-Establishing sustainable networking centered on departments
– 42 brands with local and global expansion experience participated
On the 18th, the Platform SME Research Center of Kookmin University (hereinafter the Research Center) and the Digital Commerce Association (hereinafter referred to as the Digital Commerce Association) held a networking event called ‘Digital Commerce Association Night Chat Salon.’
D-Sangyeon is a digital merchant community-based association launched in April to promote the growth and coexistence of digital merchants. Digital merchants (D-SME, Digital-Small and Medium Enterprise) are merchants who conduct business activities based on digital platforms, including small merchants including 'online sellers'. Currently, 100 brands are participating in D-Sangyeon, and activities are centered on ▲sustainable growth ▲mutual learning based on collective intelligence. They are working to strengthen the competitiveness of digital merchants through practical business education, networking between brands, and expansion of overseas sales channels.
This networking event was attended by 42 brands with different growth paths, including brands with local and global expansion experience, camping platform ‘Banple’, women’s fashion brand ‘Mokdan’, premium local gin ‘Bujajin’ from Yangpyeong, and traditional Korean confectionery brand ‘Seonmi Hangwa’ from Gangneung.
This event established the foundation for a network centered on each division with continuity and expertise beyond one-off exchanges by appointing each division head and introducing a small group system. The divisions are expected to expand in the future and will be operated flexibly according to the needs of digital merchants and changes in the market environment.
In the first part of the event, the theme was 'Sharing business cases utilizing government projects and private companies with small business owners Seonmi Hangwa', and CEO Seong-rae Kim of Seonmi Hangwa spoke as a speaker. CEO Kim shared the process of leading collaborations with large companies based on traditional Hangwa products, plans for entering overseas markets, and growth stories leading up to being selected as Hangwa for the Jeju APEC banquet.
In Part 2, participants used worksheets to organize their own business tasks and freely shared ideas for collaboration based on these. In addition, they were divided into four categories: fashion, food, global, and education/marketing, and small-scale networking took place.
Min Sang-dae, Chairman of the Digital Merchants Association (ES Food Raw Materials), said, “The Digital Merchants Association hopes to go beyond simple friendships and create a voice representing digital merchants, and to elicit policy interest and support. Let’s continue to think together about the roles we can play and continue activities to bring about real change.”
Meanwhile, the research center that hosted this event is operating a monthly practical education program for digital merchants, focusing on generative AI, SEO optimization, branding, etc. It plans to continue research and support to strengthen the practical capabilities of digital merchants and create a sustainable ecosystem in the future.
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