale include smartphone and camera cradles, microphones and small Christmas trees, candles and figurines that can help to add a little Christmas spirit to the user's desk.

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]