In the big world of e-commerce, which is continually evolving, sellers are always looking for efficient ways to grow their businesses. With the rise of TEMU's semi-consignment model, online sellers in the Philippines now have an exciting opportunity to sell products online without having to organize all from inventory to shipment, and with BigSeller's latest integration, managing TEMU orders has become easier.

In this blog, we'll explore how TEMU's semi-consignment model works and the benefits it offers to online sellers or to those who are just starting out. This new integration could be the key to the success of your business effortlessly.

What is TEMU?

TEMU is one of the fastest-growing e-commerce platforms. It is a Boston-based company that was founded in September 2022. They link customers with producers and distributors to provide a large selection of goods at affordable prices. Due to its fast expansion, TEMU is now a major platform in the e-commerce industry worldwide. TEMU even surpassed eBay and became the second most visited e-commerce website globally.

What is this semi-consignment all about?

TEMU’s semi-consignment model is a business approach where sellers list products on TEMU without having to pre-purchase or hold large amounts of inventory. Let's say you want to start selling products online, but you don't want to spend money upfront for inventory; that's where TEMU's semi-consignment concept comes in. TEMU lets you offer items from their suppliers in your store instead of buying them ahead and stocking them. You pay only for the items once a buyer purchases them.

Importance of Logistics in the Online Selling World

It is an important link in the supply chain; it facilitates the process of delivering the products from suppliers to manufacturers to sellers and then eventually to your buyers. It is really a series of transactions. TEMU's semi-consignment model relies heavily on well-structured and well-organized logistics, as the products are shipped directly to customers. Prioritizing inventory management and strategic warehouse location can ensure a smooth operation and can lead to a better overall shopping experience for customers.
 

Why did TEMU introduce this semi-consignment model?

It is to attract more online sellers and to expand their product offerings while keeping the product cost low. This semi-consignment model helps and lowers the barriers between the new sellers and currently thriving business owners.

How It Works: Step-by-step

Choose Products to sell on TEMU's website

List and upload the products in your online store

After listing, you can now receive orders from customers.

Now, when a customer places an order on your store, you don’t need to ship the item yourself. TEMU and its suppliers will process the order, then ship the product; they will also handle the packaging and the delivery of the products.

I'll give an example to make it clearer:

Let’s say you want to sell wireless earbuds on TEMU

The supplier is selling them for ₱500 per piece.

You list them in your store for ₱800.

A customer buys one, and you receive ₱800.

You then pay TEMU’s supplier ₱500.

Your profit is ₱300 (minus any platform fees).

Responsibilities of sellers and TEMU in this model.
 

For Sellers:

Sellers should list the products on TEMU's platform and ensure accurate product descriptions, especially listing them with a good and competitive price within TEMU's guidelines. Sellers can coordinate with manufacturers and suppliers for order fulfillment and handle customer inquiries.
 

For TEMU:

TEMU will provide the marketplace platform and manage payment processing and order transactions. They are also the ones who will facilitate logistics and will handle all the shipment processes. TEMU can also offer marketing support and promotional opportunities for sellers.
 

How returns and refunds are managed.

TEMU has a good and well-structured returns and refunds process to protect both sellers and buyers. Buyers can request a return or refund through TEMU's platform within the said return period of the ordered item. Usually, it is based on the product category and product condition.
Then, TEMU will evaluate whether the return request has met the eligibility criteria, such as defective products, incorrect items, or damaged items. Once the request for a return or refund is approved, the request will be processed according to TEMU's guidelines. The customer may receive a refund depending on the case.

Why is this good for sellers?

No Upfront Inventory Cost—you don’t need to buy products before selling them.

Less risk—only spend money when you already have a buyer.

No Need for Storage—TEMU will handle warehousing and shipping.

Scalability — You can sell many different products without worrying about stock.

It’s a great way to start an online business without needing big capital or worrying about storing products.

Who Should Use or Will Benefit from TEMU’s Semi-Consignment Model?

New sellers or startups who want to enter the e-commerce world, those who don’t have enough funds but want to start selling online. Entrepreneurs who want to expand their reach without handling the warehousing and shipping process.

Dropshippers — since the sellers don’t need to prepare for inventory or pre-purchase inventory, this model will work well with dropshippers.

Entrepreneurs who want to explore new markets, sellers who want to test products in international markets? Well, the semi-consignment model can help you experiment without committing large resources.

Manufacturers wanting direct-to-consumer sales, factories, or suppliers that traditionally sell in bulk can use TEMU’s model to reach individual buyers with minimal risk.

Online retailers looking to expand and sellers on Shopee, Lazada, or Amazon who want to diversify their sales channels can use TEMU’s semi-consignment model to expand their reach with reduced operational burdens.
 

BigSeller with TEMU

 

BigSeller plays an essential role in helping online sellers succeed with this method of selling. As an e-commerce management tool, it can offer features that organize the selling process.

The first one is the bulk product listing of BigSeller; you can easily list and manage the products across multiple platforms. And then the second one is order processing automation, where you can sync and manage orders efficiently. Then the next one is inventory tracking, where even with TEMU, you can track sales trends. And the last one is the Multi-Platform Integration, where you can manage multiple e-commerce platforms from one dashboard. BigSeller has an integration where you can link TEMU to start uploading products. See photos above for better preferences.

By using BigSeller, sellers can now optimize their store operations and make the semi-consignment model even more useful and profitable.
 

Conclusion

TEMU's new model presents a good and unique opportunity for e-commerce sellers out there who want to upgrade their business with minimal risk. By trusting TEMU to handle inventory and all logistics work, e-commerce sellers can now focus on marketing and sales without worrying about costs and stock management.

This model is really beneficial for new sellers, dropshippers, small business owners, and manufacturers who are looking to expand into new markets. It provides a low-risk way to test the products that you plan or want to sell by reaching out to a wider audience and streamlining operations.

This TEMUS's semi-consignment model is worth considering, especially if you are looking for a hassle-free approach to e-commerce.

Ready to get started? Check out BigSeller and TEMU's platform today and take advantage of this new selling method!