Daiso Fights Temu With Furniture: Korean Discount Giant Expands Stores

The Korean discount chain Daiso is changing its strategy to compete with cheap online rivals like Temu. Its parent company, Asung, is opening larger stores that sell big furniture and home items. Daiso is famous for its many small, low-cost products. But online platforms from China, such as Temu and AliExpress, now sell similar goods very cheaply. To fight back, Daiso is making its physical stores bigger. The new, larger stores will offer items that are harder to ship, like desks, chairs, and storage units. The goal is to give customers a reason to visit in person instead of only shopping online. Asung's CEO said the company must use its "strength in offline retail" to compete. This move is part of a larger trend. Other global discount stores, like Japan's Daiso and Germany's Tedi, are also opening bigger shops. They are all trying to stay relevant as more people buy basic goods online. The first of Asung's new large stores will open in Seoul, South Korea, in November.