Shopify has partnered with Facebook to launch Facebook Shops, a free tool aimed to help merchants create customized online storefronts for Facebook and Instagram.
“We’re bringing the tech industry together to help entrepreneurs succeed at a critical time.”
Facebook Shops allows Shopify merchants to control customization and merchandising for their storefronts inside Facebook and Instagram while managing their products, inventory, orders, and fulfillment directly from within Shopify. Facebook Shops was announced today during a Facebook Live event featuring Tobi Lütke, CEO of Shopify, and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook.
Shopify has partnered with Facebook since 2015 on its multi-channel e-commerce solution. Shopify is one of several commerce partners on the Facebook Shops initiative. Other partners include BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and ChannelAdvisor.
“What everyone needs right now, especially in this crazy situation… is new buyers. Small businesses need a way to find new buyers,” Lütke said on the Facebook Live announcement. “It’s going to be an incredibly powerful new reality for everyone in the retail space to have these powerful tools built natively in the Facebook platform.”
Through Facebook Shops, consumers will be able to find, browse, and buy products through Facebook and Instagram. Checkout will be powered by Shopify for merchants, with Shopify also offering Instagram Checkout to select merchants testing the new feature.
“We see Facebook Shops as a natural extension of our relationship,” Satish Kanwar, vice president of product at Shopify, told BetaKit. “As businesses adapt to selling online, we believe Facebook Shops will help merchants reach more of their customers and continue to drive sales. Our platform and expertise in commerce, combined with Facebook’s reach, show how tech companies can come together to help businesses during a tough time.”
As part of the announcement, Shopify is also launching a new, unified Facebook channel that will let merchants automatically connect their Shopify business to Facebook in one place. The tool is also aimed to make customers’ shopping experience feel native to each individual app. This new channel is available for installation now, and Shopify said it will continue to grow in functionality throughout the year.
“Shopify offers tools that entrepreneurs need to start and run their businesses, and they’re helping a lot of companies move online,” said Zuckerberg. “We’re excited to work with them to help small businesses prepare for the future.”
Facebook Shops will become available for all businesses across Facebook and Instagram over the coming months.