TikTok plans to launch its e-commerce business in the US early next month, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Like the “Sold on Amazon” program, TikTok’s online marketplace will stock and ship a variety of products from China-based sellers, including clothing, kitchen gadgets, and electronics.
The “TikTok Shop Shopping Center” pictured has different channels where users can browse and buy products. TikTok will handle sales, transactions, logistics, and after-sales services, the WSJ reports, while users will also get the ability to leave reviews for both products sent by TikTok and external sellers.
According to WSJ, TikTok will only pay Chinese suppliers once they find buyers in the US and return unpopular items “to avoid being stuck in inventory.” The company reportedly plans to open its program to traders outside of China as it works to create an “international settlement and logistics system.”
while Traffic lights first reported that the market could be launched in the US this month, the WSJ says that TikTok has delayed the launch. Chinese sellers are worried about the future of the app in the US, as Montana has signed a law that will ban the app starting next year, and lawmakers are pushing for a federal ban.
