Scott gets into the real-world financial decisions Amazon sellers face, especially when it comes to leveraging debt. He shares firsthand experience navigating inventory demands, Q4 cash crunches, and the lure of fast growth, while also examining the dangers of borrowing, from overvaluing inventory to the addictive cycle of continual loans.

Hear case studies, cautionary tales, and reflections on what separates sellers who survive from those who flame out. Whether you’re debating your first credit line or considering a private label acquisition, this episode offers grounded insight—and a compelling argument for building debt-free, sustainable Amazon businesses.

 

Episode Notes:

00:09 - Iconic Companies That Haven’t Taken Loans

01:12 - The Need for Cash in Amazon Selling

02:04  - Navigating Financial Leverage

02:26 - Types of Financial Leverage Used

06:32 - The Downside of Leverage

12:10 - A Case Study: Private Label Acquisition During Leverage

13:52 - Survival and Demise of Major Amazon Sellers

16:12 - The Case for Debt-Free Growth

18:21 - Amazon Accelerate

 

Related Post: Nike and Amazon's Renewed Partnership

 

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

 

 

Scott returns from Prosper to share some personal updates and Amazon insights. Prime Day is expanding to four days this year — a move that makes sense as Amazon tries to give shoppers and sellers more time to take advantage of the buzz. Scott also talks about the return of Sellers United this October near New York City, a conference built for resellers of all sizes. Plus, he gives a casual rundown of what’s new at SmartScout. From tools that help track where your products get mentioned online to ways of better understanding pricing trends. It’s a laid-back, behind-the-scenes update with a bit of everything for Amazon sellers.

Episode Notes:

00:15 - New developments and Upcoming Announcements

01:14 - Amazon Prime Day – Strategy and Insights

02:30 - Sellers United Conference Announcement

05:57 - New Tools: Traffic Links

09:43 - Pricing Intelligence

14:40 - Content Marketing and Brand Awareness

Related Post: Who Competes with Circana? The Top Alternatives for Retail and CPG Data Intelligence

 

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Jon Derkits, a former Amazon marketplace leader and now independent brand owner, shares his expert insights for Amazon entrepreneurs.

He draws from his experience creating the "Best at Amazon" newsletter and his finance background to discuss Amazon Selling Strategies, Collaboration on Amazon, Impact of U.S.-China Tariffs, Essential Amazon Seller Tools, Balancing Content and Engagement, and Financial Acumen in E-commerce.

Ready to level up your Amazon game? Tune in and gain the insights you need to thrive in this competitive Amazon marketplace!

Episode Notes:

00:17 - Jon Derkits Introduction

02:06 - Jon Derkits Background

05:02 - Role of Finance in Amazon Business Strategy

06:14 - The Newsletter: Best at Amazon

11:27 - Navigating the Amazon News Cycle

13:05 - Tariffs and Their Impact on Amazon Sellers

17:33 - Anker Price Increase

19:46 - The Concept of One-Way Doors in Business Decisions

22:12 - Decision-making Frameworks

22:56 - Tech Stack and Tools for Amazon Sellers

25:05 - Combining SmartScout with Keepa

29:10 - The Simplicity and Power of SmartScout Data

32:38 - Jon Derkits’ Favorite SmartScout Features

39:35 - Two Best Tips From Jon

 

Related Posts: Why Amazon Vendors Feel Ignored and What They Can Do About It

 

How to Reach Jon:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jon-derkits

Websites: auxoecommerce.com | tidycal.com/jonderkits/quick-chat

BEST@AMAZON NEWSLETTER: https://bestatamazon.ck.page/

AMAZON COACHING & ADVISORY: https://tidycal.com/jonderkits/amazon-coaching-and-advisory

 

