[2014.01.23] "Direct Buyers" Surge Overseas Too... 'Direct Overseas Sales' Exports on the Rise

EPIC Systems, an electronic door lock distribution company based in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, achieved $700,000 in overseas sales through Korea Post international express delivery last year — a 55% increase from the previous year. Including exports through other shipping methods, total exports are roughly double, growing steadily at 50-100% annually.

The company has operated an English-language shopping mall (www.globalepic.net) for overseas customers for three years, selling products to consumers in over 80 countries — from Benin in Africa to the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.

The global surge in online direct purchasers is transforming export methods for Korean businesses. China alone had approximately 18 million online overseas direct purchasers last year, with payments reaching $35.2 billion — projected to double to 36 million shoppers and quintuple to $165 billion by 2018.

EPIC Systems initially sold products through eBay but gradually expanded awareness of its own shopping mall by uploading installation videos to YouTube and linking its web address.