The distribution of counterfeits in the second-hand market grows: verification system HiddenTag

Amid the growing concerns towards climate change and resource wasting, eco-friendly consumption is trending among customers and the trade of second-hand products keeps growing constantly also in Korea. According to Korea Internet & Security Agency, the second-hand market was worth 20 trillion Korean won in the beginning of 2020, while the amount recorder last year was 24 trillion Korean won with an impressive market size growth of 4 trillion Korean Won. 

The growth in the distribution of second-hand products can be observed both online and offline. One by one, apparel and fashion accessories brands started appearing on the second-hand scene and even malls obviously started dealing with second-hand items.

However, the growth of the market lead also to the distribution of counterfeits and hardship for the officials. It is very hard to distinguish between a real or a fake brand. With the authenticity verification system HiddenTag by CK&B it is possible to easily and comfortably check the product authenticity.

Hidden Tag by CK&B embeds specific product information in the authenticity verification labels via the unique data technology (HUID) to make label duplication and forgery hard. Thanks to such technology, it is possible to authenticate the product everywhere and at any time, this is what distinguish HiddenTag from other authenticity verification methods.

HiddenTag can be easily adapted to the product type, shape, etc., it can be sticked easily to different items and manufactured in various materials. The service supports 7 different languages to match the global demand. In fact, HiddenTag is currently active globally on 900 brands from 204 different countries.

A CK&B representative sustains that: “HiddenTag can be used for various purposes other than authenticity verification, such as a mean for distribution management, customer registration, etc. HiddenTag provides free and extra marketing services for its clients, including aftersales, inventory management, events promotion, etc.”

Furthermore, CK&B won the Ministry of Science and ICT award at the `2021 Korea ICT Innovation Award’ hosted by the Minister of Science and ICT and organized by seven organizations, including the National IT Industry Promotion Agency and the Korea Electronics Association.