Have you ever had the privilege to see The Jiggle? This is a special trait amongst small business owners. The Jiggle can consist of a sparkle in the eye, a sigh of relief, a big-teeth-showing smile or the shaking of the bum behind the counter.
The Jiggle can only occur when a small business is supported by you, the Customer. You are the reason for The Jiggle, a good night’s rest and why the doors will be open the next day again.
I often wonder if TEMU buyers realise the direct negative impact they have on our own economy and the crucial effect on small businesses. Are they aware that through buying from TEMU, they are sending money out of the country and thus not helping to build our own economy?
During 2024, over 1 400 businesses in South Africa had to close their doors!!!
I can’t help but wonder how many of these businesses would have survived if not for the likes of TEMU?
Listen, I do understand the urge to buy from TEMU. I used to have the App on my phone and scroll through all of the awesome crap gadgets and thingamajigs. It was like a drug. Add to cart, add to cart, add to cart…
Unfortunately for TEMU, I had to empty that cart again because of all the other TEMU buyers taking away from my own small business, meaning I could not afford it.
I was looking into marketing strategies last year, to get our small business out there. It was quite a challenge as advertising is expensive for small businesses. Thanks to your tremendous support received by TEMU, every second advertisement, while playing a game on my phone, is for TEMU.
So you the customer are indirectly helping them with their marketing… and once again stripping small business owners of growth.
Small business owners, in my eyes, tend to be the creative people. They need to be creative in their marketing, branding and most of the time creating their own unique product. We work hard into the night and even brain storm at the local braai… ‘What do we do next?’
Yes, small businesses tend to be slightly more expensive than the TEMUs as everything takes longer and are not mass produced.
Handmade items are created by South African hands, with love, care and passion. Due to this, the quality of the items are usually of a much higher standard than a TEMU gadget that fails on first or second use and also lasts longer than just three months.
Not only longevity but uniqueness is important for most small businesses. When an item is handmade, even if the same colours and materials are used, not one will be exactly the same as the other.
I love the saying by an unknown author: “Only dead fish go with the flow”…
I beg of you, before you finalise your next purchase on TEMU, ask yourself if that sale can hurt a fellow South African’s small business?
Think before you click… and don’t just go with the flow… Create The Jiggle…
