First People’s Jewelers made its first TikTok video July 12. Two days later, the downtown Square jewelry store went viral, amassing hundreds of thousands of views on a video featuring an engagement ring try-on kit. Two months later, it’s now seeing customers from different states and connecting with stores from around the world.
For most, TikTok is a vast catalog of brief video clips, typically meant to be funny or informative on some topics. For some businesses, however, it serves as another tool to connect with customers when engagement is as difficult as ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
First People’s Jewelers is an unusual case of near-overnight fame, still garnering a minimum of tens of thousands of views on each of its videos, with at least one new addition uploaded every day. In total, the store has amassed over one million likes on its TikTok account. Its most popular video, uploaded just over a week ago, has over 1.3 million views.
Frank Zangerl runs the store with his daughter, Jessica Semrad, who said First People’s joined the app to reach the next generation of customers and were not expecting the results they got.
“You hear about these overnight viral videos and here we are, reaching different countries,” Semrad said. “It’s pretty surreal.”
Semrad said the store’s videos, which largely focus on engagement rings, have massively helped it reach the 20-30 age demographic, especially with Denton’s multiple universities.
Other stores with more modest followings have also made use of the app, such as Voertman’s Bookstore and Gnome Cones, which made its first video last week.
The downtown snow cone shop decided to join TikTok after learning it was featured in a video from Dallas-based user “thefoodromantic.” The video received over 300,000 views and attracted customers from different cities.
Gnome Cones’ debut video included owner Bret Hawkins dancing while dressed as its mascot. While it has received a modest 164 views and 31 likes on the app itself, the video was shared across multiple platforms, and Hawkins said it was some of the business’s best content to date in terms of engagement.
“We’ve been on Instagram since we first started, as well as Facebook. I’m a little bit older so I’m not quite as involved in the TikTok world,” Hawkins said. “Especially with COVID, it’s just kind of like small businesses have to try everything to get attention and make sure people remember that you exist.”
Hawkins said he would like to make more videos because the app appeals to a younger demographic and fits well with his shop’s aesthetic.
“Our whole brand is that we try to make it fun, weird and inviting so silly videos on TikTok are another way to help the business grow.”
September 21, 2020 at 04:41AM
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Funny videos, serious impact: TikTok gives local businesses engagement during pandemic - Denton Record Chronicle
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