Facebook is preparing for a push into online retail in the US by running a trial which allows users to send friends real gifts including Starbucks gift cards, cupcakes and other merchandise.
Under the new trial, Facebook users can choose a gift, write a message and then post it to a friend’s wall or send it privately. The sender is able to pay for the girft upfront or add payment details later.
The recipient is then able to unwrap a preview of the gift and enter the address where they want the physical version sent.
The trial is only available to a small number of the US population and a timescale has not been set for an international rollout.
Facebook’s entry into the physical gift market comes as the social network tries to generate more revenue from advertising.
Clever marketing strategies and promotions are being developed by companies world-wide as the fight for customer’s attention and brand loyalty intensifies.
In an unprecedented marketing move, Nestle have embedded GPS trackers into chocolate bar wrappers so that it can find and surprise competition winners with cash prizes. The promotion is currently only being run in the UK.
Meanwhile back at home in Australia, ice cream maker Streets launched a facial recognition billboard to allow passer-by to simulate biting a Magnum.
The billboards, placed in high pedestrian traffic areas in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, instruct people to pretend to bite the picture of the new Magnum Infinity.
A camera inside the billboard recognised the movements and imitates it with a bite out of the ice cream.
Users can even pose for a photo which is instantly uploaded to the companies facebook page.