How to Start Temu Dropshipping: A Step-by-Step Guide

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about Temu – a fast-growing online marketplace launched by PDD Holdings (the company behind China’s Pinduoduo) in 2022. Temu quickly became one of the most downloaded shopping apps in the U.S., boasting over 167 million monthly active users across the U.S., Canada, UK, and Europe. Why all the buzz? Temu offers an enormous variety of products (spread across 29 categories!) at unbelievably low prices. They even ran Super Bowl ads to promote their “shop like a billionaire” experience, which shows how confident they are in their ultra-cheap pricing model.

The phrase “Temu dropshipping” has spiked on Google Trends recently, and many in the e-commerce community are asking “how to dropship from Temu.” What makes Temu attractive to dropshippers? From my perspective and research, a few key reasons stand out:

• Wide Product Selection & Low Prices: Temu’s catalog spans everything from fashion and electronics to home decor and pet supplies. You can find countless items under $5 or even $1 – prices so low that you can potentially enjoy healthy profit margins. In fact, many products on Temu are even cheaper than similar items on AliExpress or CJdropshipping. For a dropshipper, those low wholesale-like prices are gold because they allow you to mark up for profit while still offering a deal to your customers. Temu can do this by leveraging Pinduoduo’s massive network of suppliers and a consumer-to-manufacturer model that cuts out middlemen.

• Constant Deals & High Shopping Volume: Temu runs constant flash sales, 70–90% off promotions, and even gives new users extra coupons. As a seller, this indicates what products are trending (just check what’s on sale or featured). Plus, Temu’s heavy advertising on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube means products on Temu often go viral or at least gain high visibility. If you can catch a trend early on Temu, you might have a winning product for your store. I’ve personally browsed Temu’s “Top Selling” and “Featured” sections to spark product ideas when my store needed a fresh addition.

• Fast Shipping (in Some Cases): One pain point with traditional dropshipping (e.g., AliExpress) is slow shipping from China. Temu, however, claims faster shipping for certain items because it has warehouses and partnerships in the US. In fact, Temu’s parent company has U.S. warehouses where many products are stored, allowing faster domestic shipping for U.S. customers. Some buyers report receiving Temu orders in about a week or so if items ship from a local warehouse. Temu also offers free standard shipping on all orders (at least as of 2024) and a generous 90-day return policy. As a seller, faster shipping and easy returns can mean happier customers and more repeat business. That said, shipping times on Temu can be inconsistent – often around 7–15 days to the US, and sometimes over two weeks for certain items. In my experience, this is better than some AliExpress suppliers, but not as fast as Amazon or domestic dropship suppliers. We’ll compare shipping in detail later.

• High Volume & Trend Responsiveness: Temu’s business model thrives on high volume and trending products. The platform is constantly refreshing its product feed to reflect what’s hot in the market. As a dropshipper, this means you have a huge, up-to-date catalog of potential winning products to choose from. It’s like having a pulse on viral items in real time – a dream for product research. Temu’s real-time data and consumer demand analysis help highlight popular items, which can guide your selection. I love to leverage this by browsing Temu’s trending sections or using tools (more on that below) to identify which Temu products are getting traction.

The Catch: Now, before we dive into how to start Temu dropshipping, I need to share a word of caution from my own trials and the fine print. Temu isn’t officially a dropshipping platform – it’s a B2C retail marketplace. In fact, Temu’s policy explicitly states that dropshipping isn’t supported. What does this mean? Essentially, Temu provides no direct integration or tools for resellers. There’s no Temu app for Shopify, no API to pull product info, and no one-click order forwarding. You can still use Temu as a supplier, but you’ll be manually placing orders on Temu’s website or app for each sale you make. Many of us do it (hey, we entrepreneurs find a way!), but it’s not “plug-and-play” for dropshipping.

Another big catch is branding and packaging. Every item ordered from Temu arrives in Temu’s signature bright orange packaging with their logo plastered on it. Inside the big orange bag, items from different sellers might be individually wrapped, but the customer will unmistakably know it came from Temu. As a Shopify store owner trying to build my own brand, this is not ideal. Customers might wonder why their package says Temu instead of my store, potentially hurting trust. I’ve even seen cases on forums where customers, upon realizing the item was from Temu and much cheaper there, demand refunds or feel scammed. Blind dropshipping (no supplier info on the package) is not an option with Temu’s default shipping. In contrast, other suppliers like CJdropshipping do offer blind shipping and even custom packaging (I’ll cover this in the Temu vs CJ comparison).

Finally, account risk: If Temu suspects you’re reselling their products at scale (for example, placing dozens of orders to different addresses daily), it might raise red flags. According to some dropshippers on Reddit, Temu has canceled orders or even banned accounts that attempted to use “their own packaging” or otherwise violated Temu’s terms. Essentially, Temu wants to protect its brand and user experience. So, while we can use Temu for dropshipping, we have to tread carefully and accept some limitations.

Okay, with those pros and cons in mind, let’s get into the step-by-step guide on how to start Temu dropshipping for your Shopify store. I’ll walk you through how I would do it, combining personal insight with best practices I’ve gathered from the community.

Step-by-Step Guide: Starting a Temu Dropshipping Business

Step 1: Set Up Your Temu Account and Browse the Market

First things first, you need a Temu account. Temu is a consumer marketplace, so there’s no special “dropshipper” or wholesale account to create – just sign up as a regular user on Temu’s website or download the Temu app. It’s free. (Note: Temu also has a Temu Seller Center for businesses wanting to sell on Temu as a marketplace seller, but that’s different from what we’re doing here. We want to dropship from Temu as a buyer/supplier, not list our own products on Temu.)

