‘Closeout discount’ or last-minute discount is when discounted prices apply to food products that would have been discarded after closing time. Kim Sung-eun(Department of Computer Science, Junior) operates ‘Thurry’, a closeout discount service currently focused on bakeries.

Thurry is a service planned to allow consumers to purchase their desired products at discounted prices from nearby bakeries or cafes. Kim said, “Consumers can buy what they want at reasonable prices, and the owners gain additional sales and promotional benefits.”

Thurry started from dissatisfaction with existing sales methods of closeout discount. Kim explained, “Most closeout discount services operate through ‘random boxes,’ so consumers often cannot choose the products they want. I thought there was a need for a service that allows people to choose the bread they want even at slightly lower discounts, so I started Thurry.”

The value Thurry provides is not only the experience of a cheap purchase. Kim said, “It also offers the joy of discovering new stores while purchasing preferred products at reasonable prices.” Current partner stores include Hanyang Bakery, Allkini, Simbongsa Doroke Bitplex branch, From Hearts Coffee Seongdong-gu Office branch, and bread&co. Sangwangsimni branch. Kim added, “We are improving the quality of the service by reflecting store owners’ feedback, creating a virtuous cycle leading to store promotion and additional sales.”

The startup club activities at the university greatly helped the process of establishing the business. Kim said, “One big advantage was that I could get mentored by professors and experts in various fields at no cost. Students have limits on bearing costs, but startup grants eased the burden.”

He added, “In my opinion, college years are the safest time to try starting up a business. Although they have limited time due to schoolwork, various supports reduce economic and social burdens of failure.”

The most memorable moment was meeting the first customer. Kim recalled, “I was there when the first customer picked up bread using Thurry. Seeing the service from inside my head operate in reality made me happy.” He said, “I gave a small gift and even had a short interview I’ve never planned. That experience has been the motivation to continue running the service.”

Currently, Thurry is going through its toughest time. Kim explained, “Compared to the break period, customers buying bread through Thurry decreased during semesters. We are finding causes and trying to advance through interviews from various users.” He expressed his ambition, “I want to turn this challenge into an opportunity to build a much stronger service.”

Thurry aims beyond short-term results to a bigger goal. Kim said, “I want to spread the closeout discount culture widely in Korea to reduce food waste and form sustainable consumption culture, expanding the service into various industries.”

Lastly, he advised Hanyang students dreaming of a start-up: “It’s important to first start something. There is much to learn through the process, which will become a great asset in life.”