Shopify and TikTok have signed a deal that is set to make it easier for merchants to advertised and sell products on the video-sharing social media site.
Shopify and TikTok announced the partnership Tuesday morning, with the deal opening up opportunities for both TikTok’s more than 100 million user base and Shopify’s one million merchants.
Shopify is “thrilled to be the first partner to welcome TikTok to the world of commerce.”
“TikTok is one of the world’s fastest growing entertainment platforms with over 100 million highly engaged users in the US alone,” said Satish Kanwar, VP of product at Shopify. “The TikTok channel means Shopify merchants—even those without a strong TikTok following of their own yet — can connect with these new audiences using content that feels authentic and genuine to the TikTok experience.”
Kanwar added that Shopify is “thrilled to be the first partner to welcome TikTok to the world of commerce.”
Shopify will now be offering a TikTok channel to its merchants, allowing them to create and connect their TikTok For Business account and deploy marketing campaigns and shoppable video ads directly within Shopify.
The two companies are also set to test new commerce features over the coming months to make it easier for TikTok users to purchase Shopify products from within the social media app.
“We are delighted to partner with Shopify and provide a channel for their merchants to reach new audiences and drive sales on TikTok,” said Blake Chandlee, VP of global business solutions at TikTok. “As social commerce proliferates, retailers are recognizing that TikTok’s creative and highly engaged community sets it apart from other platforms. We’re constantly exploring new and innovative ways to connect brands with our users, and Shopify is the perfect partner to help us grow and expand our commerce capabilities globally.”
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Having launched TikTok For Business earlier this year, TikTok has also been in talks with other retailers to increase its advertising reach, including Walmart. However, with a US appeals court hearing expected for November 4 on whether to allow the US government to bar transactions with TikTok, talks stalled.
Shopify, which became one of Canada’s most valuable companies this year having found increased success amid COVID-19, has been expanding its e-commerce partnerships of late.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the Ottawa e-commerce giant is working on an integration with YouTube that could see the video-sharing platform become an e-commerce hub for parent company Google.
In May, Shopify partnered with Facebook to launch Facebook Shops, a free tool aimed to help merchants create customized online storefronts for Facebook and Instagram. The offering 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.
In addition to the overall partnership, TikTok and Shopify also announced an initiative showcasing Black-owned businesses with the launch of TikTok’s first co-branded Hashtag Challenge Plus (HTC+), #ShopBlack. Running from November 10 to 15, TikTok users can spotlight their favourite Black-owned businesses using the hashtag.