Once you’ve made an account, start exploring Temu’s catalog. This is the fun part – treat it like a treasure hunt. Browse through categories related to your niche or trending sections on the homepage. Temu’s app is very user-friendly with search filters, categories, and tons of pictures. As you scroll, take note of interesting products that might fit your store. Look at the details, prices, and especially the reviews:

• Check Product Reviews and Ratings: One way I vet potential items is by reading the customer reviews on Temu. Products on Temu often have reviews with photos and comments about quality, shipping time, etc. This gives you a sense of whether the item is decent or if it has known issues. A high rating (4⭐ and above) with lots of orders is a good sign a product is popular and generally satisfactory. If you see complaints like “item not as described” or “broke after one use,” consider it a red flag for dropshipping.

• Note the Price and Shipping Info: Temu usually offers free standard shipping, but check if the item has any minimum order for free shipping or expected delivery date. Most items I’ve seen show an estimated delivery range (e.g. “Arrives in 10–15 days”). Make sure that timeline is something you’re comfortable with for your customers. If an item is shipped from a U.S. warehouse, it may be labeled as such or show a shorter delivery estimate – these are gold because faster delivery = happier customers.

At this stage, your goal is just to familiarize yourself with Temu’s platform and maybe buy a couple of sample products for yourself. I strongly recommend ordering 1-2 products that you think you want to sell, shipped to you first. This lets you inspect the quality firsthand and see exactly how the packaging and tracking works. When I first considered Temu as a supplier, I ordered a gadget and a piece of jewelry to test. One arrived in 9 days, the other in about 2 weeks, both in that giant orange bag. The quality was a mixed bag – the gadget was fine and worked well, but the jewelry piece looked a bit cheaper than its photos. This kind of firsthand experience is invaluable before you stake your store’s reputation on an item.

Step 2: Do Product Research to Find a “Winning” Item

Every dropshipping business lives or dies by the products it sells. From experience (and plenty of early mistakes), I can confirm the saying: winning product = 80% of the game. Don’t rush this step. Research, research, research. A statistic I often remind myself of is that only about 10-20% of dropshipping businesses succeed, and a big reason many fail is choosing the wrong product. So let’s choose the right product.

What does a winning product from Temu look like? Here are some qualities of a good dropshipping product I always keep in mind (and which experts often cite):

• Unique or Hard to Find Locally: If the product is a cool gadget, a niche accessory, or something that makes people say “Wow, where did you get that?”, it’s a great candidate. You generally don’t want to sell something every Walmart or local store already carries. For example, a quirky kitchen tool or a trending tech accessory might do well, whereas a generic USB cable might not (everyone can find those anywhere).

• Solves a Problem or Has a “Wow” Factor: Products that solve a pain point or make life easier can be marketed well. Alternatively, an item so novel or cute that it catches attention can also work (even if it’s not solving a serious problem). If it’s viral-worthy or demonstrable in a video, that’s a bonus (think: a pet hair cleaning gadget that magically removes fur in one swipe – those kinds of videos go viral on TikTok).

• Not Saturated with Competition: Do a quick search on Google or other stores for the product. If you find 10 other Shopify stores selling the exact same item (with the same creatives), it might be tough to break through the noise. However, if it’s relatively under-the-radar or you think you can market it better to a specific audience, it could be a gem. I sometimes search on AliExpress or Amazon to see if the product is widely available; if not, that’s a good sign. Temu often has brand new or trending items that might not yet be everywhere.

• Good Profit Margin Potential: Calculate the numbers. Temu’s prices are low, but you’ll still typically mark up 2-3x to cover your marketing and profit. Ensure that after factoring in your selling price, you can make at least a 20-40% profit margin. Also consider if you plan to offer free shipping to customers (which I recommend) – since Temu ships free to you, you mainly just have product cost. For example, if a Temu item costs $5 (free ship) and you think customers would pay $19.99 for it, that’s a solid margin.

• Reasonable Size and Weight: Temu ships most small items free, but very bulky/heavy items might have shipping fees or be more likely to get damaged in transit. I usually stick to items that are relatively small and lightweight. This keeps shipping cheap (or free) and fast. Plus, smaller items avoid annoying issues like high dimensional weight or expensive returns.

• Not a Restricted/Prohibited Item: Make sure the item isn’t something that could cause legal issues or get stopped in customs. Temu has pretty much everything, including some weird items, but you should avoid things like weapons, copyrighted knock-offs, anything with a lithium battery (which can have shipping restrictions), etc. Check Shopify’s and payment processors’ rules too – e.g., don’t dropship branded replicas or unsafe goods. In one guide, it mentioned ensuring the item is “not on the banned list” for dropshipping, which is wise advice.

Now, how do we actually find these gems on Temu? Here are some product research tips specifically for Temu that I use:

• Use Temu’s Categories and Best Sellers: Temu’s app often highlights “Hot” items or best sellers in each category. Spend time browsing those. For instance, if you’re into home decor, see what the top-selling gadget or organizer is – chances are it’s trending for a reason (maybe a viral TikTok video?). Jot those down. Read the reviews on those top products to gauge quality. Temu’s wide array of categories means there’s something trending in each niche. I personally like to check the Electronics Gadgets section for anything new and cool, and the Beauty category for innovative tools (think LED skincare devices, etc.).

• Leverage a Product Research Tool: There are third-party tools and Chrome extensions designed to analyze Temu products. One example is the Temu Product Analysis Tool. Tools like these can show data like how many orders a product has, trends over time, profit estimates, and even what competitors might be selling it. I’m a data nerd, so I appreciate how these tools give “demand indicators” rather than me guessing blindly. For instance, a tool might reveal that a $3 gadget on Temu has been selling like crazy in the last month and has a high rating – that’s a strong candidate. Using such a tool can save you hours of manual sifting and help you make data-driven decisions. (Always make sure any tool you use is safe and trusted, of course).

