Facebook launches shopping service

Thursday January 1 1970

Facebook has gone live with a new shopping service called Shops that allows businesses to display and sell its products

The social media trailblazer already allows individuals to sell on the platform through Marketplace but Shops is aimed squarely at businesses.

Facebook’s big move comes as businesses increasingly move online to sell products during the COVID-19 outbreak and it could position the tech giant as a potential long-term rival to Amazon and Etsy.

The shopping feature will also eventually appear on WhatsApp and the company's other messaging apps and integrate with live streams.

“Our goal is to make shopping seamless and empower anyone from a small business owner to a global brand to use our apps to connect with customers,”Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a video statement.

Brought forward

Facebook revealed that the initial stage of the Shops rollout had been brought forward and extended because of Covid-19.

Shops will be free for businesses to access and stores will appear on business pages, Instagram profiles and through targeted ads.

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