We’ll dive into the buzz around Amazon Accelerate, highlighting the latest updates on Amazon’s New Supply Chain and Amazon’s FBA Removal Policy. Also, TikTok Shop has just recently launched in the US and partnered with Flowspace for its fulfillment.
If you’ve missed Chris McCabe’s live webinar on “Top 3 Competitor Attacks to Watch Out for in Q4” now is your chance to watch the replay. Plus, don’t miss our upcoming webinar next week, “We’ve SOLVED Amazon’s Ranking Algorithm,” featuring 8-figure seller and industry expert Brandon Young. Mark your calendars for Thursday, Sept 21, at 9 pm EST.
And for our friends in Thailand, check out the Cross Border Summit—you won’t want to miss it!
Jeff Cohen, Chief Evangelist at Amazon, just dropped a treasure trove of insights from the #AmazonAccelerate event, and it’s got the seller community buzzing. The event kicked off with a powerful stat – over 60% of Amazon’s sales now come from third-party sellers, showcasing a significant shift in the e-commerce landscape over the last decade.
The event revolved around five core themes: empowering success, fostering an inclusive community, creating a platform for brand success, supporting sellers at every stage of their journey, and making a positive impact in local communities. But what really stole the show were the exciting tools and innovations unveiled.
The two biggest announcements were around Amazon Logistics and Gen AI. Both of these, as well as everything else discussed, are focused on lowering costs and improving the seller experience.
These updates demonstrate Amazon’s drive to support these sellers and improve the customer experience. The new shipping announcement provides an end-to-end solution for shipping while Gen AI provides a much-needed service to improve listings.
Amazon’s latest offering, “Supply Chain by Amazon” (SCA), has just hit the market, and it’s poised to revolutionize the way entrepreneurs and e-commerce sellers handle their supply chain operations. This game-changing service is designed to streamline your inventory management, ensuring your products stay in stock, and get shipped faster, and at a lower cost than ever before.
SCA offers the full gamut of services including:
Collecting inventory worldwide
Handling customs clearance, and efficient ground transportation to bulk inventory storage, seamless replenishment across various sales channels, and direct-to-customer deliveries.
For entrepreneurs and Amazon sellers, SCA claims to streamline the whole process – With SCA, you can maintain the right inventory levels across diverse sales channels, whether you’re selling online or through physical stores.
Plus, you get access to Amazon’s massive investment in distribution networks and cutting-edge technology, paving the way for scalable growth and a stronger bottom line.
TAKEAWAY: Amazon’s Supply Chain is a new player in the supply chain game. It remains to be seen how effective it will be but if AGL is any indication, Amazon has the economies of scale to keep costs down and potentially pass the savings onto sellers. It’s worth a test if you want to try to optimize your supply chain (who doesn’t?!).
Amazon has recently announced an update to its FBA Removals Policy, which will take effect on November 1, 2023. The change will affect sellers who set their preferred removal option for unfillable inventory to “Dispose.”
Amazon will schedule the removal order at its discretion based on capacity. Sellers who haven’t selected a removal option before November 1, 2023, will have their selection default to Immediate Disposal. To maintain a weekly or biweekly removal schedule, sellers must go to Automated unfulfillable settings, select the return option, and input a valid return address. They’ll then have the ability to place manual removal orders on their inventory at any time prior to their selected automated removal schedule.
Now, why should you care? As ecom sellers, this policy shift directly affects your inventory management and storage expenses. Who wants to rack up unnecessary fees, right? By staying up-to-date with Amazon’s FBA Removals Policy, you’ll sidestep those unexpected charges and keep your inventory running like clockwork.
TAKEAWAY: Stay informed about Amazon’s policies and make necessary adjustments to your inventory management strategy to avoid unnecessary fees and ensure efficient management of their inventory.
TikTok, the popular social media app, has officially launched its e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop, in the US. The platform will allow sellers to conduct in-feed video and live shopping on the app. With over 150 million users in the US alone, TikTok Shop is poised to become a major player in the social commerce space.
TikTok Shop offers a seamless shopping experience by combining the power of community, creativity, and commerce. Creators can tag products in their videos to make it easier for users to buy things from in-feed videos and live videos. Brands can also make their own product portfolios, which can be accessible from their profile pages.
In addition to this exciting news, Flowspace has partnered with TikTok to provide fulfillment services for TikTok Shop sellers in the U.S. Flowspace is a software platform and distribution network that powers independent fulfillment. It is directly integrated with TikTok Shop, enabling merchants to manage inventory and ensure consistently efficient, reliable product fulfillment. Merchants partnering with Flowspace and TikTok Shop can take advantage of direct integration, a nationwide network, established SLAs, omnichannel fulfillment, and key account resources.
TAKEAWAY: TikTok Shop is a new and exciting way for e-commerce sellers to connect with highly engaged customers based on their interests. With its user-friendly interface and vast user base, TikTok Shop is a platform that e-commerce sellers should definitely consider using. With Flowspace’s partnership with TikTok Shop, merchants can now take advantage of efficient and reliable product fulfillment.
🛡️ Defend Your Brand: Discover the three powerful attacks competitors use during the critical Q4 season and how to defend your brand like a pro.
🚀 Proven Strategies: Acquire actionable strategies to prepare for and counteract these attacks in real time.
📢 Effective Reporting: Learn how to report abuse incidents as they occur, ensuring your brand’s integrity remains intact.
🔍 Deep Dive into Abuse Types: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the four different types of abuse.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Introduction
02:45 – Why this webinar is important and who is it for
05:55 – Top 4 Competitor Attacks to Watch Out for in Q4
14:19 – Other types of abuse
17:20 – How to defend yourself right away from these types of abuse
18:38 – PDP Abuse
21:35 – Reports of IP Claim Abuse
25:27 – Don’t give Amazon a reason to ignore you
28:34 – Things to keep in mind regarding Abuse Report
32:55 – Hiring the wrong people can cost you more than just their fee
37:25 – Escalating your Abuse Report
42:05 – Seller Velocity Conference in NY this October 11 – 12
48:06 – What’s the best way to connect with Chris McCabe?
49:00 – Is there any way to protect others to modify or create unauthorized listings for my brand?
51:35 – How to get Brand Gating in Amazon?
53:00 – How can you show Amazon a competitor’s attack on your account when there’s no clear proof or evidence and fix the suppression without outside help?
55:00 – Can I attack back?
56:20 – How can we compete with brands that use blackhat tactics on Amazon when we follow the rules and Amazon doesn’t take action against them?
58:15 – Wrap up and big takeaways
Chris McCabe, Founder of EcommerceChris, is a former Amazon Seller Performance Investigator and insider within Amazon’s Seller Performance and Executive Seller Relations teams, he knows the platform inside and out.
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming live training, “We’ve SOLVED Amazon’s Ranking Algorithm: Step-by-step Instructions to Dominate your Niche,” on Thursday, September 21 at 9pm EST.
Our speaker, Brandon Young, CEO of Seller Systems, is a winning Amazon seller and consultant, considered by many to be one of the leading experts in Amazon Private Label and Amazon SEO. His own brands sold more than $25 million just on Amazon in 2022 and are on target to achieve $30 million in 2023, making him one of the only coaches who is actually practicing what he teaches.
In this 60 min training you will:
Discover the secrets of Amazon’s ranking algorithm and receive step-by-step instructions on how to increase your organic rank to dominate your niche.
Dive in and dissect the algorithm into a set of actionable components, empowering you to effectively influence your rankings.
Learn how to maintain dominance once the top spot has been achieved.
We believe this webinar will be of great value to you and your business.
