BABA(US:BABA) Guang Zhou Ri Bao·2025-05-08 03:52Core Insights - Tmall's 618 shopping festival has been advanced to start pre-sales on May 13, with payment and stock purchase from May 16 to May 26, emphasizing a simpler shopping experience for consumers [1][2] Group 1: Consumer Benefits - The promotional strategy includes official discounts starting at 15% and going up to 50%, with direct discounts applicable on single items, making savings more straightforward for consumers [1][2] - A price protection mechanism has been established to prevent price inflation, with a price guarantee period extending from payment until July 5 [2] Group 2: Merchant Support - Merchants can participate in the event more easily, as they only need to register their products instead of the entire store, with the platform providing intelligent recommendations for product listings [2] - The event will feature two waves of stock sales, allowing merchants to combine their participation in both waves and adjust their offerings as needed [2] Group 3: New Features and Collaborations - A new "sold-out add-to-cart" feature has been introduced, allowing consumers to receive restock notifications for high-demand items, while merchants can extend shipping times based on demand [3] - Tmall has increased support for merchants by investing 2 billion in live streaming promotions and forming a strategic partnership with Xiaohongshu to enhance brand visibility and sales through integrated advertising [3]