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

As an Amazon seller, it’s always beneficial to continuously find ways to reach more audience and increase visibility or discoverability. You want all the competitive advantage of gaining insights to target the right buyers and drive sales. In this episode, Scott is joined by Vince (Sir TACoS) Montero, an Amazon Ads Strategist and PPC consultant. You don’t want to miss on their juicy insights about the latest ad campaign trends, where Amazon is dedicating its resources, and a lot more. Episode Notes: 00:15 - Vince Montero Introduction 01:05 - The Future of Amazon PPC 03:40 - Sponsored Brands Video vs Sponsored Display Video 05:55 - How to Take Advantage of the New Top Placement 07:00 - What Triggers a Video Rejection? 07:45 - Best Places to Put UGCs 08:50 - Why Is Amazon Leaning Into Branding Type Elements 11:30 - New Amazon Features and Innovation 12:30 - The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Amazon Sellers 19:05 - Learning From Mistakes 20:15 - Latest Trends on Video Creation with AI 22:30 - AMZ United 23:30 - Working with Mina Elias Website: triviumco.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vmontero | linkedin.com/company/trivium-group-llc/ Related Post: Top 20 Amazon PPC Advertising Software and Tools With Pricing

Gain valuable insights on the evolving Amazon landscape in 2023 and discover effective strategies to enhance your sales. In this episode, Scott provides an update on the changing dynamics, giving you options to maximize your business's growth and success. Learn the latest on brand acquisitions, editorials, what’s new with SmartScout, and the much-awaited, wholesale-focused Amazon Conference from AMZ United. 01:10 - Amazon aggregator SellerX acquired Elevate Brands 03:45 - Removal of On-Site Editorials 05:20 - Capture What’s Trending Fast with Popping Topics 07:10 - AMZ United Related Posts: Amazon FBA, Where Are We Headed in 2023? The Future Is Bright! Episode 82: Two heads are better than one. How I run BuyBoxer with a little Help

For Amazon businesses with complex software needs, there’s no one size fits all solution. Here’s where Custom Software Development comes in. Why do you need one? Should you turn to freelancers for building this custom software? Or pick an agency with a robust team that works with big Fortune 500 companies? Join Scott with his guest Jakob Wolitzki from Deltologic as they highlight the importance of hiring a professional team when building a custom dashboard for data visualization, monitoring, repricing, etc. Episode Notes: 00:15 - Jakob Wolitzki Introduction 02:00 - Insights from Sellers 04:10 - Common Issues for Developers 05:20 - What is API? 05:45 - Going All In With Custom Software 06:35 - Freelances vs Agencies for Custom Tools 08:00 - Deltologic Tools 10:30 - Why Existing Solutions Are Not For Everyone 13:50 - Deltologic Microservice 20:50 - API Changes Website: https://deltologic.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jakob-wolitzki Related Post: 18 Best Software Tools for Amazon Online Arbitrage Sellers

In today's rapidly evolving marketplace, your strategy as a seller must also keep up with the changes. Tune in for a fresh perspective as Alina Vlaic of AZ Rank unlocks the secrets behind her game-changing approach to market research and launch strategy. Learn the latest trends and techniques that reshape how products are researched and introduced. Allow your business to gain a competitive edge and reach its target audience more effectively. Episode Notes: 00:30 - Alina Vlaic Introduction 01:10 - Alina’s Amazon Magic Journey 04:55 - The Rebates Background 06:25 - “Scan, Test, Observe, and Report” is the new “Search Find Buy” “You cannot rely on just a single thing during launch…, you should do a little bit more.” The one’s that actually really succeeded, they had a really complex launch plan.” - Alina 12:25 - Leveraging Audience to Create User-Generated Content 18:20 - How to utilize AZ Rank’s Partner Publishers Email: alina@azrank.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alina-vlaic-8b77876a Website: azrank.com | pressx.live Related Post: The Complete Guide to Amazon UGC

