This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
On May 19, 2020, Facebook unveiled free tools for retailers affected by the pandemic to establish online storefronts on the social network and Instagram.
The initiative by Facebook aims to assist the retail sector, which has been severely impacted by the coronavirus lockdowns worldwide.
Merchants can easily set up shops on Facebook and Instagram, customize their appearance, and display products, according to the California-based internet giant.
"This is the biggest step that we've taken yet to enable commerce across our family of apps," Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said.
"If you're running a small business or if you're thinking about starting one even from your living room, you have a whole suite of tools available that can help."
Facebook's "Shops" primarily focus on making it easy for businesses to have online storefronts to survive during the crisis and adapt to the online shopping trend, according to Zuckerberg.
"We really hope that our commerce solutions help businesses not only survive but thrive during coming months, and adapt to new consumer behaviour," said Layla Amjadi, Instagram Shopping product lead.
Facebook is already involved in e-commerce, with a Marketplace for selling goods and as a venue where businesses interact with customers through pages at the social network or Instagram.
Businesses have the option to purchase Facebook ads to direct customers to their online shops. Sales can be consummated at websites off the social network.
Merchants in the US can use a Facebook checkout service to handle transactions, paying a nominal fee.
Shops will roll out in coming months to some 160 million businesses that already use the social network.
Zuckerberg said information about what people buy will be kept private unless shoppers want to share their purchases with friends.
Facebook plans to eventually integrate Shops into its Messenger and WhatsApp communication platforms.
Facebook is also working on ways to sell products showcased during live video broadcasts, a popular form of content at the social network.
