Can There Be a Better Store?
(August 31, 2011)

Gyeonggi Provincial Government opens its first ‘Good Store’ in Siheung City on September 31^st, selling goods made by rehabilitated patients, volunteers, and low-income residents

– Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo of, celebrity guest Choi Bool-am, and Siheung City Mayor Kim Yun-sik volunteered as one-day salesmen at the first ‘Good Store’ in Daeyang-dong of Siheung City on the 31^st. ( GNews Plus)

The first ‘Good Store’ selling products made by rehabilitation patients, volunteers, senior citizens, and disabled people opened in Daeyan-dong of Siheung City. It is expected to create a new channel for the productive activities of underprivileged people who have been struggling to find an outlet.

Good Store, whose motto is ‘good-will consuming,’ will sell products made by the Gyeonggi Province Self-sufficiency Center, regional rehabilitation centers, the Gyeonggi-do Job Information Center for Seniors, the Outlet for Goods Produced by The Disabled, and social welfare companies, and will promote their merchandise to the public.

The Siheung Jageunjari Rehabilitation Center has been selected to operate the outlet and to serve as the managing facility of the project, while the Gyeonggi Province Self-sufficiency Center will be in charge of distribution. The store, which covers 72 square meter was opened with KRW 15 million from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, KRW 3 million from Siheung City, and KRW 1 million from regional rehabilitation centers. A total of KRW 5.5 million was invested to open the store.

The store will sell goods produced by social enterprises and rehabilitation centers, including regional specialties and ecologically friendly products made by senior citizens, disabled people, and local residents on low incomes. In addition, local agricultural produce authorized by the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, fair trade goods, and other comestibles will be available.

Products made by the disabled, senior citizens, and those in rehab have lacked market appeal due to the small scale of production. The Good Store is expected to hire more people and establish a competitive edge in the market for these projects.

More support groups and social enterprises are forecasted to participate in the Good Store movement to spread the concept of sharing, promote transparent distribution systems, and strengthen ties with local communities.

Director Choe Jeong-eun of the Siheung Jageunjari Regional Rehabilitation Center said, “We had trouble establishing a market despite the notable quality of the products due to a lack of design, poor packaging, high material costs, low recognition, and difficulty in finding an outlet. To prevent honest business people that produce quality goods from going bankrupt and ending up on welfare, we must establish a strong market and stimulate internal commerce to cut prices and expand sales.”

Park Gi-hong, speaking on behalf of the head of the Gyeonggi Province Self-sufficiency Center, said, “We must establish a strong network for products made by disadvantaged members of society and create a sales system for them. Our goal is to build fifty-five Good Stores by the year 2014, all selling green goods made by those on welfare. It will become a social enterprise.”

Local residents also look forward to Good Store. Jo (51, Sincheon-dong resident), who purchased black rice and soap there, said, “Knowing that the profits from this store go to those in need makes me feel proud to shop here. I will definitely come back.”

Yang Myeong-suk (51, Eunhaeng-dong resident), who purchased some vegetables at Good Store, said, “I am a frequent shopper at iCOOP, but I’ve found that the products here at Good Store are just as good. This place gives more meaning to shopping because its profits are used for the good of the people.”

Most products made by the underprivileged are distributed through family and friends. Most consumers visit established online and offline markets and outlets that do not feature such products unless obligated to do so. This is a good example of a serious lack of financial and policy support from the government.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government recognized these problems and began to develop a brand image for Good Store, established the Good Store Neuldam Distribution Center, and launched sogoodstore.co.kr to stimulate the distribution of products made by the disadvantaged. The provincial government intends to expand Good Store, with the main focus on the Gyeonggi Province Self-sufficiency Center.

Governor Kim Mon-soo attended the opening ceremony of Good Store, where he said, “I am certain that Good Store will open a branch in every part of Korea. If the store continues to gain the public’s trust with quality products that give one a sense of fulfillment from having done a good deed by purchasing them, then it will become more than just another store. I promise you the cooperation of Gyeonggi Province¡¯s civil servants.”

Governor Kim worked as a one-day salesman at Good Store with celebrity guest Choi Bool-am and Mayor Kim Yun-sik.

In 2010, it was estimated that 1,930 different kinds of goods were produced in 1,264 rehabilitation centers, 1,308 in 222 facilities for the disabled, and 558 at 664 organizations registered in the senior citizens market establishment association.

– GNews Plus News | Nam Gyeong-u echo2008@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201108311139147055C048&s_code=C048