• Spy on Social Media: This isn’t Temu-specific, but it’s part of my product research. I scroll TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Facebook feeds to see what kinds of products are getting attention. If I see a video of a funky-looking kitchen widget with millions of views, I search that product on Temu. There’s a good chance Temu has it (they carry a lot of the same trending products as AliExpress). If it’s there, and cheaper than elsewhere, bingo – it might be a winner for my store. This method is a bit of art and a bit of luck, but it has paid off for me. Many dropshippers call this the “TikTok made me buy it” approach to product research.

• Order Samples to Vet Products: I said it once but I’ll say it again – once you shortlist a few product ideas, order them yourself from Temu (or at least one) before listing on your Shopify store. When that package arrives, evaluate everything: Does the product match the description and photos? Is the quality acceptable for your brand? How was the packaging (aside from the unavoidable orange bag)? Did it arrive on time? This firsthand vetting is the best way to avoid unreliable sources or duds. If something feels off, trust your gut and pick a different product. As one guide noted, reading reviews and ordering a sample are critical steps before selling it.

By the end of Step 2, you should have one (or a few) products in mind that you’re confident about – they fit the criteria of being viral or problem-solving, good quality for the price, and suitable for your target customers. For our guide, let’s assume you’ve chosen one awesome product from Temu to start with. Now it’s time to set up shop!

Step 3: Create Your Online Store (Shopify Setup)

If you don’t already have a Shopify store, now’s the time to create one. (If you do, you can skip ahead to the next step where we add products). I prefer Shopify for dropshipping because it’s user-friendly, has tons of apps, and is reliable for processing orders and payments.

Setting up Shopify is beyond the scope here, but in brief: sign up for a Shopify account, choose a store name/domain, pick a theme (there are many free ones that look professional), and configure your basic settings (shipping, tax, policies, etc.). Since this guide is about Temu dropshipping on Shopify, I’ll assume you’ll use Shopify as your selling platform. Of course, you could try to dropship Temu products on marketplaces like eBay or Amazon, but those platforms have their own rules and complexities. In my experience, having your own Shopify store gives you more control over branding and customer experience.

When building your store, pay attention to the following essentials:

• Design & Branding: Even if you can’t brand the package, you can certainly brand your website. Use a clean, modern theme that suits your niche. I ensure my logo is visible, and I maintain consistent colors/fonts to build trust. Remember, customers will judge your store’s credibility by its appearance. A well-designed store makes visitors feel you’re a legitimate business.

• Legal Pages & Info: Include an About Us page (share your story or mission), Contact Us page (email or contact form for customer queries), and a FAQ page. Since shipping from Temu can be slower, clearly mention your shipping policy (e.g., “Orders typically deliver in 10-15 days. We source unique products globally, so please allow a little extra time for delivery.”). Transparency here can save you headaches later. I also add a note about my return policy (which might piggyback off Temu’s 90-day returns – e.g., you could offer a 30-day return to your customers and handle it via Temu’s return, though be cautious with that).

• Payment Setup: Shopify will guide you to set up payment gateways like Shopify Payments, PayPal, etc. Enable those so you can accept credit cards securely. This is straightforward in Shopify, and most of it is click-to-enable. As a tip, also ensure your currency is set correctly for your audience (e.g., USD if selling to U.S., etc.).

• Test the Checkout: Do a test order on your site (Shopify lets you simulate a transaction) to make sure everything flows smoothly – from adding to cart to checkout to confirmation emails.

By the end of this step, you should have a functioning Shopify store skeleton. It might be a one-product store if you’re focusing on a single Temu product to start (totally fine!), or a niche store where that Temu product is one of several items. Now, let’s get that Temu product into your store.

Step 4: Import and Prepare Your Temu Product Listing

Now comes the interesting part: adding the Temu product(s) you found into your Shopify store. Since Temu doesn’t have a direct dropship integration, we have to do this mostly manually. Here are two ways to go about it:

• Manual Method (Copy & Paste): This is the straightforward approach I’d use for a small number of products. Go to the product page on Temu for the item you want to sell. Save the product images (right-click and save, or use a Chrome extension if images are tricky to download). Temu’s images are usually high quality, which is great. Next, copy the product title and description as a starting point. Be careful here: Temu descriptions might be minimal or have broken English; you’ll want to rewrite them to fit your brand voice. Do not just copy-paste Temu text verbatim – aside from potential copyright issues, it’s often not sales-optimized or unique. Use it as a reference. For example, if Temu says “Wireless Vacuum Cleaner, 1200Pa, USB Charging,” you might rewrite on your site as: “🔥 Cordless Mini Vacuum – Powerful 1200Pa Suction, USB-Rechargeable. 🔥 Perfect for car interiors, keyboards, and small messes.” Make it enticing!

  In your Shopify admin, create a new product. Upload the images you saved (ensure they look good; you might want to compress them for faster site speed). Put your product title, set your price (e.g., 2-3x the Temu cost or whatever markup you decided). Write a compelling description highlighting the benefits and features. Bullet points are great for clarity – mention what the product does, why it’s a must-have, and any specs customers care about. Also, mention shipping time if you think it’s necessary (sometimes I add “Estimated delivery: 10-15 days” on the page to set expectation). Lastly, set up the variants if any (size, color, etc.) exactly as on Temu so you know what to order later.

