-The first step to strengthening the business competitiveness of digital merchants in the era of generative AI
-Appointment of Chairman Min Sang-dae (ES Food Raw Materials), Fashion Division Director Jeong Gi-yeol (Atrangs), Education Division Director Lee Seon-hyeong (Dentinum), Global Division Director Jo Dong-il (Bu Ja-jin), and Food Division Director Min Sang-dae
-100 digital merchant brands participate… Introducing customized programs for digital merchants and strengthening the community
The Digital Merchant Association held its launch ceremony at the Startup Alliance in Gangnam, Seoul on the 21st. The Digital Merchant Association was formed as a union of digital merchants who attended the 'D-SME Top-Level Course' hosted by the Platform SME Research Center of Kookmin University, and officially began its activities by holding the launch ceremony on this day.
The launching ceremony was attended by 16 digital business brands (Sewing Letters, Dentium, Marie Angel, Mom & Little, Baodam, Bebesom, Bujajin, Sapyeong, Seonmi Hangwa, Attrangs, Antour Sole, Yangjae Flower 39, Bicycle Bachelor, Jipsuni’s Home Cafe, Coffee Herbal Medicine Shop (Hyemin Dang), ES Food Ingredients) and Kookmin University’s Platform SME Research Center.
The event also included ▲introduction of the direction of the Digital Merchant Association ▲appointment of the executive board and division heads ▲networking among digital merchants ▲discussions on strengthening the business competitiveness of digital merchants in the 'age of generative AI'.
The Digital Merchant Association is a union of digital merchants, formed by 100 digital merchants with various growth paths, from individual founders to local brands and global brands. Digital merchants (D-SME, Digital-Small and Medium Enterprise) are merchants who conduct business activities based on digital platforms, including small and medium merchants, including 'online sellers'. Currently, there are about 1.7 million digital merchants in Korea, and it is estimated that one out of four small and medium merchants is a digital merchant. In the era of digital transformation, digital merchants are rapidly growing as a core axis of our economy.
Min Sang-dae (ES Food Ingredients) was appointed as the first chairman of the Digital Merchants Association. The Digital Merchants Association will operate under four divisions: Food, Fashion, Global, and Education & Marketing. At the launching ceremony, Jeong Gi-yeol (Atrangs) was appointed as the head of the Fashion Division, Lee Seon-hyeong (Dentinum) as the head of the Education Division, Jo Dong-il (Bujajin) as the head of the Global Division, and Min Sang-dae as the head of the Food Division. The divisions will be expanded in the future, and they plan to operate flexibly according to the needs of digital merchants and changes in the market environment.
The Digital Merchant Association plans to introduce programs tailored to the characteristics and needs of each division and strengthen customized communities that promote the growth of digital merchants. Through collaboration among members, we plan to actively promote activities for joint growth and development, such as establishing branding strategies, generative AX, global market entry strategies, and representing suggestions from the field.
Min Sang-dae, the new chairman of the Digital Merchants Association (ES Food Ingredients), said, “I am delighted that the Digital Merchants Association has been formed. We will become an association that leads brand growth and innovation.” He also revealed the association’s plans, saying, “We will work with various representatives from local to global to build a sustainable digital ecosystem and engage in activities that empower digital merchants.”
Fashion Division Manager Jeong Gi-yeol said, “I grew up with a lot of help from those around me, and I will share the trials and errors and experiences I had while growing. I hope this will be an opportunity for us to grow from local to global.” Education Division Manager Lee Seon-hyeong said, “There is a lot of education that businesspeople need. I hope we can find the education we need, develop a curriculum, and study together.” Global Division Manager Cho Dong-il continued, “There are many brands that are curious about how to enter the global market. I will find the answers they need to enter the global market and help them do so.” Food Division Manager Min Sang-dae expressed his aspirations, saying, “I will share my trials and errors and the things that helped me grow so that we can grow together.”
Kim Do-hyun, the director of the Platform SME Research Center, said, “We started with education and connected to a union, and as the group became stronger, we were able to speak out to the world. I would like to thank the people who took on the role of chairman and division head. The research center will work with the Digital Commerce Association to discover agendas and provide education, and we will work together to do what is needed.”
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