The Smartest Amazon Seller

Latest Episodes:

Episode 49: Scott in The Time of Corona | Adjusting Your Business During The COVID-19 Pandemic May 05, 2020

Show notes

Today Scott talks about what he’s doing with his business to take advantage of and reduce the risk surrounding the changes that have taken place in Amazon due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We talk about the categories that are doing well right now, such as crafts, puzzles, musical instruments, and home gym products. We also discuss how Amazon and BuyBoxer are adapting to the pandemic, and talk about small business loans such as the disaster grant and disaster relief loan, as well as the Payroll Protection Plan. We finish by discussing what you should be thinking about for the future as an Amazon seller, and wish you and your business the best.
Price Gouging vs. Repricing 1:00
Transitioning Our Categories: What’s Stocking Out 4:26
How Amazon and BuyBoxer Are Adjusting to Change 6:50
Predictions and What You Should Be Thinking About 11:34
“So I hope you are starting to strategize how you’re going to come out of it. Businesses are going to be hurt, and, I’d hate to point it out, there’s going to be opportunity. And I do think that some of the biggest opportunity is in E-commerce. And so, in 6 months it’s a better time to launch a product than last year -- I think there’s going to be a major shake-up.” 11:08
Social
https://www.instagram.com/smartestseller/
https://www.buyboxer.com/

Episode 48: How to Build Trust in Your Business | Client Service Strategies With Michelle Kartchner Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

Today we interview one of our most tenured employees at Buyboxer, Michelle Kartchner, Director of Client Services. She works with suppliers and distributors, and explains the ins and outs of that process. We discuss the importance of building trust with shipping companies on Amazon. We talk about what makes a brand successful on Amazon, including channel control, investing in advertising, and having winning skews. We emphasize the importance of getting first reviews right, careful pricing, and a thorough understanding of Amazon to ensure the success of brands. We also talk about how consistency is one of the most important keys to build trust with brands. We discuss other important services such as cleaning up product pages and advertising. We finish by inviting you to find out more about Buyboxer’s approach to Amazon Compliance at https://www.buyboxer.com/healthyaccount.
Building Relationships of Trust In Amazon Shipment 1:03
What Makes Brands Successful; What Makes Brands Fail 7:17
The Importance of Consistency 15:00
Cleaning Up Product Pages and Advertising Make You Valuable 20:39
“We pride ourselves on being the Amazon experts. That’s why we get hired, and why brands bring us on to help them out. And when they don’t hand over that trust to us to actually do the work we were hired to do, it really inhibits what we can get done.” 14:41
Social
https://www.instagram.com/smartestseller/
https://www.buyboxer.com/

Episode 47: New Opportunities In Wholesale | How to Maximize Profit With Todd Snively and Chris Keef Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

Today we interview Todd Snively and Chris Keef, two Amazon Wholesale professionals. We discuss how the current global pandemic has affected E-commerce on Amazon, and warn against trying to capitalize on products that are currently under the microscope. We share that FBM is now a wide-open opportunity, and advise that sellers look out for products that are further down on the bestseller rank but are rising in demand. We discuss how the wholesale model can involve much less risk than private label. We give advice for those who struggle with sourcing, and point out that data is the key to finding the most profitable products. We discuss how Amazon giving scrutiny is a good sign that they can adapt and implement policy quickly during uncertain times. We invite you to reach out to www.wholesaleproductmastery.com/info to see how they can help you.
-Covid-19’s Impacts on E-commerce 1:15
-How Amazon is Moving Forward; The “Unsexy” Approach; Reducing Risk 8:31
-Advice For Those Struggling With Sourcing; Amazon’s Efforts to Build Trust 18:24
-How wholesaleproductmastery.com Can Help You 30:05
“The inventory turns that we can get at any given time with private label, it was 3, 4, maybe? We’re gonna take that investment and maybe get 3 to 4 times on it. In the wholesale model you should get 12, 14, 15? I mean, you can turn that same investment so many times because they are U.S. based suppliers. You’re only holding inventory on hand 2 and a half weeks, 3 weeks? You don’t have to float an entire container load’s worth of stuff for your inventory. So, I made that switch for those reasons among others, and it’s certainly paid off handsomely.” 16:56
Social
https://www.instagram.com/smartestseller/
https://www.buyboxer.com/

Episode 46: Scott’s Rave Review | How to Scale Your Business Using wholesaleinspector.com Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

