Online shopping continues to skyrocket, and Temu was released amidst this trend. Temu is an ecommerce marketplace that has been showing rapid growth since its initial release.
While its growth in Australia may be slower compared to other countries, the big wave is still there. And, you may be thinking, “I want to ride on it.”
Well, this blog is for you. This blog will be a quick guide on how you can start your Temu store. (This is more recommended for experienced ecommerce sellers due to the need for legal documents.)
Method 1. Use your Existing Pinduoduo Account
Temu is owned by PDD Holdings- the company that runs one of China’s biggest ecommerce platforms: Pinduoduo. If you were already using Pinduoduo, you’re lucky! As a sister platform, you can use an existing Pinduoduo account to create a store on Temu. It also makes the process much easier.
Go to the Pinduoduo platform and click the “cross-border ecommerce” option. Then, you will be asked to sign in with your Pinduoduo account. After logging in, apply for the cross-border ecommerce registration. If your application is successful, you can see “Temu” in your dropdown under the “Seller Center” tab.
Then, you can set up your Temu storefront.
Method 2. Sign up as a New Temu Seller
The slightly time-consuming method involves directly signing up on Temu. First, choose between four types of seller accounts:
- Flagship store,
- Department Flagship store,
- Exclusive seller, and
- Authorised retailer.
Try to choose the one that best fits your store situation.
Next, you will need to go through a verification process. It starts with qualification forms that you need to fill out. It will ask for details or documents related to your business. You have to upload them to the Temu Seller Centre to complete the signup process.
Here are examples of documents you will need to upload for the verification process:
- Overseas proof of business registration (such as a business license)
- ID of the legal representative (passport, driver’s license, birth certificate)
- The ID of the store manager
- Distribution/logistics documentation (proof of warehouse partners, etc.)
- Brand qualification documentation (trademarks, authorisation letters)
- A certificate (if the type of product you plan to sell requires you to have one)
Once you provide the required documents and fill out the forms, you need to wait for the results. It is said to take about three business days. If your application is successful, you will get an SMS notification.
Building up Your Temu Storefront
After successfully obtaining a Temu account, the next step is to create your store profile (the exciting part!) Choose your store name, and upload your brand logo and any other relevant information. Examples of information to include are:
- Product pages
- Prices
- FAQs
- Shipping and Returns info, and so on.
After that, you can customise your store’s appearance. Here are some tips for making a great store design in Temu:
- Choose a colour scheme that matches your brand, or appeals to your target audience.
- Select a layout that makes it easier for your customers to navigate- utilise the templates that Temu provides.
- Always upload high-quality photos (For tips on how to take good photos for your store, check out this post.)
- Write informative and engaging product descriptions (Here is a blog for tips on how to write an appealing product description.)
Then, you will need to set up your payment details. Temu provides various payment methods- like PayPal, Afterpay, Apple Pay and so on. After choosing the methods you wish to use, you will need to link your business’s bank account by providing the requested details. This is to enable the withdrawal of your profit. Just make sure that your bank account is not a personal one. It must be the manufacturer’s or business’s bank account.
Temu’s money flow works like this. When your customer makes a purchase, Temu will hold the payment until the order has been fulfilled. Once fulfilled, Temu will allocate the profit to your sales amount on the platform. Then, you will be able to withdraw the amount you wish from within that sales amount.
There are two fees that Temu will charge when you use its platform. First, Temu will charge a commission fee for each sale you make. The second one is a payment processing fee, and the exact amount will differ depending on your choice of payment method.
Now that you’ve gone through these procedures, you’re ready to start selling!
Responsibilities and Regulations
Before you start running towards your Temu dream, make sure you are familiar with Temu’s terms and conditions.
Temu is a C2M (Consumer-to-Manufacturer) platform. This means it doesn’t have full control over the fulfilment process. It leaves manufacturing, product listing, packing and shipping up to the seller or manufacturer. However, Temu does have some guidelines on packaging material usage.
Let’s go through the basic conditions.
Your Responsibilities
When selling on Temu, you will have to be aware of the following responsibilities:
- Sellers are responsible for setting up their store and operating it.
- Samples of the top-rated or most popular products must be shipped to the Temu main office for review.
- Sellers are the first point of contact for order-related, shipping or product-related queries. Therefore, do well in your customer support.
- Sellers must prepare a projected sales volume for each week- meaning that you need to make sure you have proper inventory.
- Products should be packaged following the Temu guidelines (as mentioned earlier) – e.g. apparel and accessories need to be packaged in a clear zipper bag.
Temu’s Restrictions
Temu has three levels of restrictions for regulating activities on its platform. The consequences of not following the restrictions are different depending on the level you fail to conform.
Level 1 restrictions will remove or prohibit the product that was deemed to not follow the restriction. It will also remove any store advertisements that are showcasing that product.
Level 2 restrictions involve the same consequences as Level 1 restrictions- but it will also add the prohibition of new product listings. This will limit your product shelf.
Lastly, when you fail to conform to Level 3 restrictions, it will result in a complete takedown of your store. You will also never be allowed to sell on Temu again. Ultimately, you’re banned.
Here are some measures to make sure you don’t violate Temu’s regulations:
- Ensure your business falls into one of the approved store categories: individual stores, individual industrial stores, commercial enterprises, or enterprise stores.
- Have a valid business registration or ID for your store.
- Comply with local laws and regulations (e.g. certificates for selling specific products.)
- Ensure that all ID cards and documentation have an expiry date of at least one year in the future.
- Avoid store names that:
- infringe on others,
- contain exaggerated claims, or
- include the names of countries, regions or international organisations.
- Adhere to Temu’s store policies and maintain a high response rate and low complaint rate.
- Try to avoid any abnormal logistical activities, including high volumes of refunds.
This is only a part of Temu’s regulations. Therefore, it is highly recommended to thoroughly read its terms and conditions. You can start reading from here.
Summary
There were two methods to start selling in Temu. The first one was to use an existing Pinduoduo account. Second was to sign up on Temu and go through its verification process. The verification process requires a fair number of legal documents.
After getting an account, you can customise your Temu store profile. Make sure to include your policies, such as returns and shipping. After that, you can upload your products and choose your payment methods. Link your business’s bank account to enable the withdrawal of your sales.
Temu puts several responsibilities on the seller or manufacturer. There are restrictions that the seller must conform to. It consists of three levels. The higher the level, the heavier the consequences. Ultimately, you could get banned from selling on Temu.
Building up your Temu would be relatively easier if you have experience in running an ecommerce store. A person who is new to the industry will probably struggle a bit. After all, it does involve a lot of legal documents and knowledge of logistic operations.
Now you have an idea of how to start selling on Temu. If you want to learn how to actually start an ecommerce business, we recommend starting by reading this blog post. We wish you all the best for your further journeys in your ecommerce venture.
