About the Store
In Gwangju’s Sangmu district, right next to the Kim Daejung Convention Center, sits the brunch café Covent Market (코벤트 마켓). The menu spans salads, pasta, pizza, and steak alongside coffee and wine — and the dog-friendly terrace is a key draw. This is the story of owner Jeong Ji-woo, who took over the store four years ago.
How DodoPoint Came In
The previous owner was already using DodoPoint, so it carried over naturally with the acquisition. Knowing customer management mattered even before taking over, the new owner kept it running.
Operating Playbook
- Asking about points at checkout — at every payment, staff ask customers directly whether to earn points, which drives new sign-ups
- Running DodoPoint on the POS instead of a tablet — saves counter space and creates a natural flow where staff handle the transaction and the points sign-up at the same time
- Automated text marketing — birthdays, first visits, and other moments trigger messages automatically, making it easy to manage about 4,700 customers
Results
- About 4,700 customers in the database
- Regulars now account for roughly 50% of all traffic
From the Owner
DodoPoint helped us get through the toughest stretch of COVID. I think we’ve largely come out of that dark tunnel now. I hope every small business owner finds the strength to keep going.
Full Interview
Covent Market wanted to be more than a restaurant — a place where the food is delicious and the space is a pleasure to be in. DodoPoint, which the owner discovered through the acquisition, has become the channel for keeping customers in the loop. The 4,700-person customer database that has built up since is now a real weapon for the business. We sat down with owner Jeong Ji-woo in Gwangju.
”Being new at it — that was the hard part.”
Q. Could you introduce yourself briefly?
Hi, I’m Jeong Ji-woo. I run Covent Market in Gwangju. I’m 29, and it’s been four years since I took over the store.
Q. So you took the store over rather than starting one from scratch. Was there a specific reason?
My father was thinking about running the store and ended up acquiring it. When circumstances made it hard for him to run it directly, I took over. Starting from a place where I knew nothing, I studied hard and learned as I went. Being new at it was tough at first, but with time I’ve gotten comfortable running the place.
Q. Tell us more about Covent Market.
Covent Market is in the Sangmu district of Gwangju, right next to the Kim Daejung Convention Center. As a brunch café we serve salads, pasta, pizza, and steak, along with coffee, wine, and other drinks.
We remodeled the interior to be something guests would enjoy, and we offer delivery for convenience. Brunch cafés don’t always lend themselves to takeout and delivery, but going through COVID pushed us to start delivery — and it’s been a real revenue help.
Q. What sets Covent Market apart from other cafés?
We have a separate terrace, and it’s dog-friendly. There are more pet owners than ever, but not enough places where they can eat with their dogs. So we made the terrace a space where pets are welcome, where pet owners can relax and enjoy a meal. As a result, many guests bring their dogs along.
Q. As pet ownership grows, the views and infrastructure around it need to catch up. Now let’s talk DodoPoint. Headquarters knows Covent Market as a store that uses DodoPoint really well. How did you start using it?
I already knew customer management mattered before the acquisition and was thinking about how to actually make it happen. As it turned out, Covent Market had been using DodoPoint under the previous owner, so DodoPoint came along with the takeover. We now have about 4,700 customer records, and about 50% of our customers are regulars.
DodoPoint helped us get through the toughest stretch of COVID.
”We use DodoPoint on the POS so we save space and our staff can ask about points naturally.”
Q. You have a customer dataset that would hold up against any store in the capital region. What’s the secret to building it, and any operational tips?
We always ask about points at checkout. Customers who already know how it works earn points alongside their payment naturally, and for those who don’t, we introduce DodoPoint and help them sign up.
One thing worth sharing: we use DodoPoint on the POS to save space and make it easier for staff to ask about points. We considered a tablet but decided the POS was more efficient for space and for letting staff ask about points directly in conversation. Staff handle the transaction and ask about earning points in the same flow, which let us grow the database quickly.
Q. Any other features you rely on?
Automated text marketing — specifically the auto-text function. Running a store, it’s hard to keep track of every customer’s birthday or other event. With DodoPoint you set the rules once and the system handles the sending — that’s the automated text messaging feature.
We have around 4,700 DodoPoint customers, and automated messages go out at the right moments — birthdays, first visits — so it’s a real convenience.
Q. Thanks for sharing so much. Any final thoughts?
With “living with COVID,” we’re seeing more outdoor activity, and as the weather warms up, more guests are coming for outings. I think we’ve largely come out of that dark tunnel. The economy is rough right now, but I hope every small business owner finds the strength to keep going.
One more thing — alongside Covent Market, I also run a gym. If you’re in northern Gwangju, please check out Jackson Gym too. Thank you.
We met owner Jeong Ji-woo of Covent Market in Gwangju. Going in, we wondered whether DodoPoint was being used as just a points program or whether customers were really engaging with it — and the interview completely flipped those assumptions. Building a regulars base isn’t about being in a particular region; it comes down to the owner’s mindset and how they operate. Thank you for making time despite the busy schedule, and here’s to Covent Market’s continued success.
Thank you.