Sam Blumenthal

There are large indicators that there is major demand for more sophisticated social commerce in the US marketplace already. An obvious example of this is Instagram, which has over one billion users and is now, arguably, one of the world’s largest social shopping platforms. Similarly to Pinduoduo, Instagram has fostered a browsing-based feed from... See more

On Instagram, Olaplex has long defended its reputation for quality via a robust network of affiliated stylists. But the brand has taken over TikTok with a different approach, owing its prominence largely to organic endorsements from amateur beauty and lifestyle creators. In contrast to Instagram content from haircare professionals, which tends to... See more

In the span of just two years, Whatnot became the first U.S. livestream shopping unicorn with a valuation of $1.5 billion. Its app is home to thousands of sellers that deal in sports and Pokemon trading cards, action figures and comic books. Some have created multi-million dollar businesses on the back of its marketplace. Lafontaine says it’s these... See more