• Using DSers + AliExpress Method (Alternative): Earlier, I mentioned Temu has no direct integration, but some dropshippers use a clever workaround: find the same product on AliExpress and import via an app like DSers. I’ve personally tried this with mixed results. The approach (as described by NextSmartShip’s blog) is: use a Chrome extension like AliExpress Search by Image to search AliExpress for the Temu product’s image. Many products on Temu are also sold by suppliers on AliExpress (since both source heavily from Chinese manufacturers). If you find a matching AliExpress listing, you can use DSers (a Shopify app integrated with AliExpress) to import that product to your store and fulfill via AliExpress instead of Temu. This way, you get the convenience of automated ordering through DSers, and possibly the option of AliExpress “dropshipping friendly” shipping (e.g., ePacket or AliExpress Standard). However, be cautious: sometimes the AliExpress price is higher or shipping cost extra, negating Temu’s pricing advantage. Also, AliExpress might ship slower or use different packaging (though at least it’s unbranded). I use this method only if I’m really concerned about Temu’s packaging or if I want to automate the process. It’s a viable workaround: find on Temu for idea -> fulfill via AliExpress/CJ. But as a beginner, you can absolutely start by fulfilling directly on Temu manually, which is what this guide focuses on.

However you import the product, the next steps are the same: polish the product listing. This is your storefront’s moment to shine. Ensure the product page has:

• Clear product images (avoid any Temu watermarks; usually, there are none. Include multiple angles if possible).

• A strong product title with keywords (e.g., include what it is and an adjective or two).

• A detailed description and/or bullet points covering what the product is, how to use it, dimensions if relevant, material, etc. Also emphasize benefits: Why does the customer need this?

• Pricing that makes sense. You might consider psychological pricing (e.g., $19.95 instead of $20). Also decide if you’ll charge shipping. My advice: bake in the shipping cost into the price and offer free shipping, because customers love seeing “Free Shipping” at checkout – it boosts conversions. A stat I live by: 90% of consumers say free shipping is the #1 incentive to shop more online. I personally mark all my products as free shipping and just account for a few extra dollars in the price.

• Stock levels: Since you don’t actually hold stock, you can set inventory in Shopify to something high or just not track inventory. However, keep an eye on Temu’s stock. If Temu sells out of the item, you’d want to pause your listing to avoid selling something you can’t fulfill.

Before moving on, double-check the listing for any references to “Temu” or odd phrases from copy-paste. Make sure it looks wholly like your product on your store.

Step 5: Optimize Your Store & Launch

With your product loaded, take a moment for some final optimizations:

• Store Navigation: Make sure your menus and collections are set. If you’re doing a one-product store, it might be a simple home page and a shop page. If it’s a niche store, ensure your product falls under a relevant collection (e.g., “Gadgets” or “Home & Kitchen”). The easier it is for a visitor to find the product, the better.

• Homepage Content: Feature your Temu product on the homepage if it’s your star item. Add a nice banner image (you can create one using free tools like Canva, perhaps showing a lifestyle image of the product in use). Write a catchy tagline. Treat it like a mini-ad for the product.

• SEO Optimization: For Google SEO, rename your product images with descriptive names (e.g., electric-cupping-massager.jpg instead of IMG1234.jpg). Write a meta description for your product page focusing on keywords like “Temu dropshipping” or the product name, if you think people search for it. Also, include keywords naturally in your product title and description (e.g., if your product is a pet grooming glove, use terms like “pet grooming glove dropshipping” or “dog grooming glove” in the description). Our target keywords from the prompt include “Temu dropshipping,” “how to dropship from Temu,” “Shopify dropshipping suppliers,” etc. I might incorporate a line on my About or FAQ page like, “We partner with top global marketplaces like Temu to source amazing products – effectively dropshipping from Temu to bring you great deals.” This way the keyword fits naturally. Just don’t overdo it; keep it reader-friendly.

Now, double-check everything: product pricing, variants, shipping settings, email notifications (Shopify auto-sends an order confirmation – you might customize that email to thank them and remind them of the shipping time politely).

At this point, you’re ready to launch your store live (if it wasn’t already). If you set a password during development, disable the password so customers can visit. Yay! Your Temu-sourced product is now available for the world to buy. 🥳

But launching is just the beginning. Next, you need to get customers and manage orders. Let’s talk about fulfilling orders (how to actually get the item from Temu to your customer) and then marketing to drive sales.

Step 6: Fulfilling Orders via Temu (Order Management)

So, you’ve made your first sale – congratulations! Here’s how order fulfillment works when dropshipping from Temu. Since there’s no automation, it’s a manual but straightforward process:

• Place the Order on Temu: As soon as you receive a customer order (Shopify will alert you), go to Temu and find the product that your customer bought. Add it to your cart with the correct variant (e.g., if your customer chose Blue color, make sure you select Blue on Temu). Proceed to checkout, and here’s the key part: enter your customer’s shipping address instead of your own. Temu allows shipping to any address, so put your customer’s name and address as the delivery address. Essentially, you’re ordering it on their behalf. For the billing, you can use your own payment method (credit card or Temu credits, etc. – you’ll be paying Temu the cost). This is analogous to how you’d fulfill an AliExpress dropshipping order.

• One Order = One Package: It’s often best to order items one by one, unless the same customer bought multiple different Temu products from you. If you bulk order different customer orders together, you can’t easily split them – so stick to one Temu order per customer order. Tedious, yes, but with a handful of daily orders it’s manageable. If you grow to dozens of orders per day, at that point you should look into automation or hiring a virtual assistant to help place orders, or switch to an integrated supplier.

• Add a Note to Seller? Temu doesn’t really have a “Leave a message for seller” option like AliExpress does. Even if it did, you should not request “no invoice” or no promo material in the package – Temu does not honor such requests; all packages will have Temu’s branding regardless. It’s not like AliExpress where many sellers know about dropshipping and will ship blind. Temu is shipping from their warehouses with their standard packaging. So, there’s no point in adding any note about dropshipping. Simply place the order normally.

