The e-commerce industry is becoming increasingly competitive, with new platforms popping up every so often. Popular sites like Shein are gaining competitors, and newcomers like Temu are gathering consumers’ attention with promises of improved product quality, affordable prices, and elevated online shopping experience.
1 What is Temu?
Launched in September 2022, Temu is part of the Nasdaq-listed multinational commerce group, PDD Holdings, with access to its global network of merchandise suppliers. Many of the 11 million merchants that make up this network are manufacturers with years of experience producing high-end products.
PDD Holdings is a pioneer of the Next-Gen Manufacturing approach, which channels real-time digital insights into consumer behavior to manufacturers so that they can create products that better fit the market’s needs.
Through the Next-Gen Manufacturing approach, Temu enables manufacturers with key market insights that they can use to respond to shifts in consumer demand.
2 What is Shein?
Shein became popular in 2020, becoming one of the fastest-growing brands in the market with around 700-1000 new listings per day. However, the company entered the e-commerce market as early as 2008, operating under the name SheInside, then rebranding to Shein.
Shein is known for its wide range of fashionable clothing at low prices, offering consumers various styles and sizes to choose from. Shein peaked in popularity through product reviews on Tiktok and Instagram, and the brand later expanded to listing household products, men’s wear, pet supplies, and more categories as consumers flocked to the site for its bargain goods.
Shein has come under fire in recent years for issues with labor, materials safety, and durability, as well as questionable business practices. Despite the matters surrounding the fashion platform, users continue to shop in Shein for fast-fashion brands and bargain prices.
3 Is Temu Better than Shein?
Temu is an up-and-coming contender in the e-commerce space as it aims to challenge not only the likes of Shein but also online retail giants in the field. On the other hand, Shein is a well-established brand that is both accessible and inclusive. In terms of whether one platform is better than the other is up to the consumers who patronize them.
- Products
Both platforms offer products from manufacturers all over the world. Temu offers more than 250 product categories including popular consumer goods like fashion and beauty to everyday essentials and industrial products like power tools. It is praised for the top-notch quality and affordability of its items, as the platform is known for maintaining a strict standard of quality with its manufacturers.
Shein is more focused on fashion-related categories. Shein offers multiple varying styles of clothing to the market, providing its consumers with clothing to fit all lifestyles. The majority of Shein’s categories are geared toward women, but the platform also lists household items, accessories, and other relevant fashion items.
- Shipping
When it comes to shipping, Temu estimates shipping will take between 7-15 days to give time for manufacturers to ship out the orders, and for the platform’s order fulfillment team to deliver the package. However, more than 80% of its users receive their orders within 10 days or less according to the site. Temu users can easily track their orders with real-time updates.
Meanwhile, Shein’s shipping window is around 5-8 business days. Processing time for orders takes an additional 1-3 business days, and shipping may be delayed depending on weather conditions and flight delays. Shein users receive general updates on the whereabouts of their packages.
- Environmental Impact
In an effort to become carbon-neutral, Temu promises to offset the carbon emissions created by international shipping – a promise included in each product listing. On the other hand, the environmental impact of fast fashion promoted by Shein has drawn criticism for the site, which prompted the site to become “committed to lowering emissions and reducing waste.”
The Verdict
Overall, whether one platform is better than the other is up to consumers as they are given the choice and flexibility to purchase from the platforms they prefer. As a newcomer to the industry, Temu is making rounds among avid shoppers, with many users talking about the enhanced features that the platform has to offer.