If you’ve had success in the U.S. marketplace and are now aiming to go overseas, this episode is for you. Understand the Amazon Europe Ecosystem, the importance of buyer maturity, the challenges of the overseas marketplace, and how you can penetrate the European market fast with Scott and Stef van Boekel of Marketplace Distri. Episode Notes: 00:20 - Stef van Boekel Introduction 01:15 - What Is the Amazon Europe Ecosystem? 02:35 - Challenges of New Amazon Marketplaces 07:20 - Tackling Physical Presence 09:10 - Amazon Infrastructure as a Service 12:10 - Synchronizing Reviews Overseas 15:25 - The Maturity of the Marketplace 16:40 - Differences between the European and the U.S. Community LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stefvanboekel Website: marketplacedistri.com | eubusinessdevelopment.com Related Post: What is Amazon Multi-Country Inventory?

Talk about a win-win situation. Publishers that can directly connect with brands to get paid more, and brands that can get more eyes on their products and boost their profit. Everyone is happy. Learn how sellers and publishers can partner up using this latest platform. Co-Founded by David Katz, Archer Affiliates is the gold standard of Affiliate Marketing for Amazon Brands. 00:25 - David Katz Introduction 01:20 - Where Archer Affiliates Was Born 04:15 - TikTok vs Traditional Publishers 05:40 - Onsite Editorials 06:20 - What Does Archer Affiliates Offer? 07:05 - Amazon Onsite Program 09:35 - Why You Should Choose Archer Affiliates 11:40 - How To Increase Net Margin 12:20 - Having Years of Repurchases From Customers 13:30 - What Products Sell Better Than Others? 15:05 - Sending Product Samples 16:15 - High Consideration Products 17:50 - The Publishers 20:40 - The Problems With Influencers 21:50 - How SmartScout Solved Affiliate Tracking Issues 23:20 - Setting Up An Account With Archer Affiliates Website: https://archeraffiliates.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/david-katz-2641b8192 Email: dkatz@archeraffiliates.com Related Post: How can Amazon Sellers Benefit from Affiliate Marketing?

We talk about why AMZ United will be the Amazon conference that you do not want to miss. It is one of a kind. You don't want to miss the action that will be in NYC on August 31st. It's an exciting announcement. Thank you everyone for making it all possible!

Getting insights on the best products to sell can provide an Amazon seller a huge advantage over competition. Seeing a clear sales log with historic graphs not only helps pursue but also avoid certain products. That’s just one of the many things that you can get from Keepa — a simple chrome extension that packs a lot of data-gathering power that is shockingly up to date. Take it from the experts and listen to Scott and Christoper Grant on how to efficiently use this tool to your advantage. 00:10 - Christoper Grant Introduction 01:45 - What is Keepa 02:35 - How Keepa Keeps its Data Up to Date 03:35 - The Best Things About Keepa For New and Experienced Amazon Sellers 04:45 - Insights on Price Stability 06:10 - Go Granular with Keepa Product Finder 08:15 - Where SmartScout Shines 09:35 - What Can 8-Figure Sellers Get From Keepa 11:00 - What To Do After Finding a Good Product 12:20 - Christopher’s Best Find 13:35 - Faster Ways To Find Keyword Trends 14:55 - The Power of TikTok Marketing Website: https://cleartheshelf.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/cleartheshelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleartheshelf YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cleartheshelf Related Post: The Best Software Tools for an Amazon FBA Wholesale Seller

When it comes to finding product styles or variations, Amazon's search results may not always be accurate. So how do Amazon sellers effectively structure ad listings for multiple or specific product options and ultimately help buyers find exactly what they want? Elizabeth Greene, co-founder of Junglr, breaks down her top Amazon advertising strategies and uncovers the challenges of dealing with variation listings with Scott. Episode Notes: 00:15 - Elizabeth Greene Introduction 03:20 - How To Approach Advertising With Large Variation Listings 06:00 - Forcing a New Variation to Show 06:45 - Testing Variants To Determine Which One Converts 08:10 - How To Deal With Low Conversion Rates 14:40 - What Gets Good Conversion Rates 15:30 - Return Rates of Apparel 18:10 - Unique Issues of Specific Ad Variations 20:15 - The Best of Both Worlds Ad Strategy 22:50 - Understanding the Nuances of Every Category 24:20 - Going for the Cheap Click Website: junglr.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-greene-junglr Email: elizabeth@junglr.com Related Post: 12 Best Amazon Listing Tools in 2023