Last month, we held the Shanghai Amazon Seller Meetup after a four-year hiatus, and it was a resounding success! We had a fantastic turnout at Abbey Road, with both seasoned 7-figure sellers sharing their social media strategies and newcomers eager to kickstart their Amazon journey.
The good news? Part 2 is just around the corner, and we want you to be a part of it!
Here are the important details that you need to know:
Finally, I met up with my friend Bradley Sutton, Chief Evangelist at Helium10, in Tokyo this week. We had an amazing Tonkatsu lunch and caught up on some news happening in the ecom sphere.
Meanwhile a quick shoutout to Helium10, one of the leading product research tools for Amazon sellers. If you haven’t checked them out we have a special offer for the 80/20 of Ecom newsletter readers.
In this edition of 80/20 of the E-commerce Newsletter, we’re transitioning into the fall and getting back into the swing of things as Q4 is right around the corner. This week we have a number of events lined up in September from Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and Alibaba.
We will also dive into Amazon’s fighting against counterfeit claims, Etsy’s share and save program, and upcoming live webinar featuring Chris McCabe on “Top 3 Competitor Attacks to Watch Out for in Q4” next Thursday, September 14 at 9 pm EST to help you protect your brand against competitor’s attacks.
Stay tuned for more e-commerce insights and updates!
Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and Alibaba are holding virtual and in-person events this month, giving sellers a full slate of options from which to choose.
Amazon will host sellers at its annual in-person Amazon Accelerate conference in Seattle, Washington on September 13 – 14, while eBay will hold its annual eBay Open seller conference virtually September 27 – 29.
Walmart held its inaugural in-person Let’s Grow! Marketplace Seller Summit last August 30, in Las Vegas, but sellers will also have an opportunity to attend the company’s first-ever Merry Marketplace free virtual event on September 27 to “learn about top trends, category insights, actionable tips for new & existing sellers and so much more.”
Alibaba.com is kicking off its inaugural in-person event Alibaba.com Co-Create, taking place September 7-8 in Las Vegas. Alibaba.com Co-Create will include programming, panels, networking, and topics including sourcing, logistics and supply chain tips. It’s expecting 800 merchants to attend in person.
TAKEAWAY: Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and insights in the e-commerce industry and continuously look for actionable tips to improve your business strategy by attending these events.
If you are an ecom seller or entrepreneur, you may have come across some social media posts that offer counterfeit luxury items such as jewelry, handbags, and accessories. These posts use a “hidden links” scheme, where they direct you to generic product listings on Amazon that actually deliver fake goods. These bad actors try to evade Amazon’s brand protection systems and lure customers with low prices and limited-time offers.
Amazon is not taking this lightly. The company’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU) has filed two new lawsuits against Kamryn Russell, Ashley Hawat, and their co-conspirators who knowingly engaged in this scam. The CCU works with brands and law enforcement to eliminate the sale of counterfeits not only in Amazon’s stores but across the supply chain. In 2022, the CCU sued or referred for investigation over 1,300 criminals in the U.S., UK, EU, and China.
Amazon supports legitimate content creators who help their followers discover new products and experiences. The company will continue to pursue the small number of bad actors who would attempt to illicitly gain influence and profit by promoting counterfeit products.
TAKEAWAY: Stay vigilant against the hidden links scam and steer clear of engaging in transactions involving counterfeit goods. Counterfeiting not only damages the reputations of the brands you love but also harms the trust and quality of the ecom industry.
Etsy’s got something new called Share & Save. It’s a program where Etsy gives you special links to share on social media, blogs, and more. When people click these links and buy something from your Etsy shop within 30 days, Etsy cuts 4% off your fees.
In simple terms, Share & Save helps you save money. For instance, if your usual fee is 10% on a $100 order, you save $4. It’s optional, open to all sellers, and the links don’t expire. Remember, it doesn’t work for traffic from Etsy messages or listing descriptions.
In a nutshell, Share & Save is a way to increase sales and visibility while lowering your costs. If you’re an Etsy seller, it’s worth a try.
TAKEAWAY: If you are an Amazon seller or an ecommerce entrepreneur, watch this program and see how it affects the market and your competitors.
Join industry experts and 7-8 figure brand owners, for 2 days that will change your business, at the Seller Velocity Conference, NYC, October 11 and 12.
We all need mentors and advisors to get to where we want to be in business. The Seller Velocity Conference puts you in the room with real experts. Experts on Amazon, experts in business, and experts in e-commerce and digital marketing. Industry veterans who can show you how you can optimize performance to drive your brand’s growth.
See their best line-up of speakers:
Janelle Page
Brandon Young (Seller Systems)
Bradley Sutton (Helium10)
Leah McHugh (ecommerceChris)
Joe Kovacs (Brand Guarde)
Matt McGrory (Pacvue), and
Emma Schermer Tamir (Marketing by Emma)
Limited tickets available – visit sellervelocityconference.com or click the link to REGISTER NOW
“What I loved most about attending the Seller Velocity Conference was the feeling of collaboration. Instead of feeling like a traditional conference where you had speakers and then you had attendees, it felt more like an ability to learn from your peers.”
As a special bonus, we’ve arranged an exclusive webinar with Chris McCabe, the founder and man behind the success of eCommerceChris which is the industry leader in ASIN and account reinstatements. Join us on Thursday, September 14th at 9 pm EST for an insightful discussion. ”
Chris’s expertise is unparalleled, and this live webinar is your chance to gain valuable insights that can immediately impact your business.
In this webinar you will learn:
The three attacks competitors use to knock each other off during Q4
How to prepare and defend your brand against these attacks in real-time
How to effectively report abuse as it happens to safeguard your brand’s integrity
Discover the four different types of abuse that can threaten your brand’s success
Join us in this informative webinar to safeguard your brand’s success in the competitive landscape of Q4 and beyond.
A 28 Day sprint to learn how to use AI FLOWS effectively in your Amazon and Ecom business to:
1) Grow their businesses
2) Save time
3) Increase their profits
Here’s how it works
Each day you will receive an email with a single AI strategy designed to grow your business.
You will learn how to use “AI FLOWS” to maximize the results that AI will spit out… and avoid Hallucinations and crap copy that is irrelevant to your business
In the daily email you will receive a specific assignment to implement this into your business using AI
Tools you will need:
A computer and internet connection
ChatGPT and or Bing AI
You should be running an Amazon or Ecommerce business with the basic know-how of how to do keyword research and Amazon SEO.
By the end of the end of the challenge you will…
Understand how AI can be used to optimize Amazon listings and drive more traffic to their products.
Smoothly use AI to Save time so you can focus on the things that move the needle in your business
Increase your product listing conversion rates with the AI optimized copy
Overcome Analysis Paralysis to get more stuff done.
Cut your product costs via negotiations with your supplier
Optimize your packaging and cut your shipping costs
Effortlessly use AI tools to Create a marketing emails, social media, and blog posts
And much more
Techniques to improve product ranking, including keyword optimization, image optimization, and product description optimization.
AI and Chat-GPT is a once in a generation SHIFT – will you PIVOT to ride the AI wave or will you be left behind?
Every generation, a groundbreaking innovation comes along that completely changes the game, like the invention of the web browser, the computer, or even fire.
During the ’90s, massive companies such as Yahoo, Myspace, and Nokia failed to adapt to the digital revolution and slowly faded into obscurity, while others like Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon became industry giants.
Wharton Business School Professor Ethan Mollick describes our current situation perfectly:
“At this point, it’s the most uncertain time… we’ve ever lived through in terms of technology (with the rise of AI).”
