Kakao Expands Sales Channels for Small Businesses With Tok Deal and Makers, Strengthens Online and Offline Support
TECHWORLD ·
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Kakao is supporting small businesses in expanding online sales and sales channels through Tok Deal and Kakao Makers.
On the 15th, it held the "2026 TOPS Kakao Networking Day" at Kakao Pangyo Agit, sharing seller growth cases and e-commerce operation know-how.
Through Kakao Makers special promotions and "Gokkok Walk," Kakao is continuing to link local small businesses' online sales channels with offline visits.
Kakao continues to support small businesses in expanding their online sales capabilities and sales channels through Tok Deal and Kakao Makers. Under its strategy to broaden the scope of support, the company is extending assistance from seller training and marketing support to introducing local small-business products to consumers nationwide and linking them to offline visits.
Against this backdrop, Kakao said on the 16th that it held the "2026 TOPS Kakao Networking Day" at Kakao Pangyo Agit on the 15th. The event shared small-business seller growth cases and e-commerce operation know-how.
TOPS is a cooperative project among the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Korea Federation of SMEs and Small Merchants Distribution Center, and online platforms, aimed at helping small businesses strengthen their online sales capabilities and brand competitiveness. This year, within the TOPS project, Kakao provided e-commerce training and one-on-one consulting for 300 small businesses in the food category that were listed on Tok Deal.
Kakao selected 60 outstanding sellers as second-stage support recipients and will provide them with sales and marketing support. The selected companies will receive sales and marketing support such as Tok Deal exclusive deals, special promotions, and Kakao Moment ad cash.
At the networking day, Kakao shared changes in the e-commerce market, the growth of local brands, and overseas K-food marketing cases, while also facilitating exchanges among sellers.
Kakao is also organizing a special promotion on Kakao Makers to expand online sales channels for local small businesses and will run the "Local Taste and Style Arriving on Makers - Neighborhood Favorite Store Special Promotion from Around the Country" through the 31st of this month. The promotion features 20 companies from Gangwon, Gongju, and Mokpo, showcasing more than 50 products. Participating sellers are businesses taking part in "Junggogae Store," which operates the "Project Junggogae" program, and "Gokkok," among which 12 food and beverage companies from Gangwon are participating, while 8 companies from Gongju and Mokpo are taking part. Kakao is supporting these companies with Kakao Makers listing, special promotion operations, and marketing.
Kakao's support program for local small businesses is carried out along two axes. "Junggogae Store" is a program that supports the growth of local small businesses into nationwide brands. This year, the first target group for "Junggogae Store" is food and beverage companies in Gangwon. A total of 12 companies in 7 regions were selected, and the regions are Gangneung, Goseong, Sokcho, Yeongwol, Wonju, Jeongseon, and Chuncheon.
"Gokkok" is a project in which local governments, local creators, and small businesses collaborate. Its goal is to promote local stores and increase actual visits. "Gokkok" was piloted in Mokpo in July and expanded to Gongju this month.
Kakao is also operating offline programs that link online sales with local visits. Starting on the 16th, Kakao is running "Gokkok Walk" in Gongju. "Gokkok Walk" is based on Kakao Map walking courses and consists of local docent tours and programs that visit local stores.
Kakao plans to improve small businesses' e-commerce capabilities and sales opportunities through Tok Deal. It also plans to connect online sales channels with offline commercial districts through Kakao Makers and local programs. Support for small businesses is being pursued in stages, from seller training to product sales, brand marketing, and local visits.
Yang Hyun-seo, Kakao's head of shared-growth project performance, said he expects Kakao Makers to help local stores and competitive products across the country create contact points with consumers nationwide, and said he hopes such contact points will help raise brand awareness and expand sales. He also said the company plans to continue supporting regional commercial districts and small-business growth projects.
Source: TECHWORLD · Kim Seung-gi
Original: https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=408331
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Source: TECHWORLD
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