Retailers Swing for the Fences with KBO Collaborations: Sales Surge as Baseball Season Opens
South korea’s retail sector is experiencing a home run in sales, thanks to collaborations with the Korean Professional Baseball (KBO) league. As the KBO celebrates a fresh season following a record-breaking year of over 10 million spectators,convenience stores and bakeries are launching KBO-themed products,and early sales figures indicate a grand slam.
‘KBO Bread’ Achieves Grand Slam Sales
SPC Samlip’s “KBO Bread,” launched just before the season’s opening, has already sold over 1 million units in a mere three days. These themed pastries, such as the “kia Tigers Chocolate Roll” and “Samsung Lions Blueberry Pastry,” feature collectible stickers of KBO players and mascots, driving consumer enthusiasm.
Convenience Stores Capitalize on Baseball Fever
beyond baked goods, convenience stores are also seeing increased sales thanks to baseball season. CU’s “Yonsei Milk Cream Bread” has become a top-selling dessert, while 7-Eleven has introduced “Popcorn Chicken” to cater to game-watching fans.
Retailers Betting Big on KBO Popularity
With the KBO’s soaring popularity,retailers are strategically aligning themselves with the league to boost sales. These collaborative products not only attract baseball enthusiasts but also create a sense of excitement and engagement in stores.
Convenience Stores Score Big with Baseball-Themed Products
South Korean convenience stores are hitting a home run with baseball-themed products, capitalizing on the sport’s fervent popularity. Retailers are launching innovative items and promotions to attract fans during the baseball season, boosting sales and engaging customers.
Baseball fever grips Convenience stores
Convenience stores are offering a variety of baseball-related merchandise. One notable example is a collection featuring baseball team logos, player images, and mascots. This collection includes 215 different sticker designs and is available at major convenience store chains such as CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Emart24, as well as online retailers like Coupang and 11st.
CU’s ‘Yuseongwoo Mukbang Cream Bread’ a Grand Slam
CU,operated by BGF Retail,has seen meaningful success with its ”Yuseongwoo Mukbang Cream Bread.” This product quickly became a top-seller, inspired by the nickname of a popular Doosan Bears player known for enjoying food during games. the bread became a trending search term on the CU app upon release and sold over 120,000 units within six days, becoming the top-selling digital product for CU. This success also led to a 19.4% increase in CU’s overall digital sales within a week.
7-Eleven steps up to the plate with ‘Popcorn Chicken’
7-Eleven is also participating in the baseball craze, introducing “Popcorn Chicken” on March 27, timed with the start of the baseball season. This product, designed to be enjoyed during sports viewing and outdoor activities, is a convenient snack option. Previously, 7-Eleven saw a remarkable 30% increase in ready-to-eat food sales in the month following the start of the professional baseball season last year. Mobile app orders for instant food items also increased significantly within a week during peak game times.
Strategic plays for retail success
These baseball-themed product launches demonstrate a strategic effort by convenience stores to leverage the sport’s popularity and drive sales. By offering unique and engaging products, retailers are successfully attracting baseball fans and boosting their revenue streams.
Lotte Giants See Initial Ticket Surge After Relaunch, Offer Exclusive Event
The Lotte Giants have experienced a 15% increase in initial ticket sales following their recent relaunch, signaling strong early interest from fans.
Exclusive Ticket Offer for New Lotte Giants Members
In a bid to engage fans, Lotte Giants are offering a special event providing baseball game tickets to new members who join the Lotte Giants Rewards program. This initiative aims to enhance fan experiance and reward loyalty.
How to Participate
New members of the Lotte giants Rewards program who sign up through the official Lotte Giants homepage can apply to win tickets for select games between April 4-6 and April 8-10. This exclusive event, running until March 31, is open to new Lotte Giants Rewards members who agree to marketing communications.
How have convenience stores, bakeries, and even the Lotte Giants specifically leveraged the KBO’s popularity to boost their sales and engagement with customers?
KBO and Retail: A Winning Combination for South Korean Businesses
The Korean Professional Baseball (KBO) league is a major driver of sales in South Korea, with retailers capitalizing on the sport’s popularity. This article explores how convenience stores, bakeries, and even the Lotte Giants are leveraging baseball fever to boost their bottom lines.
Q&A: Unpacking the KBO’s Retail Success
What’s driving the retail boom?
The KBO’s popularity is the key. With over 10 million spectators last season, the league provides a massive audience for retailers to tap into. The 2025 season is seeing even more excitement with new products and promotions.
What kind of products are being offered?
expect a wide array of baseball-themed items! Some popular examples include:
- “KBO Bread”: SPC Samlip’s pastries, featuring collectible stickers of KBO players and mascots, sold over 1 million units in three days.
- Convenience Store Merchandise: CU, 7-Eleven, and other stores are offering a variety of baseball-related merchandise.This includes collections with team logos, player images, and mascots.
- Specific Products: CU’s “Yuseongwoo Mukbang Cream bread” and 7-Eleven’s “Popcorn Chicken” are examples of items designed to appeal to baseball fans.
How triumphant are these collaborations?
Very! “KBO Bread” had massive opening sales. CU’s “Yuseongwoo Mukbang Cream Bread” became a top-seller and drove a 19.4% increase in overall digital sales for CU within a week. 7-Eleven saw a 30% increase in ready-to-eat food sales during baseball season last year. the Lotte Giants also saw a 15% increase in initial ticket sales after their relaunch.
Where can I find these products?
KBO-themed products are available at major convenience store chains like CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Emart24, as well as online retailers like Coupang and 11st. Keep an eye out for them in bakeries and other stores as well.
What about the Lotte Giants?
The Lotte giants are also getting in on the action. They’re offering a special event for new members of their rewards program, giving away tickets to select games between April 4-6 and April 8-10 to those who sign up by March 31.
What can we expect in the future?
Expect more collaborations! Retailers are realizing the value of aligning with the KBO. With the league’s popularity showing no signs of slowing down, we can anticipate even more innovative and engaging products to attract baseball fans.
So, whether you’re grabbing a “KBO Bread” pastry or heading to a game, it’s clear: the KBO is a home run for both fans and retailers. get in on the action and support your favorite team, and the businesses that are supporting them!