Today’s episode is about a tool that can be a game changer for wholesalers and resellers. We interview Tom Myers from the Wholesale Inspector, an online tool which helps the seller find the best opportunities from among hundreds of UPC’s. We talk about the features and data points of wholesaleinspector.com and how they were developed, as well as new features that are about to debut. We also give pro tips on how to use Wholesale Inspector, including double checking the numbers of bundle packs. We invite the listener to get their FIRST MONTH FREE at Wholesale Inspector by following this link: http://wholesaleinspector.com?fp_ref=smartestseller
-The Features of wholesaleinspector.com 4:14
-First Announcement of Brand New Feature; Bundle Packs 10:12
-Offer For Listeners of This Podcast; Benefits of W.I.’s Unmatched Speed 16:43
“Say your supplier calls up 8 o’clock in the morning saying, ‘Hey, Scott, we’ve got this super good deal list going on right now! Limited stock, though, so first come, first serve.’ And you’re like, ‘Oh, great, I’m gonna go run this!’ And you go to your competitor’s tool and you upload it, and you wait 10 hours to get your results. By the time you put your PO. in, those things have sold out already. But with Wholesale Inspector where it’s nice and fast, you can run the list, get the results back in a couple minutes, and have your PO out within half an hour, and be the first to jump on some of those nice deals.” 17:40
https://wholesaleinspector.com/
Social
https://www.instagram.com/smartestseller/
https://www.buyboxer.com/

Episode 45: Insights From An Amazon Grocery Expert | Effects of COVID-19 on Amazon Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

Today we talk with Jed Rawson, a grocery expert on Amazon. We talk about the changes that have happened in Amazon since the COVID-19 pandemic. We talk about Amazon Lending withholding money, the spike in demand for food items, and repeat purchase rate and organic review rate as essential analysis numbers for grocery businesses on Amazon. We also talk about CPC in online grocery, and the important, trending terms in the marketplace such as keto and gluten-free. We talk about changes in CPC, data analysis, budgeting, and inventory due to the pandemic. We talk about the advantages of staying 100% on the white-hat side of Amazon selling, even during times like these. We discuss triage as an essential business tactic right now, and give our predictions about the course and potential aftermath of the pandemic.
-Effect of Coronavirus on Amazon 1:39
-Differences From Other Amazon Businesses 7:52
-Unprecedented Changes in CPC, Budgets, Inventory; Price Gouging 14:37
Keeping Up With Demand; Triage; What to Expect 24:43
“Cost-per-clicks for some categories are crashing. And even if it’s a hard good -- like a pet bed -- crashing, and getting a lot cheaper. But the cost-per-click for hand sanitizer, for toilet paper, for like staple goods, is through the roof. And so we’ve had to change our approach and be careful targeting very common, very competitive terms.” 15:12
https://www.rawamz.com/
Social
https://www.instagram.com/smartestseller/
https://www.buyboxer.com/

Episode 44: 8 Figure Strategy | Launching Private Label Products on Amazon with Derek James Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

In today’s episode, we interview Derek James, an 8 figure private label seller on Amazon and Amazon coach who has made $200 million with all new ASIN’s. We begin by discussing launch strategies for private label products and brand licensing, including the importance of budgeting and category research. We talk about getting returns on your investments both at Derek’s scale and smaller scales. We also talk strategy for lighting deals and other deals. We then talk about removing stress from managing an Amazon business using virtual assistants. We then segue the conversation into Derek’s program for training VA’s. We finish by discussing the importance of quality education from trusted sources to help build your business on Amazon. To get in touch with Derek or to learn more from him, go to https://derekjamessells.com/
-Launch Strategy for New Products; Returns on Investment 2:45
-Deal Strategies 14:52
-Removing the Stress From Managing an Amazon Business: VA’s 24:16
-Where to Go For Advice For Your Amazon Business 30:03
“You have to be clear, in your vision, about what is it going to take, monetarily, to maybe enter this category. What’s my cost of goods? What’s my landing cost? Have I built an ad campaign cost? What’s my creative cost? Am I shooting video? Do I have my trademark already done so I can do enhanced brand content -- EBC, A+ content, all these things. Those are all things that in the beginning we would look at.” 4:19
Social
https://www.instagram.com/smartestseller/
https://www.buyboxer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/derekdemeo/?hl=en

Episode 43: Automate, Eliminate, or Delegate? | Using Data Automation for Maximum Efficiency with Will Christensen Mar 17, 2020

Show notes

Today we talk with Will Christensen, Co-Founder of DataAutomation. He explains Zapier, an iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) that automates repetitive tasks without coding or relying on developers to build the integration. We talk about the unique services that DataAutomation provides using Zapier, including helping you understand how to use the platform to push ahead as well as building applications on Zapier. We make the special offer to listeners that if they email Will at will@dataautomation.com and mention this podcast episode, they can get a free 15-30 min call with DataAutomation to get pro tips on automation and which software piece is best for them. We talk about the advantages of the sessions report and custom fields using Will’s Chrome Extension, Taskrunner, on Seller Central. We discuss examples of other ways to implement this technology for greater efficiency.
-Scale With Automation Using Zapier 1:14
-Advantages of Using Taskrunner; Examples of Creating Efficiency in Your Business 10:04
-Important Principles for Automation 29:25
“If you’re considering automation, the first place to start is to ask yourself, ‘Is it time to automate, eliminate, or delegate?’ 29:25
https://dataautomation.com/
Social
https://www.instagram.com/smartestseller/
https://www.buyboxer.com/