• Track the Shipment: After ordering, you’ll get a Temu order confirmation and later a tracking number. Copy that tracking number and save it in your Shopify order details (mark the order as fulfilled and add the tracking number, selecting the carrier if known – sometimes Temu tracking might be a weird carrier until it’s handed to USPS or others). This is important so your customer gets a shipping confirmation email with a tracking link. However, be aware: Temu’s tracking might not be super transparent. In my trial, the tracking went dark for days and then suddenly showed “delivered” when all packages arrived together. That can be confusing for customers. To mitigate that, I sometimes email customers proactively when I see the package is in transit with a note like, “Your order is on its way! Tracking might not update frequently, but rest assured it’s en route and expected within the estimated delivery window.” Keeping customers informed can reduce “Where’s my order?” inquiries.

• Temu Packaging & Customer Reactions: Prepare yourself that a customer will receive a bright orange Temu bag. Some customers might not think twice about it, but some might Google “Temu” and realize the item may have come from a low-cost site. I address this by crafting my branding and communication in a way that emphasizes I source products globally to get the best deals. For example, you could include in your FAQ: “Why did my package have a different logo/name on it? – To bring you the best prices, we partner with various fulfillment centers and suppliers. Sometimes your item ships directly from the manufacturer or a marketplace warehouse. Rest assured, your purchase is with [Your Store], and our customer support has you covered 100%.” This kind of transparency (without outright saying “we bought it on Temu for cheap”) can help maintain trust. In my experience, honesty with a positive spin is better than trying to ignore the situation. Another tactic: send a branded order confirmation email and a shipping email from your store email. Use those as opportunities to reinforce your brand (“Your [Your Store] order is on its way!”) so that the customer mentally associates the purchase with you, not Temu. One guide specifically advises sending a branded order confirmation and updates to keep the customer focused on you.

• Handling Problems: If the product is delayed or the customer reports a defect, you have to go through Temu’s customer service or return process. Temu has a 90-day return policy, which is generous. In the one case I tested a return, I got a refund processed within a week back to my card with no hassle. That’s encouraging. If a customer wants to return an item, you could either: a) have them ship it back to you (and you then process a return on Temu, potentially), or b) more easily, just refund the customer out of your pocket and don’t bother retrieving the item (if it’s cheap), chalk it up as a business expense. It depends on the situation. But know that you are responsible for making it right to your customer – Temu will only deal with you (the account holder), not your customer.

In summary, fulfilling Temu orders is a hands-on process. By following these steps, I can fulfill an order typically within minutes. The biggest downside is the lack of automation – unlike a CJdropshipping app or Oberlo (RIP) where orders sync and can be fulfilled in one click, here you’re doing it manually. As your order volume grows, you’ll need to consider either using the earlier mentioned AliExpress+DSers method or even better, switch to a dedicated dropshipping supplier who carries the same product (like CJ or others). Some advanced sellers use automation tools or scripts to speed up Temu ordering, but that’s outside our scope and could violate Temu’s terms if detected.

Step 7: Provide Excellent Customer Service

From one store owner to another: if you want to build a lasting brand, customer service is key. This is even more crucial when using a supply chain that has quirks (like slower shipping and odd packaging). To keep customers happy and avoid chargebacks or bad reviews:

• Respond Promptly to Inquiries: Whether a customer emails about “Where is my order?” or a presale question, answer quickly and helpfully. I aim to respond within 24 hours or less. Prompt responses show you’re a real, caring business. If someone asks why it’s taking 2 weeks for their item, I kindly explain the item is in high demand and shipped from an overseas partner, and I give them the tracking status. I might even offer a small coupon for the delay to keep them happy. Being proactive makes a huge difference.

• Keep Customers Updated: As mentioned earlier, I send out emails at order confirmation, and when shipped (with tracking info). If a week has passed and tracking hasn’t updated, I sometimes shoot a quick personal note “Hi [Name], I just checked on your order and it’s still in transit. It’s on schedule, but I wanted to let you know I’m monitoring it. Feel free to reach out with any questions. – [Your Name].” Customers are often surprised and delighted by such attention, and it can turn a potentially worried customer into a loyal one.

• Handle Returns/Refunds Gracefully: If a customer receives an item and is truly unhappy (maybe it was lower quality than expected, or broken), apologize and offer a solution. That could be a return for a refund, or even a partial refund or reshipment if feasible. Since Temu’s items are cheap, sometimes I just issue a refund and tell them to keep the product, especially if it’s not something I can easily retrieve. Losing a bit of money on one order is worth avoiding bad word-of-mouth or a PayPal dispute. Temu will often refund you if the product was faulty (you might need to provide photos), so you’re not necessarily eating the cost every time.

• Collect Feedback and Reviews: After the customer receives the product (say 2-3 weeks later), you can send a follow-up email asking how they like it and maybe to review it on your site. This not only engages customers but also gives you insight. If multiple customers say “the item was smaller than I thought” or “packaging was weird,” that’s useful info. It could also flag if a product is problematic, indicating you might switch suppliers or drop that item.

In short, treat customers like gold. Since you’re effectively competing with big retailers who ship faster, your edge can be a more personalized customer experience. Many big stores don’t answer emails or have generic support; you can shine by being the helpful small business owner who cares. This will reflect in reviews and repeat business.

Step 8: Marketing Your Temu Dropshipping Store

“Build it and they will come” does not apply to online stores! Now that everything is set, you’ve got to drive traffic to your Shopify store and get those sales. Marketing is a huge topic, but I’ll focus on a few marketing tips that have worked for me, particularly relevant to the kinds of viral products often found on Temu:

• Content Creation & TikTok Marketing: In 2023-2025, TikTok has been a game-changer for e-commerce. I cannot overstate how many products have gone viral thanks to TikTok. As a dropshipper using Temu products, you should definitely consider TikTok and Instagram Reels. Create short, engaging videos of your product in action. If you ordered samples, use them to film these. Be genuine and focus on the wow factor or problem-solving aspect. For example, if your product is a mini vacuum, make a TikTok showing it sucking up a big mess of crumbs in a car or keyboard – satisfying to watch! Use trending sounds or challenges to boost visibility. And don’t be afraid to show your face or narrate – people connect with people. I often film simple unboxing or “Day in the life using [product]” videos. The organic reach on TikTok can be massive if the video strikes a chord. Also, tag relevant hashtags (#temudropshipping – if you want to target that, or more likely the niche like #cleaningtips, #petowner, etc. depending on product).

