Group 1: Core Insights - Tmall's "6·18" sales event has been advanced to start on May 13, with the main sales period from May 16 to May 26, extending the event duration to over a month compared to last year [1][2] - The promotional strategy has been simplified, eliminating complex rules like "spend X get Y off," and introducing a single "official discount" method with discounts starting at 15% and going up to 50% [2][3] - Consumer protection measures have been enhanced, including a price guarantee from the time of payment until July 5, preventing price hikes before discounts [2][3] Group 2: Merchant Side Changes - Merchants can now register products for the event without needing to sign up individually, as the platform will recommend products based on store data [3] - The event will feature two waves of product sales, allowing merchants to adjust their offerings between waves while maintaining the same pricing and promotional strategies [3] - New features like "sold-out add-to-cart" will help merchants manage inventory better, allowing consumers to receive notifications when out-of-stock items are replenished [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competition among e-commerce platforms is intensifying, with JD.com also announcing its "6·18" event starting on May 31, indicating a trend of early promotions [4][5] - Tmall has partnered with Xiaohongshu to enhance brand exposure and streamline the purchasing process from social media to e-commerce [6] - The collaboration with Xiaohongshu is part of a broader strategy to enhance overall operational efficiency and reach, having already established partnerships with over 200 internet platforms [6] Group 4: Marketing and Support Initiatives - Alibaba's marketing arm, Alimama, has introduced a "support for new and excellent" strategy, including a 3 billion yuan subsidy to assist merchants during the event [6][7] - AI-driven marketing tools have shown significant effectiveness, with a reported 16% increase in ROI and a 65% improvement in click-through rates for merchants utilizing AI capabilities [7]