Facebook & Instagram set up Shops feature for businesses

Facebook and Instagram have launched Shops, a feature that allows consumers to buy and sell products directly on both platforms in a few clicks – without having to leave the app.

If you have a Facebook business page, you can add a shop. Free to set up, businesses can choose the products they wish to feature and customise the look and feel of their ‘Shop’ with a cover image and shades to suit their brand.

Facebook Shops is available now and ideal for techs look to sell beauty retail items or the popular press-on nails that are being created during lockdown. Shops must sell physical items and Facebook reveals the benefits of Shops to businesses as follows:

• Add as many products as you want: You don’t need to upload a product catalogue anywhere else first, and there’s no limit on how many products you can add.
• Customise your product inventory: You can organise your products into different collections so that your customers can browse your shop by category.
• Communicate with customers: Your customers can message the shop on your Page with questions.
• Get insights: You can see views, clicks and purchases for each of your products.

Instagram Shops launches this summer with the ability to set up online stores through Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Customers can find Facebook Shops on a business’ Facebook Page or Instagram profile or discover them through stories or ads.

Later this year, Instagram will be adding a new shop tab in the navigation bar and will be launching the tab on Instagram Live videos.

Facebook comments: “We hope these tools can relieve some of the pressure small businesses are facing right now and help businesses of all sizes prepare for the future.”