Shopify launches gift shop feature to compete with Amazon

According to foreign media reports, Shopify has launched a product called " Gift Shop "   Shop ) feature that allows users to select and purchase gifts for others in the Shop application.

It is understood that through the "Gift Shop" function, users can browse selected series of products in the Shop , such as "Sweet   Treats and Gifts   Under   $50", and select from a list of products from Shopify merchants.

After users select the items, they are prompted to enter the names of the recipient and sender and provided with a link. Users can send the link to the recipient via text message, email or social media, and the recipient can see some information about the item and the merchant in the link.

The recipient can accept the gift through the link and enter the delivery address. Shop will not charge the sender until the recipient accepts the gift and enters the delivery address .

A Shopify spokesperson confirmed that the feature was recently launched in the U.S., “Gift   Shop is a new feature available within Shop that is designed to make gifting thoughtful, easy and seamless .” “ Featured merchants are selected by our team and updated from time to time. ”

It is understood that Amazon has previously launched a similar feature before the holidays: allowing Prime members to select and purchase gifts for family and friends without a delivery address.

The "gift shop" is not the only new feature that Shopify has added to Shop recently . It is understood that Shopify has been testing a search function that, like the "gift shop" , will display products from different Shopify merchants in the search results , making it easier for shoppers to compare prices and features. Some industry insiders are worried that this feature may create competition among its merchants and eventually develop into an e-commerce platform like Amazon .

Shopify launched the Shop app in April 2020 with features designed to encourage users to shop from local businesses and follow their favorite stores for deals and new arrivals. It also integrates Shopify’s checkout feature, ShopPay, and its order tracking service, Arrive.

At that time, the products recommended by Shop mainly came from stores that consumers were already familiar with, such as stores that consumers had purchased or paid attention to. The "Gift Shop" function launched recently has broken the convention and started to recommend products from brands or stores that users have never heard of .

Shopify

Amazon

gift