Noted: Bringing Facebook to the Storefront

The pervasiveness of the social network has come to dominate so many aspects of our lives, from what to eat and what music to listen to all the way to determining where your friends are at that specific time so you can be there too. I've been against the grain on most of this, and especially on having to gauge my clothing style to what people on Facebook "like" at any given time. I don't really need to see the worlds opinion to choose an "ideal outfit," I'll stick to my favorite jeans and sweatshirts, thank you very much :)

Without facebook, I wouldnt exist. Go FACEBOOK!

Its a fantastic tool! I love it!

i totally agree with you, VoleedeMoineaux! As I am quite fresh to Etsy, Facebook has been a wonderful tool in helping direct others to my shop! xx

The only opinion that matters to me when choosing a garment is my own. I can understand that for some people this is not the case, so this company's gimmick will probably prove effective. It's actually a very clever gimmick, but I do hope this does not become a trend. I think we ought to be less "plugged-in" in general, not more.

It's a great addition.

That is such a cool idea!!

Nothing new about marketing products to women by appealing to their collective low self esteem. I have no idea how the opinions of strangers about clothing they like helps you dress in a way that lets you look your best?

great article! too cool!

wow, kudoos to the retailer for being way ahead of the pack on that one. However, I feel it is a little sad to know that so many women feel the only way to be socially acceptable is to be wearing what everyone else is wearing. everything is so mass produced these days, even people are moving towards being mass produced clones of the celebrities they idolize.

I love FB, but I have and will always buy what I like, not what i think the rest of the world likes.

@ DottiesPhD ... agreed.

I would rather buy something unique and one of a kind than what everyone else is wearing.

amazing...just amazing

Not everyone is good about shopping for their own style taste etc. and I agree some women shop what is popular and they need approval by the society or something.. Everybody is different you know, that doesn't make them un-cool ;) Anyway, long story short; I think that is a genius idea for sales..

I would rather make something myself , I do not like mass production!

What have they been thinking! - "...help thousands of women in their difficult mission of choosing the ideal outfit.” ? by clicking "Like? - cunning!

Digital hoarding doesn't lead to actual purchases, nor should it dictate art/fashion choices... I like crowd source design as experimentation and play, but I'd rather think it and make it myself as even a copy will have a chance to turn out unique.

I love it, the picture is so pretty, love the colors. It also is a great idea, to have all the likes right there. I know it would matter, working in retail when I try and sell something if you tell them what others have said they like about an item really helps. People ask strangers opinion all the time. It is a great idea.

Whatever works, I guess. Can't say multiple clicks would affect my purchase. Might work with teenagers.

”When they go clothes shopping, women always feel insecure and want a second opinion,” Pretty sexist if you ask me! I am not apposed to the idea, i think they are ahead of the game with this, it's just the notion that women are too stupid to pick out an outfit on their own, and that we are all insecure and need reassurance of our looks, that part bothers me.

While I think this application is ingenious, the thought of a not too distant generation that “can’t live without Facebook”, and has never had to, makes me cringe. I assume the numbers can be manipulated easily by a gaggle of twelve year olds with too much time on their hands, so that anyone who would make a purchase based on random strangers questionably sincere “likes” deserves what they get. Having said that, I’m sure the marketing community will jump on this as the next new thing and future generations will be buying everything from toilet paper to cars based on the number of thumbs-up it has. How sad. Personally, I like my physical and virtual worlds separate. Oh wait . . . ah, er, ummm - but you're welcome to heart my shop anytime. (That wasn't easy to say with my foot in my mouth.)

such a cool idea, great article :)

I am amazed by the speed of all the high tech and ideas that kept coming out, it is kinda tiring of trying to catch each one of them! But everything seems to be more convenient now a day!

This is an interesting and innovative marketing strategy and way to engage consumers. The only thing that is unsettling is that there are people who may need to have that kind of social assurance before deciding if a particular item is right for them. Most people who I know that dress for their own style and figure make those decisions themselves. Just because skinny jeans are popular, doesn't mean that everyone should wear them. Everyone is unique and its best that the individual learn how to customize their wardrobe themselves.

Very cool idea, wow it just amazing the tech....

What a great way to innovate the retail industry. I'm interested to see where it's going to go from here!

If we all depended on what other people thought of us, we would all look the same. Clothing stores should encourage people to experiment and be brave.

On the other hand, likes may indicate what people think looks cool, but not what they'd actually wear. One need only look at pretty much every runway show ever to see the dichotomy between clothes we think look awesome and clothes we'd ever actually see ourselves wearing. So you might pick something up, thinking "gosh, this looks popular, it must be awesome!" and then buy it, and end up feeling like a tool in it. As for me, I'd probably gravitate toward things with the least likes anyway, as I tend not to like the same things as people who like things on facebook. I also tend not to like facebook.

ugh. another steer in the wrong direction if you ask me.

but then you are all wearing the same clothes..... ;)

I know I don't shop that way and so are most customers I have sold clothes to. There is more and deeper when it comes to shopping for individuals. You/ your taste just can't be persuaded by strangers' like "numbers" in my opinion. At least for me. :)

That way we can all be certain we'll be wearing exactly what everyone else is wearing... who on earth thought this would be anything remotely like a good idea? What happened to individuality & the ability to make decisions? Bad idea, would put me off shopping at this particular retailer.

