La Redoute Launches a Store on Facebook with PayPal
- La Redoute just launched an online store on Facebook. Internet surfers will now be able to visualise selected products, make their choice and pay without leaving their Facebook account.
- La Redoute required PayPal collaboration for the online payment section; in fact, integration to the website was performed by the start-up Bookset which relied on PayPal X open-source platform.
- This new distribution channel is then added to those already used by the distant selling specialist (its website laredoute.fr and mobile applications on iPhone and iPad).
- Facebook is becoming a real distribution channel. In the US, Amazon recently opened a beta version sales section on this social network.
- This is not the first initiative of La Redoute on Facebook: the brand had already implemented a customer loyalty program which rewarded the e-buyers with Facebook Credits. By proposing this store on Facebook, La Redoute is provided with new potential customers and can access their Facebook profiles as well as their preferences to send them more relevant sets of purchase recommendations.
- Social shopping could become a strong trend in this year 2011. Facebook offers a turnkey easily implemented solution which, through its partnership with PayPal, integrates payment functionalities.
- Facebook now cannot be ignored by the companies, and takes advantage of this situation to set its rules and impose its private virtual currency, Facebook Credits. Already used in customer loyalty by La Redoute or Amazon (an historical partner of this network), Facebook might decide to compel the companies wishing to sell goods through its network to use Facebook credit as means of payment, as is already the case for social gaming players.