In just a few short years, we’ve witnessed not one but TWO monumental opportunities in ecommerce:
1) 2020-2021: Covid accelerated ecommerce growth by 30% yearly and many brands skyrocketed on this opportunity to new levels.
2) NOW – Rapid growth opportunities using generative AI tools like ChatGPT.
Many sellers have started harnessing the power of AI in their ecommerce businesses and are already reaping the benefits.
Here are some examples
SALES: 7 Figure Seller and serial entrepreneur Chad Rubin increased the conversion rate on one of his Amazon SKUs by 20% using ChatGPT to generate catchy headlines for an infographic promoting his vacuum cleaner hose. The result?
“Dirt Destroying Air Flow” was the winning headline generated by AI which boosted conversion rate from 26% to 46% over eight weeks.
COPYWRITING: Creating Amazon listings in seconds – “It does it with the tone you suggest, and it does it in seconds,” Hamza Amor said. “That’s the part that was mind-blowing.”
If you’ve been putting off optimizing your listings, AI can help you optimize them with the right keyword to boost your ranking up to the top of the Amazon sales page.
Not only that it can help you create blog posts, email sequences, customer service replies, warn hijackers off your listings, help you deal with Seller Central support cases, and even help generate social media posts in seconds.
It’s literally like you are working together with a powerful robot assistant to amplify your results.
Now assisted by AI, one person can do the work of many…
“Human-Machine Hybrid” work is now a real possibility
Besides AI getting smarter, we are seeing massive increases in quality and speed.
According to a recent study AI has surpassed human intelligence in the following test scores
Language Understanding
Reading Comprehension
Speech Recognition
Handwriting recognition
What does this mean?
According to a Harvard Business Review article:
“The businesses that understand the significance of this change — and act on it first — will be at a considerable advantage.” – Harvard Business Review
THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY for sellers to take a GIANT STEP ahead in their ecommerce business.
But at the same time there is a…Hidden Secret…
Why ChatGPT & AI Might Not Be Working for You
Did you know when I first tried ChatGPT, I wasn’t impressed.
I thought it was all about having the right prompts.
So, I bought an “Ultimate Prompt List” and gave it a shot.
But the listing copy was just… meh.
B- level, at best.
It wasn’t finding the right keywords for me…
I thought – is that all there is to ChatGPT? All hype?
Then I did some research.
Turns out, 99% of people use ChatGPT the wrong way.
Most believe using the right prompt gets the right answer.
Not true.
There are many cons to ChatGPT
AI is prone to hallucinations.
You can’t take it AS IS. You have to fact-check everything.
ChatGPT’s knowledge? Stuck in 2021.
It’s clueless about current trends and what’s happening right now.
If you have a product listing that is NEW and created after 2021, ChatGPT will know nothing about it.
And there’s a big risk that many people are now aware of.
Sharing confidential info with AI is a no-go.
OpenAI uses your data for training.
Your “secret sauce” could be exposed.
Amazon? They forbid employees from using ChatGPT.
JP Morgan Chase? Same deal (though some might sneak it on their phones).
So I dove deep. 100+ hours of research, experimentation, and conversations with tech-savvy friends like the ones at Google.
And I finally cracked the code.
I learned how to use AI to:
Grow and Scale my Ecom business
Save time from mundane work
Increase profits in my business
AI helped me de-bottleneck my business and move forward.
Don’t be fooled – It’s not about Prompts – it’s about FLOWS
The key to unlocking the full potential of AI and ChatGPT isn’t just about prompts. That’s barely scratching the surface.
The real magic comes from creating the right AI FLOWS.
It’s all about guiding the AI through back-and-forth conversations to get the results you want.
And I’ve developed this 28-Day Challenge to help you master just that.
Here’s a “Sneak Peek” of what you’ll do in the AI for Amazon Sellers 28 Day Challenge
Use AI to QUICKLY Optimize your listings and create new ones while boosting conversion rates up to 20%
Weave the right Keywords throughout your listings to boost your Amazon SEO and Rank
Product Images – leverage AI to generate an endless supply of amazing product and lifestyle images
Product Development – Discover new product opportunities for bundles, new SKUs, and cross-selling to increase your Lifetime Value of your customers
Competitor Analysis – Pinpoint the biggest weaknesses of your competitors and gaps in the market so you attack and dominate
Product Insert Card Offers – to get more reviews (TOS compliant), build an audience, and sell more
Quickly Brainstorm Dozens of Brand names that are memorable and standout
Identify your Customer Avatar so you know exactly what products you should develop that they will buy and how to market to them
Write blog posts to create content related to your product to increase your organic SEO
Quickly repurpose them to create social media content on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, and more
Create Youtube scripts for product videos
Find top influencers in your niche that are willing to promote your product in seconds
Create outreach emails or messages to influencers to persuade them to WANT to work with you
Effortlessly respond to Customer Service complaints while delivering a 5 star experience
Translate info to different languages
Brainstorm new Product Designs to outpace your competition, deliver more value to your customers, and
Discover all the ways that people use your product so you can identify more keywords and ways to market it
Write negotiation letters to lowerer product costs, request better payment terms, packaging, and more
PRACTICE NEGOTIATION SCENARIOS with AI so you feel more comfortable doing the real thing
Get Hijackers off your listings by using GPT to write a letter to Amazon Seller Support
Generate HTML Code, Excel formulas, and more without having to know how to code
Get ideas to optimize product packaging to reduce the size, lower shipping costs, and COGS
Discover hidden ways to use different materials in your products to lower product costs
Scale your business from 100k to $1million +
Think outside the box to find strategies to raise profit margins by 5-10%
And much more is being added by the day…
This is for you if…
You are an ACTION TAKER
You are a 6, 7, or 8 Figure Amazon seller who wants to grow their business
You are starting up your Amazon or ecom business within the next 28 days.
You want an UNFAIR advantage using AI that your competitors don’t know about yet
You want to spend less time on the mundane tasks of your ecommerce business and more time on the tasks that MOVE THE NEEDLE by leveraging AI
You have an open mind to learn and sometimes “Hit the wall”. When that happens you will agree to dust yourself off and try it again a different way.
DON’T want to waste time sifting through hours of youtube videos, endless TikToks, and Facebook groups looking for the latest AI hacks – you will get all of them in 28 days
This is NOT for you if..
If you only consume the content every day of the challenge but not take any action.
That’s entirely up to you but.. Nothing will change in your business.
If that’s what you will do, then this challenge is NOT for you.
You don’t have access to ChatGPT
You don’t plan to run an e-commerce business.
You don’t have time to read the daily training email and do the homework (15-20 min per day)
Only $128 $29
30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Try it at NO RISK to you. You can take the entire challenge and if you show me that you did the work and did not get at least 10x ROI I will give you your money back! I’m so confident this will work for your business that I’m putting my money where my mouth is.
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Just $1 a day to grow your Amazon business using AI.
If you were to hire a consultant to walk you through 28 ways to grow your Amazon business, save time and increase profits, you would easily have to spend over $1,000.
I believe that AI is the next big thing in our industry and I created this challenge at an affordable price so I didn’t want MONEY to be an obstacle.
But at the same time, it’s important that you have some skin in the game. Studies have shown that people are drastically more likely to follow through on a task if they have shown a commitment towards it. Especially if money is at stake.
Learn the little known “AI FLOWS” that Amazon Sellers and Ecommerce Sellers” are using right now to grow sales, save time, and maximize profits
Join the FIRST EVER ‘AI for Amazon Sellers 28 Day Challenge’ today…
Grow and scale your ecom business using ChatGPT, Bing AI, Midjourney, and more of the latest AI technologies
Save upto 15 hours a week and get more done (with less effort) leveraging AI FLOWS
Increase your profits use little known AI powered strategies to use to reduce your COGS, cut your costs, and boost your bottom line.
