Korea University Renovates Crimson Store
From Tiger Dolls to the Official KU Wine Collection
University merchandise stores were highly popular among international tourists visiting Seoul prior to the pandemic. Located on university campuses that often have an invigorating atmosphere and Instagrammable photo opportunities, shots of university merchandise stores are often posted on social media.
As the pandemic gradually fades away and an increasing number of people visit the KU campus, Crimson Store is also welcoming a lot of customers. Established in September 2015 in celebration of the 110th Anniversary of Korea University, Crimson Store carries a wide range of merchandise – including KU badges and t-shirts, and tiger dolls. Its customers are mainly KU students, alumni and staff, and international students visiting KU. Hoodies, neckties and jumpers with the logo and symbols of KU are steady sellers. Among the middle and high school students on campus tours, Hoi dolls are the most popular. The KU merchandise plays a role as a brand ambassador to both visitors and members of the KU community. In addition to stationery, apparel and a selection of wines, Crimson Store also sells a wide variety of KU-themed products, including ones that were designed by the KU Design Innovation Center.
Currently, Crimson Store is making available a collection of quality pottery products created by the KU Design Innovation Center. With minimal decorations and accessories, the earthenware pieces represent the spirit of innovation and future-orientedness of Korea University.
One of the products – a ceramic coin bank – not only has geometrical beauty but also artistically expresses the pleasure of saving through the clear sound of coins touching its ceramic body, whose pitch changes according to the amount of coins therein.
In addition, the store sells a line of mugs that have the emblems of various KU colleges, also designed by the Design Innovation Center in 2019, that symbolize the distinctive values of these colleges as well as the identity of Korea University as a whole. Crimson Store also has its own symbol of the plum flower.
“We generally design our own products, but we also buy in some merchandise that is already on the market, and have it customized for KU, to ensure a broader choice for our customers,” says a spokesperson for Crimson Store. “We also sell products we collaboratively designed with KU alumni.” Currently, various quilted works inspired by KU and its Tiger Statue – including cushions, briefcases, women’s bags, name straps, book markers and brooches – designed by Eunjoo Kim (Department of Home Economics) are on the shelves. Cases of wine are also among the bestselling items.
Crimson Store carries a wide variety of merchandise which incorporates the KU logo and symbols. The Hoi Doll (KU’s official mascot) is one of the most popular items in the store. http://crimsonstore.co.kr http://crimsonstore.co.kr
UniStores – Another KU Merchandise Option
Taste the Merchandise – KU Bread and Sesame Oil
Most of the profits from the sale of KU merchandise are invested in the development of the university. In order to boost sales, Crimson Store also runs an online mall (http://crimsonstore.co.kr). Merchandise is also available at UniStores in the basements of the Central Plaza and Hana Square. When it comes to small stationery items, UniStores have a larger range than Crimson Store.
The KU breads and sesame oil produced at Deokso Farm, which are as popular as other KU merchandise, are available at the Aegineung Student Center, Hana Square and the International Studies Hall. Since 1977 when it was first launched by the College of Agriculture, KU Breads has improved its production process and expanded its product line, which now includes seasonal bread/rice cake products targeting Halloween and the days surrounding Sooneung (the College Scholastic Ability Test). Having started in 1985 as KU Farm Sesame Oil, when it offered sesame produced at Deokso Farm and was available only to staff members, KU Sesame Oil is now a standalone brand run by the Food Division of the KU Foundation, which produces sesame oil at its new factory in Pocheon and makes it available for sale.
A New Collection of two KU Wines – Now Available at Crimson Store
The wine section of the newly renovated Crimson Store is certainly worthy of attention. The history of KU Wines started in 2005, when La Cardonne (2000), produced in Medoc, France, was selected as the Official KU 100th Anniversary Wine. Since then, KU Wine Selections have been well-received by members of the KU family.
After La Cardonne, KU Wine Selections has sold Napa Valley (2000), which was donated by Woodang Jong-koo Park, and Calarendelle Rouge (2005), (2009) and (2011). Once they went out of stock, Crimson Store began exclusively importing Rasteau L’Andeol (2016) and Chateau Clarke (2015) for customers’ delectation.
two Official KU Wines. The first is Cuvée PERRIN Côtes-du-Rhône (2020). A renowned wine produced by the century-old Perrin family winery from Rhone in Southern France, it has beautiful shades of rose and a rich fruity aroma, with harmoniously orchestrated hints of sweet licorice, flowers, coffee and herbs.
Both Cuvée PERRIN Côtes-du-Rhône and M de Chateau Meyre Haut Medoc have been exclusively imported by Korea University, and are therefore available only at Crimson Store – online and offline.