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April 7, 2021

How Small Businesses Use Social Storefronts on Instagram

BY: Instagram Business Team

San Francisco, CA

Over the past year, businesses from around the world have reshaped the online shopping experience by coming up with new and innovative ways to reach customers. Even in the face of unexpected challenges, good ideas have prevailed. Get inspired by reading about 3 small businesses paving the way for a new type of shopping experience — physical storefront optional.

Manage and promote inventory on IGTV like @locomotivadiscos

When Gilberto needed to close his record store @locomotivadiscos this year, the São Paolo-based business owner had an idea: bring the music to the customers where they already are. Gilberto transformed his business account into a social storefront by sharing new inventory — and promoting it — through photos in the Locomotiva Discos’ Instagram feed and videos on IGTV. Now, his customers can shop new inventory, learn about new records, and stay connected with Gilberto all in one place. (Update on October 5, 2021 at 10:00AM PT: IGTV and feed videos have been combined into one format, Instagram Video.)

A picture of natural wine bottles next to pink bags that @wickedwife.official posted to their instagram feed

@wickedwife.official keeps customers informed in a creative way

Keep customers updated on business operation changes by posting this information directly to your Instagram feed. @wickedwife.official, a Seoul-based restaurant that specializes in natural wine pairings, used unexpected business closures as a way up their delivery game. Beautiful photography, photo collages and new delivery branding transformed a tough decision into a new business model, which enabled the restaurant to promote their creative brand while providing customers with the information they were looking for.

@afrik_n_fusion brings customers into the restaurant — virtually

In a typical restaurant setting, customers experience the space using their senses. But with restaurant closures, @afrik_n_fusion saw an opportunity to showcase the menu in new and creative ways online.

With their “Story behind the Plate” series, Afrik'N'Fusion educates customers on the backstory behind their most popular dishes. And for new customers checking out the feed, the restaurant posts close-up, mouth-watering videos of their dishes to help customers experience their food as if in a physical setting.

A plate of food with fish and rice arranged on the table - post from @afrik_n_fusion Instagram

BY: Instagram Business Team

San Francisco, CA