Facebook has announced the launch of its Live Shopping Fridays feature – which will allow top beauty and fashion brands to host live shopping events every Friday for a three-month period. Users will be able to access the feature in the Shop section of the Facebook app or directly on the brand’s Facebook page. Companies participating in Live Shopping Fridays include Sephora, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, and Abercrombie & Fitch – all of whom will be able to interact with their audiences via live stream.
Introducing Your New Favorite Way to Shop: Live Shopping Fridays https://t.co/0tCPLsNlLu
— Facebook Newsroom (@fbnewsroom) May 18, 2021
During Live Shopping Fridays, shoppers will be able to ask questions and make comments to brands in real time and will also be able to easily tap and purchase products without having to leave the Facebook app.
Additionally, shoppers will be able to tap on products shown during a live stream and learn more about them without having to leave the video. If they are interested in buying a product, users will be able to add them to a cart and check out at any time – during or after a live stream event. The brands – in turn – will receive the customer’s shipping information as well as their email and phone number if a user decides to opt-in.
Live stream video shopping on Facebook initially became available to the public last summer, following a series of smaller trials and beta tests, where the format initially found traction with smaller to medium-sized businesses and digital-first brands.
Yulie Kwon Kim – a Product Lead for Facebook App Commerce – commented on the new Live Shopping Fridays feature:
“The way that we’re thinking about this is that e-commerce has made buying incredibly convenient. So when you have a need, you pull out your phone, purchase, and your order is on its way…But buying is not shopping. And so, a lot of what people do is window shop to see what’s new, for entertainment. You discover something cool that you didn’t know about. When you’re shopping, people often want to hear from a live person, get suggestions, and see the product and context. And increasingly, people are discovering and deciding what to buy through social media”.
Starting every Friday from May 21, three rotating brands will host 30-minute long live shopping events through their respective Facebook Shops in order to promote their products. The events and brands will focus on 3 main categories — makeup, apparel, and skincare.
Are you ready to shop?