• Influencer Seeding: This means sending your product for free to influencers (usually micro-influencers for a start) in hopes they feature it. Identify a few influencers in your niche (say you sell a beauty tool, find some TikTokers or YouTubers who do beauty hacks and have, say, 5k-50k followers – approachable sizes). Reach out politely, compliment their content, and offer to send your product free, no strings attached, but you’d love if they share their honest review if they like it. You’d be surprised, many up-and-coming influencers are happy to get free products to have content to post. I’ve done this with a fitness accessory and got a couple of Instagram posts and stories that brought in some sales. It can create a nice ripple effect. This strategy is sometimes called “influencer seeding” or “gifted collaborations,” and it’s a cost-effective way to get content and exposure.

• Social Media & Community Presence: Beyond TikTok, maintain social media pages for your brand on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest depending on where your audience hangs out. Post content regularly – not just product photos, but related tips, memes, or user-generated content. Build a community. For example, if your store sells kitchen gadgets, post recipes or cooking hacks along with showcasing your product occasionally. Join Facebook groups or Reddit communities relevant to your niche (not to spam them, but to understand your audience and softly suggest your product if someone’s asking for recommendations).

• Email Marketing: Start building an email list from day one. Even if you don’t have many customers yet, you can put a signup popup on your site: “Join our newsletter for $5 off your first order” or “...for weekly tips & deals.” Many visitors won’t buy immediately, but if you capture their email, you can send them a welcome email (with that coupon code, for instance) and later on send promotional emails. Email marketing is powerful and virtually free once set up. For example, I send a monthly newsletter featuring a how-to article or tips related to my products, plus a discount on a new item. Over time, this keeps past visitors/customers engaged and brings them back to purchase again.

• Paid Ads (if budget allows): If you have some budget, consider testing Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, or TikTok Ads targeting the demographic for your product. Paid ads can scale your business quickly, but they also can burn money fast if not done right. I usually only start ads after validating that the product sells well organically. If you go this route, make sure to use eye-catching creatives (videos work best for dropshipping products) and target interests relevant to your niche. Monitor results and optimize. A benefit of having a unique Temu product with a wow factor is that ads often see a good click-through if the product solves a real problem, because people haven’t seen it everywhere before.

• Offer Promotions & Free Shipping: We mentioned free shipping – definitely a good move as a marketing point (advertise it on your site banner, “Free Shipping on All Orders!” since Temu gives you that advantage). You can also run time-limited promotions like “Spring Sale 20% off this week” or bundle deals if you have multiple products. Scarcity and urgency techniques (like limited stock warnings or sale countdowns) can help conversions, but use them ethically and not in an overly spammy way.

Remember, marketing is an ongoing process. Analyze what channels are bringing you traffic (Shopify and Google Analytics can show you) and double down on those. For a lot of newcomers, TikTok organic and influencer marketing have proven very effective, especially when budgets are small. And as you make profits, reinvest some into broader marketing efforts.

Step 9: Scale and Expand Your Dropshipping Business

Once you start getting consistent sales, you might think about scaling up. Scaling could mean adding more products (perhaps more finds from Temu or elsewhere), increasing ad spend, or improving operations for efficiency.

A few tips for scaling, in the context of Temu dropshipping:

• Streamline Order Fulfillment: If manually ordering on Temu becomes too much to handle (a good problem, means you’re getting sales!), it’s time to streamline. One way is hiring a VA (virtual assistant) and training them to place Temu orders for you each day. Another way is to transition to a dropshipping platform that supports automation. For instance, if your product is validated, see if you can source it via CJdropshipping or AliExpress suppliers who integrate with Shopify. CJdropshipping, in particular, might even be able to source the exact item from Temu’s listings (CJ has a sourcing service where you give them a link and they procure it). CJdropshipping is fully integrated with Shopify, meaning orders can sync and fulfill with much less manual work. I’ve used CJ and they also provide options like faster shipping methods and private labeling once you scale. We will discuss Temu vs CJdropshipping in detail shortly – because CJ can be an excellent next step supplier once you’ve proven a product is a winner.

• Add More Winning Products: Don’t rely on one product forever. Trends change, competitors may catch up. Always be on the lookout for the next product to test. You can rinse and repeat the research process on Temu (or other supplier sites). When adding new products, consider your existing niche and audience – it’s usually easier to sell more to your current customers if the new items are related. For example, if you started with a pet grooming glove from Temu, maybe expand into pet water bottles or car seat covers for pets, etc. You already have a pet owner audience.

• Customer Retention & Branding: As you grow, work on building a brand community. Maybe start a Facebook Group for your customers or an Instagram hashtag for people to share pictures using your product. Social proof helps marketing. Also consider if at some point you want to invest in custom packaging or inserts (for example, if you move to CJdropshipping or a 3PL, you could include a thank-you card in each order or have a logo on the parcel). These things help turn a dropshipping store into a brand. It’s true that with Temu direct shipping you can’t brand the package, but nothing stops you from branding the experience through your communications, website, and possibly the product itself if it’s unbranded.

• Automate Where Possible: Use Shopify apps to help with things like email marketing (e.g., Klaviyo or Shopify Email for automated welcome series, abandoned cart emails, etc.), or review collection (apps that email customers post-purchase to review). Automation is your friend to save time on repetitive tasks. I also use an app for inventory alerts – since I rely on an external supplier, I set an alert if a product goes out of stock or is removed from Temu, so I can pause ads/listings.

