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Dive Brief:
EBay last week released a tour lineup for its livestream shopping series, which will begin June 14 and feature collector-focused experiences.
Shoppers can attend in-person or online at the eBay Live Tour channel. The events will showcase top sellers, curated inventory and special guests. EBay will stream real-time broadcasts from hobby shops, conventions and trade nights.
The tour’s first stop is in Cooper City, Florida, where eBay seller and local hobby shop AA Mint Cards will host hands-on experiences for local collectors alongside an appearance from U.S. college basketball player Boogie Fland.
Dive Insight:
The tour is a way for the eBay community to meet fellow collectors and celebrate their shared hobbies, Caroline Pougnier, eBay Live’s U.S. general manager, said in a statement.
As part of the tour, shoppers can participate in eBay’s live auctions or use the Buy It Now format. The tour will run through November and cover categories such as collectibles, luxury goods, sneakers and apparel.
Though it plans to announce more stops soon, eBay is already slated to visit Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York City, to name a few. EBay expanded the series internationally last month to include a stop at London’s Comic Con.
Retailers continue to invest in live shopping experiences, despite only half of viewers making purchases through that format, according to a recent report. Data from Savings.com found that TikTok Live is the top live shopping platform, followed by Facebook Live and Instagram Live. QVC Group, which operates home shopping channels QVC and HSN, is working to rebrand itself as a live shopping company as live social shopping options have continued to modernize.