

The Smartest Amazon Seller
SmartScout
Scott Needham is the Founder of SmartScout. An Amazon software developer for 10 years his company BuyBoxer has done over $300m in sales on Amazon. Scott has accumulated a deep knowledge about selling product online, and in the podcast he shares his knowledge with you to help you become a better Amazon seller.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 30, 2024 • 26min
Episode 242: Future-Proof Product Launch Formula with Dylan Lam of Omirank
Scott Needham interviews Dylan Lam of Omirank about building a long-term product that turns into a brand. They discuss the evolution of product launches and the concept of treating Amazon as a channel rather than a business model.
Dylan shares his future-proof product launch formula, which involves triple validation through Amazon research, dropshipping research, and Kickstarter. They delve into the preparation and launch stages of Kickstarter, as well as the importance of generating traffic and building a community.
Dylan provides examples of successful Kickstarter campaigns and highlights the cash flow advantage and flexibility of launching on Kickstarter. They also discuss fulfillment options and the assistance provided by Omirank in the product launch process.
Episode Notes:
00:00 - Introduction and Goal of the Podcast
01:10 - Guest Introduction
01:38 - The Evolution of Product Launches
03:10 - Treating Amazon as a Channel
06:49 - The Future-Proof Product Launch Formula
07:16 - Dropshipping Research
08:43 - The Kickstarter Step
10:26 - Preparation and Launch Stages of Kickstarter
13:33 - Generating Traffic on Kickstarter
15:33 - Successful Kickstarter Examples
19:18 - Cash Flow Advantage and Launching on Amazon
21:56 - Fulfillment of Kickstarter Orders
24:08 - Assistance in the Product Launch Process
26:41 - Building a Brand and Owning Traffic
28:01 - Conclusion
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dylan-kenneth-lam-796778281
Related Posts: The Ultimate Checklist for Launching a Product on Amazon

Jan 23, 2024 • 20min
Episode 241: A Deep Dive into Amazon Influencer Tools and Trends with Liz Saunders
In this episode, Scott Needham interviews Liz Saunders, the founder of Fluencer Fruit, a tool for Amazon influencers.
Liz shares her background as an Amazon seller and her journey to building Fluencer Fruit.
She discusses the need for tools in the Amazon Influencer Program and the challenges of marketing the tool. Liz emphasizes the importance of video in Amazon listings and how it can increase sales and reduce returns.
She also discusses Amazon's response to video trends and the future of the Amazon Influencer Program. The episode concludes with Liz sharing how sellers can use Fluencer Fruit for optimization and her contact information for further questions.
Episode Notes:
00:00 - Introduction and Background
01:00 - Building Fluencer Fruit
03:02 - The Need for Tools in the Amazon Influencer Program
04:11 - Marketing Challenges
05:24 - The Importance of Video in Amazon Listings
08:19 - The Impact of Video on Sales and Returns
09:47 - Amazon's Response to Video Trends
13:20 - How Sellers Can Get Videos on Their Listings
14:14 - Case Study: Increase in Sales with Influencer Content
18:13 - Using Fluencer Fruit for Optimization
19:27 - The Future of the Amazon Influencer Program
21:24 - Expansion of the Influencer Program Internationally
22:35 - Closing Remarks
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/liz-saunders
Website: www.fluencerfruit.com
Related Post: Leveraging User-Generated Content to Boost Amazon Sales

Jan 16, 2024 • 13min
Episode 240: Get New Reviews for Your Amazon Products for Free!
Scott Needham interviews Tom, the Co-Founder of Lonesome Labs, about its HighFive tool. It is a free tool that helps Amazon sellers request reviews for their products in a compliant way.
HighFive connects with a seller's Amazon account and allows them to choose when Amazon sends the review request email to customers.
Tom explains the importance of reviews for sellers and how HighFive can help them get more recent reviews, which can improve their product rankings. He also discusses the future plans for Lonesome Labs and the value of offering HighFive as a free tool.
Episode Notes:
01:10 - Tom Piamenta Introduction
01:20 - The Value of Product Reviews
02:20 - Lonesome Labs’s HighFive
04:30 - Best Interval for Reviews
05:00 - Review Limitations
06:00 - Calculating Success Rates
07:00 - Getting Reviews for Free
08:00 - New Tools to Watch Out From Lonesome Labs
09:00 - Micro SaaS
09:40 - Review Manipulation and Getting Suspended
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tompiamenta/
Website: www.lonesomelabs.com
Related Post: Amazon Variation Listing: An Ultimate Guide [2023]

