Until now, third-party apps such as LiketoKnow.it have been the only way to shop products semi-directly from Instagram. With more and more consumers getting on-board with mobile shopping, however, the photo app is finally unveiling a new feature that will let users shop products directly from their favorite squares—no other apps required.
Instagram announced plans for the new feature today, which will roll-out in a test-phase as early as next week. The photo app partnered with 20 brands including Kate Spade, JackThreads and Warby Parker to test the shopping feature over the next few weeks. The shoppable posts will have a 'tap to view' icon on the bottom left of a photo. When tapped, a tag will appear on all shoppable products in the post (brands can include up to 5 per photo) and showcase all the prices. After you select the tag of a specific product, a new detailed view of the product will open which then leads to a 'Shop Now' button directing you to the product on the brand's website.
Kate Spade from Instagram for Business on Vimeo.
During the test phase, the shopping feature will only be available to users in the U.S. And though it's not clear exactly when all brands will have access to the feature, it looks like we're one step closer to finally being able to shop on Instagram.
