Sam Blumenthal

Studies show that friends and family are still the most trusted sources when it comes to making purchasing decisions, with consumers more likely to buy a product they have experienced. Up against this kind of scrutiny, it is important for brands to select a host with a proven following and high engagement rates, and up to the influencer to promote... See more

While this motivation may be latent—even subconscious, for most—in the U.S., it’s an economic driver that’s well understood in China, fueling a thriving video ecommerce market. In Asia, the powerful force of video entertainment shopping has spawned a livestream ecommerce industry akin to professional movie production. It’s more than a place where... See more

Platforms like Taobao, owned by Alibaba, and WeChat function as both hybrids of social media and eCommerce platforms, essentially offering users a plethora of services from microblogging, messaging and online shopping, all in one experience. This interconnected economy of services means that live stream shopping is simply an extension of the... See more

There’s no true equivalent to Taobao Live in America, and so the U.S. is still playing catch-up.