Social Commerce

Live selling, which some describe as “QVC on Steroids,” is rapidly emerging as one of the most innovative sales channels in the retail industry today. The technology builds on the proclivity of millennials and Gen Z audiences to live their lives through their smartphones, allowing prospective customers to view items they want on a livestream…

The concept of “social commerce” can be confusing. Some people think of it as when retailers use social media to promote their products. Still others think of it as “Influencer marketing,” aka getting endorsement from social media stars who share products and services with their followers. But it isn’t necessarily either of these things. Truthfully,…

A breadth of new social commerce tools and features will make shopping online this holiday season look very different from years past. Throughout the past year, e-commerce has seen an enormous boom fueled by physical retail limitations and closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, businesses have sought innovative ways to connect with…

Urban Outfitters announced Tuesday it would launch a secondhand apparel and accessories marketplace for consumers to resell their clothes. The new online thrift store, called Nuuly Thrift, is launching in the fall in the form of an iPhone app. Users will be able to post their clothing and accessories from any brand and can choose…

American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) has recently introduced its first digital clothing collection on Bitmoji, the cartoon avatar creation platform owned by Snapchat, according to a company news release. With this new initiative, users can view the retailer's back-to-school collection on virtual representations of brand ambassadors Addison Rae, Chase Stokes, Madison Bailey, Caleb McLaughlin and Jenna Ortega. Their…

Fashion apparel retailer Express on Monday announced the launch of Express Community Commerce, a social commerce experience for fashion enthusiasts to style, inspire and earn commission. According to Express, the Express Community Commerce program brings together a network of like-minded, entrepreneurial style experts — called Express Style Editors — through coaching, education, mentorship and meetups.…

In episode 308 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Megan Brophy, senior director of brand marketing at Abercrombie & Fitch and Abercrombie Kids. Brophy discusses Abercrombie's partnership with Facebook for its Live Shopping Fridays initiative, how livestream shopping brings the in-store and digital experience together, and what customers experience when engaging with the live…

Social commerce has exploded in popularity over the last few years, thanks in part to a more sophisticated social media landscape and a rise in consumer demand for direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) products. As a result, social media now accounts for more than 80 percent of users' purchasing decisions. There has been a concerted effort as of…

Before the days of smartphones and social media, teleshopping was in its heyday. Glamorous models would talk through product ranges in a casual yet polished way. Then, without having to leave the comfort of your living room, you could dial a number and the product could be yours. As technology has progressed and online shopping…

Since the rise of social media, more and more brands have found ways to leverage growing platforms to influence shoppers to buy their products. It’s no surprise that Amazon.com had the foresight to acquire Twitch back in 2014 for $1.1 billion, and it’s also why Walmart acquired 7.5 percent of TikTok this past year. And…