Jeonbuk Province Hosts Consultation Session with Major Retail Channel Merchandisers

Local Businesses Explore Sales Channels from Lotte and Hyundai Department Store to Amazon
33 SMEs and Around 100 Small Businesses Participate

Small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners in the Jeonbuk region met with merchandisers from major retailers, including Lotte and Hyundai Department Store, as well as online platforms such as Amazon, to explore opportunities to get their products listed. Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province and the Jeonbuk Business Agency held the "Consultation Session with Merchandisers from Major Retail Channels for Jeonbuk Products" at The May Hotel on the 15th.

Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, together with the Jeonbuk Economic and Trade Promotion Agency, held a consultation session for buyers from major retailers on Jeonbuk products on the 15th at the Grand Ballroom of The May Hotel. Photo provided by the Jeonbuk Provincial Government.

The event brought together 10 merchandisers from seven retail channels, including Lotte Department Store, Lotte Mart, Lotte Home Shopping, Lotte ON, Hyundai Department Store, NS Home Shopping and Public Home Shopping, along with 33 companies from the province's 11 cities and counties. A range of local products, including soup stock packs, freeze-dried clams, marinated crab, cosmetics and nutritional supplements for pets, were presented at the consultation tables.

Based on the merchandisers' advance product reviews, the consultations paired companies with retail channels for one-on-one meetings lasting about 20 minutes each. Participating companies assessed the potential for getting each product listed and received expert advice on how to improve and refine their products to meet retailers' requirements.

The "2026 Small Business Merchandiser Consultation Session," held the same day, brought together 30 merchandisers from 24 retail channels, including 11st, Gmarket, Lotte ON, Wadiz and Amazon (Good Monday), and around 100 small businesses from the province.

Even when local companies and small businesses develop and manufacture products, it can be difficult to increase sales if they cannot secure distribution channels to sell them to consumers.

The event was significant because it gave not only SMEs seeking to enter major retail channels but also small businesses looking for online platforms and other sales channels the opportunity to meet directly with industry representatives.

Jeonbuk Province plans to provide follow-up support to ensure the consultations lead to actual product listings and expanded sales channels, rather than remaining one-time meetings.

Yoo Hee-sook, Director of the Corporate Attraction Support Office at Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, said, "We hope this consultation session will help introduce the province's outstanding products to major retail channels and expand their sales opportunities. We will continue to provide a range of support for distribution so that SMEs in the province can secure stable sales channels and achieve sustainable growth."

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