Popshop Live

Popshop Live operates a livestream e-commerce platform that enables sellers to host their own interactive shopping shows. The company was founded in 2016 by Danielle (Dan Dan) Li, who had the idea after observing the high engagement on platforms like Snapchat and Periscope and saw an opportunity to bring a similar interactive experience to mobile shopping. In August 2023, Popshop Live was acquired by CommentSold, a retail technology company, creating a combined entity aimed at providing an end-to-end creator commerce platform. Li assumed the role of Chief Innovation Officer for the joint entity.

The platform targets a wide range of sellers, from individual creators and at-home entrepreneurs to small boutiques and larger brands. It saw a significant increase in adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic, as brick-and-mortar stores sought new ways to connect with customers. The business model is commission-based, where Popshop Live takes a percentage of the sales made through the platform. Specifically, the company charges a 6% fee on sales and additional minimal platform fees to cover services like product sourcing and customer support. For sellers utilizing Popshop Live's catalog, margins are reported to be between 20-60%.

Popshop Live provides sellers with a comprehensive suite of tools to manage their online business. This includes an online storefront, payment processing for all major credit cards and Apple Pay, and integration with Instagram to turn social media engagement into sales. The core feature is the live-streaming capability, which allows sellers to showcase products and interact with viewers in real-time. The platform also offers a product sourcing catalog with over 100,000 items, enabling sellers to curate a collection without holding inventory. For sellers with their own products, the platform provides inventory management by linking their e-commerce software. Popshop Live handles payment processing, provides discounted shipping labels, and manages order tracking for buyers. In July 2021, the company raised $20 million in a Series A funding round, which valued it at $100 million. The round was led by Benchmark and included notable individual investors such as Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber.

Keywords: livestream commerce, social commerce, creator economy, e-commerce platform, mobile shopping, live shopping, direct-to-consumer, video shopping, creator monetization, online marketplace, interactive shopping, product sourcing, dropshipping, social selling, shoppable videos, influencer marketing, digital retail, community commerce, mobile commerce, retail technology