Retailers chase summer sales with cooling products amid early heat

With daytime temperatures consistently exceeding 30 degrees Celsius since May, South Korean retailers are gearing up for a summer sales boom. Companies are rolling out aggressive promotions on cooling appliances and introducing new lines of cooling bedding and household goods to capture early consumer demand.

Lotte Hi-Mart is leading the charge with its "Highlight Sale" throughout June, offering discounts on air conditioners, fans, and 64 other items at internet-low prices. The retailer is also providing a 50% discount on air conditioner cleaning services for those purchasing cooling appliances.

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We are offering discounts on air conditioners and fans, as well as 64 other promotional items at internet-low prices.

Musinsa Standard, the in-house brand of fashion platform Musinsa, has launched six new 'Coolstandard' fans. Expanding on last year's portable fan offerings, the new range includes wireless circulators, desk fans, clip-on portable fans, and cooling portable fans, catering to diverse user needs and spaces.

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We have expanded our product line to allow consumers to choose according to their usage space and lifestyle.

The demand for cooling bedding is also surging. Ace Bed reported a 161.1% increase in cooling product sales in the first half of May compared to the previous week. The company is promoting its 'Microcare Cooling Pad' and 'Cooling Body Pillow.' Similarly, SK Store has expanded its range of cooling bedding products after achieving 10.4 billion won in cumulative orders for these items last year.

This proactive market response is fueled by an unusually early start to summer weather. The first tropical night of the year was recorded on May 30th in Gangneung, 19 days earlier than last year. This early onset of high temperatures is expected to intensify competition among retailers for summer-related products.

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The cumulative order amount for cooling bedding products reached 10.4 billion won last year, so this year we have expanded the quantity and composition of related products.