Connect with us

Published

on

Chinese-owned e-commerce giant Temu dropped tens of millions of dollars on three Super Bowl commercials and offered $15 million in giveaways in hopes of getting a major leg up with US shoppers.

The 30-second ad spots during Super Bowl LVIII — when the Kansas City Chiefs clinched the Lombardi trophy after the game went into overtime against the San Francisco 49ers — cost brands a reported $7 million each, according to Bloomberg.

Thus, Temu spent an estimated $21 million on its three commercials aired throughout the Big Game, which touted the bizarre tagline “shop like a billionaire.”

The online discount marketplace also offered $15 million in giveaways, coupons and other promotions, according to CNN.

Temu — which is based in Boston and owned by PDD, the group behind Chinese online shopping giant Pinduoduo — also paid for two post-Super Bowl advertisements to air during CBS’s late-night programming, CNN reported.

It’s unclear how much Temu spent on its post-game ads.

Temu’s Super Bowl spend had its desired effect, according to Google Trends data, which showed that web searches for the app spiked when the commercials played.

Temu searches had been steadily declining since early July, Bloomberg reported, along with the company’s observed sales, which fell 2.5% month-on-month in December and 4.8% in January.

However, Temu saw impressive growth last year, when it made its Super Bowl ad debut after officially launching in the US in September 2022.

In 2023, Temu’s sales increased a staggering 805% at the start of the year and more than 50% mid-year, according to Bloomberg Second Measure data tracking, a subset of US credit and debit card transactions.

Temu’s explosive growth in January 2023 sales was four times more than the No. 2 spot, Elon Musk’s Space X, and far above e-commerce rival Amazon, which experienced 191% and 1.71% sales increases, respectively.

But in recent months, the number of Americans shopping on Temu has also fallen, according to the Second Measure data, as Temu has developed a reputation for long delivery times, unresponsive customer service and incorrect orders.

The company’s Better Business Bureau profile boasts a dismal 2.5 stars, with customers complaining that the site is a “scam.”

Other shoppers have raised concerns that the Chinese app poses a security threat to Americans. Some even suggested that the company should be barred from advertising during the Super Bowl because of its origins.

“TEMU ads for the Super Bowl. Selling fake products. HP says theyre not their stuff. Orders that never show up,” one X user said. “In what world does it make sense to allow a China, communist, dictator controlled company to compete with Amazon and Walmart? WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!”

Subscribe to our daily Business Report newsletter!

Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Never miss a story.

“Freedom-loving” digital marketplace PublicSquare also weighed in: “Its shocking that we allow Super Bowl commercials from a company like Temu who has a long history of slave labor and funding of the Chinese communist party,” the company shared.

A late-January survey from Morgan Stanley offered cool comfort for Temu’s future: It found that nearly one-third of its users plan to shop less on the app over the next three months.

Only eBay and Etsy had weaker outlooks, according to Morgan Stalney’s findings, which were earlier reported on by Bloomberg.

Margins have declined in recent quarters and are expected to keep declining, according to Bloomberg, as PDD would have to continue offering steep discounts and rebates in order to grow rapidly in the US.

Profitability is a concern. Its just not a priority right now, Morningstar senior analyst Chelsey Tam said.

Representatives for Temu declined to comment on the company’s Super Bowl ad spend.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Jaguar: British luxury vehicle maker has a new advert that doesn’t feature any cars

Published

on

By

Jaguar: British luxury vehicle maker has a new advert that doesn't feature any cars

Jaguar has left people scratching their heads with a new glossy advert which fails to show any cars.

The British luxury vehicle maker has released a commercial featuring a series of models, in brightly-coloured clothing, emerging from a lift into an austere landscape.

They are then seen in various poses as different slogans appear on screen, including “live vivid”, “delete ordinary” and “copy nothing”.

But it has created a series of reactions online from ridicule to confusion, because there is no hint of any cars.

screengrabs from jaguar advert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLtFIrqhfng
Image:
Jaguar’s latest advert has left some people confused

screengrabs from jaguar advert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLtFIrqhfng
Image:
Jaguar says the advert represents a ‘complete reset’ for the brand

Tesla boss Elon Musk tweeted a response to Jaguar’s advert posted on X by asking: “Do you sell cars?”

