Shopify Expands Buy Button Test With Facebook

Shopify Inc (NYSE: SHOP) is expanding a test for its merchants of a so-called "buy button" feature on Facebook Inc (NASDAQ: FB), even as it prepares to go whole hog with a similar plan through Pinterest.

Shopify closed Wednesday at $28.10, off $0.24, but up more than 9 percent since a May 20 initial public offering.

Shopify And Facebook

Shopify, which provides a commerce platform for about 165,000 small- and medium-sized retailers, said it will expand its beta test of the Facebook buy button to include a variety of undisclosed businesses.

Facebook has been testing the feature for about a year.

"A small group of Shopify merchants are already using this solution to post products with buy buttons, and today we are expanding the beta test," Shopify said.

Related Link: Facebook Buy Button Boost? Suntrust's Peck Sees It Potentially Adding 5-10%

Buyable Pins On Pinterest

The photo-sharing, idea-sharing site Pinterest may be ahead of Facebook regarding an in-house buy option, announcing its "buyable pins" feature June 2.

Shopify said last week it would participate in the rollout of Pinterest's plan, making it immediately available to all Shopify merchants.

Others participating in the Pinterest launch include retailers Macy's, Inc. (NYSE: M), Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN), Neiman Marcus, Cole Haan and Kate Spade & Co (NYSE: KATE).

Related Link: Pinterest To Compete With Social Media Moguls Using New Buy Button

Buy Button Kickback Sales

Pinterest is not taking a cut from any sales made, according to the Los Angeles Times. Pinterest hopes merchants pay for Promoted Pins, which get better placement.

Facebook's buy button is also free to merchants, but Facebook told Techcrunch last year it isn't ruling out eventual fees.

Image Credit: Public Domain