Temu boosts growth for UK business Nova Tissue

Khurram, the owner of Nova Tissue, believes that the online marketplace Temu is a significant opportunity for UK businesses. Nova Tissue is a toilet paper and kitchen roll manufacturer established in 1986 by Khurram's father. The company grew to a £14-million business but faced challenges due to rising costs and shrinking sales channels after the pandemic. To adapt, Nova Tissue turned to Temu in December 2024. This platform connects manufacturers directly with consumers, cutting out intermediaries. Khurram was initially skeptical due to past difficulties with other e-commerce sites. However, once they listed their products on Temu, the response was incredible. Daily sales soon exceeded £10,000, with several products becoming best-sellers. With orders increasing rapidly, Nova Tissue had to scale operations and hire more staff. Temu helped preserve the brand's control over its products and offered better profit margins compared to other platforms. Currently, seven percent of Nova Tissue’s revenue comes from e-commerce, equating to £1 million in sales, and the company aims to double this figure within the year. Khurram is optimistic about Temu's potential to change how UK manufacturers connect with consumers. He believes that many people have yet to fully understand what Temu can offer. Looking ahead, he is excited about the future growth of both Nova Tissue and the platform over the next few years.