Amanda Mull, a Bloomberg reporter specializing in consumer culture, dives into the unexpected challenges of viral success for small businesses. She shares the story of Leonard Schultz and his candy shop Bon Bon, which saw a massive surge in customers thanks to TikTok. The conversation highlights the chaos following viral fame, including overwhelming demand and skewed consumer expectations. Mull also discusses strategic growth and adaptation, offering insights on maintaining quality and customer engagement while navigating the high stakes of online popularity.
Going viral can significantly boost a small business's visibility but also leads to overwhelming logistical challenges and operational stress.
Maintaining success after viral fame requires strategic planning to balance new customer influx with the needs of long-time patrons.
Deep dives
The Power of Going Viral
Going viral can significantly boost a small business's visibility and sales, as exemplified by Bon Bon, a candy store that saw a dramatic increase in orders following a viral TikTok video. Initially, the owners experienced overwhelming anxiety from a surge of online orders, encountering issues with inventory that left them struggling to keep up. While they managed to ramp up sales, they also faced logistical challenges, such as waiting weeks for candy shipments from Sweden. This illustrates how sudden popularity can disrupt established operational capacities and create unexpected stress for business owners.
Stages of Viral Fame
Experiencing viral success often unfolds in distinct stages, starting from excitement to panic, and finally adaptation. Business owners like Leo from Bon Bon and Tracy from Brooklyn Charm described feeling a mix of joy and chaos as customers flocked to their stores, leading to overwhelming demand. Initial excitement quickly turned to stress as they struggled to meet high customer expectations, exacerbated by long wait times and product shortages. Adapting to these challenges involved implementing strategies such as better communication with customers and optimizing inventory management.
Sustaining Long-Term Success
After the initial viral frenzy, businesses must find ways to maintain their newfound success while retaining loyal customers. For Bon Bon, the challenge lies in balancing the influx of new customers attracted by their viral fame with the needs of long-time patrons. They seek to leverage their popularity by expanding into larger retail chains, ensuring their products remain accessible without alienating their core fan base. Ultimately, a successful transition from a viral moment to sustainable growth requires careful planning, customer engagement, and evolving business strategies.
For a small business, going viral might sound like a good thing. But when a TikTok video turns a shop into an overnight success, that attention can come with major challenges.
On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder visits small business owners riding the wave of overnight success, and explores the economics of virality with Amanda Mull.
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