Exploring the 2026 Gyeonggi-do Better Consumption Festa in Goyang
- Original source
- blog.naver.com
[Reporter An Joo-hyung]
The 2026 Gyeonggi-do Better Consumption Festa was held at the Central Atrium of Starfield Goyang.
On the 11th, as I entered the Central Atrium of Starfield Goyang, I noticed that the space usually used for shopping was lined with various sales booths. There was a wide variety of products, ranging from food and plants to bags, bedding, household items, and handmade crafts. Visitors could easily be seen examining products or chatting with vendors.
From September 11 to 13, the '2026 Gyeonggi-do Better Consumption Festa Goyang' took place here. On the first day of the event, I visited to see which social economy enterprises were participating and even made some purchases myself.
The '2026 Gyeonggi-do Better Consumption Festa' aims to expand the market for social economy organizations and promote value-based consumption. This year, it was held sequentially at Starfields in Suwon, Hanam, Anseong, and Goyang, with 104 social economy organizations from Gyeonggi-do participating. Goyang was the final venue for this year's tour. The event was organized by Gyeonggi-do and Goyang City, with joint support from the Gyeonggi Social Economy Center and the Goyang Industry Promotion Agency.
As I slowly toured the venue, I noticed that each booth featured significantly different products. The layout was divided into zones for food and plants, handmade goods and household items, and promotional booths, making it easy to find products of interest. It was not just a simple sales exhibition; it was an opportunity to see products from social economy enterprises that one might not usually encounter and to hear explanations from the sellers.
Walking along the booths, I found many everyday items, including food, potted plants, bags, aprons, bedding, and accessories. The booths displayed a range of products, from handmade bags and fabric items to pet accessories and bedding, confirming the diversity of offerings from social economy enterprises.
There was also a designated area called 'Today's Value Discovery,' where products from participating companies were showcased together. It was a convenient spot to see which companies and products were part of the event.
I didn't just browse; I decided to purchase some products as well. I visited the booth of Farmer Friends, where I was drawn to items I hadn't encountered before. I engaged in conversation with the seller, learning about the challenges faced by social economy enterprises in selling their products. The representative mentioned difficulties in finding sales channels and promoting their products, especially since many consumers are not yet familiar with them.
Hearing this made me understand more clearly why the event focuses on 'supporting sales channels.' One of the main objectives of the Better Consumption Festa, as stated by Gyeonggi-do, is to expand the market for social economy organizations. While online platforms only allow consumers to view products through photos, offline events provide the opportunity to see products in person, ask questions, and hear the stories behind the companies. This creates a meaningful interaction where businesses can meet new consumers and consumers can discover products they were previously unaware of.
In addition to product sales, various programs were held to encourage attendees to explore the venue. Activities included a bingo stamp tour, pop-up OX quizzes, and social media events. Visitors who spent over 20,000 won received a 5,000 won coupon, and those who participated in games or surveys received a 2,000 won coupon.
These activities were not merely about winning prizes; they encouraged attendees to visit multiple booths, allowing them to encounter a variety of companies and products. Every afternoon at 2 PM during the event, special performances were also held. On the 11th, I attended a performance by singer-songwriter 'Sori,' followed by a flower arrangement event on the 12th and a balloon magic show on the 13th.
Before this coverage, I thought the term 'social economy' might be somewhat difficult to grasp. However, the products I encountered were familiar items like food, bags, bedding, and household goods that we use in our daily lives. Purchasing products and listening to the stories of participating companies made the event's significance resonate more deeply with me. Even if a company creates great products, a lack of opportunities to promote them can hinder market expansion. It was impressive to see social economy enterprises meeting consumers directly in a bustling space like Starfield.
In conclusion, 'better consumption' does not only mean making grand choices. It can start with simply exploring products from companies we were previously unaware of and understanding the thoughts behind their creations. The 2026 Gyeonggi-do Better Consumption Festa in Goyang was an opportunity to experience not just product purchases but also to gain insight into the opportunities social economy enterprises need to connect with consumers.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/gyeonggi_gov/224414724256
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