Small businesses like mine depend on TikTok

My name is Linda Tong, and TikTok made my small business go viral.

I own a hand-written and hand-made planner business, which I started as a junior in college when I would make planners for myself and friends. They were such a hit that I decided to open a TikTok account to market my product to the larger public.

For three years, I took planner orders and created each one individually, which took up to 20 hours per planner. Due to the visibility TikTok gave my business, I received a grant to purchase my first-ever round of inventory.

My business took off from there, with TikTok driving the majority of sales from our website, and 20 to 30% of sales coming from TikTok Shop alone. Thanks to TikTok, I’ve hit six figures in revenue since joining the platform in 2020.

Without TikTok, I have no idea where my business would be. Last year, I had an opportunity to meet with Sen. Joni Ernst, and I hope she will reconsider her vote to shut TikTok down and think about the thousands of small businesses in Iowa and around the U.S. that rely on it.

Linda Tong

Des Moines