Customer expectations are evolving. They no longer want a passive shopping experience—they want one that’s immersive, personalized, and shareable. That’s where Virtual Try-On (VTO) meets Social Shopping.
While virtual try-on technology allows customers to see products on themselves in real time, social shopping takes it a step further by letting them share that experience with friends. For e-commerce businesses in fashion, beauty, eyewear, and beyond, the combination of these two technologies is a powerful conversion tool—and a natural evolution of how Gen Z and Millennials prefer to shop.
In this article, we’ll explore why integrating Social Shopping into your Virtual Try-On setup is one of the smartest moves for brands today.
What Is Social Shopping?
Social Shopping is the concept of turning the shopping process into a shared experience. Whether online or offline, it mimics how people browse, compare, and decide on products together. In the digital space, this means enabling users to shop in real-time with others, share product looks, and exchange feedback—without ever leaving their devices.
When paired with Virtual Try-On technology, it becomes an interactive, engaging way to recreate the feeling of shopping with friends in-store—right from the comfort of home.
Why Virtual Try-On Needs a Social Layer
Virtual Try-On tools have become a must-have for e-commerce brands looking to increase confidence and reduce returns. But when shoppers can also invite friends to join the experience, it becomes:
-
More engaging: Sessions become fun, not transactional.
-
More persuasive: Shoppers trust peer validation.
-
More memorable: Social interactions enhance brand recall.
-
More shareable: Great try-on moments become content.
This turns your e-commerce platform into a destination, not just a checkout tool.
Data: Why Gen Z & Millennials Love Shopping with Friends
Understanding your target audience is key. If your brand speaks to Gen Z or Millennials, Social Shopping is already how they shop.
Here are the numbers:
-
71% of Gen Z say they prefer to shop with friends when buying fashion or beauty items. (McKinsey, 2023)
-
60% of Gen Z and Millennials often seek friends’ opinions before purchasing online. (Meta/Facebook IQ, 2022)
-
43% of 18–34-year-olds have joined a group shopping experience or co-browsed online. (Klarna x Coresight, 2023)
-
78% of Gen Z discover products through social media, often via shared content or friend stories. (GWI, 2023)
This generation doesn’t just consume products—they co-decide, co-create, and co-shop.
Key Benefits of Social Shopping for E-Commerce Brands
Here’s why more brands are adding Social Shopping to their Virtual Try-On platforms:
1. 🛒 Higher Conversion Rates
When shoppers try-on products with friends, their buying confidence increases. This leads to faster decisions and higher cart values.
2. 🤝 Organic Word-of-Mouth
Social Shopping encourages natural product promotion through peer conversations and content sharing, making your product go further with zero ad spend.
3. 📈 More Time on Site
Interactive experiences keep users engaged longer. This boosts not just conversions but SEO metrics like time-on-page and dwell time.
4. 📲 Built-In Virality
A virtual try-on moment becomes instantly shareable on social media, increasing reach and visibility—especially for beauty and fashion products.
5. 💬 Real-Time Feedback Loop
Users get live reactions from friends, which means fewer doubts, fewer returns, and a stronger emotional connection to the product.
How It Works: Auglio’s Social Shopping Experience
With Auglio’s Social Shopping solution, your customers can:
-
Start a Virtual Try-On session on your website.
-
Click “Add Person” to invite friends instantly.
-
Try products live while chatting and reacting together.
-
Make more confident buying decisions—together.
The best part? It works seamlessly in-browser—no app, no downloads.
Try it out on our Demo Store to see how it feels.
Is It Right for Your Brand?
Social Shopping is ideal for:
-
Beauty brands selling makeup, skincare, or hair products
-
Eyewear retailers with virtual try-on tools
-
Fashion e-commerce with AR fitting features
-
Wig, jewelry, or accessories shops where appearance matters
-
Any brand targeting Gen Z or Millennial shoppers
If your product is visual, and your customers value opinions, this feature can transform your digital shopping experience.
Key Takeaway
Social Shopping is not a trend—it’s the future of online retail.
Gen Z and Millennials already shop with each other, even when they’re not in the same room. Adding a social layer to your Virtual Try-On offering means tapping into how your customers actually behave—and turning casual browsers into confident buyers.
Ready to Make Your Virtual Try-On Experience Social?
If you’re an e-commerce brand looking to:
✅ Increase engagement
✅ Boost conversions
✅ Reduce returns
✅ Build shareable customer experiences
…then Social Shopping is the upgrade your Virtual Try-On solution needs.
Tags: E-Commerce Trends Virtual Try On e-commerce Social Shopping
