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Home study products popular as schools avoided
October 30, 2009
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The spread of A (H1N1) flu virus is influencing consumer spending patterns, according to various industry sources. The online marketplace Auction said yesterday that sales of homeschooling items such as reference books and educational toys increased this month on-year. Considering that sales of toys and books in October tend to decrease because families often spend time outdoors in the fine weather, the company said that the increase is rare. Sales of educational toys increased 49 percent in October compared with last year; science teaching tools 159 percent; and sales of electronic books soared 200 percent, Auction said. “Not many online shoppers purchased academic toys or stationery in the past but there have been more purchases lately,” said an official from Auction, noting that the increase in demand suggests more parents are homeschooling their children rather than sending them to private institutions where there is a relatively higher risk of being infected by the new flu. Television home-shopping channels are also benefitting from a surge in sales. “The industry is expecting the trend [of high sales] to continue,” said Kim Jong-young from Lotte Home Shopping. By Lee Eun-joo [angie@joongang.co.kr] |
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