Facebook launches Shop tool in UK, Canada

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Feb 23, 2021

Facebook has unveiled new shopping features in the UK and Canada with the appearance of its ‘Shop’ bookmark that gives users the ability to browse virtual storefronts.

The feature is designed to allow businesses from the biggest brands to small one-person operations to connect with their customers. As well as offering daily shopping inspiration via curated product collections from sellers that have shops on Facebook, the new Facebook Shop allows any business to open a virtual storefront.

“Merchants already sell on Facebook and Instagram, but now, Facebook Shop gives every business, whether that’s a major global brand or someone selling handmade jewellery out of their living room, the ability to set up a virtual storefront for free,” the company said.

Facebook also said around 85% of consumers globally are now shopping online to some degree. And that fact is crucial as the company continues its long-term movement from being a communications tool to a much more commercially-focused operation that could even take on the giants of online shopping such as Amazon and eBay.

Facebook Shop launched in the US last year. Now in the UK and Canada, users will find the Shop tool in a bookmark (on the app) and in the menu bar (on desktop), helping to increase sellers’ visibility and convenience for the user.

The new development also comes with more tools for sellers such as design tools and options that make it easier to create create shops.