Stay informed about current events with Scott and Josh as they focus on small and big changes in the Amazon industry. Learn how these updates can affect sales, open new opportunities, expose bad vendor practices, improve customer satisfaction, and more. Episode Notes: 00:35 - Josh Andrus Introduction 02:35 - Paying Attention to the Software World 03:05 - Helium 10 New Product Pricing 04:05 - Scott’s Full Analysis of Market Research Tools 05:05 - Josh’s Perspective on Helium 10’s Update 06:20 - Entry-Level Tools That Make Sense To Have 07:20 - SmartScout’s Newsletter 07:40 - Chinese Sellers Back on Amazon 09:20 - FTC Cracks Down on Review Manipulation 10:35 - Downloading Search Query Report from Amazon 13:10 - Other News Items 16:55 - Josh’s Favorite Tool Website: smartscout.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshuajandrus Related Post: Amazon Analytics Software Comparison

The e-commerce landscape is experiencing seismic shifts as new tariffs against China send shockwaves through Amazon's marketplace.

Scott explores how these economic tremors are disrupting the delicate balance of global online retail—potentially the most significant supply chain disruption since COVID. Through exclusive insights from a conversation with one of the largest Chinese sellers in the world, Scott uncovers why businesses importing from China are facing unexpected cash crunches and how these tariffs might reshape the competitive landscape for sellers worldwide.

But tariffs are only half the story. Scott pulls back the curtain on the controversial tactics Chinese sellers use to dominate Amazon, controlling approximately 50% of third-party revenue on the platform. You'll discover the inner workings of tools like the Ziniao browser—software specifically designed to help sellers create multiple Amazon accounts against platform policies—and why some sellers can operate "10 stores selling one product" while others face immediate suspension for similar behavior. This rule-breaking reality explains why 75% of Amazon sellers believe the marketplace isn't fair.

As billionaires like Mark Cuban and Chamath share data showing Chinese sellers capturing up to 60% market share in certain Amazon categories, Scott examines what this new e-commerce reality means for businesses, consumers, and the global economy.

Episode Notes:

00:23 - Dinner with a Top Chinese Seller & Introduction to China Topic

01:13 - China’s Amazon Seller Landscape & Entrepreneurial Drive

02:30 - Energy & Business Culture in China

04:47 - Chinese Sellers' Approach to Amazon’s Rules

05:40 - The Ziniao Browser Tool

09:00 - Widespread Multi-Account Strategy & Aggressive Tactics

10:17 - Amazon’s Evolving Policies & Fairness Concerns

11:52 - New Tariffs on Chinese Goods & Impacts on Sellers

13:39 - Preparing for a Cash Crunch

15:05 - The Role of Chinese Sellers and the Political Spotlight

15:30 - Building Influence Through Data

17:58 - Immediate Reactions from Brands

18:48 -Bias and Hopes for U.S.-Based Sellers

 

Related Post: Break the Profit Squeeze: How Leading Amazon Sellers Use Growth Capital To Beat Their Competition

 

Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: @smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

What if you have a partner who shares your passion for your business? A team that helps you strategize, mitigate risks, and bring your business to the next level. Enter South Col, an eCommerce accelerator that does not only infuse working capital into your business but also brings in 15 years of combined experience in investment banking, finance, operations, and sales and marketing. If you want to rapidly scale with a strong team behind you, join Scott and Chris Shipferling, South Col’s founding partner, as they tell you the answers to the test on this juicy podcast. Episode Notes: 00:40 - Chris Shipferling Introduction 01:30 - How Companies Pivot and Evolve 04:20 - Venture Run-Up and Run-Down 06:00 - Amazon Sellers Reverting to the Mean 07:35 - How E-Commerce Benefited From the Pandemic 08:10 - Help With Capital and Strategy “Product is king, period. There’s no other way to slice it or dice it.” - Chris Shipferling 10:35 - How To Succeed on Amazon Without Being Lucky “I don’t think you’ll win unless you specialize” - Scott 13:30 - What is South Col 15:55 - The Ultimate Exit 18:50 - Why Surround Yourself With Smart People Website: https://www.southcol.co/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chrisshipferling Related Post: What’s Up With Subcategories

