Latest news with #livecommerce
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
10 Reasons Live Shopping Is Driving E-Commerce Growth In 2025
As the world grows more digitally connected, e-commerce is evolving fast, and live commerce is leading the charge. By turning passive browsing into real-time engagement, selling via livestream gives brands a direct line to their audience, combining product education with urgency, authenticity and social proof. Regardless of the platform, live commerce is shortening the path to purchase and driving conversions in ways static content can't. Below, Forbes Agency Council members share what makes this fast-rising format so effective and how forward-thinking brands are using it to build trust and boost sales. 1. Creates Urgency And Sparks Faster Decision-Making Social media's growing influence creates another platform for brands to reach diverse demographics, fueling a surge in live commerce popularity. By blending product demonstrations with instant Q&As and social proof, live commerce helps customers make faster, more confident purchase decisions. The real-time format creates urgency, making it easier to spark action and drive higher conversion rates. - Shane Savage, PATHOS 2. Combines Entertainment With Instant Buying Power Live commerce is surging because it blends entertainment with instant buying power. For e-commerce brands, the big win is real-time engagement. Customers can ask questions, get answers, interact with product creators and brand ambassadors and make purchases on the spot. It builds trust, speeds up the path to conversion, personalizes the buying process and helps marketers get closer to peer-to-peer marketing. - Mary Ann O'Brien, OBI Creative 3. Taps Into Emotional Buying Behaviors Humans will always lead with emotion and justify with logic—livestream commerce is built on that truth. It transforms products into performances, rewarding presence with access, surprise and speed. For e-commerce brands, it's more than selling—it's staging moments that feel urgent, intimate and alive. When commerce becomes theater, emotion leads and function follows, and that's what sells. - Shanna Apitz, Hunt Adkins Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify? 4. Drives Real-Time, Two-Way Engagement Live commerce is booming globally as consumers crave interactive, real-time engagement with brands. For e-commerce companies, livestreaming builds trust and drives higher conversion by turning passive viewers into active, emotionally connected buyers. - Jessica Hawthorne-Castro, Hawthorne Advertising 5. Helps Brands Break Through Traditional Ad Noise Audiences are used to the traditional forms of advertising, such as banners, brand placements and so on. Brands—especially those in the fiercely competitive e-commerce environment—need to think outside the box to stand out. Real-time interactions like live streaming go beyond traditional approaches by fostering deep connections and building trust in a brand and its product. - Michael Kuzminov, HypeFactory 6. Recreates Excitement And Social Proof Of Teleshopping Live commerce thrives for the same reasons teleshopping did in the 1980s: excitement, real-time social proof and community engagement. It is highly effective, as it drives impulse purchases, bolstered by social proof, grows conversions and cuts return rates. E-commerce brands can leverage live commerce as a component of their brand awareness campaigns, amplifying reach and deepening loyalty. - Oksana Matviichuk, OM Strategic Forecasting 7. Creates A Stronger Sense Of Human Connection People are craving connection these days. The digital life has brought so much connection to our lives, but it feels—almost counterintuitively—isolating. The overwhelming amount of digital information coming at us leads to experiences feeling transactional—the opposite of connection. Live commerce is a great way to create deeper connections with customers that break through the transaction. - Talie Smith, Smith & Connors 8. Reduces Buyer Hesitation By Addressing Questions Addressing questions from a live audience is hard to beat and can lead to reduced buyer friction. Viewers can ask questions in real time about quality, use cases, pricing and so on—and if one person is asking a question, you can bet that several others have the same one. Plus, viewers know that when you're live, there is no editing taking place, and this builds trust like nothing else. - Bernard May, National Positions 9. Strengthens Emotional Bonds; Cuts Cart Abandonment Live commerce capitalizes on parasocial relationships between hosts and viewers, creating an emotional investment that traditional e-commerce lacks. The biggest benefit is reduced cart abandonment. Real-time demonstrations eliminate purchase hesitation while social validation from other viewers reinforces buying decisions instantly. - Vaibhav Kakkar, Digital Web Solutions 10. Humanizes Brands Through Personal Interactions People connect to people—this is just a fact. In this rapidly connected world, often driven by AI-powered communications, human-centricity is simply a brand differentiator. We all connect to stories, to narrative and to visual media, and we appreciate personal anecdotes. Personal recommendations are much more influential than algorithmically generated suggestions. - Goran Paun, ArtVersion
