Lunch With Norm - The eCommerce & Amazon FBA Podcast

Trump Tariffs & The China Playbook: How to Stay Profitable on Amazon / Lyden Smithers

Nov 25, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Lyden Smithers, President of Titan Network, shares his expertise in e-commerce and global sourcing. He reveals strategies to counteract the Trump Tariffs, emphasizing supply chain efficiency and cost-engineering tactics. Learn about securing extended payment terms to improve cash flow and negotiating deals using face-to-face relationships, or 'Guanxi.' Lyden also highlights the critical importance of navigating the Canton Fair and avoiding common sourcing mistakes to maintain profitability in turbulent times.

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ADVICE

Reverse-Engineer Production To Recover Margin

Do reverse-engineer production lines and shave small costs across the supply chain to offset tariffs.
Combine packaging, mold, material and logistics tweaks to recover several percent of margin.

ADVICE

Build Guanxi Before Negotiating Costs

Do build face-to-face relationships (guanxi) with Chinese factories before demanding concessions.
Treat negotiations as partnership problems, not win-lose price cuts that kill a factory's thin margin.

ADVICE

Buy Packaging Separately To Cut Costs

Do separate packaging sourcing and ask factories for packaging cost breakdowns to find big savings.
Replace overpriced factory packaging with local suppliers and share introductions as a win-win.

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Worried about how the new Trump Tariffs will impact your Amazon FBA margins?

Get $500 Off China Magic! Use code: LUNCHWITHNORM - https://www.chinamagictrip.com/info

Don’t panic, optimize. In this episode of Lunch With Norm, we sit down with Lyden Smithers, the President and Co-founder of Titan Network, to reveal the "China Playbook" used by 9-figure sellers to combat rising costs.

Lyden oversees over $100 million in annual sales and shares deep insights into global sourcing, supply chain optimization, and manufacturing partnerships. Instead of simply raising prices, learn how to reverse-engineer your production lines, negotiate 90-day payment terms, and master the art of "Guanxi" (face-to-face relationships) to unlock massive profitability.

From navigating the Canton Fair to avoiding costly packaging mistakes, this episode is a masterclass in staying profitable during uncertain economic times.

👇 SUBSCRIBE TO LUNCH WITH NORM NEWSLETTER👇 https://LWN.news 🔥

CHECK OUT TITAN NETWORK 🔥 Learn more about Titan Network: https://titannetwork.com/ 🕒 In This Episode:

00:00 - Introduction: Lyden Smithers and the Titan Network ($100M+ in sales)

03:15 -Don't Panic

06:30 - The "Gray Area"

09:45 - Cost Engineering

14:20 - Extended Payment Terms

19:00 - "Circle of Life" Inventory Strategy

23:00 - Face-to-face meetings

28:40 - Cultural etiquette

32:15 - The Canton Fair

37:50 - Common sourcing mistakes

41:00 - Amazon Prep changes

💡 Key Takeaways:

Supply Chain Engineering: How to work with your factory to reduce material waste and optimize packaging to offset tariff costs.

Payment Terms: Stop using cash flow for inventory. Learn the strategy to negotiate 90-day terms so you can launch more products.

The Power of Canton Fair: Why serious buyers go to China to vet factories, check quality, and secure deals you can't get online.

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