Pinterest extends shopping further

Two new offerings from Pinterest make the visually-oriented social media platform even more accessible for e-commerce.



First, Pinterest is launching a new feature called Pinterest Shop. Every day, Pinterest will offer what it calls “hand-picked” product selections. The curated assortments will include products from major retailers like Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom, as well as from smaller boutique retailers.



Pinterest will roll out Pinterest Shop for desktop and mobile in the next couple of weeks.



In addition, Pinterest is now making its Buyable Pins in-app purchase mechanism available for Android devices. Previously, mobile consumers had to use iOS devices to make purchases via Buyable Pins.



Pinterest is becoming more accessible for direct commerce as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube are all launching or piloting new features that let consumers make easy purchases without having to visit a separate e-commerce site.



The notion of a distinct “store” continues to fade as constant consumer connectivity offers retailers more points of contact where they potentially make a sale. The concept of making instant purchases via social media is still in its infancy, but a significant growth spurt seems to be underway.