Currently, there are thousands of brands use Instagram as their advertising tools. The app lets people share photos and discover a trendy look. Consequently, it has made several moves to become Instagram shopping hub.
Last March, Instagram introduced a new checkout option. From the app, Instagram allows customers to purchase products directly off a handful of companies’ pages. Previously, shoppers had to leave Instagram when they found a product on the app. They, have to go to the retailers’ websites to buy that product.
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Besides, Instagram has also added tools that allow customers to shop items on its Stories and Explore pages. More than that, they can also buy celebrities’ outfit on their Instagram feeds. Without complicated steps, they can directly purchase the outfit directly from the celebrities’ posts.
Features provided by Instagram has eased the frustration of online customer. They do not need to scroll through dozens of pages and hundreds of products, anymore.
Instagram’s efforts to transform into a shopping hub have enticed some brands. These companies see an untapped market to sell their merchandise directly to their large Instagram followings. These companies know that their customers spend hours on Instagram.
One of them is Adidas. Adidas say they are taking advantage of the new tool by launching new sneakers and clothes on Instagram.
The strategy resembles the popular social media app WeChat in China. WeChat is the biggest messaging platform in China. It has been successful to get shoppers to purchase products through its app.
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The Opportunity
Shopping off Instagram could be a $10 billion market by 2021, according to AMZN. Moreover, the platform allows brands to woo shoppers beyond their own websites.
Instagram says that 80% of the app’s users follow a business. More than 130 million users every month tap Instagram posts to see shopping product tags.
More than 20 brands are testing an updated checkout feature with Instagram. That includes Nike (NKE), Adidas, Uniqlo, Warby Parker, Outdoor Voices, and Prada. These companies hope the option will make it easier for customers to purchase. They also hope that it helps them boost their sales off the platform.