More than just prompts – you will learn How to Actually Talk to an AI to get the results you want
Daily Reminders – to keep you accountable during the challenge
3 Free Bonuses ($149 value)
’10 Commandments of AI’
‘7 Deadly Sins of AI’
‘Ultimate Guide to Negotiating with your Supplier’
AI for Amazon Sellers 28 Day Challenge
Grow and scale your ecom business using ChatGPT, Bing AI, Midjourney, and more of the latest AI technologies
Save upto 15 hours a week and get more done (with less effort) leveraging AI FLOWS
Increase your profits use little known AI powered strategies to use to reduce your COGS, cut your costs, and boost your bottom line.
More than just prompts – you will learn How to Actually Talk to an AI to get the results you want
Daily Reminders – to keep you accountable during the challenge
3 Free Bonuses ($149 value)
’10 Commandments of AI’
‘7 Deadly Sins of AI’
‘Ultimate Guide to Negotiating with your Supplier’
ONLY $29 TODAY
Brought to you by 7 Figure Seller Summit
What is the AI for Amazon Sellers Challenge?
A 28 Day sprint to learn how to use AI FLOWS effectively in your Amazon and Ecom business to:
1) Grow their businesses
2) Save time
3) Increase their profits
Here’s how it works
Each day you will receive an email with a single AI strategy designed to grow your business.
You will learn how to use “AI FLOWS” to maximize the results that AI will spit out… and avoid Hallucinations and crap copy that is irrelevant to your business
In the daily email you will receive a specific assignment to implement this into your business using AI
Tools you will need:
A computer and internet connection
ChatGPT and or Bing AI
You should be running an Amazon or Ecommerce business with the basic know-how of how to do keyword research and Amazon SEO.
By the end of the end of the challenge you will…
Understand how AI can be used to optimize Amazon listings and drive more traffic to their products.
Smoothly use AI to Save time so you can focus on the things that move the needle in your business
Increase your product listing conversion rates with the AI optimized copy
Overcome Analysis Paralysis to get more stuff done.
Cut your product costs via negotiations with your supplier
Optimize your packaging and cut your shipping costs
Effortlessly use AI tools to Create a marketing emails, social media, and blog posts
And much more
Techniques to improve product ranking, including keyword optimization, image optimization, and product description optimization.
AI and Chat-GPT is a once in a generation SHIFT – will you PIVOT to ride the AI wave or will you be left behind?
Every generation, a groundbreaking innovation comes along that completely changes the game, like the invention of the web browser, the computer, or even fire.
During the ’90s, massive companies such as Yahoo, Myspace, and Nokia failed to adapt to the digital revolution and slowly faded into obscurity, while others like Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon became industry giants.
Wharton Business School Professor Ethan Mollick describes our current situation perfectly:
“At this point, it’s the most uncertain time… we’ve ever lived through in terms of technology (with the rise of AI).”
In just a few short years, we’ve witnessed not one but TWO monumental opportunities in ecommerce:
1) 2020-2021: Covid accelerated ecommerce growth by 30% yearly and many brands skyrocketed on this opportunity to new levels.
2) NOW – Rapid growth opportunities using generative AI tools like ChatGPT.
Many sellers have started harnessing the power of AI in their ecommerce businesses and are already reaping the benefits.
Here are some examples
SALES: 7 Figure Seller and serial entrepreneur Chad Rubin increased the conversion rate on one of his Amazon SKUs by 20% using ChatGPT to generate catchy headlines for an infographic promoting his vacuum cleaner hose. The result?
“Dirt Destroying Air Flow” was the winning headline generated by AI which boosted conversion rate from 26% to 46% over eight weeks.
COPYWRITING: Creating Amazon listings in seconds – “It does it with the tone you suggest, and it does it in seconds,” Hamza Amor said. “That’s the part that was mind-blowing.”
If you’ve been putting off optimizing your listings, AI can help you optimize them with the right keyword to boost your ranking up to the top of the Amazon sales page.
Not only that it can help you create blog posts, email sequences, customer service replies, warn hijackers off your listings, help you deal with Seller Central support cases, and even help generate social media posts in seconds.
It’s literally like you are working together with a powerful robot assistant to amplify your results.
Now assisted by AI, one person can do the work of many…
“Human-Machine Hybrid” work is now a real possibility
Besides AI getting smarter, we are seeing massive increases in quality and speed.
According to a recent study AI has surpassed human intelligence in the following test scores
Language Understanding
Reading Comprehension
Speech Recognition
Handwriting recognition
What does this mean?
According to a Harvard Business Review article:
“The businesses that understand the significance of this change — and act on it first — will be at a considerable advantage.” – Harvard Business Review
THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY for sellers to take a GIANT STEP ahead in their ecommerce business.
But at the same time there is a…Hidden Secret…
Why ChatGPT & AI Might Not Be Working for You
Did you know when I first tried ChatGPT, I wasn’t impressed.
I thought it was all about having the right prompts.
So, I bought an “Ultimate Prompt List” and gave it a shot.
But the listing copy was just… meh.
B- level, at best.
It wasn’t finding the right keywords for me…
I thought – is that all there is to ChatGPT? All hype?
Then I did some research.
Turns out, 99% of people use ChatGPT the wrong way.
Most believe using the right prompt gets the right answer.
Not true.
There are many cons to ChatGPT
AI is prone to hallucinations.
You can’t take it AS IS. You have to fact-check everything.
ChatGPT’s knowledge? Stuck in 2021.
It’s clueless about current trends and what’s happening right now.
If you have a product listing that is NEW and created after 2021, ChatGPT will know nothing about it.
And there’s a big risk that many people are now aware of.
Sharing confidential info with AI is a no-go.
OpenAI uses your data for training.
Your “secret sauce” could be exposed.
Amazon? They forbid employees from using ChatGPT.
JP Morgan Chase? Same deal (though some might sneak it on their phones).
So I dove deep. 100+ hours of research, experimentation, and conversations with tech-savvy friends like the ones at Google.
And I finally cracked the code.
I learned how to use AI to:
Grow and Scale my Ecom business
Save time from mundane work
Increase profits in my business
AI helped me de-bottleneck my business and move forward.
Don’t be fooled – It’s not about Prompts – it’s about FLOWS
The key to unlocking the full potential of AI and ChatGPT isn’t just about prompts. That’s barely scratching the surface.
The real magic comes from creating the right AI FLOWS.
It’s all about guiding the AI through back-and-forth conversations to get the results you want.
And I’ve developed this 28-Day Challenge to help you master just that.
