With the rise in popularity of connected commerce and social shopping, Snap is moving into the space with the acquisition of Screenshop, once called the Shazam of fashion, according to media reports on Wednesday (April 7).
A new feature in the Snapchat app will enable users to upload a screenshot of outfits they like and get in-app recommendations for similar purchases. Screenshop by Craze was launched in 2017 in New York by Mark Fishman and was once backed by Kim Kardashian West.
It’s anticipated that Snap will make news of the acquisition official at its annual developer conference next month. The new tool can be tapped from the Memories tab in the app, which is where people curate content to look at later.
The social media platform launched in 2011 has been evolving from a peer-to-peer community portal to more of a super app, with partnerships and acquisitions that have enhanced users’ experiences. Musicians can now license their music on Snap, a tie-up with the NBA promoted the All-Stars Game, and the platform is working with the Gannett media conglomerate to sell digital ads.
Just before the pandemic began, Snap started expanding its ecosystem, and last summer the firm launched developer eCommerce tools. It also enhanced its augmented reality (AR) features, which prompted Ikea to create an in-app digital escape room.
Snap’s user base has risen to over 265 million, and its primarily millennial and Generation Z active users engage with the platform about 30 times per day. Data from PYMNTS research has shown the pandemic propelled the number of consumers looking to shop online and closer to home.