Shopify Announces 'Collabs' To Connect Creators & Merchants

Source: Shopify

Shopify announced Collabs, a new marketplace to connect creators and Shopify merchants.

Through a directory, creators can discover merchants to work with based on personalized recommendations. They then apply to their communities by answering a series of questions. Once they are accepted, they receive a welcome package with gift codes, discounts, and unique affiliate links. Creators can add product links and code their Linkpop, Shopify's link-in-bio-tool, and start earning commissions.

Since creators are sharing products from Shopify as opposed to other commerce channels, merchants can send products and discounts, create affiliate links, and track and pay affiliate commissions, all from Shopify Admin.

Because many of Shopify’s merchants are independent businesses, specifically direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, Collabs will help more DTC brands play in the influencer marketing space. It will not allow them to find the right creators to partner with and tap directly into the Shopify ecosystem with a focus on sales.

Paid media has been one of the priority ways for DTC brands to sell products and acquire new customers. However, due to Apple’s privacy changes, social ads have become more expensive. Working with creators presents these brands with the opportunity to acquire new customers in a more cost-efficient way and align with social media personalities.

Collabs is the latest move in Shopify’s expanding offerings to creators and merchants. In 2022 alone, it has launched a number of notable integrations, including YouTube Shopping and Linkpop.