Facebook and Instagram Are About to Become Small-Business Shopping Hubs
Facebook is targeting small merchants with a new ‘Shops’ feature, letting them promote collections of goods within Facebook and Instagram
By Steven Melendez
As online shopping continues to be a lifeline for many stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic, Facebook is announcing on Tuesday that it’s rolling out a new shopping feature on its namesake platform and Instagram.
The new concept lets businesses upload a catalog of merchandise to a new “Facebook Shop,” accessible through the company’s Facebook page and Instagram profile. Shoppers can then browse merchandise directly within the social media apps and quickly either navigate to the business’s website to make a purchase or check out within the Facebook apps, depending on the merchant’s preference.
Facebook, which is launching Facebook Shops Tuesday with roughly one million businesses on board, says that it anticipates that it will be a boon to small merchants, many of which are adjusting alongside their customers to doing more business online as storefronts remain closed due to legal restrictions and safety concerns.
