(Source: https://pltfrm.com.cn)
Introduction
After years of fierce competition and platform consolidation, China’s retail market in 2025 is more mature, data-rich, and open to overseas brands than ever. Traffic is expensive, but conversion and loyalty have never been higher — if you know where to play.
1. Platform Traffic Costs Skyrocketed — Private Domain Is the Answer
1.1 CPC on Tmall & Douyin doubled since 2022
- Brands now pay ¥8–15 per click in competitive categories.
1.2 WeChat & Enterprise Ecosystem Advantage - Lifetime value of a private-domain member is 6–10× higher than platform traffic.
2. Chinese Consumers Trust User-Generated Content More Than Ads
2.1 Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) Influence
- 70 %+ of Gen-Z beauty and fashion purchases start with Xiaohongshu notes. 2.2 KOL + KOC Hybrid Model
- Mid-tier KOCs (500–50k fans) deliver 3–5× ROI compared to celebrity KOLs.
3. Cross-Border E-commerce Policies Became Friendlier
3.1 Positive List Expansion & Tax Benefits
- More categories enjoy 0 % import tariff and simplified compliance.
3.2 Bonded Warehouse + Instant Delivery - Consumers in Shanghai receive overseas goods in 2–3 days instead of 10–15.
4. Data Compliance and Localization Are Now Decide Survival
4.1 Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)
- Overseas brands must store China user data locally or face removal from platforms. 4.2 Chinese-Language Customer Service Is Non-Negotiable
- 94 % of complaints come from poor post-sale Chinese support.
**Case Study: Nordic Baby Products Brand
A Scandinavian baby stroller brand worked with PLTFRM starting 2023. We handled full localization — Chinese PIPL-compliant CRM, Xiaohongshu seeding, Tmall Global store, and WeChat private domain. In 2024–2025 they became the No.1 imported stroller brand on Tmall with 80 % sales from loyal members.
PLTFRM is an international brand consulting agency that works with companies such as Red, TikTok, Tmall, Baidu, and other well-known Chinese internet e-commerce platforms. We have been working with Chile Cherries for many years, reaching Chinese consumers in depth through different platforms and realizing that Chile Cherries’ exports in China account for 97% of the total exports in Asia. Contact us, and we will help you find the best China e-commerce platform for you. Search PLTFRM for a free consultation!
