Alibaba’s business-to-consumer marketplace Tmall was originally called Taobao Mall when it launched in 2008.
Taobao Mall was created within Alibaba’s broader Taobao ecosystem to serve branded retailers and merchants selling directly to consumers. This distinguished it from Taobao’s more general consumer marketplace, which included many smaller sellers and a wider variety of listings.
Alibaba changed the English name to Tmall in 2011. The new name was designed to emphasize the platform’s brand-focused identity and its connection with international and established retailers. The Chinese name, 天猫, is commonly translated as “Heavenly Cat.”
Tmall is often confused with Tmall Global. Tmall primarily serves brands operating in mainland China, while Tmall Global supports overseas brands selling to Chinese consumers without necessarily having a mainland business entity.