Here’s a “Sneak Peek” of what you’ll do in the AI for Amazon Sellers 28 Day Challenge
Use AI to QUICKLY Optimize your listings and create new ones while boosting conversion rates up to 20%
Weave the right Keywords throughout your listings to boost your Amazon SEO and Rank
Product Images – leverage AI to generate an endless supply of amazing product and lifestyle images
Product Development – Discover new product opportunities for bundles, new SKUs, and cross-selling to increase your Lifetime Value of your customers
Competitor Analysis – Pinpoint the biggest weaknesses of your competitors and gaps in the market so you attack and dominate
Product Insert Card Offers – to get more reviews (TOS compliant), build an audience, and sell more
Quickly Brainstorm Dozens of Brand names that are memorable and standout
Identify your Customer Avatar so you know exactly what products you should develop that they will buy and how to market to them
Write blog posts to create content related to your product to increase your organic SEO
Quickly repurpose them to create social media content on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, and more
Create Youtube scripts for product videos
Find top influencers in your niche that are willing to promote your product in seconds
Create outreach emails or messages to influencers to persuade them to WANT to work with you
Effortlessly respond to Customer Service complaints while delivering a 5 star experience
Translate info to different languages
Brainstorm new Product Designs to outpace your competition, deliver more value to your customers, and
Discover all the ways that people use your product so you can identify more keywords and ways to market it
Write negotiation letters to lowerer product costs, request better payment terms, packaging, and more
PRACTICE NEGOTIATION SCENARIOS with AI so you feel more comfortable doing the real thing
Get Hijackers off your listings by using GPT to write a letter to Amazon Seller Support
Generate HTML Code, Excel formulas, and more without having to know how to code
Get ideas to optimize product packaging to reduce the size, lower shipping costs, and COGS
Discover hidden ways to use different materials in your products to lower product costs
Scale your business from 100k to $1million +
Think outside the box to find strategies to raise profit margins by 5-10%
And much more is being added by the day…
This is for you if…
You are an ACTION TAKER
You are a 6, 7, or 8 Figure Amazon seller who wants to grow their business
You are starting up your Amazon or ecom business within the next 28 days.
You want an UNFAIR advantage using AI that your competitors don’t know about yet
You want to spend less time on the mundane tasks of your ecommerce business and more time on the tasks that MOVE THE NEEDLE by leveraging AI
You have an open mind to learn and sometimes “Hit the wall”. When that happens you will agree to dust yourself off and try it again a different way.
DON’T want to waste time sifting through hours of youtube videos, endless TikToks, and Facebook groups looking for the latest AI hacks – you will get all of them in 28 days
This is NOT for you if..
If you only consume the content every day of the challenge but not take any action.
That’s entirely up to you but.. Nothing will change in your business.
If that’s what you will do, then this challenge is NOT for you.
You don’t have access to ChatGPT
You don’t plan to run an e-commerce business.
You don’t have time to read the daily training email and do the homework (15-20 min per day)
Only $128 $29
30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Try it at NO RISK to you. You can take the entire challenge and if you show me that you did the work and did not get at least 10x ROI I will give you your money back! I’m so confident this will work for your business that I’m putting my money where my mouth is.
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Just $1 a day to grow your Amazon business using AI.
If you were to hire a consultant to walk you through 28 ways to grow your Amazon business, save time and increase profits, you would easily have to spend over $1,000.
I believe that AI is the next big thing in our industry and I created this challenge at an affordable price so I didn’t want MONEY to be an obstacle.
But at the same time, it’s important that you have some skin in the game. Studies have shown that people are drastically more likely to follow through on a task if they have shown a commitment towards it. Especially if money is at stake.
AI for Amazon Sellers 28 Day Challenge
Grow and scale your ecom business using ChatGPT, Bing AI, Midjourney, and more of the latest AI technologies
Save upto 15 hours a week and get more done (with less effort) leveraging AI FLOWS
Increase your profits use little known AI powered strategies to use to reduce your COGS, cut your costs, and boost your bottom line.
More than just prompts – you will learn How to Actually Talk to an AI to get the results you want
Daily Reminders – to keep you accountable during the challenge
3 Free Bonuses ($149 value)
’10 Commandments of AI’
‘7 Deadly Sins of AI’
‘Ultimate Guide to Negotiating with your Supplier’
Want to sell into the 4th largest Amazon marketplace that virtually nobody is talking about?
There’s no need to spend months figuring this out – over 2 days, you will learn the exact steps to launch and sell your products on Amazon Japan.
What will I learn?
The complete turnkey solution to sell into Amazon Japan
Launch strategies that are unique to Japan (throw out your US/EU launch playbook)
External marketing strategies native to Japan (beyond PPC)
Make all the connections you need to sell into Amazon Japan – Importer of record, warehousing, accountants, trademark agencies, translators, and more
The A to Z of How to sell into Amazon Japan even if you don’t speak any Japanese
The exact requirements for your product to be imported into the countries
The most common mistakes sellers make when selling into Japan (Japan is not US or EU)
Even if right now you know nothing about selling in Japan, you will have everything you need to sell in Japan at the Amazon Japan Mastermind.
And you will have the right connections.
You will be able to execute and sell into Japan in weeks.
And you will meet real sellers and mastermind with them to grow your business to the next level.
If you have any questions at all, we will answer all your questions and we will leave no stone unturned.
Who’s it for?
Amazon and eCommerce sellers that want to sell into Amazon Japan (the 4th largest Amazon marketplace in the world – that nobody is talking about)
So we’re going to offer them everything they need to successfully sell on Amazon Japan
You will learn from:
7 figure sellers selling in Amazon Japan
Importers of records so you can legally import products into Japan
Warehousing and logistics providers
PPC Experts
Accountants
Lab testing providers to make sure your products can be legally sold in Japan
Inspection Agencies
We will have all of the steps you’ll need from A to Z to just start selling in Japan
Expected turnout: Limited to 100 sellers – first come, first served.
Location: Tokyo, Japan – Easy to fly into and transit to other parts of Asia
Venue: TBD – Coming Soon
10 Reasons Why You Should Start Selling in Japan N-O-W
1. Japan is the 4th biggest Amazon place in the world.
2. There’s far less competition with Amazon Japan than with the other large Amazon marketplaces
3. LOWER PPC COST
4. You don’t need to know Japanese to sell in Japan. Seller Central is in English and you can hire Japanese support
5. Lower shipping cost and faster shipping time from the Asia factory back to Japan
6. Amazon FBA works quickly in Japan
7. The market size is much larger. There are about 140 million people in Japan, and 80% of them shop online
8. You don’t need to register a company in Japan to sell in Japan, you just need Japanese importer records and make sure products are compliant which we will make sure you do.
9. There are unique marketing channels in japan that you can use to build an audience and make a lot of sales at a low cost.
10. If you are already selling in the Amazon US/EU marketplaces you may have an advantage selling in Japan using your products.
If you position and market your products the right way, you can generate an additional 200k – 500k USD revenue per year.
No. The costs to sell and ship products into Japan will be about the same as selling in other marketplaces around the world.
The shipping costs could be lower and the speed faster if you are sourcing your products from China or Asian countries.
Japan is a lot closer to these manufacturing regions and you can get them there in weeks rather than months.
This allows you to turn over your inventory faster to save you time and money and free up your cash flow from having to order months and months of inventory than if you were shipping products to the US or EU from Asia.
Moreover, the Japanese Yen is at a 30-year low against the US Dollar. This means that things in Japan will feel cheaper than before.
Couple that with the fact that Japan has been in a long period of stagnation and prices have not risen significantly.
This means that Japan may not be as “expensive” to do business in as you think!
3. How much should I budget for an event like this?
What is $3k vs $300k you could sell in Japan?
4. How much should I budget for a hotel?
Hotels range from $150-200 per night, food will be provided – breakfast, lunch, and coffee
Our event will be held in Tokyo and we will have discounted prices.
This Prime Day, consumers are growing to be practical.They are prioritizing necessities over indulgences, yet they are still spending more than expected.
Purchase data findings show that the average Prime Day 2022 spend per order is $53.14 compared to last year’s $47.14. So far, 42% of orders have been for $20 or less, while 13% have been for $100 or more.
Amazon has geared its attention toward attracting bargain hunters searching for affordable pantry stocks and low-priced electronics. A report from Numerator recorded last Tuesday that there was an increase of 20% in the typical household spending since the previous June sale. The best-seller in the early hours was a Frito-Lay variety pack of snack chips.
Furthermore, the report said that 83% of Prime Day buyers consider inflation as the primary variable affecting their purchasing behavior.
