What is Tmall.com and how to get started

China Tech 101: Tmall.com

Tmall.com is China's biggest business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce platform. The platform is primarily used by brand-conscious shoppers primarily for fashion and lifestyle products.

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ABOUT Tmall.com

Tmall.com is China's biggest business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce platform. The platform is primarily used by brand-conscious shoppers primarily for fashion and lifestyle products.

Tmall is exclusively open to China-registered brands but has a global version "Tmall Global" that enables foreign merchants and international brands to sell directly to consumers in China.

International brands such as The North Face, Crocs, and Kotex are sellers on Tmall.

Owned by Alibaba Group, Tmall differentiates itself from the rest of the e-commerce family with its upscale appeal and quality-first brand value.

Tmall launches a campaign every November in celebration of China's Single Day.

Active Users:

711 million active users combined with Taobao (updated in 2019)

Target Demographic:

Brand and quality-conscious consumers from urban areas in China. Fashio and F&B are top-selling categories.

Suitable For:

Quality-driven local sellers or international brands with 3+ years of sale experience and business entity in China

Available Language(s):

Chinese and English

Learn More

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GETTING STARTED

Tmall is exclusively available for onshore merchants with a business license in China with the exception of a few categories such as packaged food, supplements, baby products, and hygiene products.

To get started as a seller,

1. Create a Tmall account on Tmall.com

Tmall outlines the application process into 4 stages.

2. Visit 'Seller Hub'>"Store Management'>'Apply for New Brand'

Choose 'Sell on Tmall' on the left.

3. Submit business information to Tmall for verification. You're required to describe your business as detailed as possible to increase your chance of approval, Tmall asks that you provide the following information:

Brand description and history

Team introduction

Product description

Tmall allows non-China-registered brands to sell on the platform, however, specific requirements apply.

You're also required to have a contact person with a mobile number registered in China.

4. Wait for approval from Tmall, this usually takes 3-6 working days.

5. Upon approval, pay a security deposit and Tmall's annual fee.

6. Launch store.

There are five tiers of Tmall store, with different level of business exposure and fees starting at RMB¥50,000:

Flagship store (旗舰店)

Exclusive seller (专卖店)

Exclusive seller (专营店)

Outlet flagship store (卖场型旗舰店)

There are also various ways to sell on Tmall.

To find out if you're eligible to sell on Tmall or if you're ready to become a Tmall seller, check out Tmall's official guide.

Business Requirements

Alipay account

Business license in China

ID of a legal representative

ID of a contact person

ID of taxpayers

The requirement varies across categories, refer to Tmall's official guide for sellers to make sure you have the latest information.

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