Distributed ledger technology and non-fungible tokens are two phrases that turn most people off. These phrases may sound like industry jargon, but they truly mark the start of a brand-new age in retail and online shopping.
The next billionaires will be making their fortunes in the metaverse through the use of NFTs. Infrastructure for a digital world is being built thanks to recent technological advancements like blockchain and the metaverse, and this shift will have far-reaching effects on business practices.
What is the Metaverse? How will NFTs be employed in the metaverse? How is this new technology impacting established companies and e-commerce platforms? These are some of the questions we want to answer in this blog post.
An NFT is…
When referring to digital assets, a non-fungible token (NFT) is one that is both unique and digitally scarce.
Tokens for NFTs are stored on the blockchain, a distributed ledger of transactions that can be accessed from multiple computers.
Like with cryptocurrency, every transaction must be verified by a majority of the network’s nodes before it can be completed. Once the transaction has been validated, a new block has been created and added to the existing chain. This means that no one entity has control over the blockchain and that the data contained within cannot be modified or deleted.
Many other fields can benefit from this technology, but perhaps the most well-known is the creation of digital currencies like Bitcoin. Tokens of these digital currencies have the same value as one another; for example, one Bitcoin is equivalent to all other Bitcoins.
Proof of digital ownership and authenticity of virtual things is essential for NFTs. Hence they make use of blockchain technology. That implies that no two NFTs are interchangeable, as they serve different purposes.
NFTs are most often used to purchase digital goods like skins or concert tickets, but they can also be utilized as a kind of investment in a business.
Typically, NFTs are traded for and purchased with digital currencies.
The metaverse: what exactly is it? How does it compare to Web3?
The metaverse is an interconnected, ever-present, and essentially limitless virtual world. It is a multiverse in which all user-created and -managed virtual worlds coexist.
While the metaverse is an integral aspect of web3, the latter phrase describes the internet’s intended trajectory going forward. An notion for the next generation of the Internet built on blockchain systems. It employs ideas like decentralization and token-based economics to operate independently of traditional financial institutions and multinational corporations that currently control the internet.
Online shopping and the metaverse
The use of NFTs is the wave of the future for online retail and advertising. Big corporations like Forever21 have been investing substantially in developing their own digital spaces in the metaverse, and in recent years we’ve seen companies like Shopify add support for NFTs, as well as a whole ecosystem of NFT-based startups.
In March of 2022, the virtual doors to a Forever 21 opened in Decentraland’s Fashion District. Avatars of Forever21 staff members, music, and atmosphere all provide the impression of a real store. Tokens.com Corporation, a publicly traded firm focusing exclusively on web3 assets and enterprises, collaborated with us to develop the e-commerce platform.
Concurrent with the grand opening of the store, Forever21 released a line of NFTs, or virtual fashion items, based on the merchandise sold there.
The brand benefited in two ways from this change. For starters, it has expanded Forever21’s reach to a whole new group of young people, giving them faith in the once-faltering brand once more. Second, the corporation has a new source of income thanks to its investment in NFTs and virtual properties.
Any large label, such as the prestigious fashion business Gucci, can easily recycle this model. By launching an NFT collection and online shop, they may reach a wider audience and grow their business in novel ways.
Although it may seem like there is endless room in the virtual world, the Fashion District in Decentraland is actually quite small. When investing in real estate, as in the physical world, timing is crucial because once a commodity becomes scarce, its price tends to increase.
Brand name non-fashion items
But other major labels have adopted a different tack, opting to concentrate only on the introduction of their own NFT collections. Those advantages are preserved, but a substantial financial outlay in real estate is unnecessary. These numbered, limited-edition NFT collections not only increase the potential for future partnerships but also add an air of exclusivity to the overall package.
Brands that have successfully increased their visibility through the usage of NFTs and strategic collaborations include Adidas. In December 2021, the corporation released an NFT collection that could be purchased on Opensea. These NFTs were more than just digital downloads; they were entry passes into Adidas’ private online community.
These NFTs grant their possessor early access to the release of any digital drop and can be redeemed for a physical good. Hoodies, sweatpants, and accessories are tangible goods, and they were designed in tandem with their partners, Bored Ape Yacht Club, Punks Comics, and GMoney.
The company capitalized on the interest in these online sensations to attract new clients and quickly sell out of its NFTs, resulting in over $23 million in revenue.
It’s time for you to join the digital revolution that’s taking the world by storm. It’s time to get going with your plans for virtual real estate, NFTs, or taking bitcoin as payment in your online store. Time to adapt to the ever-shifting landscape of the internet.
If you’ve done any reading on how to expand your business into the blockchain industry, you’ll know that NFTs are one of the simplest ways to do it. Producing and selling them is a breeze. They don’t need as much capital outlay as an online shop. In addition, they can assist in expanding your brand’s visibility by facilitating interaction with your target audience and facilitating partnerships with complementary businesses. Making an NFT-enabled marketplace where people can purchase and sell their own creations can even generate an entire community around your work.
Incorporating NFTs sales into Shopify
When Shopify started letting retailers sold NFTs on their websites in July 2021, it enabled anyone to mint NFTs without cryptocurrency, making them available to a much wider audience. You may get started with NFT right away if you’re located in the United States by applying for the beta program. Soon, Shopify will expand the program internationally.
Creating and releasing your own NFT collection is a simple but challenging process. You’ll need a sophisticated marketing strategy to sell out your collection of digital art, a talented artist to produce something special for the artwork, a smart contract developer to upload the artwork to the blockchain, and an audience-pleasing route map.
If you are unfamiliar with cryptocurrencies or NFTs, it is recommended that you use a full-stack Web3 agency like Startup Slang, which focuses on assisting web3 shopping website development businesses in launching their NFT collections. The process of selling out an NFT collection can be made easier by employing their tactics and resources.
