"Immediate Needs Drive 800% Sales Surge... The Story Behind Busan Convenience Stores' Unexpected Boom"

Spread of 'Related Consumption' with Jaws Bar and Whale Food
Crowds Drive Booming Sales of Portable Chargers and Ready-to-Eat Foods

A large shark, estimated to be around 3 meters in length, appeared in the artificial waterway at North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, drawing nationwide attention and creating an unexpected "shark boom" for convenience stores. As photos and videos of the shark quickly went viral on social media, sales surged for items such as Jaws Bar ice cream, Whale Food snacks, and various Pinkfong Baby Shark-themed goods. On-site consumption of products like portable chargers, toys, and ready-to-eat meals also rose, as more visitors flocked to capture their own photos and videos of the shark.

CU Triangle Kimbap. BGF Retail

According to BGF Retail, the operator of CU convenience stores, on September 23, sales at CU stores in Dong-gu, Busan, jumped significantly from September 19 to 21 compared to the same days of the previous week after the shark was first spotted at North Port Waterfront Park on September 18. Sales of "Jaws Bar" ice cream rose by 28.4%, "Whale Food" snacks by 21.6%, and Pinkfong Baby Shark-themed products by 33.3%.

This so-called "associated consumption" appears to have been triggered as the real-life shark sightings connected online with the shark characters and images present in various products through social media. The buzz at the scene rapidly spread online, translating into heightened interest and purchases of shark-themed merchandise.

Yonhap News

Portable Charger Sales Soar 815.5% Amid Crowds of Photographers

The crowds flocking to the waterfront park to see the shark in person also had a significant impact on nearby convenience store sales. From September 19 to 20, total sales at CU stores near the park increased by 48.6% compared to the same period of the previous week.

On the 20th, Busan Port North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, was filled with crowds enjoying the sight of sharks. Photo by Yonhap News

In particular, as more visitors sought to capture photos and videos of the shark on their phones, sales of portable chargers skyrocketed by 815.5%. Toy sales soared by 422.7%. With visitors staying on the scene for extended periods, sales of ready-to-eat meals increased by 166.2%, while bottled water rose by 55.0%, ice by 46.3%, and triangle kimbap by 32.3%.

This trend suggests that as visitors gathered to catch a glimpse of the shark, not only did they purchase snacks and beverages, but they also bought camera accessories and other essential items, driving a broad uptick in nearby convenience store sales.

From Busan to Nationwide... Even Stock Prices Respond

The "shark boom" phenomenon was not limited to Busan. Over the same period, CU stores nationwide also saw sales of "Jaws Bar" ice cream rise by 12.5%, "Whale Food" by 10.5%, and Pinkfong Baby Shark-themed products by 13.9%.

This is interpreted as the news of the shark's appearance in Busan spreading nationwide through social media, increasing interest in related products even among consumers who did not visit the scene themselves.

On the 20th, citizens captured sharks that appeared in the waterway of Busanhang North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Interest also grew in The Pinkfong Company, which holds the intellectual property (IP) rights to Pinkfong Baby Shark. As the related news spread, The Pinkfong Company's stock price saw short-term fluctuations.

Unprecedented 'Shark Boom' Hits North Port Waterfront Park

The atmosphere around North Port has changed dramatically as a result of the shark's appearance. According to the Busan city government, visitor numbers to North Port Waterfront Park over the past weekend increased by four to five times the usual volume. At some nearby cafes, customers reportedly waited tens of minutes for their drinks due to the heavy crowds.

It is estimated that about 30,000 people visited North Port Waterfront Park in the three days following the first shark sighting on September 18. Although the city of Busan sent out safety alert messages after the shark appeared, citizen visits continued throughout the weekend as people were eager to see the shark for themselves.

The now-famous shark has been spotted in the artificial beach waterway of Busan North Port Waterfront Park since September 18. The shark is estimated to be about 3.5 meters long. Although ongoing efforts are being made to drive it out, it is still confined to the waterway as of this report.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.