Work is Play. That’s how Scott feels about running his business. And with the advent of Artificial Intelligence, he found a new toy to play with. Incorporating SmartScout’s Amazon Data with the power of AI. Join Scott as he shares his excitement about what he has been working on for the last 3 months, and learn how Amazon sellers can use AI technology to grow their businesses. Episode Notes: 00:15 - Scott’s Childhood Story 02:00 - The AI Sensation 03:10 - Combining AI with SmartScout’s Amazon Data 03:40 - Running SmartScout’s AI Listing Architect on Liquid Death 04:45 - Try SmartScout’s AI Architect for Free! 05:10 - AI-Generated Blog Post Ranks and Converts “If your writing skills are just mediocre but your hustle and entrepreneurship skills are a little bit higher, there’s an opportunity here.” -Scott Email: scott@smartscout.com Website: www.smartscout.com Related Post: Building Amazon Listings With AI

High-quality images are one of the most critical elements of a successful Amazon product listing. However, producing Amazon-ready photos can also drain your time and resources. Imagine the time and money saved when you don’t have to rely on expensive equipment and manpower just to create a product image. Stick around with Scott and Madison Wynsma, Head of Sales for Dresma, as they dissect the process of creating Amazon-compliant images using the AI-Powered DoMyShoot App, which offers impressive lead time and competitive pricing. Episode Notes: 00:35 - Madison Wynsma Introduction 01:35 - Scott’s DoMyShoot Experience 04:00 - Challenges Of Making Product Images 05:00 - How DoMyShoot Can Help New and Existing Amazon Sellers 06:50 - DoMyShoot App Features 08:00 - What Goes On After Shooting An Image 08:40 - DoMyShoot Human Intervention 09:15 - DoMyShoot Pricing 10:00 - DoMyShoot Users and Partners 11:00 - Creating a Simple Photography Setup 12:25 - DoMyShoot Web Version 14:00 - DoMyShoot History 14:55 - DoMyShoot Background Templates 17:10 - DoMyShoot Free Credits 17:45 - Upcoming Tradeshows Book a Demo Website: https://www.domyshoot.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madisonwynsma/ Related Post: Building Amazon Listings With AI

How much money are you spending on your Amazon ads? What’s the ideal minimum budget? Should you shift focus from ACoS to TACoS? How could this shift affect your Amazon ad spending? Why is having a Multichannel perspective vital to your Amazon success? Where can you get your Amazon advertising checked? Join Scott in this insightful episode with Ryan Flannagan, the CEO of Nuanced Media, a full-service e-commerce marketing agency, as they tackle these critical questions about growing an Amazon business. Learn from the experts the key areas you should prioritize to enhance brand recognition and boost your sales Episode Notes: 00:20 - Ryan Flannagan Introduction 00:50 - How a Phenomena Can Affect Amazon Sales 03:15 - Nuanced Media Pivot 03:50 - Conversion Rates “Amazon generally rewards sales with more sales.” - Scott 04:40 - Amazon Listing Optimization 06:25 - Does Keyword Frequency Matter? 07:25 - Biggest Amazon Marketing Opportunity 08:30 - Hardest Part About E-Commerce 09:30 - Split Testing Amazon Listing 12:10 - Amazon Brand Referral Program 12:30 - Why ACoS Is Old News 14:30 - Transitioning From ACoS to TACoS 15:45 - Were Is Nuanced Media Headed in 2023 17:00 - The Shopify Strategy 18:20 - Getting on Google Shopping 21:10 - Nuanced Media Services Website: https://nuancedmedia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanflannagan/ Twitter: RyanFlannagan | NuancedMedia Related Post: SmartScout’s AI Listing Architect Tool

