mark zuckerberg launches facebook shops to help small businesses sell online

in a bid to help small business owners in the wake of COVID-19, facebook is introducing its simple and free-to-use ‘shops’ feature. with many retailers being forced to close their doors due to the current health pandemic, the social media giant announced the move yesterday (may 19th, 2020) with the aim ‘to help small businesses adapt and make it easier for people to discover and shop for things they love.’

all images courtesy of facebook

facebook shop

you’ll find the new facebook shops feature on a business’ facebook page or instagram profile, as well as being led to the online retail space via stories or adverts. within the virtual shop, customers can leisurely browse, save products and place an order. the interface is designed to be seamless and user-friendly, with buyers even able to send a message to sellers through whatsapp, messenger or instagram direct. in this way, the feature intends to provide users with all the benefits of a physical store with the convenience of buying online. 

instagram shop

business owners can set up their virtual store for free with customizable accent colors and cover images, allowing them to bring the unique identity of their brand online. facebook is also exploring how to connect loyalty schemes to customer’s personal facebook account, like the card you get stamped at your favorite cafe every morning for a free coffee. the online shops is also planned to connect to the live features on both instagram and facebook, which would allow sellers to interact with customers, who could then buy products in real time. 

instagram live shopping features

facebook live shopping features

connect with sellers via whatsapp, facebook messenger or instagram direct

video courtesy of facebook

the platform proposes to connect loyalty programs to your facebook account

setting up your shop online

project info:

project name: facebook shops

company: facebook