Combining editorial and e-commerce

Simply buying goods online isn’t enough for today’s consumers. With the rapid speed of digital advancements, we now desire a fluid shopping experience that fits into our busy everyday routines. Whether it’s blogs, lookbooks, digital magazines, social media platforms or style guides, consumers expect a fully-fledged, informative brand journey that suits their ‘see it, click it, buy it’ mentality.


Live streams on Burberry's website make for engaging content 

What does this mean for brands? With 77% of people finding shoppable sites easier to navigate [2015 Adobe Mobile Consumer Survey] it’s time to contextualise the shopping experience by subtly combining ecommerce with cleverly crafted editorial content. Burberry is a master. The British luxury giant streams its London Fashion Week shows live as well as allowing consumers to watch the video, scroll images and click to ‘shop the collection’ taking you direct to ordering options. “We do not make a distinction between content and commerce,” Burberry chief Christopher Bailey has said. “Instead, we see the creative elements of both sides as being part of every customer’s engagement.”

Net-a-Porter mixes traditional editorial content with digital commerce

Net-a-Porter was among the pioneers of shoppable content. First it created a weekly online magazine that offered ‘get-the-look’ stories that click through to e-comms pages. Next the printed magazine Porter launched, allowing readers to shop remotely by scanning the magazine with their phone app powered by Layar. Topshop and H&M have also opted for magazine style layouts on their websites where hyperlinked items in photos prompts a product lightbox to appear. Consumers then have the option to ‘add to bag’.

Condé Nast's style.com is coming soon

Condé Nast is catching up by venturing into ecommerce with its reinvention of style.com, which will allow consumers to buy merchandise from magazine-branded websites and app versions, as well as directly scanning items in the printed magazines, thereby eradicating the shopping queue. With the rumour-mill circulating about its imminent release, it’s a waiting game to see how innovative this new approach will be.


Toni&Guy's new fully immersive website

3CC’s recent redesign of the Toni&Guy website merges video, London Fashion Week coverage, shoppable streams featuring hair tutorials and an easy to navigate online shop. This immersive approach helps to sustain the brand’s already established reputation for offering valuable advice while simultaneously promoting sales of products.

Shop-ghost entices with a conversational tone

American retailer Shop-ghost manages to create a loyal following through an amalgamation of content driven by their trend setting consumer base. Its ecommerce web platform includes interviews, candid editorial shoots, tips and advice plus a ‘talk shop’ of essential purchases with a fun, conversational tone.


LiketoKnow.it is the pioneer of Ecommerce apps

So, what’s next for brands? Ecommerce apps. Following the rise of LIKEtoKnow.it, which allows users to like an Instagram picture and get shoppable links sent to their inbox, mobile apps go direct to a brand’s website, speeding up the ‘see buy’ process. Spring feature over 800 luxury labels on an Instagram-like photo feed. Once users have filled in their card details they can simply swipe beneath to buy. Forever 21 collates make-up tutorials, blogger spotlights and styling tips alongside clickable links to purchase directly through the app. And the Vogue Stylist app offers in-app purchasing options alongside curated looks by Vogue stylists. Time to shop til you drop.