Are you being charged incorrect fees by Amazon? Do you have information on the specific SKUs affected, the amount charged, and the reasons for the fees? Amazon reimbursements can be a complex, time-consuming process. Let Scott Needham and Justin Coberly tell you how to do reimbursements right with Sifted. Justin also delved into the details of how Sifted not only allows companies to easily keep track of amazon reimbursements but also offers comprehensive data analytics that help spot trends and make informed decisions about purchases in the future. 00:50 - Sifted History 02:05 - Justin Coberly introduction 02:20 - Why It’s Worth Looking Into Sifted 03:10 - Sifted’s Growth 04:00 - How to Propel Revenue with Sales Heat Map 08:10 - Sifted’s FBA Fee Analyzer 09:10 - What Affects FBA Fulfillment Fees 11:15 - Peace of Mind with Sifted App 13:40 - Sifted’s Free Audit Analysis 14:30 - How Sifted Charge Users 16:05 - New Updates and Features of Sifted Sifted Coupon Code: Welcome100 Sifted Monthly Product Demo Website: https://sifted.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-coberly-086236123/ Related Post: What are FBA Fulfillment Fees?

Scott sat down with Michal Specian, a specialist in helping Amazon sellers maximize their businesses. Together they discussed the benefits that Amazon sellers can gain from systematizing their operations, including enhanced efficiency for repetitive tasks, improved accuracy, and cost savings. Michal also shared simple strategies that allowed their business to grow from 6 to 8 figures in just 4 years with the help of his business partner, Myles Dunphy. Learn the secrets of developing a product, what to immediately do in the early business stages, and much more in this latest podcast. Episode notes: 0:25 - Michal Specian Introduction and Background 1:15 - Finding Michal’s Business Partner 2:20 - Growing the Business From 6 to 8 Figures 2:55 - The Most Time-Consuming Task for Michal 3:15 - Michal’s First Hire 5:20 - Overseas Business Launching in the US 6:00 - 3-Step Strategy That Helped Business Growth “Most good businesses are simple. Not easy, but simple.” - Scott 8:20 - Michal’s Successful SKUs 8:45 - Product Development and Unique Positioning 10:10 - Adding Product Variation 10:35 - Frequency of New Product Launches and Unifying the Brand 15:25 - What Michal Should Have Done Sooner 16:45 - Opportunities in the Amazon Space “Do not start an Amazon business, start a brand and use Amazon as a Sales channel.” - Michal 17:45 - How Does Knowing the Customer Affect Business Decisions 19:55 - Michal’s Future Plans 24:00 - Using AI to Write Amazon Listings Website: https://www.michalspecian.com/ Twitter: @michalspecian Free Facebook Group: Advanced Amazon FBA Sellers | Systemize · Hire · Delegate · Scale TikTok: michalspecian Instagram: michalspecian.fba YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michalspecian/videos Related Post: Everything You Need To Create Listings That Customers and Amazon Algorithms Love

Scott chats with Joseph Hansen, CMO @ Spreetail & CEO @ Buy Box Experts. Joseph is also one of the Top 3 sellers on Amazon in the world and he's determined to break obstacles that many beginners encounter on their journey to amazon success. As a veteran amazon seller, Joseph has plenty of tips to share with anyone looking to up their amazon game. Episode Notes: 0:25 - Joseph Hansen Introduction and Background 4:15 - Performance Marketing 6:10 - Bold Ideas Beat Experience 8:30 - Agency Expertise 11:45 - What Makes Spreetail Unique? 16:00 - Spreetail’s Specialization 17:45 - Oversized Products 19:00 - Spreetail’s Acquisition BBE (Buy Box Experts) 19:55 - What Performance Marketing Is About 20:35 - Buy Box Experts’ Focus 25:00 - Spreetail’s Future 28:10 - Lessons From Spreetail and BBE “As a brand owner, a reseller, an aggregator, you have to get in the mind of your customer, … get the honest truth … to create success.” - Joseph 32:05 - Business Wisdom Website: www.spreetail.com/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/spreetail/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/josephhansen/ | www.linkedin.com/company/spreetail/life/wearespreetail/ Related Post: How Do the Top 10 Amazon Sellers Operate?

