SOUTH KOREA. In a commendable industry first, Lotte Duty Free is hosting a ‘Travel is Coming’ event offering benefits to its Korean customers who have been vaccinated.
The travel retailer noted that with vaccination uptake on the increase at home and abroad, international travel bubbles are being discussed in earnest, raising expectations for overseas travel.
Accordingly, in a promotion that runs from 1 July to 30 September, for those who have received the first or second doses of the vaccine, Lotte Duty Free will upgrade silver members to gold and gold members to premium. The upgraded level is maintained for one year.
For customers with the highest LVIP and LVVIP ratings, a KRW10,000 (US$8.80) for ‘PRE LDF PAY’ – a membership point that can be used like cash at Lotte Duty Free – will be presented.
To participate in the event, customers simply to attend the gift desks at Lotte Duty Free’s airport and downtown stores in Seoul, Busan or Jeju and present their vaccination certificate.
Clearance sale geared up
Lotte Duty Free is also stepping up its successful clearance sales of duty free products by selling them offline on a regular walk-up basis in addition to the current advance reservation system.
The right to sell duty free products into the local market was one of the relief measures introduced by the Korean government last year to support retailers stricken by the COVID-19 crisis.
From 1 July, offline domestic customs clearance event halls will be available at the Lotte Duty Free flagship store in Myeong-dong, Seoul; its Lotte World Tower and COEX shops, also in the Korean capital; and its downtown operation in Busan.
To commemorate the transition to regular sales, Lotte Duty Free has approximately tripled the available range to 63 brands. Discounts range up to -85%. Luxury goods include Chloé, Jimmy Choo, Zegna and Etro; while the watches, accessories and sunglasses offer now also features Frederick Constant, Swarovski and Tom Ford.
In addition to offline channels, Lotte Duty Free also operates the ‘LUXEMALL’ online store; live ecommerce broadcast ‘Luxmall Live’, and Lotte Shopping’s ‘Lotte On’, all offering clearance products.
