Core Insights - The traditional e-commerce industry is facing significant challenges, including rising traffic costs, shrinking profit margins, and intensified competition, leading to a fundamental change in the operating environment [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Challenges - The number of e-commerce practitioners in China is projected to decrease by 12.5% by June 2025, with active merchants on the Taobao platform declining by 18.3% [1]. - Average customer acquisition costs on Taobao have increased by 47% year-on-year, reaching 78 yuan per new customer [1]. - The average gross profit margin for e-commerce platforms has dropped by 8.3 percentage points over the past five years, with many merchants reporting net profit margins of less than 5% after accounting for commissions, logistics, and promotional costs [2]. Group 2: Market Competition - The number of newly registered online stores increased by 8.7% in the first half of 2025, while the growth of online shopping users was only 1.2% [2]. - The entry of brand official flagship stores has intensified competition, posing a significant challenge to traditional distributors [2]. - Frequent adjustments to platform rules have created uncertainty for merchants, with over 30 rule updates on Taobao in the first half of 2025 alone [2]. Group 3: Emerging Trends - New e-commerce platforms, such as Douyin, are reshaping the industry landscape, with GMV growth of 78.5% year-on-year in Q2 2025, outpacing traditional platforms [3]. - Merchants are adopting innovative strategies to survive, such as offering specialized services or leveraging multiple platforms to diversify income sources [3]. - The value of private traffic operations is becoming increasingly important, with merchants finding success through direct consumer engagement and reduced reliance on platform traffic [3]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Experts suggest that the current cooling of the e-commerce sector is a necessary transition from extensive growth to quality competition, where adaptable and innovative merchants will thrive [5].