A woman with more than 93,000 followers on TikTok worries for the future of her business before a US ban comes into force.
Jade Cundy, of Spalding, believes the loss of the social media platform will be significant for her online business after the Supreme Courts confirmed earlier today (Friday, January 17) that the ban will go ahead.
After pursuing her love of art following the birth of her son in 2016, Jade created Painted Love Customs, as a self therapy technique to help her through a difficult period in her life.
TikTok could be banned in the US IMAGE: Stock photo
Inspired by tattoo art, Jade now creates bespoke custom made prints on leather jackets, Dr.Martens, bags and trainers – and has been able to send these products to customers globally after building a large following on Instagram and TikTok.
Jade is now worried how the ban could affect her trade and has already started coming up with new ideas to reach a different audience.
She said: “The ban is a worry. 30% of my viewers are from the US and I think it will be quite significant for me if TikTok does get banned in the US.
“I started posting videos in 2021 and my business wouldn’t be in the place it is now if I hadn’t taken that leap.
Jade Cundy has more than 85K followers on TikTokJade has shipped her work nationally to Australia and Las Vegas
“It’s really important for businesses, especially now, to get that personal appeal, so people in the US can start following us on different platforms.
“I think it’s all about realising that a massive part of your audience is now going to be gone and the content which you are used to posting won’t be as relevant anymore. It’s more about adjusting my content to the UK market and I am having to be more flexible – but that is what social media is all about.
“Trends change all the time regardless of what country they are coming from and TikTok changes so much.
Jade’s designs can take between three and four days to paint
“It’s always evolving and you have always got to be on it with looking for what people want and what they will relate to, but it’s the same as any business in the way that, you are always having to adjust to your target market.”
The ban means users in the US will no longer be able to access the app from app stores such as Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. People who have already got the social media platform downloaded would still have it on their phones however, due to the app no longer being publicly available, any future updates would not be delivered to users in the US.
As a result of the ban, Jade is now using TikTok sounds. These sounds will be used in the background of her painting videos to reach a larger audience.
Jade Cundy of Painted Love Customs
She added: “I massively feel for the businesses in America. There is talk of some people joining other apps but in my opinion, there is nothing similar to TikTok and billions of people are out there for these businesses to reach and target – if I was in the US I don’t know how I would cope.
“I’m not going to slow down on TikTok by any means. I enjoy it more than anything and it’s all about community rather than selling products, and that’s what I like.”
For more information on Jade’s business visit her website or TikTok page, Painted Love Customs.