Episode 42: Smart International Shipping | How Freight Forwarders Can Provide Peace of Mind Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

Today we interview John Eagan, and Rose Del Rio from Flat World Global Solutions. We talk about the effects of the coronavirus on shipping freight internationally. We talk about the current status of freight and shipping, as well as how it’s affecting the market. We then give valuable expert advice for international shipping, covering topics such as customs and duties. One of these tips is to never let manufacturers take control of the shipment, and we explain the reasons why. We break down terms such as DDP and EIN numbers. We discuss the value of freight forwarding services, including the security, peace of mind, and trust they can provide. We talk about the service that Flat World Global Solutions provides in estimating the cost of tariffs in your final shipment cost. We then talk about what you can do to learn more about moving your freight. We emphasize the importance of calling and reaching out to ask your questions and make sure you have your shipping needs covered.
-Status of Freight Ships, Air Cargo, Truck Drivers, and Manufacturers 1:25
-How Freight Forwarding Typically Works -- Expert Advice 6:19
-Importance of Establishing Trust When Shipping 23:05
-What You Can Do To Learn More 32:15
“Make sure that when you find somebody to work with that you are settled -- that you are okay. Because in the life of your shipment that’s at least what? A month? Of traveling if you’re going by sea. You want to make sure that you can sleep at night knowing that your shipment is moving and that somebody is looking out for you.” 25:10

Episode 41: How to Grow Your Business | Scott’s Secrets of Scaling Mar 05, 2020

Show notes

In today’s episode, we invite the listener to dive into Scott’s new content on compliance, found on buyboxer.com/healthyaccount. The topic of this episode is scaling your business for efficiency to get more value for the time you put into it. We talk about how to best spend your time when scaling your business, including continuously educating your employees and improving technology. We read a review from someone who took simple yet effective techniques from our podcast and applied them to get ahead with their business.
-Intro: Find Out More About Compliance; Find Nuggets From Past Episodes 0:46
-Where to Spend Your Time When Growing Your Business 6:14
-Listen to Past Episodes for More Tips On Using Time More Effectively 17:11
“We’re telling things about Amazon that no one else knows. I got a masters degree in computer engineering, and I’ve poured through all the data points I can find to figure out how to be a better E-commerce professional. And I am trying to turn you guys into that. It takes a lot of different disciplines to be good at this, from marketing, accounting, to logistics. You’re the business owners, those that are listening to this podcast, and you do need a little bit of knowledge on a lot of it. So, I know what it takes to scale, and everything that I’ve told you guys, I stand behind it as things that will only help you get an edge, and to help you scale your business.” 3:10
Social
https://www.instagram.com/smartestseller/
https://www.buyboxer.com/

Episode 40: Pro Tips from a Champion Seller | Chase Leavitt Mar 03, 2020

Show notes

Today, we talk with Chase Leavitt, CEO of Upstreet Brands, and cousin of Scott Needham. We discuss the roles and benefits of sourcing agents, who help you negotiate with suppliers and factories. These benefits include simplifying correspondence between you and your supplier, building stronger business relationships, and finding you the right new manufacturers based on your needs. They also help you hold your suppliers accountable for the quality of the product, which is critical for its successful performance on Amazon. We explain how sourcing agents are paid for their work. We talk about how you can find a souring agent that is good for you. We then discuss strategies for staying afloat in competitive markets. We talk about one of these strategies, bundling/variation, in greater detail. We converse about how to prepare your Amazon business for sale, and what to look for when buying an Amazon business. We finish by discussing the benefits of building a business on Amazon.
-Sourcing Agents: Roles and Benefits 2:54
-Cost of Sourcing Agents; Inventory Inspection; Quality Business Relationships 9:14
-Finding a Sourcing Agent; Strategies for Staying Competitive 14:40
-Selling Your Amazon Business; What to Look for When Buying; Building Your Business 22:07
“If you’re at the very beginning of a business, and you want to make sure that you can include a trademark or some design patent in there, that would probably mean you need to prove its success for a little bit, and then you’re going to file it. And so, it’s kind of a longer game, but you have to have that endurance in this business. You don’t get rich quick, period.” 25:19
Social
https://www.instagram.com/smartestseller/
https://www.buyboxer.com/

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