It was on August 3, Juche 73 (1984) that Kim Jong Il came to the People's Palace of Culture to look round the exhibition of light industrial goods.

Very satisfied to see the exhibits, he gave an instruction that districts and counties should concentrate their efforts on making sundry goods keenly necessary for people's livelihood. And he took a measure to open shops in each district and county to sell those goods.

Later, he held up a district in Pyongyang as a model of the movement and generalized it throughout the country.

When visiting the South Hamgyong Provincial Exhibition of Consumer Goods in August 2010, Kim Jong Il called for paying preferential attention to the quality of goods.

The last 30 years from the start of the movement have witnessed an increasing number of producers as well as a boost in variety and quantity of consumer goods.