TikTok, the popular social media app owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has officially launched its e-commerce service in the United States, according to a blog post on Tuesday.
The move comes after months of testing and aims to tap into the huge potential of online shopping among TikTok’s more than 150 million users in the U.S.
TikTok said it is offering a series of features on its main app that will allow users to see and buy products from videos and live streams. It is also providing tools for content creators, brands, and merchants to create shoppable content on the platform.
One of the new features is a shop tab, where businesses can showcase their products with logistics and payment solutions powered by TikTok. Users can browse and purchase items directly from the app, without leaving TikTok.
TikTok said it has also integrated its shopping service with various third-party platforms, such as Shopify, Salesforce, and Zendesk, to help merchants manage their online stores, customer service, and marketing campaigns.
TikTok’s e-commerce venture is not new, as it has already launched similar services in countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. However, the U.S. market is one of the most lucrative and competitive for online shopping, especially with rivals like Facebook (FB.O) and Google (GOOGL.O) expanding their own e-commerce features.
TikTok said it hopes to replicate the success of Asian platforms like Shein and PDD Holdings’ Temu, which have grown rapidly by offering low-cost products and social shopping experiences to young consumers.
“With TikTok Shopping, we’re excited to bring new opportunities for our community to discover great products, support small businesses and creators, and have fun while shopping,” said Blake Chandlee, President of Global Business Solutions at TikTok.