TikTok Announces Two New Shopping Events to Boost In-App Sales

06/30/25
Source: Social Media Today – Latest News by Andrew Hutchinson. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of TikTok’s Big Push into In-App Shopping Featuring Small Businesses and Food

TikTok is aggressively expanding its in-app shopping features, spotlighting small businesses and local food products through campaigns like “Shop Locally Made.” The platform is integrating fresh and frozen food options, beginning with Seattle’s Pike Place Fish Market, marking a new direction beyond traditional product sales. TikTok is also launching major sales events like “Deals for You Days” with live shopping and price match guarantees, aiming to boost user engagement and revenue, inspired by the huge success of its Chinese counterpart. US TikTok Shop sales are growing rapidly, signaling significant potential for TikTok’s commerce ambitions despite challenges.

Optimixed’s Overview: How TikTok is Transforming the Shopping Experience with Local Businesses and Food Innovations

Expanding In-App Commerce with a Local Focus

TikTok is intensifying its efforts to become a dominant shopping platform by launching the “Shop Locally Made” promotion. This campaign highlights unique small businesses across America, emphasizing their community roots and success on TikTok Shop. The initiative aims to boost awareness of TikTok’s role in supporting the U.S. economy through social commerce.

Introducing Food Sales to the TikTok Marketplace

  • New product categories: Customers can now purchase fresh and frozen food items including bakery goods, prepared meals, cheese, charcuterie, meat, seafood, and beverages directly within the app.
  • Spotlight on Pike Place Fish Market: As the first seafood seller on TikTok, this iconic market brings its vibrant in-person experience online, tapping into TikTok’s 660K+ followers.
  • Nationwide food focus: This launch is seen as a stepping stone toward a broader rollout of local and regional food favorites across the U.S., enhancing TikTok’s in-stream shopping ecosystem.

Major Sales Events and Live Shopping Growth

Following the local food push, TikTok is hosting a 13-day “Deals for You Days” event featuring well-known brands and offering incentives like Venmo discounts and a “LIVE Price Match Guaranteed” program. This initiative leverages the rising popularity of live shopping, a proven revenue driver in TikTok’s Chinese market.

Significant Growth and Future Potential

  • Strong sales growth: U.S. TikTok Shop sales have surged 120% year-over-year, with small business sales up 70% and over 8 million hours of live shopping sessions recorded.
  • Global inspiration: TikTok’s Chinese version (Douyin) generated $490 billion in gross merchandise sales in 2024, illustrating the massive potential for TikTok’s commerce ambitions in the U.S.
  • Challenges ahead: Despite rapid growth and innovation, TikTok faces obstacles such as logistical concerns for fresh food delivery and regulatory risks in the U.S.

Overall, TikTok’s evolving shopping strategies reflect its commitment to integrating commerce deeply within its social platform, aiming to transform user engagement and tap into billions in potential revenue.