It prompted the reply: “Yes. We’d love to show you” followed by an invite to a promotional event. But others on X continued to question the advert and what it represented.

“Umm where are the cars in this ad?” one user posted, while a second wrote: “I thought you guys made cars?”

screengrabs from jaguar advert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLtFIrqhfng
Image:
Bold, bright colours feature in the commercial – but not everyone is impressed

There was also confusion from another person who asked: “What are you trying to sell me?”

Jaguar teased that: “All will be revealed… Think of this [advert] as a declaration of intent. We’re shifting gears, not our purpose. Stay tuned.”

In a news release to accompany the advert, the carmaker described it as part of a “completely transformed Jaguar brand” and “a new era” which makes “it relevant for a contemporary audience”.

“This is a complete reset,” said managing director Rawdon Glover. “To bring back such a globally renowned brand we had to be fearless.”

In the lead-up to the campaign, Jaguar announced it was discontinuing five models with “close to zero profitability”.

It has developed three new ultra-luxury electric vehicles, one of which is set to be unveiled at Miami’s Art Basel event next month.

Continue Reading

Sports

Vogt awarded top AL manager in first year on job

Published

on

By

Vogt awarded top AL manager in first year on job

The Cleveland GuardiansStephen Vogt was named American League Manager of the Year on Tuesday after winning the AL Central in his first season on the job.

The 40-year-old Vogt, who had never managed before this year, steered Cleveland to a 92-69 record. The Guardians made it to the AL Championship Series before losing to the New York Yankees.

He is the third AL manager to win the award, given out since 1983, in his rookie season managing.

Despite injuries to starters Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie that left the Guardians short-handed for most of the season, Vogt managed Cleveland’s bullpen brilliantly, with its 2.57 ERA more than half a run better than the next-best team. The Guardians improved by 16 games over the previous season and won Vogt’s first playoff series against Detroit until the Yankees dismissed them in five games.

Over his 10-year playing career, Vogt played for six teams and was twice an All-Star. He took over in Cleveland for the retiring Terry Francona — himself a three-time Manager of the Year — after spending a season as the Seattle Mariners‘ bullpen coach.

Vogt received 27 of 30 first-place votes and finished ahead of two other AL Central managers, Kansas City‘s Matt Quatraro (two first-place votes) and Detroit’s A.J. Hinch (one).

Continue Reading

Sports

Mets acquire OF Siri from Rays for reliever Orze

Published

on

By

Mets acquire OF Siri from Rays for reliever Orze

The New York Mets landed veteran outfielder Jose Siri in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, the team announced Tuesday. In return, the Mets surrendered reliever Eric Orze.

Siri, 29, was tied for the lead among all center fielders in defensive runs saved last season but he struggled offensively, batting .187 with 18 homers, 14 stolen bases and an adjusted OPS+ of 76.

He’ll be eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter, meaning he’s likely to get a minor bump over his 2024 salary of $757,800.

Siri had a meandering path to the big leagues, bouncing through five organizations before making his debut with the Astros in September 2021. He has been known for playing with a demonstrative flair that can sometimes bug opponents.

Early in this offseason, some industry sources said they expected the Rays to move on from Siri, who had a staggering 170 strikeouts and just 31 walks in 448 plate appearances last season.

Harrison Bader, who was the Mets’ primary center fielder last season, became a free agent again. Tyrone Taylor played well in 44 games at the position, though he just had hernia and elbow surgery, procedures from which the Mets expect him to recover by the start of spring training.

But Siri gives the Mets some coverage at the spot no matter how the rest of the offseason plays out.

A contingent representing the Mets’ organization, including owner Steve Cohen and head of baseball operations David Stearns, traveled to California in recent days to meet with slugger Juan Soto. But that negotiation could continue for another week or more, with Soto and agent Scott Boras taking information and offers from the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and other teams.

Orze, 27, pitched in two games for the Mets last season, allowing four runs in 1⅔ innings in his first-ever major league outings. He was a fifth-round pick of the Mets in the 2020 draft.

Continue Reading

Trending