ShopTogether: bring your friends with you when you shop online...

US junior clothing retailer Charlotte Russe just added ShopTogether from DecisionStep on their online store.

ShopTogether is a hosted application for retailers that lets customers interact in real-time while surfing e-commerce websites.

ShopTogether is actually a toolbar that is displayed at the bottom of the site (à la Facebook), from which shoppers can invite their friends to browse/shop with them through Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, email or instant messaging.


Charlotte Russe homepage with ShopTogether toolbar


Invite friends via Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Email or IM

Once they accept the invitation, ShopTogether connects two or more friends for a joint shopping session. Shoppers can chat, view products, share favorites and ideas, helping shoppers making better buying decisions, thanks to the advice they get from their firends, just like in "real-life" shopping.


Undergoing shopping session with chat panel expanded from toolbar

Great integration of social services into the shopping experience.

I wish we could add video chat, and save shopping sessions /shared favourites for later in the shopper's account...

A one-up to the FluidSocial product I reviewed a while ago, which integrated Facebook components into Jansport's website.