With most consumers never far from their phones, their mobile devices have become something like Las Vegas in their pocket — a sounding board, business platform and shopping cart rolled into one.
Often, they’re scrolling in athleisure.
Palmstreet, a livestream platform featuring top labels (both new and gently used), including Lululemon, Nike, Alo Yoga and Athleta, has watched its athleisure sales climb nearly 30% in six months.
And somewhere, Gary Vaynerchuk, who has been making the case for livestream commerce for years, is saying, “I told you so.”
The a16z-backed Palmstreet, which has raised more than $25 million in funding, says buyers on its app are securing high-demand pieces from sellers at steep discounts to traditional retail. It’s a place where Lululemon’s Keep Moving Pant, which retails for $118, is listed for $35, a $148 Alo Yoga Make Waves Sweatpant sells for $40 and Nike High-Waisted Running Shorts, new with tags, go for $25 compared to a $32 retail price.
“What stands out most is the depth of engagement,” Palmstreet CEO Chen Li tells Athletech News. “Shoppers on Palmstreet aren’t just browsing as they would on TikTok Shop. They’re spending meaningful time in live shows, interacting directly with sellers and returning week over week.”
The live format provides a more in-depth shopping experience than reviewing static items listed on a website, he pointed out. On Palmstreet, sellers can demonstrate fit, fabric, stretch and styling in real time as consumers consider purchases.
The sense of intimacy has brought new energy to circular shopping behaviors, Li added, with the seller-buyer relationship feeling more personal and immediate than traditional e-commerce.
“Live selling tends to drive significantly higher conversion than static listings,” Li said. “Sellers often tell us they’re moving inventory more quickly while also increasing repeat purchase behavior.”
Rather than chasing one-time transactions, sellers on Palmstreet can build a following and monetize through ongoing customer relationships, with the platform providing onboarding support, curated show formats and audience insights along the way.
Palmstreet describes strong demand in what it calls the mid-luxury and premium segment: shoppers who are brand-conscious but unwilling to pay full retail, especially at a time when the unemployment rate has increased, 92,000 jobs have been cut and hiring has slowed down, according to the Associated Press.
Even so, consumers are eager for “affordable luxury items,” and Palmstreet has seen sales for such items increase 10-15% over the past three months. Along with Lululemon, Alo Yoga, Nike and Athleta, Free People and Calia are among the top brands moving through its sellers, Palmstreet said.
The challenge, Li noted, is one the entire industry is grappling with: standing out in an incredibly crowded digital landscape.
“Customer acquisition costs are rising, and it’s harder than ever to build loyalty through static storefronts alone,” Li said.
Though the livestream shopping format has long dominated in Asia, North America is catching up fast.
U.S. livestream shopping sales were projected to climb 36% this year, according to Statista. Traditional brick-and-mortar retailers aren’t going anywhere, but livestream commerce (particularly for up-and-coming activewear brands) can provide a viable path without the costs of real estate and overhead.
