The Smartest Amazon Seller

Joined by Will Abrams, founder of Axiom Prep, Scott uncovers the hidden impacts of returns on your bottom line and explores effective strategies for managing them.   Returns can be more than just a hassle — they can significantly affect your revenue stream.   Will shares his personal journey, from navigating piles of returns as an Amazon seller to founding a return service business focused on maximizing value from these items.   Explore the complexities of reimbursement types and gain valuable insights into documenting item conditions to support successful reimbursement claims. Episode Notes:   00:20 - Will Abrams Introduction 03:00 - The Nuances of Handling Returns 06:15 - Consignment, and Reimbursement Types 07:25 - Deep Dive into Amazon Reimbursement Challenges 08:35 - The Economic Threshold for Handling Returns 10:00 - Outsourcing Return Handling to Expert Services 16:00 - The Importance of Visibility and Documentation LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-abrams-426b15260/ Website: http://axiomprepcenter.com/ Related Post: How To Leverage Reverse Logistics for a Competitive Advantage

In this episode, Josh Hadley takes us on a journey through his entrepreneurial path, sharing the story behind Hadley Designs and how they've carved out a niche in the competitive world of stationery products.   Discover how Josh's childhood hustle selling lemonade paved the way for his successful e-commerce venture, and learn about the pivotal moments that led to Hadley Designs' evolution from custom wedding invitations to educational posters. With candid insights into navigating market challenges such as COVID-19 and the importance of constant innovation, this episode offers invaluable lessons for aspiring Amazon sellers.   We also delve into the intricacies of protecting designs from IP infringement, strategies for effective product launches, and the critical role of community building in e-commerce success. Whether you're a seasoned seller looking for new strategies or a newcomer eager to learn, this episode is packed with actionable advice and inspiring stories to help you thrive in the dynamic world of Amazon selling.   Episode Notes:   00:17 - Josh Hadley Introduction 01:17 - Josh’s Background 01:56 - Childhood Business Ventures to Amazon 06:00 - Pivoting Categories and Selling Recipe Cards 10:10 - Scaling the Amazon Business and Impact of Covid 12:50 - The Current State of Selling Design-Based Products on Amazon 15:00 - Protecting Intellectual Property and Legal Strategies 20:25 - Barriers to Entry and Success Factors in Design-Based Categories 25:20 - Merch by Amazon and Product Differentiation LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshhadley Website: ues.utah.edu  Related Post: Winning the Bogus IP Claim War on Amazon

Scott gives us 4 key updates in a quick but compact episode. The topics include an analysis of Amazon's FBA placement fee program, SEO strategies for product listings, insights on SmartScout's brand reports, and details about Pattern's Accelerate conference for large brands. Whether you're an experienced seller or new to Amazon's marketplace dynamics, this episode offers valuable insights and tips for enhancing your business reach and efficiency. Episode Notes:   00:40 - Amazon's New FBA Placement Fee 04:07 - SEO Hacks for Product Listings 07:30 - SmartScout’s Brand Reports 09:50 - Pattern’s Accelerate Conference Related Post: The Vendor Central Database of Amazon Brands

Scott is joined by Jed Rawson, CEO of Pirawna, who shares a gripping tale of intrigue and perseverance in the face of adversity.   Jed recounts a recent incident where his team encountered stolen goods being sold on Amazon, totaling a staggering $4 million in inventory. Through meticulous investigation and collaboration with law enforcement, they uncovered an organized crime operation responsible for potentially $50-100 million in stolen goods. Amazon's swift response led to the shutdown of several accounts linked to the illegal activity, marking one of their largest takedowns of fraudulent sellers to date. Jed discusses supply chain security measures, emphasizing the importance of GPS tracking containers and verifying driver identities. He also highlights Pi Agency's success in assisting brands to exit for significant sums, driven by strategies informed by past failures and focused on long-term trends. Episode Notes: 00:13 - Jed Rawson Introduction 01:23 - Mafia on Amazon 04:00 - BuyBox Hijacked 06:25 - Genesis of SmartScout 07:00 - Stolen Inventory Investigation 11:50 - Law Enforcement and Takedown Operations 14:40 - Learning from Amazon Escalations 16:10 - Organized Criminal Operation and Impact on Brands 21:15 - Precautions and Preventive Measures 27:40 - Brand Exits LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/pirawna/  Website: https://www.pirawna.com/ Related Post: The Amazon Appeals Dilemma: DIY or Delegate

