Social Commerce Agency Brings TikTok Shop Experience to Physical Retail
Outlandish, a live shopping and social commerce company, opened its first and only flagship store in November in Santa Monica, California.
The shopping experience is totally unique, blending the livestreamed social media shopping experience with the hands-on, offline experience of traditional retail. Shoppers can come in and purchase products available on TikTok Shop, while content creators and brands broadcast live shopping events and showcase products, directly from the store floor.
Brands with a designated presence in-store span beauty, wellness, fashion and more, and include women's health and vitamins company FLO, among others. Shoppers can engage with brands’ influencers in person or join the experience virtually through the Outlandish platform, which is a certified TikTok Store Partner.
The Outlandish store is located on Santa Monica’s bustling Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian mall esplanade, shopping, dining and entertainment complex.
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"When I founded Outlandish, my vision was to create a one-of-a-kind shopping experience that combines the excitement of live, interactive shopping with the personal connection of in-store visits," William August, CEO of Outlandish, said in a media release. "This flagship store bridges those worlds, letting customers experience the best of both — whether they're touching and trying products in person or joining livestreamed events with [influencers]."
Founded in 2018, Outlandish helps global brands and creators connect with audiences through real-time experiences on platforms such as TikTok. Over the past year, at least 10% of the company’s revenue for partner brands has been driven by live shopping sales, according to the release.
"What we're offering to customers is a truly unique experience,” August added. “We have the capacity to bring global, world-renowned brands right here to customers and visitors in Los Angeles. That local audience can then step into their very own livestream, and interact with viewers across the world. We allow global brands to connect with the local community and the local community to connect with global brands."
The store’s grand opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Outlandish leadership including August as well as CEO of the Dodo Group Michael Dodo and local Santa Monica City officials, members of the business community, along with influencers and brands associated with Outlandish. Following the ribbon-cutting, attendees were invited to join a guided walkthrough of the storefront as “prominent” influencers hosted livestreams selling popular and viral products, per the release.
"We are thrilled to bring this cutting-edge hybrid livestream shopping model to the U.S., combining immersive in-person experiences with the dynamic reach of digital technology,” Dodo said. “This initiative reflects our commitment to redefining the retail landscape and driving innovation that connects consumers and brands in meaningful, interactive ways.”
Outlandish will also offer a range of classes at the Santa Monica headquarters designed to empower creators to master live shopping, social media marketing and content creation. These sessions will cover essential skills and strategies for success in today's digital marketplace.
Additionally, Outlandish expansion plans include opening a location in Mexico in 2025 and in Spain following that.
"The opening of our U.S. flagship store marks a pivotal moment not just for Outlandish, but for the entire retail industry," August added. "We're pushing the boundaries of what shopping can be. This storefront is a blueprint for the future of commerce, where technology and tradition come together to create a truly immersive experience."