Scaling up is exciting – it means your Temu dropshipping experiment is working! Just be mindful to maintain quality and service as you grow. It’s easy to get swamped, so scale your operations (customer support, fulfillment process) in tandem with sales volume.

Now that we’ve gone through the steps, I want to address a major question people have: How does Temu compare to other dropshipping suppliers, especially CJdropshipping? And should you stick with Temu or consider alternatives? Let’s tackle that next.

Temu vs. CJdropshipping: A Comparison for Shopify Dropshippers

Both Temu and CJdropshipping are names you’ll come across when searching for Shopify dropshipping suppliers. I’ve used both in different capacities, so let me break down how they stack up on key factors that matter to us: product range, pricing, shipping, Shopify integration, branding, and ease of use. Below is a quick comparison table, followed by more detailed discussion:

• Product Range: Both Temu and CJ boast a vast product catalog. With Temu, the range is enormous because it aggregates many manufacturers under one marketplace – you’ll find almost anything, often multiple listings for similar items. I love Temu for product research due to this variety. CJdropshipping also covers most categories (electronics, fashion, home, beauty, etc.) and if they don’t have an item, you can request sourcing. However, in terms of sheer volume and novelty, Temu might have an edge because new quirky gadgets appear there quickly thanks to direct manufacturer listings. Price-wise, Temu generally wins; it’s hard for an agent like CJ to beat Temu’s subsidized prices. Example: I saw a mini drone on Temu for $10 that CJ listed for $15. But remember, Temu’s low prices sometimes come at the cost of quality control. CJ may charge a bit more, but they also often perform a quality check and ensure the item works before shipping, which can save you money in the long run by avoiding customer returns.

• Shipping Speed: This is a big one. Temu’s standard shipping is free but averages 1-2 weeks or more. They have U.S. warehouses for some items, which can cut it down to maybe 5-8 days, but you don’t always know which items have domestic stock. My trial orders were around 10 and 15 days to the U.S. West Coast. CJdropshipping, on the other hand, gives you options. If speed is crucial (say you’re selling to U.S. customers who expect quick delivery), CJ has fulfillment centers in the U.S., Europe, etc. If your product is stocked in their U.S. warehouse, your customer can get it in as fast as 3-6 days – rivaling Amazon Prime speeds. Even from China, CJ’s dedicated shipping lines (like CJPacket or others) can often deliver in 7-12 days reliably, sometimes faster if you pay for premium shipping. The trade-off is you (or the customer) pay for shipping cost with CJ, whereas Temu’s slow boat is free. For a customer, waiting 2 weeks with free ship might be acceptable for some products, but as you scale, offering faster shipping can boost conversion and customer satisfaction. I’ve had far fewer “where’s my order” complaints when using CJ’s 5-8 day shipping compared to Temu’s 2-week shipping.

• Integration with Shopify: Simply put, Temu has no integration. There is mention of a “Temu dropshipping app” with a mediocre rating on Shopify App Store, but from what I know, that’s not an official Temu app; likely a third-party solution which might just link products but not fully automate checkout. I wouldn’t rely on it heavily. You’ll be doing manual work with Temu. CJdropshipping shines here – they have an official app that connects to Shopify, WooCommerce, etc. When I add a product from CJ to my store, all info imports, and when an order comes in, I can simply click to pay and CJ fulfills it, marking it shipped in Shopify and sending tracking to my customer automatically. It’s the classic dropshipping model we know (like Oberlo used to do with AliExpress). No manual address input each time. For me, this is the number one reason you might move off Temu once you validate a product, because you want to free up time and eliminate potential human errors in order processing.

• Branding & Packaging: As discussed, Temu is a branding nightmare for drop shippers. Every package promoting Temu’s brand undermines your own store’s identity. Customers might question paying you $30 when the box that arrived suggests it’s from Temu (where it might have cost $10). In fact, it’s a common fear that Temu’s rise will “kill dropshipping” because it makes transparent the true source and price of many cheap products (some Reddit discussions argue this). CJdropshipping, conversely, is built to be behind the scenes. They want your customer to think the package came from your store. CJ never includes invoices or pricing, and no CJ branding. They even offer custom branding services: you can design a branded thank-you card or logo sticker, have CJ produce them, and they will insert it in every package of your orders (there may be some cost for custom packaging, but it’s doable even for small stores). This is something I leveraged once my store got bigger – it’s a game-changer to have your logo on the package, turning a generic product into a branded experience. With Temu, this is impossible; with CJ, it’s available when you’re ready.

• Ease of Use & Support: If you’re just starting, you might find Temu “easy” in the sense of browsing and ordering like a customer. There’s no contracts or advanced settings – you just buy stuff. But as you grow, this method doesn’t scale. Fulfilling 5-10 orders a day manually is one thing; what if you hit 50/day? You’d drown in copy-pasting addresses. CJdropshipping’s platform has a slight learning curve (their interface can be a bit overwhelming at first, with many options), but once set up, it’s smooth. They also provide personal agents – basically an account manager you can talk to in their chat if you have questions or need a custom solution. I’ve found their support responsive, though sometimes communication is in slightly broken English, they get the job done. Temu’s support is aimed at retail customers; they’ll help if a product is late or damaged, but they won’t help you run your dropship business. So CJ definitely feels like having a partner in your business, whereas with Temu you’re on your own. Also, think about bulk actions: With CJ, you could, for instance, bulk pay for 20 orders at once. With Temu, I had to do each order separately – time-consuming and higher chance of mistake (like entering a wrong address).

Which one to choose? In my experience, Temu is great for product research and testing the waters, but CJdropshipping (or similar dropship-focused suppliers) is better for long-term operations. Some sellers actually start by validating a product with a few Temu-sourced orders, then once it’s a hit, they transition to CJdropshipping for fulfillment (CJ might source the same item so you can keep selling it without Temu’s issues). This way you kind of get the best of both: Temu’s low cost and product discovery, followed by CJ’s scalability and professionalism. In fact, CJ has content on how they integrate with Temu to let you source flexibly – indicating they are aware sellers might spot items on Temu and then want to use CJ to deliver them.

