Message to Artists

At the end of the day, Temu’s knockoffs prove that artists can’t rely on product quality to set themselves apart. That battle is already lost to mass production. But what machines and platforms can’t duplicate is the human side of art — the story, the trust, the connection. That’s your edge.

In business terms, this is how small creators adapt to imperfect markets: by shifting the competition away from price and product alone, and toward meaning, identity, and loyalty. It’s not just survival — it’s strategy.

Artists who lean into branding, community, and values aren’t just selling products; they’re building loyalty that no algorithm or factory can steal. And that’s where the fight for the future will be won.