Yet there is another product category experiencing a profit increase.Branded items generate a big chunk of Amazon’s annual sales and have increased by 30% during Prime Day despite offering lesser discounts. It has outstripped the single-digit growth expectation.
Sellers experienced a sales surge hours after the launching of the event.According to Channel Key e-commerce consulting firm, their clients experience a 12% spike in sales in the first six hours of Prime Day compared to the previous year.
Takeaway: What probably made Amazon Prime Day 2022 a hit?Forbes reported on July 13, Thursday that aside from flooding consumers with organic and paid campaigns on social media, Amazon affiliate program appeared to be effective. Influencers and news outlets alike curate offers and goods in exchange for an affiliate commission on any sales made as a result of their promotion.
According to the Adobe Digital Price Index report, online grocery prices continue to increase despite inflation falling. In June, grocery prices rose by a record 12.4 percent year over year, setting a new high. This gain comes after earlier record-breaking year-over-year increases of 7.6% in February, 9% in March, 10.3% in April, and 11.34% in May.
As a consequence, e-commerce spending appears to be declining more in June ($74.1 billion) as compared to what was recorded in April ($77.8 billion) and May ($78.8 billion).
Adobe Commerce survey released recently revealed that 61% of consumers were waiting for Prime Day sales to avail of promos and deals. Some even plan to make their most significant purchases at this event. They say they would maintain their previous year’s expense limit or would spend more.
The first day of Amazon Prime Day revealed that inflation and the downward sloping economy will impact the sales this year. Americans spent $4.7 billion less in June than the previous month.
Takeaway: The ecommerce inflation has reshaped Amazon Prime Day, especially consumer behavior. Even though Prime members are willing to spend more than they spent last year, they are still willing to give up a good deal for the reason that the product is not a necessity.
FTI Consulting projects that in 2022, online retail sales will reach $1.07 trillion, surpassing its pre-pandemic prediction of 2025, partly due to growth brought on by the pandemic. Online retail sales outside the car and gas industries will reach 22.1 percent by 2022, up from 20.8 percent in 2021 and 15.2 percent in 2019.
The report further says that e-commerce sales will reach $2 trillion by 2030 and account for 31% of total sales by the decade’s end.
According to a 2021 Forester report, even though eCommerce has already established its pillars in the retail industry, physical stores remain significant, and three-fourths of the retail sales in the US will still occur in person.
A poll of international retail leaders Ipsos for Publicis Sapient and Salesforce found that 44 percent of online-only merchants were not profitable, compared to 20 percent of brick-and-mortar stores that reported the same. Operating an online-only business is still difficult.
Takeaway: Online shopping in this past 2 years was driven by necessity due to Covid-19 restrictions. FTI Consulting said that ecommerce spending in the 2nd half of 2022 will modulate as the pandemic cools down and the inflation rises.
I’m building out the 7 Figure Seller Summit 7 and would love it if you could spend 5 min to fill out this short survey so I can learn about your challenges and goals for the remainder of 2022.
I would appreciate your honest feedback as this will help us create the best Amazon conference for you!
Have you checked out our Youtube channel yet? For the first half of the year, we were able to invite awesome guests and experts who have shared a lot of tips and value.
Here is the list of top 5 videos on the 7FSS Youtube channel for this year:
Gary invited Marc Jepsen from ManageByStats to share how you can know your actual profits so you can SCALE and prevent your sales from decreasing over time. This conversation has helped sellers know their numbers as they run their Amazon business,
In this video, Gary discussed one-by-one his key takeaways after he interviewed 153 – 7 figure sellers and ecom experts after hosting the 7 Figure Seller Summit – an online event that was voted favorite amazon conference two years in a row in seller poll.
Don Henig from AccrueMe provided valuable training on scaling an Amazon FBA Business from $144K to $1M: Best Practices in Capital, Cashflow, and Funding. Important points such as the biggest mistake made by sellers when scaling, vital factor in financing your growth, and establishing a company vision were tackled.
In this live webinar, Gary unraveled the 3 pillars of profitability. Each pillar aims to assist sellers in how to offset high shipping costs, warehouse costs, and rising material costs; have more budget to spend on PPC to beat your competitors; increase your bottom line EBITDA and maximize a potential exit; and maximize business strength in 2022 as the competition increases.
This live Masterclass with Margaret Jolly and Meghla Bhardwaj, Co-Founders of India Sourcing Network, shared strategies for negotiating with Indian manufacturers to learn. They also touch down on proven negotiation strategies, negotiating timing, other things to deal with apart from price, cultural sensitivities, and common mistakes to avoid that could cost you time and money.
Amazon has launched its Amazon Influencer Program with the belief that it would fuel the success of its upcoming Prime Day.
The program would leverage influencers to raise brand awareness and inform consumers about Prime Day deals and promos. Then, Amazon pays popular social media users to promote its goods on sites like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Recently, they organized some events that invited some influencers and gave them a sneak peek at the Prime Day deals.After reporting $3.8 billion in losses at the end of Q1 2022, Amazon’s Prime Day sales event is becoming more and more crucial.
Takeaway: Will Amazon’s last punch for Prime Day be an effective strategy? The move by Amazon to rely more heavily on influencers for Prime Day comes in this era of creator economy. So, it is up to the consumers to decide on which has more weight— their trust in the content creators or the recession that we are currently facing.
The pandemic placed e-commerce into the spotlight.The last two years of juggling through the restrictions have pressured retailers to increase their digital capabilities and efforts.
However, the digital paradigm shift in the retail industry is not enough. Being in the virtual realm will not suffice as there are a lot of other variables such as inventory and inflationary pressures that might erode the business’s profitability. Retailers also fail to find their niche in this everchanging game.
Giant retailers are not an exception. Amazon, Target, and Walmart have been experiencing profit warnings and inventory pain points on their end.
46% of the respondents in the Publicis Sapient/Salesforce survey said that their e-commerce store is less profitable than their physical one, and 37% are hitting below profit target.
To address all these dilemmas, Hilding Anderson, Head of Retail Strategy in Publicis Sapient, emphasized how vital customer service is in their research. Online shopping apps should integrate the ease of use and improvement of CX. In other words, e-commerce should make its decisions for the welfare of its customers. After such, profitability follows.
Takeaway: Putting your products available online to keep up with current demands is one thing, but improving your digital customer experience is another. It encourages first-time buyers to come back — you should not settle for one-time purchases only.
In their recent announcement, Amazon is giving their sellers until August 5 to eliminate all single-colored and opaque Mylar bags.
Mylar bags are included in the compliance checklist for drug and controlled substances associated products posted by Amazon’s drugs and drug paraphernalia help page. The page states, “Products must not be primarily used for making, preparing, or using a controlled substance.”
According to the users of this container, Mylar bags are one of the best ways to store and conceal illegal drugs due to their smell-proof nature.
Amazon’s advice for sellers: “If you use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and have any remaining inventory of Mylar bags that are not clear or single-colored in Amazon fulfillment centers on or after August 5, 2022, these ASINs will be removed from the Amazon store. You must initiate a removal request within 30 days of receiving this notice to have your inventory sent to a location of your choice.”
Takeaway: Amazon Sellers, to know more about this new regulation you can see the full announcement on Amazon Seller Central.
Is Amazon Prime Day really losing its hype? As of now, Amazon has not revealed specific details about their Prime Day Amazon sales performance, but according to Insider Intelligence, it is anticipated to increase by 17% YoY to $7.8B.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon Prime Day’s blockbuster is not the same as before. Prime Day’s sales growth is declining as Amazon no longer invests in exclusive product launches and partners with celebrities to host the Prime Day concert.
