Highlights: TikTok Sparks Opportunity for Small Businesses

Bellevue Chamber and TikTok hosted a local small business event, TikTok Sparks Opportunity, with Izaiah Ellis of Cryo Rolls, Chen Dien of Coffeeholic House, and Trey Jackson of Visit Bellevue as panelists. Joe Fain, Bellevue Chamber President, provided opening remarks, welcoming everyone to the Bellevue Botanical Garden’s Aaron Education Center.

^{Photo Credit: Sam Jones, Bellevue Chamber}

TikTok’s Impact on Washington’s Economy

Nicolas Le Bourgeois, a director for TikTok, shared findings from their study with Oxford Economics. It shows that TikTok is a key revenue driver for many small to mid-sized businesses in the State of Washington. 95% saw their sales increase after marketing their products and services on the app, and 83% say their business sold out of a product after promoting it on TikTok. On the consumer side, 65% of Washingtonians spend money on local events after interacting with branded content, or an advertisement, on the app.

^{Photo Credit: Sam Jones, Bellevue Chamber}

Cryo Rolls: TikTok Community Funds Ice Cream Parlor

Izaiah Ellis used TikTok to grow his brand and build a loyal following, one that helped him open an ice cream parlor in nearby Bellingham, which is 88 miles north and more than halfway to Vancouver. Izaia‘s methods of sharing content and engaging with his audience on TikTok drives continued sales growth.

Coffeeholic House: TikTok Drives 50% of Customers

Chen Dien was prepped to open the first Vietnamese coffee shop in Seattle, and the date was set, and it ended up being the morning after the stay-at-home order was announced in March 2020. They served first responders and essential workers at first. What brought lines out the door, with wait times of three hours, was the attention and viral video from a local TikTok creator. Seeing an immediate impact, Chen estimates that around 50% of their customers are referred by a TikTok video. When they opened their second store on Bellevue’s charming Main Street, “I saw it on TikTok” brought tremendous lines to their storefront.

^{Photo Credit: Sam Jones, Bellevue Chamber}

Visit Bellevue: Spotlighting Small Businesses on TikTok

Trey Jackson calls TikTok a “rising star” in Visit Bellevue’s social platforms, particularly when sharing content that spotlights small businesses, while sharing the inside scoop on local activities, outdoor adventure, and amazing things to eat. In particular, the TikTok audience favors content from The Vue, Visit Bellevue’s travel inspo vlog series hosted by outdoor adventure, culinary, and lifestyle ambassadors. They highlight engaging travel experiences in and around Bellevue, while spotlighting small businesses.

^{Photo Credit: Sam Jones, Bellevue Chamber}

Key Takeaways

Small businesses seem to really thrive on TikTok – it is a proven marketing tool to drive a significant amount of website and foot traffic. The Bellevue Botanical Garden is also pretty in the fall.