A Trillion Dollar Shift? Social Commerce Redefines Global Retail

What happens when transactions are no longer happening at your physical and online storefronts — they become part of your customers’ daily scroll?

‍

This is not a hypothetical. It’s already happening. Every time a creator drops a new product line, every time a friend shares a link to their favorite find, every time a shopper checks out without leaving Instagram or TikTok… we’re witnessing the next evolution of commerce.

‍

But here’s the real question: If this shift is happening all around us — are you ready for where it’s going next?

‍

‍

The Rise of a Market You Can’t Ignore

Just a few years ago, Social Commerce was a curiosity, a tool for influencers and early DTC brands. Today, it’s a trillion-dollar engine reshaping global retail:

‍

• $2.9 trillion projected by 2026
• Up to $8.5 trillion forecasted by 2030

‍

That means nearly 30% of all global online retail sales could come through social platforms within the next year. Not marketplaces. Not brand-owned websites. But TikTok. Instagram. WhatsApp. YouTube … and social networks that don’t exist yet!

‍

Now ask yourself: How would your business change if nearly a third of your online sales shifted to social platforms?

‍

‍

It’s Not the Same Everywhere. That’s the Point.

What makes Social Commerce so powerful is also what makes it complex: it's hyper-local. Here’s how it’s playing out around the world:

‍

🇺🇸 United States: Social Commerce is gaining steam—fast. Forecasts project $80B by 2025 and $150B by 2028. Already, 58% of U.S. users made at least one social media purchase last year.

‍

🇨🇳 China: The global benchmark. Consumers spent ~$442B through social platforms in 2023. Livestream commerce alone accounts for 5% of all online retail. Conversion rates are up to 10× higher than standard e-commerce.

‍

🇪🇺 Europe: Adoption is slower (~56% in the Netherlands, for example), but rising as consumers demand seamless, in-platform experiences.

‍

🌍 Other Key Markets (India, Thailand, UAE): Leading the charge. 88% of online shoppers in Thailand buy via social platforms. In India and the UAE, that number hit 86%. These mobile-first populations are skipping traditional retail entirely.

‍

‍Now consider: Where is your next customer coming from—and how are they discovering and buying products?

‍

‍

Why This Matters Now

Social Commerce isn’t a channel. It’s a behavior. It’s how billions of people already engage, share, and buy. And platforms are racing to meet that behavior with better tools, faster checkout, and creator-first ecosystems.

‍

That’s why forward-looking companies across direct selling, marketplaces, retail, and SaaS are shifting now. Because the brands that win in Social Commerce won’t just adapt. They’ll own the next generation of buyer behavior.

‍

‍

Where to Go From Here

We unpack the landscape, and much more, in our latest Insights Report:

‍

From Likes to Sales: The Quiet Rise of Social Commerce

How Social Media is Transforming Buying, Selling, and the Future of Commerce

‍

Download a copy, and let us know what you think.

‍