New online superstore surpasses Amazon and Walmart to become most downloaded app in US
The most downloaded app in the United States has quickly surpassed Amazon and Walmart, being connected to one of China’s biggest shops. It is now trying to make money off of a performance on the biggest stage in America.
On Sunday, Temu, a Boston-based online retailer that is owned by Pinduoduo, the largest social commerce platform in China, made its Super Bowl debut.
Temu, which operates an online superstore for almost everything, including clothing, electronics, and home products, debuted a commercial during the game that urged customers to “buy like a billionaire.”
The pitch? You don’t have to be one.
“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,” a Temu spokesperson told CNN in a statement.
The 30-second spot shows the company’s proposition to users: Feel like you’re splurging by buying lots of stuff cheaply. A woman’s swimsuit on Temu costs just $6.50, while a pair of wireless earphones is priced at $8.50. An eyebrow trimmer costs 90 cents.
These surprisingly low prices — by Western standards, at least — have drawn comparisons to Shein, the Chinese fast fashion upstart that also offers a wide selection of inexpensive clothing and home goods, and has made significant inroads into markets including the United States.
Shein is considered one of Temu’s competitors, along with US-based discount retailer Wish and Alibaba’s AliExpress, according to Coresight Research.
