Despite this success, many still write off Temu as just another bargain platform. I’ll admit, when I first heard of Temu’s UK plans I was sceptical too. I lumped it together with other discount-heavy platforms that are dominated by factory-priced goods and fast-moving gadgets.

But, like all good marketers, I didn’t want to let preconceptions stand in the way of growth. So I decided to give Temu a shot – and was astonished by the results. We hit 1,000 orders almost immediately and our platform revenue soared over six figures within a few months.

Such success wasn’t luck. It came from strategic product positioning, scrutinising back-end data, and making the most of Temu’s unique benefits. Cracking the Temu code takes hard work and attention to detail but it’s achievable for everyone. And I’m sharing what I’ve learned to give you a head start.

Why Temu is a good choice for small businesses

One of the big benefits of Temu is that it offers reach without ads. You don’t need to drain your bank account getting influencers to feature your product on TikTok Shop, or incessantly buy clicks on Amazon just to stay visible. Instead, Temu instantly gives you access to a huge pool of ready-to-buy users. This doesn’t mean they’re immediately ready to buy from you. You still need to put the work into creating a product they want and building consumer trust. But you don’t have to keep increasing your marketing budget just to simply get seen.

Another advantage Temu has over other platforms is its ability to support steady growth. TikTok Shop is great if you’re going viral and can drive bursts of traffic – but it’s also a double-edged sword. Such volatility is very hard to handle and it often feels like you’re at the mercy of the algorithm and creators. You could see sales pouring in and then suddenly dry up, and there’s little you can do about it. A steadier, more predictable growth model may sound less exciting to ambitious businesses but it’s much more sustainable.

From test case to six figures

When I launched our freeze-dried confectionery brand on Temu, I treated it like a live case study – testing fast, iterating faster, and scaling what worked. The platform is perfectly designed for an approach like this, as listing a product is incredibly quick and easy and the customer feedback loop equally rapid.

Unlike some of its peers, Temu isn’t a social-led platform. Rather, it operates more like a search-powered discovery engine, where success comes from keyword relevance, product bundling, and platform-level merchandising. This means that if you create an attractive product and get your offer and positioning right, you’ll soon see traffic and conversions.

We hit over a thousand orders almost immediately but I knew we could do more to drive growth. Price plays a part in your value offering but it’s not the whole story. That can be found in your back-end data – analysing what exactly customers were buying, how they were reviewing it, and which keywords were driving conversions. I also spent time reading Temu’s own internal data reviews, sentiment trends, and product performance reports, and leaned on their internal contact to discuss seasonal behaviours, product trends, and promotional alignment. Customer reviews are another key source of product intel: Temu’s review system is especially active so you’ll immediately know what’s working – and what’s not.

Gathering all this data allowed us to refine our product offerings and adapt in real time. We used these customer insights to refine our messaging, guide product development, and design future bundles. Within months we had launched over 300 SKUs – not because we felt we had to push out as many as possible to get attention but because we were meeting demand. Throughout the whole process it felt like we were working with the mechanisms of Temu’s platform, not against them.

Another element of our success on Temu was our focus on building brand trust. The platform may have a reputation for discounts but bargains shouldn’t mean you’re dismissive of your customers. We put energy into our branding and customer service, from careful packaging with added thank-you notes, to the way we structured our listings. Such details may seem unnecessary to some. But they've been vital in growing a base of loyal customers and establishing a strong brand presence.

UK brands who dismiss Temu do so at their own peril. Misconceptions about the platform are stopping many small businesses from putting a rocket under the growth. With a commitment to learning and adapting as you go, truly understanding the platform, and putting in the work, you too can crack the Temu code.

For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.