Jan 9, 2024 • 23min
Episode 239: How To Understand the World of Amazon Vendor Central With Will Haire
In this episode, Scott is with Will Haire, CEO & Founder at BellaVix. They explore the intricacies of Amazon Vendor Central, including topics such as net PPM, vendor profit calculations, co-op fees, challenges, and benefits of being a vendor.
Learn about liquidation impact, reduced purchase orders, advertising strategies, vendor finances, and the future of Vendor Central. The conversation delves into maximizing profitability, chargeback recovery, and the unique experiences vendors face, particularly during Q4.
They also shared valuable insights into streaming TV advertising and emerging opportunities on platforms such as Snap and Instagram. Additionally, Scott underscores the significance of inventory discipline, utilizing prime exclusive discounts, and addresses the issue of handling stale inventory.
Episode Notes:
00:21 - Will Haire Introduction
00:55 - The T5 and Sales Days
01:55 - Streaming TV Advertising
04:00 - Placement and Targeting
05:40 - Vendor Central
07:00 - Calculating Profit Margin
08:30 - Co-op Fees and Other Costs
12:05 - Contribution Margin
12:40 - Impact of Liquidating Products
15:00 - Paying for Advertising as a Vendor
17:25 - The Future of Vendor Central
19:35 - Closing Remarks
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/willhaire
Website: bellavix.com
X: MarketingChimp1
Related Post: How to Get Leverage on Amazon Vendor Negotiations [2024]

Jan 3, 2024 • 31min
Episode 238 - Expert Insights on Advertising, Data Analysis, and Business Growth with Youval Peltier and Andrew Tookey
In this episode of The Smartest Amazon Seller Podcast, host Scott Needham interviews Youval and Andrew, two experienced professionals with backgrounds in Amazon selling and brand management.
They discuss various topics related to selling on Amazon, focusing on advertising, data analysis, and overall business growth. Plus, insights and experiences - highlighting the importance of a healthy Amazon business, measuring incrementality, and utilizing data to optimize ad campaigns.
Learn the features and benefits of Amazon marketing cloud and discover valuable strategies to succeed on the platform.
Episode Notes:
00:40 - Youval Peltier and Andrew Tookey Introduction
04:13 - Empowering Brands
07:34 - The Complexity of Subcategories
08:06 - Factors That Contribute to a Healthy Amazon Business
09:46 - What is Incrementality?
11:14 - How to Measure Incrementality
11:50 - Stitching Data from Different Sources
14:41 - Brand Affinity
15:36 - Amazon Marketing Cloud
18:47 - Media-Driven Customer vs Organically-Driven Customer
20:22 - How to Deliver Optimal Results
23:13 - Advantage of Working Outside of Amazon
27:35 - The Omnichannel Solution
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/youval-peltier-74586319 | linkedin.com/in/andrew-tookey-64180623
Website: iderive.com
Related Post: Advertising Solutions by Amazon: A Closer Look into Amazon Ads

Dec 27, 2023 • 24min
Episode 237 - Understanding What Amazon Wants and Making Unit Economics Work with Robb Green
Unit economics assesses the profitability and sustainability of a business at the individual product or service level. By analyzing the costs and revenues associated with each unit sold, a company can determine whether its core offering is financially viable.
Rob, an entrepreneur at I'm The One Podcast, emphasizes the importance of product selection and unit economics in determining the success of a brand. He also discusses the changing landscape of selling on Amazon - highlighting the need for sellers to constantly evolve and adapt, and have a platform-first mentality by figuring out what Amazon wants.
Plus, learn what Rob has to say about multi-channel sales and the future of TikTok shops.
Episode Notes:
00:20 - Robb Green Introduction
01:49 - Best Part of Running Brands
02:38 - Product Selection and Unit Economics
04:31 - Strategy Shift
05:30 - Platform-first Mentality
06:21 - Using AI to Understand Customer Sentiment
07:10 - Using Data to Make Better and Quality Decisions
10:11 - Improvement on SQP Data
12:50 - What do Eight-figure Sellers Worry About?
15:13 - Allocating Time and Money for Multi-channel Sales
16:27 - The Future of TikTok Shops
17:45 - SmartScout for TikTok
20:51 - What Does TikTok Shops Want?
Website: https://imtheone.com/about-us/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imtheonepodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imtheonepodcast/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/people/Im-The-One-Podcast/
X: https://twitter.com/imtheonepodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imtheonepodcast/
Related Post: How to Sell on Amazon from Alibaba: A Beginner’s Guide

Dec 18, 2023 • 21min
Episode 236 - Accounting for Amazon Sellers with Ryan Hurley
Ryan Hurley, founder and lead developer of SellAnalytics, discusses the importance of accurate accounting for Amazon sellers and the limitations of existing tools like A2X and QuickBooks. He introduces Sell Analytics as a comprehensive solution for managing accounting and inventory. Topics include tying inventory into cash flow, using QuickBooks vs spreadsheets, learning how to operate an accounting firm, and building other sales channels.

