Roku Lets Viewers Buy From Shopify Merchants Using Remote

Roku users can buy True Classic apparel using their remote controls
Roku users can buy True Classic apparel using their remote controls. (Image credit: Roku)

Roku said it made a deal with Shopify that will allow users of its devices to buy products from Shopify merchants through the TV via remote control.

When a viewer sees a Roku Action Ad for a Shopify merchant and presses the OK button on the Roku remote, they can get more information about the product and purchase it, checking out with Roku Pay, Roku’s payments system.

Men’s apparel brand True Classic, the game-based connected rower Ergatta and wellness brand Olly have signed on as initial partners.  

“Bringing a Shopify purchase experience to television for merchants is an industry first, and innovation opportunities like these are precisely the reason I came to Roku,” Roku senior director of ad innovation Peter Hamilton said. “Roku democratizes access to TV advertising and now we’re collapsing the funnel for Shopify’s merchants. This is a great example of Roku’s unique platform position to make advertisers unmissable across the streamer’s journey, from power on to purchase complete.”  

The integration also gives Shopify advertisers more customer data and insight into purchasing trends. 

“Shopify is on a mission to make commerce better for everyone, and by partnering with Roku to make Shopify Checkout available through new channels, we are making it easier for more brands to drive deeper engagement with shoppers and reach new audiences,” said Mani Fazeli, director of product, Checkout at Shopify. 

Merchants gain a new channel to reach consumers.

“Offering a great purchase experience for customers and having sound channel measurement are critical to True Classic's success,” True Classic VP, growth Paige Becker said. “Roku Action Ads address both these needs, providing a frictionless path to purchase for customers while allowing us to measure the impact of this strategy with the end-to-end Shopify integration. Merging performance-based tactics with the scale of TV is a win-win, and we are excited to explore Roku’s innovation.” 

“Our commerce efforts are all about meeting our target consumers where they are, and providing a seamless path to purchase,” added Saaj Parikh, director of marketing, Ergatta. “Integrating the Shopify shopping experience on the Roku platform is a no-brainer for us. We’re thrilled to start experimenting with Roku Action Ads and tap into the scale of Roku.” 

Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.