Steven Pope from My Amazon Guy discusses strategies for profiting on Amazon. With over a decade of experience, Steven shares insights on navigating challenges and evolving business models. He covers topics such as brand registry loss, retail arbitrage, and mitigating compliance risks. Emphasizing the importance of learning from setbacks, Steven provides actionable advice for sellers to enhance their success on Amazon. Episode Notes: 00:23 - Steven Pope Introduction 03:44 - Starting an Agency 06:18 - Amazon Account Suspension Policy 12:50 - White Hat vs. Black Hat 13:55 - Brand Registry Process 15:40 - Scaling and Prep 16:37 - Mixing Retail Arbitrage and Wholesale 19:34 - Succeeding Using SmartScout 19:48 - Finding your Zone of Genius 21:51 - Mistakes and Regrets 25:23 - Inventory Manager for Amazon 27:53 - SmartScout Trial 29:14 - Reselling Compliance Risk 30:30 - Hijackers, Black Hat Tactics, Stolen Goods 31:50 - Improving Click-Through Rate “Images are for people and copy is for robots” - Steven LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/steven-pope Website: myamazonguy.com | myrefundguy.com YouTube: youtube.com/myamazonguy Related Post: Amazon PPC Optimization: Tips for More Clicks and Conversions

Scott shares his insights on recent happenings in the Amazon space, including standout companies such as AdGrantsGenie, AIA Assets, Deltologic, and a personal story highlighting the challenges sellers face.   Episode notes:   01:10 - AIA Assets 03:00 - AdGrantsGenie 04:00 - Deltologic 04:40 - Connected Commerce Council 05:25 - Junglytics 06:10 - Scott’s Best Amazon Story Related Post: Advertising Solutions by Amazon: A Closer Look into Amazon Ads

E-commerce expert Sabir Semerkant shares insights on his '8-D Method' for business growth, emphasizing website optimization, strategic pricing, team dynamics, and adapting to AI advancements. He discusses premium pricing, brand building, customer UX, retargeting, and the importance of revenue per session. The conversation covers his background, experience with Vitamin Shoppe, and collaborations with Gary Vaynerchuk.

Scott interviews Tarik, the founder of M19, an advertising technology tool for Amazon sellers. They discuss various topics related to advertising on Amazon, including organic rank awareness, retail data awareness, inventory awareness, and variation advertising.   Tarik shares insights into how M19 helps sellers optimize their advertising campaigns and make data-driven decisions. He also discusses the importance of conversion rate and how it can impact advertising costs.   Overall, the conversation provides valuable information for Amazon sellers looking to improve their advertising strategies. Episode Notes:   00:35 - Introduction and Background 02:00 - Building M19 and Getting Customers 05:30 - Organic Rank Awareness 08:47  - Checking rankings 12:18  - Inventory Awareness 14:45 - Advertising Awareness 19:15 - Conversion Data 22:54 - Marketplace Preferences 24:17 - How to Reach M19   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/berradatarik Related Post: Advertising Solutions by Amazon: A Closer Look into Amazon Ads

Scott Needham interviews Michael, the CEO and founder of SellCord, a Walmart agency. They discuss the growth and success of Walmart as an e-commerce platform, the reasons for brands to work with Walmart, and the opportunities for success in different categories.   Michael shares insights on achieving category success on Walmart, optimizing listings, and using Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS). He also discusses Walmart's future and its competition with Amazon. Episode Notes:   00:30 -  Introduction and Evolution of Walmart E-commerce 02:23 - Michael's Insights on Walmart in 2023 03:56 -  Launching and Succeeding on Walmart 04:03 - Understanding Walmart’s Style Guides and Listing Optimization 06:14 - Brand Success Stories and Strategies on Walmart 07:40 - The Journey from Online Marketplace to In-Store Presence 15:38 - Future Prospects for Walmart as an Online Marketplace 18:09 - Key Tactics for Optimizing Walmart Listings 19:50 - Walmart Tools and Data Utilization Strategies 20:38 - Understanding and Leveraging Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)   Website: https://www.sellcord.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lebhar/

Scott breaks down the latest news in the Amazon space. Learn his reactions to new FBA Fees and the details of Thrasio’s Bankruptcy Filing. Plus, some funny takes on the 17 people you will meet at the Prosper event. Episode Notes: 00:35 - Podcast Coverage 01:15 - Prosper Update and Scott’s Favorite Audience 02:50 - The 17 People you will meet @ Prosper 03:15 - The Event Season 04:30 - Natural Products Expo West 2024 05:45 - SmartScout Expo West Brand Report 07:05 - Thrasio Bankruptcy 09:55 - Tweets about Thrasio’s Bankrupt 10:15 - Optimizing FBA Fees Email: scott@smartscout.com Related Post: Fulfillment Fee (FBA Fulfillment Fee)