However, the truth behind the success of this year’s Prime Day is still unknown. While many speculations say that the event is losing its fire, Amazon discussed with WSJ that it is still a success.
Takeaway: Is Prime Day 2022 a flop? If yes, then the slowed increase in sales for the shopping event may be due to the current problems that retailers face: high inflation, changing consumer patterns, and cost reductions.
The CNCB announced on their latest news article that the 2nd Prime Day will be on the 4th quarter of this year. Many sellers think the reason for this event is for Amazon to recreate its success during the October Prime Day in 2020.
If you try to take a look at the lightning deals present at the top most of your account, you will notice a blurb indicating to submit the second Fall Prime Day. Amazon’s deadline for deals submission is on July 22nd.
On one hand, sellers and third-party merchants are starting to grow their frustrations due to lack of information. The short notice on the submission of lightning deals even disappoint them.
Takeaway: The event is rumored to happened second week of October. Sellers and merchants have a lot of preparations to do in the two remaining quarters of the year. They should ensure that they have enough inventory, revamped product listings, create competitive deals, and drive traffic not only for the Prime Day 2.0 but also for the subsequent events such as the Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Example of where a Sponsored Display ad placement may be displayed off Amazon Image Credits: Amazon
Amazon will replace the product targeting used in Sponsored Display with contextual targeting. This will enable advertisers to reach more customers both within and outside of the Amazon shop.
There is no need to change anything. Advertisers do not need to alter the items or categories they are targeting to use the new functionality. Sponsored Display will locate the best possibilities to extend advertising reach to websites and mobile apps in addition to stores.
Previously, these campaigns would only appear on the Amazon store’s product pages. Now, Amazon’s machine learning will help their registered sellers drive additional reach and opportunity beyond Amazon while still observing the bidding strategies and objectives.
Takeaway: This change is important for sellers and merchants. It aims to help them reach their audience even more as well as drive awareness regarding their product offering.
The summer of 2021 was the pinnacle of the marketplace before it slowed down. Does this mean the end of selling your Amazon FBA business?
If you are one of the many eCommerce owners who want to sell their businesses today to scale and achieve financial goals, then you should know the right strategies to market your business at a top dollar. We recommend you watch this highly valuable live training about “The 3 Pitfalls you should Avoid When Selling Your Business” Chris Wozniak from Quiet Light gave to our audience
In this 60 min live training, Chris Wozniak, a Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Professional at Quiet Light will walk you through strategies to maximize your exit and learn about:
[2:50] Summer of 2021 was the pinnacle of the marketplace before it slowed down
[3:20] Sellers still want to sell and buyers still want to buy even if we go into recessionary period
[4:35] Businesses netting at $500,000 SDE (seller’s discretionary earnings) and with positive trends can still get a good multiple at 3.5-4x
[07:30] Different levels of addbacks (from health insurance, payroll taxes, to other variables)
[9:35] Raising prices for 3 months without change can retroactively add back to your business
[11:00] The steps you take before you sell
[12:07] Forecast the next 2 to 3 years and firm up tax returns if you desire to sell
[15:40] Why you shouldn’t run your business like you’re going to sell and what you should do [19:20] Pretend like you’re not selling and focus on maintenance, growth, and critical timing
make sure you’re irreplaceable
[24:30] Is it still important to have VA’s running everything or can the business be bought with me running things and I stay on getting a percentage?
[24:45] When buyers get online businesses they are attracted to far less hours owner works weekly
[28:00] Buyers must trust their advisors because they have the responsibility to represent you
[29:10] Advisors have the qualifications, experience, and capacity to represent both buyers and sellers
[39:33] What % profit margin should be my target to sell my business at a decent price? It is currently only around 10% and I would like to get an idea how far off the mark I am for selling.
[40:00] Rule of thumb: The higher your margin, the higher your valuation
[49:10] What is the most important step to sell my business on Amazon FBM?
[49:39] Doing self fulfilling business becomes less attractive to more buyers – having a good 3PL to use that’s cost-efficient can help
[53:30] Learn more about how you can sell your business and its valuation here: https://quietlight.com/advisors/chris-wozniak/
If you’d like to learn more about what your business valuation could be and what steps to take to prepare for an edit (even if you’re not ready right now) I recommend you book a call with Chris. https://quietlight.com/advisors/chris-wozniak/
Earlier this week, I took part at the Seller Fest Online organized by Orange Klik where I talked about sourcing for Amazon from different destinations and what are the things to know when it comes to sourcing from a specific country. You can watch the replay here.
Seller Fest Online, featuring 30+ Amazon experts, runs until Friday (July 1st) and you can still make it to the rest of the sessions. Learn more about the upcoming live sessions here and get your free access now!”
We are excited to plan the 7 Figure Seller Summit this August, and there are a few sponsorship opportunities that some of you may be interested in.
If you’re purely a seller not interested in sponsoring, pls disregard this email. If you missed the last 7 Figure Seller Summit, the good news is you can get a free pass for a limited time here.
If you are interested in sponsoring, or if you know someone who is interested – please fill out this form to learn more: https://bit.ly/3I4SE8Z
US Import demand dropping dramatically 36% YOY… Why?
Inventory glut – excess inventory
Inflation crunching US consumer purchasing
Container volumes from CN to US continue to decline
Image Credits: FreightWaves
According to FreightWaves, Inc, U.S import demand is dropping dramatically by 36% year on year from June 2022 from 2021 to 2022. This decrease happens due to some leading causes; the first is inventory collide. These retailers have excess inventory. Second, consumers are getting crunched due to inflation. Thirdly, this is causing container volumes from China to drop as well.
So, you see fewer imports into the U.S. The good thing is that this is benefiting the shipping price and that the shipping prices are starting to go down; the Freightos index is around $9,000 per container. However, this may be a sign that the economy is slowing down.
Amazon has already released dates for their Amazon Prime Day 2022. This will be a two-day savings event starting July 12 at 3 a.m. EDT until July 13, 2022. Prime Day is launched for Prime members in countries like Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the U.K., the U.S., and for the first time in Poland and Sweden.
Early bargains begin on June 21, with up to 50% off particular Amazon gadgets, up to 50% off Fire TV, and more from popular brands like De’Longhi, Dove, and SodaStream. From June 21 to July 11, Prime members may win large prizes by supporting local companies.
The new Small Business Badge allows Prime members to find and browse products from small business companies in Amazon’s marketplace. Members will be able to recognize products from small company brands and artisans with the help of this new badge.
Amazon’s global transportation network will offer fast and free delivery of Prime Day orders.
Takeaway: Prime Day is less than a month away so make sure that you have enough inventory in-stock in your Amazon Fulfillment Centers. Also, do not forget to prepare your marketing campaigns.
Amazon plans to launch its drone delivery later this year in Lockeford, California. Residents will have access to sign up for a free “Prime Air” delivery.
These drones have the capacity to carry parcels weighing 5 pounds. Air eligible items include beauty, office supplies, tech gear, and household products.
Amazon claims to have developed a sophisticated technology that allows its drones to recognize and avoid obstacles such as airplanes, people, pets, and other people. According to them, they created their sense-and-avoid system for two critical scenarios: safety in transit and safety approaching the ground.
The drone service will be expanded based on feedback from the California operations.
Takeaway: Amazon’s retail rival Walmart and other major tech firms are already incorporating drone delivery into their logistic operations. Amazon needs to keep up with the competition as the mode of delivery is ramping up Walmart’s delivery service.
Brand Analytics is a feature that gives Brand Owners vital information to help them make informed, strategic decisions regarding their product portfolio and marketing/advertising efforts.
