An East Tennessee small business has been successful on TikTok. Now, with the ban looming, the owner is worried about her business’s future.
ROANE COUNTY, Tenn. — The popular video-sharing app is set to “go dark” Sunday after the Supreme Court upheld the ban. However, President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News he will “most likely” grant a 90-day extension.
The app has millions of users, and many make a living off of their content or through the TikTok shop.
Jennifer Bianchi lives in East Tennessee and runs a small business called “This Ole Thing.” She started selling clothing, tumblers and more during the pandemic. Then, she decided to start posting her items on TikTok.
“It just became an outlet as a stay-at-home mom. I never anticipated it blowing up. Now, I am our family’s sole income with the help of my husband, so it’s changed our lives,” Bianchi said.
She said the app helped her reach customers she never would have had access to. Her account has over 100,000 followers and several viral videos. She spends every week packaging and shipping out hundreds of orders.
“Alone on TikTok Shop, we are almost at $1 million in sales in the last year and a half. Taking that away, there was so much potential there, that is life-changing,” she said.
Now that TikTok’s future is in jeopardy, Bianchi said she most likely won’t see the same sales she does now.
“They’re not recognizing the serious economic impacts that’s going to have. I’m our family’s sole income. If you take this away, I have no problem going to get a regular 9 to 5 job, but I will never bring in the income that I’m making off of this app,” she said.
She said she’ll start focusing on other social media apps and continuing to sell at farmer’s markets. Bianchi said she knows other small businesses that rely on TikTok will be able to make that transition too.
“99.9% of small businesses, if you give them the work they’re gonna do it. They’re the hardest, grinding people I know and they will fight even if this app gets banned. They’ll continue to hustle and grind and do what they have to do to make an income,” Bianchi said.
But, she said it’s not just the impact on small businesses that upsets her. She said it feels as though leaders aren’t listening to everyone who uses the app. Bianchi said she hopes Trump or other leaders will be able to save the app she has been able to support her family on.
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