PDD-backed upstart Temu takes on e-commerce platform Shein in the US with Super Bowl debut

Super Bowl spots like Temu’s 30-second ad on Sunday typically cost millions to produce and air, but many brands consider them essential exposure
The Pinduoduo app, considered a serious competitor to Shein, plans to launch in Canada as soon as this month

E-commerce

Bloomberg

Published: 1:21pm, 13 Feb 2023

Why you can trust SCMP

Chinese-owned e-commerce upstart Temu made its Super Bowl debut on Sunday, an unofficial coming-out party for an online shopping app that has climbed American download charts since its debut late last year.

PDD Holdings’ service, which like Shein has gained a reputation for cut-rate pricing and fast delivery, ran a 30-second spot featuring a trendy shopper twirling and dancing to phrases like “Cha-ching! I feel so rich, oh yeah.” PDD, formerly known as Pinduoduo, said it was also giving away a total of US$10 million to users via online sweepstakes.

Temu launched in September and rapidly scaled Apple’s US app store. It is now considered a serious competitor to Shein, the fast-fashion phenomenon that is also fired up American shoppers. But PDD, which plans to launch Temu in Canada as soon as this month, offers a broader range of goods from pet supplies to groceries.

Many apps that enjoy initial success fade away over time as incumbent leaders ramp up competitive pressures. Owner PDD is known in China for making inroads into markets less covered by major players including Alibaba Group Holding, such as lower-income rural areas.

Getting its name from “Team up”, Temu wants to replicate PDD’s social commerce model in North America. If it sustains its initial momentum, the app could join just a handful of Chinese-owned internet services to have succeeded in the US, including Alibaba’s AliExpress and ByteDance’s TikTok.

The Temu app is seen in the Apple’s iOS App Store. Photo: Shutterstock

Super Bowl spots like Temu’s “Shop Like a Billionaire” typically cost millions to produce and air, but many brands have considered them essential exposure over the years. Sunday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs was expected to draw tens of millions of viewers.

“Through the largest stage possible, we want to share with our consumers that they can shop with a sense of freedom because of the price we offer,” PDD said in a statement.

Post