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bambuser Teams Up with Gaprise to Market Video Commerce Platform and Strengthen Its Position in Japan
STOCKHOLM, SE / / May 27, 2025 / Bambuser AB (STO:BUSER)(FRA:5JL) - Tokyo/Stockholm, May 27, 2025 - Bambuser has partnered with Gaprise, a key player in bringing top SaaS solutions to the Japanese market through its consulting and technology services. This collaboration will empower Japanese businesses to incorporate shoppable video and capitalize on Japan's booming social commerce market, expected to reach US$25.33 billion in 2025. Bambuser is pleased to announce its partnership with Gaprise Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Ryoji Kai), an international SaaS trading company that supports digital businesses. Through this collaboration, Bambuser will expand its presence in Japan, with Gaprise as a strategic partner to introduce its innovative solutions to local businesses. Trusted by more than 250 brands, Bambuser's international streaming services are available in 240 countries, including Japan. The social commerce market in Japan is expected to grow by 9.9% on an annual basis to reach US$25.33 billion in 2025. The social commerce market in the country experienced robust growth during 2021-2024, achieving a CAGR of 10.9%. According to research by As the market grows, Gaprise and Bambuser's partnership reflects an urgent need for more accessible shoppable video technology. " As the live commerce market continues to grow significantly in Japan, we sought to provide a platform trusted by many brands in the global market, which led us to form a partnership with Bambuser. "Comments, Ryoji Kai CEO of Gaprise INC Giving businesses the ability to purchase Bambuser's platform, will enable brands to host shoppable livestreams and integrate shoppable videos across all of their digital channels. As a SaaS offering, Bambuser presents a convenient and affordable way for businesses to make shopping more interactive and elevate the customer experience. Live commerce has proved to resonate well with consumers across Japan, with studies showing that over half (54.8%) of viewers actually purchase products. A more detailed breakdown showed that the rate of purchase was 66.2% for customers in their 20s, and 59.6% for those in their 30s. These figures are consistent with a generational shift towards live commerce - statistics from NTT Com Research's "Live Commerce" survey. "We are delighted to be working with Gaprise, and to expand our offering to businesses across Japan," comments Maryam Ghahremani, CEO of Bambuser. "As one of the fastest growing markets in Asia, we are proud to be able to deliver the most intuitive and powerful shoppable video platform to Gaprise's network of leading businesses. Ultimately, our objective is to empower businesses to elevate their customer experience, boost their revenue, and engage the next generation of mobile-first consumers." About GapriseGaprise is a company that supports digital business, with a focus on digital marketing. The company actively searches the globe for groundbreaking and valuable technology solutions, introducing these innovations to new markets and client companies. Since launching sales activities in 2012 with a forward-looking approach to emerging markets, Gaprise has helped numerous growing companies integrate advanced technologies into their operations. In doing so, the company has played a modest yet meaningful role in the development of new markets . About BambuserBambuser is the world's leading virtual commerce company, with the largest customer base in its industry. Trusted by more than 250 brands, Bambuser's international streaming services are available in 240 countries. Bambuser is truly global with headquarters in Stockholm and offices in New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Turku, and with a passionate team speaking more than 30 languages. Founded in 2007 as a livestreaming pioneer, trusted by the world's leading news agencies, Bambuser pivoted to Live Shopping in 2019, leveraging its legacy as the industry leader in video-first technology. Contact informationBambuserpress@ Follow usSubscribe to Bambusers press releases here .Bambuser on LinkedIn. Attachments Bambuser teams up with Gaprise to market video commerce platform and strengthen its position in Japan SOURCE: Bambuser AB View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
What Trading Cards Tell Us About The Future Of The Creator Economy