Amazon Seller Central said in their news piece that brand analytics is removing two features: item comparison and alternative behavior dashboard. This implementation is effective on June 30th, Thursday.
According to Amazon, seller feedback and usage data indicated that the dashboards were not as helpful as they thought. As a result, the retail giant has decided to eliminate the said dashboards and brainstorm on the new features in 2023.
Takeaway: According to seller feedback and usage volume data, these dashboards don’t always provide impactful and actionable insights, so Amazon is looking into adding deeper customer behavior analytics in 2023. It’s reassuring that they’re still working to improve the Amazon Brand Analytics insights they provide.
After the 7 Figure Sourcing Summit, I’d like to spotlight India which is the fastest sourcing alternative to China. I’ve invited India Sourcing experts, Meghla Bhardwaj and Margaret Jolly of India Sourcing Network to walk us through negotiating your way to success when sourcing from India.
In this 60 min live Masterclass, Margaret Jolly and Meghla Bhardwaj, Co-Founders of India Sourcing Network will share strategies for negotiating with Indian manufacturers to learn:
Proven negotiation strategies to get you the best price
When to start negotiating
What to negotiate apart from price
Cultural sensitivities when negotiating so you don’t offend them
Common mistakes to avoid that could cost you time and money
Join us live on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022 at 8 PM EST
Earlier this week, we had two live panels with a dozen sourcing experts to share with you valuable insights and I’d like to share the replay with you in case you missed it live.
Watch the replay to get all of your sourcing and supply chain questions answered such as:
– Can I source my product from X country?
– How can I find a trustworthy supplier from X country?
– Will it be cheaper than China?
– What scams will I need to watch out for?
– The #1 negotiation tip that will save you tens of thousands of dollars
– What’s the best online platform you use to source and why? Alibaba vs Global Sources
– Certification and Testing – this is causing suspensions – what needs to be done?
– How to differentiate your product even if you don’t have any design skills
– And much more.
In session 1 we covered Sourcing in a Post-Pandemic World. I invited six sourcing experts from China, India, Mexico, Vietnam, Europe and in the US to deep dive into the topic.
On day two, we had an Advanced Shipping, Quality Control, Negotiations, Product Design, and Advanced Supply Chain strategies on a live Panel as well. So, make sure to check this one out to get the right strategies in your next shipping transaction.
As of Wed. June 1st, 2022 Shanghai has lifted the COVID lockdown according to Reuters.
Source: Reuters/Aly Song
While the people are starting to resume a normal life and offices are now open, in terms of the supply chain it can be best summed up as “Everything is happening at once” according to Jarrod Ward, a supply chain executive from Yusen Logistics based in Shanghai.
Further reports from supply chain professionals say that “I think the best way to describe it is that the firehose has been turned on full but the water is being forced through a sieve. There’s massive back pressure and splatter as everyone is trying to figure out how to make things work while complying with the new reg(ulations).”
Takeaway: While this is great news it may be a bumpy ride ahead in the near future as the supply chain tries to get back on track.
The Sourcing Shift Away from China?
As of mid-2022 China is no longer the only sourcing game in town.
We have seen a shift away from China in the last 3 years as other sourcing destinations are gaining a share of the sourcing market.
According to a survey of US and European businesses by QIMA, the top sourcing destination has shifted away from China. In 2019 China represented 61% but it fell by 14% to 47% in Q1 2022.
Similarly, India’s sourcing market share has risen dramatically from 6% to 10% in the past 3 years.
The takeaway is we are seeing a shift in the sourcing and supply chain base towards countries like India and Vietnam.
Another key trend is “Nearshoring” as buyers are shifting their sourcing to nearby destinations such as Mexico for US buyers and Europe for buyers in the EU. The thinking is that this close proximity will reduce shipping costs, lead times, and lower duties and tariffs.
A key point to consider is that while buyers are shifting sourcing, they are not completely moving out of China because China is “too big to ignore”.
No other single country can replace China. In fact, the big players such as Apple and Nike have been adopting a China +n strategy. They are outsourcing some products to other countries while keeping the non-movable production in China. They have been doing this China +n for years. Shouldn’t you?
Good news – you probably don’t have a sourcing or supply chain department in your business so I’ve done the work for you.
I’m super excited to announce the 7 Figure Sourcing Summit – The A to Z resource for all your Sourcing and Shipping Needs launching online June 13-14, 2022.
It’s like the 80/20 of sourcing from around the world.
You won’t find a resource like this anywhere else and you will learn sourcing strategies directly from 7 to 8 Figure Ecommerce sellers and sourcing experts.
Prime Day has signified a peak period for Amazon Sellers. This event also ensures that merchants reach out to customers, increase sales, and simultaneously build their own and Amazon’s businesses.
Amazon has established the Amazon Prime Day Summit. It will be held on June 7th and 8th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
The first step is to create an account on your Seller Central dashboard. This can also help you create or improve a Peak Advertising Campaign and create powerful product description pages. It’s even better if you use the sessions to assist you set up and monitoring practices for your firm’s advertising side.
The summit will also give sellers an overview of numerous reports and a more excellent grasp of applying what they’ve learned to achieve success. There will also be live Q&A sessions to address vendor problems and questions.
Takeaway:
Constant learning is an essential variable to the growth of your business. Stay relevant and innovate, especially in implementing strategies to keep up with the competition. Events similar to this Prime Day Summit can help.
Businesses that participate in FBA in the United States have been permitted to employ remote fulfillment with FBA since 2018. This is to make their merchandise in the United States available for purchase in Canada and Mexico. Customers have benefited from the program since it has expanded their options and made it easier to sell outside of the United States.
Amazon’s Remote Fulfillment with FBA takes advantage of domestic and foreign marketplaces. Amazon has made considerable efforts to assist its sellers better, nearly doubling the number of fulfillment facilities available. Over 750,000 full-time and part-time jobs were also added. All of this comes with an increasing hourly salary, ranging from $15 to $18.
However, beginning June 30, Amazon will adjust remote fulfillment fees with FBA fulfillment fees. These increases are believed to be comparable to or less than the industry average for fulfillment services. To better comply with the conventional FBA rate structure, they will also incorporate a dimensional weight adjustment in their rate calculation.
Takeaway:
This initiative helped retailers to expand their business. However, we need to go to 2022 remote fulfillment with FBA fee changes to study how the shifting prices of fulfillment, shipping, storage, and customer support can influence our business.
Did you know that Sourcing can make or break your business?
Gary Huang, founder of the 7 Figure Sourcing Summit and 80/20 Sourcing just provided a valuable discussion
In this masterclass, Gary shared the landscape of the supply chain around the world, what are the major changes that you have to know in 2022 and the 80/20 of the different areas of the world you can source from.
In this 60-minute live webinar, you’ll learn:
[2:48] Which of the countries most of you are interested to source from?
[3:20] Where most of you are currently sourcing from?
[4:09] Sourcing is Changing
[6:26] China – Sourcing King
[9:40] Q&A: What platforms should we use for sourcing apart from Alibaba
[11:08] India – Rising Star
[15:32] Mexico – Pura Vida
[19:44] The 9-9-6 work culture in China
[21:00] Vietnam – Big Players
[25:41] Q&A: How to get connected online with Vietnam sellers?
[27:34] USA – The American Dream?
[31:09] Q&A: What is the best country to source for Amazon Middle East and Australia?
[32:05] Sourcing Countries At A Glance
[32:45] Type of products you can get from different countries
[40:05] The 7 Figure Sourcing Summit – The A to Z resource for all your Sourcing and Shipping Needs