To wrap up this comparison, let me emphasize a point from CJ’s own site: “Unlike Temu, CJdropshipping provides free blind dropshipping services that do not include any invoice or supplier information in the package”. That line sums up a core difference. If branding and professional dropshipping workflow matter to you, CJ or similar suppliers have a clear edge. If ultra-low pricing and easy product discovery are your priority for a test run, Temu is an enticing option.

Now that we’ve compared Temu and CJdropshipping, let’s move on to some frequently asked questions you might have (or your customers might have) about Temu and dropshipping.

FAQ: Temu Dropshipping Questions Answered

Q1: Is Temu good for dropshipping?A: Temu has pros and cons for dropshipping. It’s good in that it offers extremely cheap products, a huge selection, and often free shipping – this means high potential profit margins and lots of product ideas for your store. Many new dropshippers are drawn to Temu for these reasons. However, Temu is not ideal as a long-term dropshipping solution because it doesn’t officially support it. The challenges include lack of automation (all manual work), inconsistency in shipping times (often 2+ weeks), and especially the branding issue (your customers will see Temu’s branding on the package). Product quality can also be hit-or-miss, which can reflect poorly on your business if something arrives broken or subpar. In short: Temu is a double-edged sword. It’s an awesome place to find trending items and test a product quickly without high cost, but as your business grows, you’ll likely want to graduate to a more dropshipping-friendly supplier. I would say Temu is a good starting point or side strategy, but I wouldn’t build my entire business on it due to the limitations. Always have a backup plan (like sourcing the same product elsewhere) if you start scaling up a Temu product that sells well.

Q2: Can I connect Temu to Shopify (or any dropshipping apps)?
A: Not directly. Temu does not have an official Shopify app or API integration for product sourcing or order fulfillment. This means you cannot automatically import products from Temu to Shopify with one click, nor can you auto-send orders to Temu. Everything is manual: you find the product on Temu’s site, add it to your Shopify store yourself, and when you make a sale, you personally place the order on Temu’s site using your customer’s address. There are third-party Chrome extensions that can help copy details from Temu to your store, and some people have experimented with automation scripts for orders, but those are unofficial and could break if Temu changes their site. As of 2025, I’m not aware of any robust, widely-used “Temu dropshipping app” that is comparable to the likes of DSers or CJ or Spocket which integrate other suppliers. So, the connection is manual. However, you can use a workaround: find the product on AliExpress (or through a supplier like CJ) and use their integration. For instance, the NextSmartShip guide outlines using DSers by locating the Temu product on AliExpress. In that case, you’re not literally connecting Temu to Shopify – you’re just using AliExpress’s integration to mimic it. But if the question is simply can Shopify directly pull from Temu: the answer is no, not at this time.

Q3: How does CJdropshipping compare to Temu for fulfillment?

A: CJdropshipping is quite different from Temu in approach. Fulfillment-wise, CJdropshipping is tailored for dropshipping, whereas Temu is not. With CJ, you have a much more streamlined process: you can sync orders, and CJ’s team will pick, pack, and ship to your customer without you doing each step manually. CJ also offers a variety of shipping options including very fast ones (even 3-day delivery via local warehouses). Temu has basically one mode: you place the order and Temu ships it how they see fit (usually the slow but free way). In terms of reliability, I find CJdropshipping more reliable for fulfillment speed and accountability. If something goes wrong with a CJ order (say a package lost or delayed), CJ support will work with you to resolve it, since they are used to dealing with such issues for sellers. Temu’s support is more customer-focused, and if they mess up an order, they might refund you, but you then have to refund your customer – it’s a bit of a mess to manage. Another big point: CJdropshipping allows branded or at least unbranded fulfillment. They won’t include supplier info, and you can often have custom labels or thank you cards, which is great for customer experience. Temu’s fulfillment, as we discussed, is heavily Temu-branded, which can confuse or alienate your customers (they might feel they could have just bought from Temu directly). CJ also often holds inventory in multiple locations, meaning if one warehouse is out, another might fulfill – giving more consistency. Temu’s inventory can be here-today-gone-tomorrow; if a product sells out on Temu, you have no fulfillment until it restocks (and you usually won’t know until you try to order it). CJ, if they stock an item for you, ensures it’s available for your orders, or at least they notify you if something’s out. Finally, CJ’s fulfillment can scale – many large dropshipping stores use CJ to ship thousands of orders, and CJ’s system can handle it. Temu isn’t built for handling bulk reseller orders; if you suddenly had 500 orders to fulfill via Temu, you’d be struggling to do that manually and Temu might even notice unusual activity. In summary, CJdropshipping is more professional and scalable for fulfillment, whereas Temu is simplistic and limited, meant for end-consumer one-off shipments. If my business depends on smooth fulfillment and customer satisfaction, I would trust CJ (or similar 3PL/drop-ship agents) over Temu. Temu, I use more for getting ideas and testing small scale viability.

Wrapping up, I hope this guide gave you a comprehensive look at how to start Temu dropshipping and what to watch out for. Speaking from experience, the landscape of dropshipping is always evolving – Temu is one of those new players that can be an opportunity if leveraged right. By following this step-by-step guide, you can dip your toes into Temu dropshipping to see if that next trending product could be your store’s bestseller. Just remember to balance the exciting advantages (cheap products, easy finds) with the practical challenges (manual work, branding issues). As your friendly Shopify store owner guide, I’m rooting for your success! Good luck with your Temu dropshipping journey, and feel free to refer back to this guide as you build, launch, and grow your own online business. 🚀