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – February 19, 2019: Baseball cards typically display an image of the player ... More with identifying information including statistics and biographical information. Baseball card production peaked in the late 1980s however, baseball cards are still one of the most influential collectibles of all time. For years, creators have been chasing virality and hoping the money follows. But today, the most successful creators are flipping that script by monetizing directly through community, content and commerce. Fanatics Live, a livestream platform built for trading card enthusiasts, is a great example of what's possible when creators are given the tools to operate like entrepreneurs. According to CEO Nick Bell, Fanatics Live is 'the place where card collecting meets entertainment,' combining the real-time thrill of QVC, the social energy of Twitch and the gamification of Candy Crush. It's content and commerce wrapped in community. Live commerce is already well established in Asia, where it accounts for more than 20% of all e-commerce sales. In the US, it's on a steep upward curve, with McKinsey forecasting growth to $68 billion by 2026, driven largely by vertical platforms in collectibles, fashion and beauty. Bell sees the momentum: 'Live commerce has grown incredibly rapidly in China over the last 10 years… I think when it comes to collectibles, I would really look at it as like the difference between watching a sports game alone at home versus being in a packed stadium with other fans.' At its core, Fanatics Live gives creators, called 'breakers', the ability to host livestreams where they open card packs, engage fans and transact in real time. Bell explained that the platform's technology, LiveOS, is 'purpose-built for the collectibles industry' with integrated tools that let creators 'sell breaks, run giveaways, polls, quizzes' all in a deeply gamified, vertical-specific environment. Rather than building for everyone, Fanatics has focused tightly on the trading card category. 'Rather than other platforms that go much wider… we're very, very focused on trading cards,' Bell noted, underscoring a strategy that puts community depth above generalized reach. What's particularly striking is how Fanatics Live prioritizes creator empowerment. Bell emphasized, 'Our creators are entrepreneurs. They're building communities, not just audiences. That's where the business is.' This isn't hyperbole, Fanatics Live sees over an hour of average watch time per user per day, suggesting that fans are sticking around. That sense of stickiness is by design. 'You speak to collectors who use Fanatics Live on a daily basis… they have their two or three favorite creators. And it's not just the creator… it's the community that forms around that,' Bell explained. He described how users show up for the creators as much as the product—'these are people that are their friends.' Fanatics Live's ambitions go beyond digital. In its recently launched London flagship store, it unveiled a professional-grade Fanatics Live Studio where creators can book slots and go live directly from the retail floor. 'We provide the prime location and professional-grade equipment for creators to shine,' said Bell. 'It's about empowering the community, fostering genuine connections, and delivering exhilarating live experiences.' Fanatics The studio functions as a production hub, storefront, and creator coworking space, a model that could easily extend to other verticals in the future. Fanatics Live may have launched in the UK most recently, but its model is globally relevant. Bell, who grew up in the UK, noted that while sticker collections were once popular playground currency, trading cards represent something longer-lasting: 'Collecting is this kind of journey that you go on over a long period of time… these things live on for years and years.' He added that 'people build their collections for years… it becomes a form of art,' pointing to a recent example where a Paul Skenes debut patch card sold for $1.1 million on the platform. As Bell put it, 'Gone are the days where people are just going to post a video, hope it gets a load of views and hope that they get a few pennies out the bottom from ad revenue.' Instead, Fanatics Live creators are operating like small businesses. Here are a few key takeaways for creators: 'Find something that you're really passionate about,' said Bell. 'Something that you want to be doing evenings, weekends, every waking moment, and go deep on that.' Fanatics Live proves that trust and familiarity drive more revenue than virality. 'It's not just the creator that [viewers] move towards… it's the community that forms around that.' Fanatics Live's LiveOS was built from scratch for this vertical. 'We're building a connected ecosystem… that helps collectors enjoy what they do and removes all the boring bits,' Bell said. Top-performing creators on Fanatics Live show up regularly, not sporadically. 'Building a business is not easy,' Bell admitted, 'and it's got to be something that you want to eat, sleep, and breathe every single day.' Fanatics Live might focus on trading cards, but it's modeling a broader truth, the most successful creator businesses are built on depth. By combining real-time commerce with community and infrastructure, Fanatics Live is showing how creators can own their audiences, their earnings and their futures. And as Bell aptly put it, 'We're giving creators the infrastructure to build meaningful, sustainable businesses.' This article is based on an interview from my podcast The Business of Creators.
