TikTok STRENGTHENS e-commerce toolset with new Shopify partnership

TikTok is moving into ecommerce. The short-form video platform have announced that they will be extending their partnership with Shopify to launch ‘TikTok Shopping’ with selected Shopify merchants across the UK, US, and Canada. 

Similar to Instagram Shopping, where you can link directly to products on grid posts, TikTok will introduce a Shopify integration that will allow creators and brands to do the same. With the introduction of the new “Shopping” tab, users will be able to sync their product catalogues to create mini-storefronts on their profiles. 

This is also complemented by product links that can be used to tag products in TikTok videos, to allow followers to click the tagged item that features be directed toward their storefront. 

Kylie Jenner (yawn) is among the first to adopt the new service and is already featuring Kylie Cosmetics products directly on her TikTok. ‘TikTok Shopping’ is still in pilot stage, but anybody can request to join through Shopify’s own TikTok channel. 

TikTok continues to grow as a commerce and entertainment platform, following its blow-up success of the lockdown summer of 2021, and this deeper Shopify integration is likely to be just the start of some really exciting incoming tools allowing brands and creators to monetise their channels. 

This could be a huge first step in elevating brands’ ability to generate direct revenue from TikTok. The challenge is now to continue to deliver the compelling, authentic content that earns followers on TikTok in the first place, and not turn their output on the platform into a cold sales funnel.