COVID-19 drives growing interest in and demand for kitchen interiors
Consumers carefully weigh design and quality to choose products themselves
Baekjo Sink Co., Ltd., a specialized manufacturer of stainless steel sink bowls, announced that its premium sink bowl lineup is showing steep growth.
According to Baekjo Sink, sales of its flagship premium sink bowl, the 'Square Sink Bowl (SQS),' rose 34% compared to the same period last year (January–April). Sales of the functional 'Quiet&GD Sink Bowl' also grew 41% year on year. The company attributed this to growing interest in kitchen interiors as people spend more time at home and cook more meals there. With the trend of consumers using their ample time at home to check design and quality before selecting premium products themselves on the rise, the share of online purchases from January to April this year jumped 72% compared to the same period last year.
In particular, demand for sink bowl replacement—a centerpiece of kitchen interiors—also increased. Baekjo Sink's 'Reform Service,' which replaces old sink bowls with new ones, saw a 60% increase in applications from January to April this year compared to the second half (June–December) of last year, when the service was launched. Until last year, demand was dominated by replacements with entry-level products, but recently there has been a noticeable increase in demand to switch to the functional 'Quiet Sink Bowl' or premium products. In preparation for COVID-19, Baekjo Sink has ensured that its professional installation technicians wear uniforms during customer visits, as well as masks, use hand sanitizer, and wear personal portable indoor slippers as standard, so that customers can receive installation services with peace of mind.
To meet demand for the 'Square Sink Bowl' and the Reform Service, Baekjo Sink has newly launched a 'Square Sink Bowl' that can be installed as a replacement. The handmade 'Square Sink Bowl–Reborn 85' features a refined, upscale European-style design and is proving highly popular among customers who choose their own kitchen materials.
While retaining the refined look of the 'Square Sink Bowl,' its corners are finished with a 5R process to a precision of about a finger's width, making cleaning and maintenance easy. Made from POSCO steel sheet, a premium material, it boasts sturdy durability at a 1.2T thickness, and its base features a double-molded 3-slope structure for smooth drainage. A silent pad is also attached to minimize the noise generated when washing dishes.
The design is similar to the existing handmade 'Square Sink Bowl,' but its popularity stems from the fact that customers who previously used press-formed sink bowls in the standard 840–850㎜ size can partially modify the 'Square Sink Bowl,' and can remodel their kitchen anew with minimal cost and construction.
In addition, Baekjo Sink's signature premium line, the 'Quiet Sink Bowl,' is a functional product that reduces the noise generated when water hits the stainless steel during dishwashing and when dishes clatter together. Baekjo Sink's own special pad is attached in a double-layer structure to the bottom and sides of the sink bowl to minimize vibration and noise.
Furthermore, it uses a special embossed material that resists everyday scratches, making it easy to manage surface damage. It has earned recognition for its excellence through word of mouth, primarily among households with infants and young children that require a quiet indoor environment, and recently it is being sought mainly by consumers who want to enjoy a quiet and comfortable stay-at-home life.
A Baekjo Sink official said, "While the construction materials market is struggling as the construction and real estate economy has slumped due to COVID-19, demand for premium sink bowls and individual purchases through online channels continue to grow," adding, "The refined design of the 'Square Sink Bowl' and the outstanding noise-reduction function of the 'Quiet Sink Bowl' are receiving very favorable responses."