Okay, I'm 22 and very reliant on technology, but when it comes to fashion in actual stores, I find this idea unsettling. If I like it, I like it. If I don't, I don't. Giving people this tool may be helpful if you're looking for advice on the products you offer. For other people to use it as an advice tool, though? Seems like it might breed more paranoia than buying confidence.

This kind of thing would have the opposite affect on me. I would tend to go elsewhere!

I personally would buy whatever I liked and could care less what others thought, but I do have friends that would love this idea!

Probably brilliant marketing but I can shop without Facebook encouraging me to buy a certain product because it is popular.

Interesting article!

I post free art every day and daily updates for my shop on facebook. While it's been an invaluable tool for creating an audience, it has not lead to many sales on etsy. Living in a small town, I could not live with out facebook and it's allowances for connection. I like C&A's idea for social experimantion. For sales, I don't know.

i kinda see a whole lot of women turning up to a party wearing the same dress because they could not decide for themselves so they went for the dress that was most "liked" i dont wear dresses so i would be the one most amused....

That's a very interesting concept! Shopping can be both a joy and a chore, trying to figure out the current fashion trends and what styles you are interested in. Very interesting indeed, though I do agree with Chappell in that seeing even more Facebook icons on "non-Facebook" websites may get tiring.

Interesting! I think to an extent we already experience this in our daily lives through endorsement on blogs you've just got to look at folks like Kendi Everyday where a dress sells out in hours after blogging about it! Social shopping for you.

Interesting but we "Real Women" can think for ourselves and don't need Face Book to tell us what looks good or not on our bodies!! Good grief what is this world coming to...way too much technology invading our lives, how I long for simpler times!

That is pretty fascinating. What is the world coming to when you need to know how many people approve of something for you to wear it? If you like it, then who cares how many other people do.

go go Facebook!

I rarely use Facebook and don't feel my business has been disadvantaged at all because of it... I don't feel good about this technology at all... Aren't we able make up our own minds about what we like any more?

Wow, to think that a woman needs to buy only what everyone else loves is sad. It must be aimed at younger women who have less self esteem than most.

I dont have facebook, ooooh noooooo!!

i love marketing pushed to a new level...its a clever pitch

I don't agree with the statement that women feel insecure when shopping and need a second opinion. Kinda sad if this is the general consensus on women and shopping.

Facebook is probably my #1 external source of traffic for my Etsy page.

Let's face it. Facebook has so much influence in Marketing that anyone who doesn't want to evolve will be out of business fast. Their Apps are constantly evolving to help small business---even here at ETSY we can link from Facebook to our store. In my opinion, it's important to jump on the wagon sometimes in order to evolve. Not to sound like a Facebook promoter, but if you don't have a business page you're really missing the boat. Just my opinion.... http://themissingpiecepuzzlecompany.com.

An amazingly interesting idea....the retailer is doing something extremely innovative and unique. However, for my own personal choice, seeing how many 'likes' an item has would not influence my shopping choices. I buy what I like, and don't care as to whether the masses like it or not.

I think it's a cool and innovative idea, but when it comes to style, I think deep down we all know what suits us and what doesn't. I personally don't need someone else's opinion to sway my decision to purchase a piece of clothing, I either like it or I don't.

too bad we all cant just make our own clothes.....

well this can work as marketing or anti-marketing strategy, because for me is not appealing. I know the store, it operates in many countries in Europe, and I wouldn't feel welcome if I entered and saw likes on the clothes. Not for me, so they would loose a customer. Maybe I'm not their target or maybe...they are winning some and loosing others. But in general I can say that, at least from the people I know and from my social circle, I don't think most women will fall for a facebook number of likes campaign. Most of the women I know will either laugh at the store and make jokes or ignore the store.

That is an interesting idea, I don't know if I like it or not. It is interesting, though! ^ . ^

Interesting idea but I think its a stretch. Next where going to be reading about restaurants attaching Facebook likes to each item on the menu, so you can have more confidence in choosing the right menu item.

what a great way to have your customers interact with your brand and each other! I don't know if it's really about buying something because of how many likes it has, I think people like to be involved and that's exactly what social media is allowing us to do. People are always shopping with friends and seeking their approval, maybe this is for all those out there who are shopping solo. It's in our nature to seek someone else's opinion. Whether we agree with it or not.

Great idea !

I've never been a huge Facebook supporter, but I have realized its benefits with promoting my Etsy shop! Everyone who has commented has made great points -- this idea of this store is very innovative and shows that many people are ready to move even beyond our digital world and gain a head start on the competition. They could become extremely well-known and supported just for their digital efforts. I would also agree with the people who stated that in their opinion, it is more fulfilling to shop for yourself, and not what others "like." If anything, this store would help you find the things that no one's wearing, helping make you an individual!