Scott chats with Trajan Bayly, CEO of Gray Falkon, as he highlights the importance of understanding one's market when it comes to brand awareness. He stresses using Amazon analytics to evaluate product performance; segment data to track customer behavior; and understand why people buy certain products and use feedback to shape related campaigns. Through this method, Trajan believes a brand can accurately assess its current market position and use that knowledge to build a successful online presence while staying relevant amongst competitors. Episode Notes: 1:10 - Trajan Bayly Introduction 1:40 - MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) 3:05 - Trajan’s Background Working With Amazon Brands 4:15 - Arbitrage Happens All the Time 6:35 - How Gray Falkon Helps Brands Understand Their Market 9:25 - The Good and Shady Sellers 10:30 - Money Laundering on Amazon 12:45 - How to Approach Intellectual Property 14:15 - Cleaning Up Bad Listings 15:05 - What’s the Future of Amazon Sellers and Brands? 16:50 - Using IP in a Good Way 17:55 - Identifying Brand-friendly Sellers 20:10 - Amazon Selling 10 Years From Now 25:35 - Gray Falcon’s Focus Website: https://grayfalkon.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trajanbaylyceo/ Related Post: What is The Amazon Brand Registry?

Scott chats with CJ Gianatiempo to discuss the best ways for companies to acquire low-cost capital as a way to increase their growth on Amazon. With a wealth of knowledge about how amazon works and ample access to emerging funding services, CJ is helping business owners make sound investments in order to ensure success. Whether it be through private equity or venture credits, CJ knows that the right financing option can be a great resource for amazon businesses. Episode Notes: 0:35 - Carl "CJ" Gianatiempo Introduction 1:48 - CJ’s Background 2:20 - Why Banks Don’t Lend to E-Commerce Sellers 2:40 - The Opportunity and Braavo’s Concept 3:00 - The Structure of Financing for Amazon Sellers 4:20 - How To Get Up to $200K Loan in Under 2 Minutes 4:45 - Interest Rates Effect 6:40 - Challenges of Amazon Lending 7:25 - The Braavo Offer 9:30 - Traditional Bank vs Braavo 10:05 - How To Get Approved 11:10 - Liquidation Value on Amazon 12:35 - Loan Fluctuation 13:35 - Wall Street Journal Prime Rate “If you are at the stage that you wanted to take on capital, just make sure that you trust your own accounting.” Scott. 15:35 - Why Braavo Is The Perfect Amazon Seller Partner Website: www.braavobank.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-cj-gianatiempo-b1664b20/ Related Post: The Best Financing Loans for Amazon Sellers