Dec 11, 2023 • 20min
Episode 235 - Delegation and Hiring Virtual Employees for Amazon Wholesale
In this episode, host Scott Needham welcomes Corey Ganim, an expert in Amazon wholesale, to discuss the power of delegation and hiring virtual employees.
Corey shares his experience of leveraging overseas talents to delegate tasks that don't move the needle in his business. He emphasizes the importance of hiring employees who are willing to challenge and provide valuable input, rather than just being yes-men.
From managing Seller Central to handling administrative work, Corey provides practical tips on finding and training the right virtual assistants.
Episode Notes:
00:29 - Corey Ganim Introduction
01:00 - Creating Content for Wholesale Sellers on LinkedIn
02:25 - The Power of Delegation
02:50 - Screening and Finding Talents
06:40 - Common Hiring Mistakes
09:00 - Managing Seller Central
09:40 - AMZ United as a Participant
12:40 - Percentage of Brand New Amazon Sellers
14:10 - Opening Up New Accounts
16:50 - Navigating Distributor Relationships
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/corey-ganim
Website: gobrandrocket.com
X: @GanimCorey

Dec 5, 2023 • 30min
Episode 234 - How To Get Leverage on Amazon Vendor Negotiations with Martin Heubel
Amazon Vendor Negotiations are critical for vendors aiming to establish a successful and mutually beneficial relationship with the platform. A well-negotiated agreement can contribute to increased sales, improved visibility, and a stronger position within the competitive Amazon marketplace.
Join Scott and Martin Heubel as they discuss various aspects of Amazon's Vendor Central and how brands can navigate the platform.
Touching on topics such as the approach to Prime Day and other shopping holidays, the types of deals offered by vendors, the advantages of first-party brands in terms of visibility and placement, the shift in Amazon's relationships with distributors in Europe, and the reasons behind Amazon's reduced support for mid-tail and long-tail brands.
Plus, learn about Amazon's focus on automation and cost reduction, including the offshoring of support functions.
Episode Notes:
00:45 - Martin Heubel Introduction
02:15 - Vendor Central Experience and the Role of Vendor Managers
04:39 - Deal Exclusive to Vendor Brands
07:08 - 1P Relationships with Distributors in the United States
10:46 - Why Isn’t Amazon Not Meeting Expectations of 1P Brands?
15:15 - Amazon Reducing Cost
16:15 - What Does Amazon’s Hardball Look Like?
18:20 - Negotiating with Amazon
22:35 - Annual Vendor Negotiations
26:30 - The Future of Vendors
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/martinheubel
Website: consulterce.com
X: consulterce
Related post: The Vendor Central Database of Amazon Brands

Nov 28, 2023 • 25min
Episode 233 - The New Seller Fulfilled Prime Is Back and Open for Business
Seller Fulfilled Prime is crucial for sellers looking to optimize their fulfillment operations, reduce costs, and enhance their competitiveness in the Amazon marketplace.
It provides a strategic alternative to FBA, offering greater control, flexibility, and the ability to meet the high expectations of Amazon Prime customers.
Whether you're a seasoned seller or just starting, this episode featuring Manish Chowdhary, Founder & CEO at Cahoot -the World's first P2P Fulfillment Network for Brands and retailers- provides actionable information to navigate the ever-evolving dynamics of e-commerce fulfillment.
Episode notes:
00:15 - Manish Chowdhary Introduction
00:40 - Amazon FBA Programs
01:45 - Seller Fulfilled Prime Program Requirements
05:10 - Delivery Speed Metric
08:15 - Who is Seller Fulfilled Prime Best For?
“It’s a myth that FBA is cheaper across the board.” -Manish
10:50 - Multi-Channel Fulfillment
11:55 - Lawsuits and Latest News About Amazon SFP
15:40 - Seller Fulfilled Prime For Specific Shipping Regions
19:10 - Adoption of Seller Fulfilled Prime
20:25 - Seller Fulfilled Prime Application
21:05 - Seller Fulfilled Prime Trial
23:35 - Amazon Fees
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/manish-chowdhary
Website: Cahoot.ai
X: PulseCommerce
Related Post: FBA Doesn’t Always Beat FBM: When to Pick One for New Sellers