TikTok Makes e-commerce Debut With Livestream Shopping Event
TikTok, the popular short video-creating application has made its e-commerce debut with a live shopping event in the UK. The application allows users to purchase products directly within the platform, capitalizing on the soaring growth of “social shopping”.
TikTok has selected the UK to foray into the e-commerce and online retail space.
SEE ALSO: PayPal Introduces Cryptocurrency Service in the UK
More about the ‘Black Friday’ online shopping event
TikTok’s online event is called ‘On Trend’ and will go live from 5 PM on December 8th and 9th. The company says it is a very unique shopping event that will highlight offers and discounts from top tech and beauty brands such as L’Orėal Paris, NutriBullet, Charlotte, and more.
In addition, the event will also feature entertainment from leading entertainers, musicians, and creators.
TikTok’s rise during the pandemic
The Livestream shopping experience enables users to view content online and also shop at the same time. How does TikTok earn from this? When a Livestream shopping event is hosted by a platform, it gets a small cut from sales.
There is no doubt that TikTok’s popularity witnessed impressive growth during the pandemic. As a majority of the users were confined to their homes during lockdowns, they did not shy away from showcasing their creative side.
TikTok has decided to venture into the e-commerce space due to the unmissable rise in online shopping over the past few months. Apart from online shopping, even “social shopping” has seen notable traction. Social shopping allows users to find and purchase products within the social media platform, without being ushered into a third-party website.
Rich Waterworth, General Manager at TikTok, EU and UK said that this is a very important milestone for the company. He added that e-commerce is an excellent opportunity for TikTok, and the firm is looking to invest in this field.
He further explained that a lot of users have a shared love for products and creators, and TikTok aims to bring both communities together.
Influence of social media firms on online shopping
As of now, the company already has an influence on purchasing decisions. When users buy a product after looking at the recommendations on the application, they use the hashtag #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt.
Apart from TikTok, even Instagram and Facebook have a strong presence in online shopping. Instagram launched Shopping two years back – features that enable users to shop via a brand’s videos and photos across the platform.
SEE ALSO: Google Set to Invest $740 Million in Australia Months After Tiff with Government
Feature Image Source: rawpixel.com
