Pinterest TV: What It Is and Why It’ll Be Your New Best (Live) Shopping Friend

Social-media platforms are taking their cues from HSN. 

On Friday, Pinterest announced the launch of Pinterest TV, a series of live shopping episodes hosted by creators. New clips will air each weekday at 6 p.m. EST in the Pinterest app, beginning November 8, and can be watched live or on-demand. The shows that will run on Fridays, hosted by comedian Robyn Schall, will have a live shopping component, where viewers can purchase exclusive discounted products from brands including Crown Affair, Allbirds, Outdoor Voices, and more. 

Pinterest TV marks the latest development in the growing trend of livestream shopping. The category overall is expected to grow to $25 billion in industry-wide sales in the U.S. by 2023, according to Coresight Research, and it is already a $63 billion industry in China.

The Home Shopping Network pioneered the concept of televised live shopping in 1982, but in recent years, the marketing tactic has transformed for the digital age. Today, livestream shopping broadcasts run on social media and at e-commerce retailer websites. Brands or influencers pitch products, and viewers buy them with a mere click of a button. Livestream shopping functionalities are available on Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. YouTube also began pilot testing live shopping earlier in 2021 and will host a week-long “YouTube Holiday Stream and Shop” event starting on November 15.

While the opportunity is vast for businesses, successful brands will need to have both a compelling sales pitch and an ability to improvise.

Entrepreneurs should be prepared to answer extensive viewer questions, suggests Maggie Katreva, head of social media for the Golden, Colorado-based baby carrier brand Lillebaby.