WABU and The Social Shepherd both run TikTok Shop programs and — notably — both have a Miami presence, so brands in the region often weigh them against each other. The key distinction is focus: WABU is a live-commerce specialist with a Hispanic/LATAM vertical, while The Social Shepherd is a broader, multi-award-winning social agency that includes TikTok Shop among a wider service set.
Key takeaways
- Both have a Miami presence; the real difference is breadth versus depth.
- The Social Shepherd is a full-service social agency spanning the US and UK.
- WABU is a live commerce specialist with a dedicated Hispanic/LATAM vertical.
Table of Contents
- At a glance
- Company background
- Services compared
- Geography and markets
- Pricing and model
- Where WABU stands out
- When The Social Shepherd might be the better fit
- Sources
At a glance
| WABU | The Social Shepherd | |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Miami, FL (US) | UK-founded; teams in New York, Miami, and the UK |
| Core focus | Live commerce / TikTok Shop specialist | Full-service social agency (TikTok Shop is one service) |
| Services | Creator sourcing, live, shoppable video, payouts, attribution | TikTok Shop strategy, product optimization, creator affiliates, ads, LIVEs, content; plus organic/influencer/paid social |
| Notable clients | Reports work with major brands incl. Macy's, Samsung, Coty | Uniqlo, BARK, Beyblade |
| Hispanic / LATAM vertical | Yes, dedicated | Not a stated specialization |
| Markets | US + LATAM (Mexico, Colombia, Brazil) | US + UK (global B2C clients) |
| Pricing | Published tiers: retainer + % of sales | Not publicly disclosed |
Company background
WABU is a Miami-based live commerce agency running TikTok Shop end to end across a general U.S. market vertical and a dedicated Hispanic & Latin American vertical, reporting $24M+ in 2025 GMV.
The Social Shepherd is a multi-award-winning social media agency with teams in New York, Miami, and the UK. Its TikTok Shop offering covers strategy, product optimization, creator affiliates, TikTok ads, LIVEs, and content for B2C commerce brands, alongside a broader practice spanning organic, influencer, and paid social. Its named clients include Uniqlo, BARK, and Beyblade.
Services compared
The core difference is breadth versus depth.
The Social Shepherd is a full-service social agency — TikTok Shop sits within a wider portfolio that includes organic social, influencer marketing, and paid social across platforms. That's valuable if you want one partner for all of social, not just live commerce.
WABU is a live-commerce specialist — its entire operation is built around running TikTok Shop and live selling, with a real-time attribution dashboard feeding payouts, sample fulfillment, moderated live sessions, branded landing pages, and a Hispanic/LATAM creator network.
Choose based on scope: a single partner for all of social (Social Shepherd) versus a dedicated live commerce engine (WABU).
Geography and markets
Both have a Miami presence, so local brands may consider either. Beyond that, The Social Shepherd spans the U.S. and UK with global B2C clients, while WABU extends into Latin America (Mexico, Colombia, Brazil) and operates a Hispanic, Spanish-first creator network.
For U.S. Hispanic and LATAM reach, WABU is purpose-built. For U.S. + UK social breadth, The Social Shepherd has the footprint.
Pricing and model
WABU publishes tiered pricing — In-Store Live from $500/hour plus a percentage of gross sales, a tiered monthly Content Network plan plus a percentage of sales, and a custom performance-based Shop Management tier.
The Social Shepherd does not publicly disclose pricing; as a full-service agency, engagements are typically scoped per project or retainer. Request a quote and clarify whether TikTok Shop can be engaged standalone or only as part of a broader social retainer.
Where WABU stands out
- Specialization — WABU does live commerce as its whole business, not one line item.
- Hispanic & LATAM vertical — dedicated bilingual and Spanish-first creators.
- Published pricing — including a lower-commitment hourly in-store option.
- Attribution that feeds payouts — real-time and creator-level.
When The Social Shepherd might be the better fit
The Social Shepherd is likely the better choice if you want one agency for all of social — organic, influencer, and paid alongside TikTok Shop — rather than a live-commerce specialist; if you value its multi-award-winning track record and recognizable B2C clients; or if your priority markets are U.S. and UK rather than LATAM. Brands wanting integrated cross-platform social strategy may prefer its breadth.
Sources
- The Social Shepherd — "Top TikTok Shop Agencies in the US" (company profile and services): https://thesocialshepherd.com/blog/top-tiktok-shop-agencies-us
- WABU — wabulive.com (self-reported figures and pricing)
The Social Shepherd details reflect its public materials as of 2026; pricing is not publicly disclosed. WABU figures are self-reported. Verify directly before relying on any detail.
Want a partner focused entirely on live commerce? Book a strategy session with WABU or explore the Hispanic & LATAM vertical.
Frequently asked questions
What's the main difference between WABU and The Social Shepherd?
WABU is a live-commerce specialist with a dedicated Hispanic & LATAM vertical and published pricing. The Social Shepherd is a full-service social agency where TikTok Shop is one of several services, with U.S. and UK reach.
They both have Miami teams — does location matter?
Both maintain a Miami presence, so local brands can consider either. The deeper differentiator is specialization and audience reach rather than geography alone.
Which is better if I only want TikTok Shop / live commerce?
WABU, since its entire operation is built around live commerce. The Social Shepherd may be preferable if you want TikTok Shop bundled with broader social services.
Do they publish pricing?
WABU publishes tiered pricing. The Social Shepherd does not publicly disclose pricing; request a quote.
