Cafe24 will provide broad training support for small merchants in South Chungcheong province to help them successfully enter the e-commerce market, covering everything from building their own online stores to artificial intelligence (AI) marketing.

Global e-commerce platform Cafe24 said on May 11 it will work with the Chungnam Economic Promotion Agency to run a digital capability strengthening program from June to November for 200 local small merchants.

The program is part of the "Sodam Square Chungnam" project led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea SMEs and Startups Distribution Agency. It provides step-by-step training for small merchants in South Chungcheong who lack experience operating online channels such as their own stores or open marketplaces, from onboarding for e-commerce beginners to producing product pages and video content and linking training to actual sales.

Training will focus on hands-on practice, including understanding the e-commerce market and exposure strategies by platform, product photography and product page production, building an online store based on Cafe24 Pro (PRO), short-form and social networking service (SNS) marketing, and Naver advertising and data analysis. It also includes content production practice using AI tools, allowing participants to complete an online store that can make actual sales during the training period.

After completion, Cafe24 will provide linked support for operating an online store through Cafe24 Pro and entering LotteON. It will also provide follow-up management by monitoring sales data for one month after the program ends to help create an environment that can lead to actual sales.

Small merchants based in South Chungcheong who want to participate, including producers of agricultural and fisheries products and manufacturers regardless of sector, can apply by May 29 by searching for Sodam Square Chungnam on the Panpandero website.

Lee Jae-seok (이재석), CEO of Cafe24, said the program focuses on supporting South Chungcheong small merchants so they can complete their online stores at the training site and start selling immediately. He said Cafe24 will continue practical support so local small merchants can establish themselves stably in the online market based on its e-commerce capabilities and cooperation with partner companies.