TikTok is partnering with commerce platform Teespring to let creators sell merchandise directly through its app.
Thousands of TikTok creators already work with Teespring to create and sell their merchandise to their followers, but soon they’ll have the ability to sell directly through the app. The integration – the first time creators can sell merch directly on TikTok – is being tested with a limited number of users right now and will roll out more widely soon.
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According to a report from The Verge, Teespring is still trying to figure out several things. I.e., which TikTok creators are eligible to use the integration and how the actual merch shelf will look in videos. TikTok has limited space for the shelf, as opposed to the shelf on YouTube.
Over 7,000 TikTok creators in the U.S. have access to the private beta of the integration, which allows them to create and design merch “from a choice of 180 different products as well as the opportunity to create bespoke products which are completely unique to them,” explains the press release.
TikTok creators have been asking for the ability to monetize their presence on the platform for some time, but – apart from brand partnerships – there hasn’t really been much else for them to do.
The integration with Teespring presents an excellent opportunity for them, as merchandise can be very lucrative. According to the press release, Teespring has “has paid out over $80M in creator profits over the past 2 years.”
The full integration between TikTok and Teespring will roll out in September.