Core Insights - The ongoing Tmall 618 event is shifting towards simpler promotional strategies, moving from "full reduction" to "instant discount" methods, which allows consumers to enjoy discounts without needing to meet minimum purchase requirements [3][4][16] - Brands are diversifying their goals during promotions, focusing on launching new products and enhancing member engagement rather than solely relying on price reductions [4][11] Group 1: New Opportunities in Promotions - The new promotional strategies are creating opportunities for brands that offer genuine discounts and have strong overall capabilities, with major brands like Apple, Midea, and Huawei quickly achieving over 100 million in sales [11][12] - Certain trending categories, such as pet products and toys, are experiencing significant growth, with pet industry sales exceeding last year's first-day totals within just 100 minutes [12][15] - The simplification of promotional methods is expected to reduce return rates and improve the quality of growth during the 618 event [7][16] Group 2: Brand Growth and Platform Requirements - The shift in promotional strategies reflects a change in brand growth logic, requiring platforms to provide an environment that supports multi-dimensional brand development [5][23] - Tmall's 618 event has shown effective encouragement of long-term brand growth, with significant sales increases in categories like home appliances and digital products, with some categories seeing a 283% increase compared to last year's Double 11 [6][11] - The new promotional framework emphasizes true discounts and diverse participation methods, allowing brands to better meet consumer needs and enhance their market presence [16][19] Group 3: E-commerce Platform Strategy - E-commerce platforms are transitioning their competitive focus from price wars to enhancing supply quality and service experience, as evidenced by the changes in Tmall's promotional strategies [18][19] - Tmall's 2025 strategy aims to support brand growth through substantial subsidies and improved product innovation capabilities, reflecting a commitment to long-term brand development [26][27] - The integration of AI technology is aimed at improving transaction efficiency and matching consumers with products, further optimizing the platform for new brand growth [28][29]

Core Insights - The 618 shopping festival has evolved into a longer event, lasting over a month, emphasizing discounts and subsidies, leading to a more diverse consumer experience [1][3] - The new promotional strategies are shifting from bulk purchasing to understanding real consumer needs, creating opportunities for various product categories [3][4] - Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are benefiting from this change, leveraging the festive atmosphere to enhance their unique product offerings and capture new market opportunities [1][6] Group 1: Changes in Promotional Strategies - The traditional model focused on major brands and high-volume sales is transitioning to a model that emphasizes consumer engagement and diverse purchasing motivations [4][5] - New promotional tactics include creating a festive atmosphere that combines shopping with celebratory experiences, moving away from mere discount calculations [5][6] - The extended duration of the promotion allows for multiple consumer engagement points, enabling businesses to cater to varied consumer needs [6][13] Group 2: Opportunities for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses - SMBs are increasingly important in meeting the diverse demands of consumers during the new promotional period, offering unique and differentiated products [11][19] - The longer promotional cycle allows SMBs to spread out their marketing efforts, reducing competition for traffic and enabling them to find their own rhythm [13][24] - Successful SMBs are utilizing platform marketing tools and seasonal events to enhance their visibility and sales, as seen in various case studies [15][21] Group 3: Consumer Behavior and Market Trends - The new promotional landscape is characterized by a shift towards more personalized and emotionally driven purchasing decisions, with consumers seeking unique value beyond just price [9][20] - Specific consumer needs are emerging around various cultural and festive events, allowing businesses to tailor their offerings accordingly [6][19] - The integration of content-driven marketing strategies is proving effective in attracting consumer attention and driving sales during the promotional period [18][20]