“Chinese E-Commerce Sites Threaten Public Health,” Says CEO

Hepsiburada CEO Nilhan Onal Gökçetekin raised serious concerns over the growing presence of Chinese e-commerce platforms, particularly Temu, warning that imported low-cost products from these sites pose a significant threat to public health and disrupt cash flow for local SMEs. Speaking at the company’s annual “Efsane Kasım” (Legendary November) event, she called for stricter regulation and greater awareness among consumers and authorities alike.

“We’re actively fighting this issue. Public health is under serious threat due to Chinese platforms. The cash balance of SMEs has also been severely disrupted,” said Gökçetekin, emphasizing that domestic companies face unfair competition from unregulated imports. “We are working closely with all regulators. They are taking measures and increasing controls. Last month, 180 products were tested — all were found to be carcinogenic, and bans were imposed. Sensitivity on this issue is essential. These products are not cheap,” she added.

Efsane Kasım: A Decade of Transforming Shopping Habits

At the event, Gökçetekin reflected on Efsane Kasım’s 10-year journey and its growing economic and social impact. She reminded that Hepsiburada, a pioneer in Turkish e-commerce with 25 years of experience, launched the Efsane Kasım campaign in 2016 to promote a more strategic, savings-oriented shopping culture.

“In the last decade, we’ve introduced nearly 400,000 businesses to the digital economy and helped around 4 million people earn their livelihoods. When we first launched Efsane Kasım in 2016, our goal was to make it more than just a discount period — it became a planned and savings-driven shopping phase. Today, Efsane Kasım represents a financially mindful shopping strategy, not just a rush for cheap deals,” she said.

The CEO also noted that this transformation aligns with Turkey’s broader goal of supporting SMEs and encouraging digital inclusion, turning shopping campaigns into sustainable economic opportunities rather than one-off sales events.

Record Expectations for 2025 Campaign

Looking ahead to this year’s campaign, Gökçetekin shared ambitious forecasts: “We expect more than 50 million products ordered, over 600 million visits, and ₺10 billion in household savings thanks to 4 million coupons and cart discounts,” she said.

With 5,500 couriers, a 6,500-vehicle fleet, over 100,000 business partners, 280 million product varieties, and more than 30 categories, Hepsiburada aims to connect customers with sellers across Türkiye more efficiently than ever.

Faster Payments, Stronger SMEs

Gökçetekin also underscored Hepsiburada’s critical role in supporting cash flow for SMEs, especially amid tightening access to commercial loans. “In Türkiye, access to cash outside e-commerce is extremely limited right now. While commercial loans are restricted and the cash cycle averages 120 days, we ensure payments to SMEs within a month. That’s why this mechanism is so crucial,” she explained.

By accelerating the payment cycle, Hepsiburada not only strengthens small business resilience but also helps maintain market liquidity in an economy where financing options are increasingly constrained.

Balancing Growth with Responsibility

As Turkish consumers embrace e-commerce at record levels, Gökçetekin’s warnings about unsafe imports highlight a growing need for health and quality control in cross-border online trade. Her remarks underline the dual responsibility of digital platforms — to drive growth while ensuring that economic inclusion does not come at the expense of public safety.