Personal Shopping the Facebook Way

I spend so much time surfing the Web everyday that it feels only natural that I shop online, too, especially with the holiday season approaching. With the increasing number of retail websites, email digests and discount codes, it's hard to keep track of my favorite designers and stores without feeling overwhelmed. Now that all of my favorite fashion brands and retailers are using Facebook to update their fans, I am able to find my trusted sources on everything from couture to casual-wear in one place.

To organize all this information, I created a Friend List of my favorite clothing-related Pages on Facebook. By selecting "Create New List" from the left-hand side of my home page, I was able to easily create a list of my favorite Pages. Whenever I'm in the mood for some retail therapy, I can select the "Shopping" list on my home page and see what's new in the world of fashion. Some of my favorite retailers, like local clothing boutique Pink & Harmony in Menlo Park, Calif., internet retailer Shopbop or internationally renowned designer Diane von Furstenbergfrequently update their Pages with photos of their latest inventory and offer deals and exclusives to their Facebook fans.

Deals, deals, deals

Many designers and stores use Facebook to distribute information to their fans about upcoming discounts, sales and promotions. For instance, Tory Burch, who is best known for her classic ballet flats, took a bold step by changing the traditional model for her private sale. Typically, this sale is reserved for those close to the fashion house, but in October, Tory Burch offered the private sale to all 18,000 fans of her Facebook Page.

Piperlime, an online retailer, also offers specials to their Facebook fans. When Piperlime celebrated the company's anniversary last month, they offered fans $25 gift certificates towards their next purchase if they placed an order on the eve of their birthday. Doing so allowed fans to celebrate Piperlime's birthday in style.

Several other retailers offer Facebook fans free shipping on online orders for limited periods of time. With a busy work schedule, I don't always get the chance to walk into a store and browse. Free shipping allows me to feel less guilty about my online shopping habits, especially when I can buy the J.Crew sweater I have been eyeing for less money than I expected. Earlier this month, J. Crew gave Facebook fans a special code for free shipping because they love their customers as much as we love them.

Exclusive Offers

Sometimes shopping isn't always about me. With the holidays just around the corner, I was excited to discover that Toys"R"Us is previewing offers for Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. that traditionally marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season — on their Facebook Page. With the help of Facebook, I now can get an early start on planning gifts for the little ones in my family.

Similarly, Macy's is previewing special sales on their Facebook Page. The U.S. department store is showcasing over 250 deals exclusively to fans on Facebook. Enter the Macy's "Believe" sweepstakes from their Facebook application and explain why you believe in the holiday season. If selected, you can win a trip to the Macy's 2010 Thanksgiving Day parade in N.Y. For instance, I believe that the holidays bring out the best in people.

How can you become eligible for all of these deals and giveaways? Become a Facebook fan of your favorite designer or retailer.

If you're a Facebook Page administrator and interested in sharing offers and give-aways with your fans, be sure to check out our recently updated promotion guidelines.


Annie, an associate on Facebook's communications team, is shopping for the next great holiday deal.