Online marketplace Temu has been around for over a year and is already making big waves in the e-commerce industry. Selling discounted goods, similar to Shein, is fast becoming a thorn in the side of Amazon, too. According to research firm Apptopia, online shoppers spend twice as long on Temu as on major rivals like Amazon.
Its popularity has surged in the US since its launch in September 2022. By June 2023, it was downloaded 32 million times world wide.
Temu attracts longer engagement times
Bloomberg reports that, on average, users spent 18 minutes per day on the Temu app in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 10 minutes on Amazon and 11 minutes on Alibaba Group Holdings.
Time spent on Temu continues to rise, with the latest data proving that shoppers spent 22 minutes in October 2023. This is even longer than Amazon, Walmart, and Target consumers spend on their sites.
As a discounted marketplace, shoppers spend more time combing through the deals to find the best deals, quality, and designs. Bargain hunters download the Temu app hoping for a reasonable price, but sales growth shows customers are even returning for repeat purchases.
What keeps customers on the app for longer? Here’s how:
- App is addictive: Users can play games to win rewards.
- Spending more time = more discount: Users can spin a wheel and win a coupon. The value increases if they spend it in 10 minutes.
Temu ranks top on Apple’s list
Apple has released its list of most downloaded apps in the US for 2023. Temu sits at the top of the free iPhone Apps list, followed by video editor app CapCut and streaming service Max.
Top Free iPhone Apps
- Temu: Shop Like a Billionaire
- CapCut – Video Editor
- Max: Stream HBO, TV, & Movies
- Threads, an Instagram app
- TikTok
- YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
- WhatsApp Messenger
- Gmail – Email by Google
Shein court case
When everyone thought the dust had settled between the rivals Shein and Temu, it looks like the duo will square off in court again next year. The Guardian reports that Temu has sued Shein, accusing it of bullying, intimidating, and detaining suppliers in China. It even goes as far as to call it “mafia-style intimidation.”
Temu is accusing the fast fashion marketplace of illegally interfering in its business, even confiscating merchants’ cell phones during meetings to get access to confidential information.
It’s reported that Shein suppliers, who are also doing business with Temu, have been threatened with penalties. But Shein has brushed the complaints off, claiming there is no merit.
About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