Join Scott as he chats with Mina Elias, founder of Trivium Group & MMA Nutrition, about how effective advertising strategies can help sellers convert good products into great products. Get in-depth tips on how to effectively optimize conversion and click-through rates, and learn the benefits of increased metrics. You can also find the answers to these interesting questions thrown inside this hot podcast. What else can you do when your product hits the cap on market share? How can you save on your advertising budget? Where can you find competitive creatives? What possible changes can you expect from Amazon this 2023? Episode Notes: 0:20 - Mina Elias Introduction 1:00 - Anyone Can Sell Supplements “You can’t be a slightly better product, you have to be a significantly better product.” -Mina 02:45 - Mina’s Monthly Revenue on Supplement Business 03:35 - Trivium’s History 04:45 - Investment Prioritization “It’s easier to turn a good product into a great [product], than a bad product into an average product.” - Scott 06:40 - Mina’s Mindset and Strategies 10:15 - Advertising-led Growth 11:00 - Search Find Buy 11:55 - Movement on Rankings 13:00 - Using Price as a Lever 13:50 - Conversion Rate Optimization 14:40 - Competitive Creative Resources 18:30 - Helium 10’s Market Tracker 19:20 - Layering on DSP 20:25 - Why You Need an Agency To Use DSP 21:40 - Variation Pages From an Advertising Perspective 24:25 - Benefits of Having a High Click-Through and Conversion Rate 27:40 - Amazon in 2023 Trivium Free PPC Audit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theminaelias/ Website: https://triviumco.com/ Related Post: Advertising Solutions by Amazon: A Closer Look into Amazon Ads

Scott brings you the latest from Prosper 2025, revealing the innovations that will empower you to succeed on Amazon.

Discover cutting-edge tech for listing optimization, TikTok marketing, and private label repricing, and how other AI and emerging tools are reshaping e-commerce.

 

Episode Notes:

00:23- New Tech for Selling on Amazon in 2025

01:35 - Autopilot Brand

03:00 - Automato AI

05:12 - The TikTok Influence

08:06 - Tools and Agencies Aiding TikTok Marketing Efforts

10:05 - Pricing Innovations

11:15 - Variations and Optimization

14:27 - Prosper Show Reflections

16:25 - Conferences Comparison

Related Post: The Ultimate Amazon Repricing Strategies: AI-Powered Price Optimization

 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

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Reduced visibility and reach, missed opportunities, difficulty competing with other sellers, and lack of control over ad placement are some of the drawbacks of not utilizing ad campaigns. Learn how to effectively reach your targeted audience, stay above your competition, and get actionable strategies with Scott Needham and Joshua Rawe in their exciting discussion about Sponsored Display Ads. Episode Notes: 00:49 - Joshua (Josh) Rawe's background 01:58 - Josh's Private Label Journey 03:40 - Sponsored Display 04:31 - Amazon's Growth From A Seller's Perspective "...everything about Amazon advertising right now is prime for additional growth." - Joshua Rawe 05:14 - Shopping Intent 05:47 - Social Media's Role 05:59 - Main Advertising Types 06:36 - The Amazon Sales Funnel 06:59 - Funnel As The Search Term 07:48 - Where The Ads Are Displayed 09:46 - The Easiest First Steps To Convert Well 11:20 - Remarketing 12:46 - Why You Should Try Sponsored Display Ads 13:26 - When Ad Campaigns Don't Work 14:26 - Updating Bids 16:29 - Is High-Quality Production Needed? 17:17 - Transparency And Cutting The Fluff "If you wanna solve someone's problem, solve it in two seconds on a video." - Scott Needham 19:29 - Benefit-driven Headlines 21:15 - Why Having An Advertising Budget Is Beneficial 22:39 - Stay Up to Date LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jrawe Company: goespark.com Twitter: @JoshuaRawehttps://twitter.com/JoshuaRawe Related Post: Advertising Solutions by Amazon: A Closer Look into Amazon Ads

Amazon Brand Registry is a great tool for Amazon business owners who want to protect their brand and safeguard their intellectual property. But unfortunately, it can also be abused. Join Scott as he chats with Paul Rafelson about how Amazon sellers can thrive in reselling and fight back against brands that are abusing brand registry. Paul shares powerful strategies that can come in handy during false IP claims and offers Amazon account health support through its affordable program called SellerBasics. Episode Notes: 00:57 - Paul's background 02:03 - Brand Registry 02:41 - Counterfeits 04:31 - Paul's First IP Complaint 05:02 - Why Dealers Hate Resellers 05:36 - How Do Brands Submit Claims? 07:00 - Why Counterfeit With A Test Buy Is A Scary Claim 07:31 - Why Sellers Need To Have Good Product Documentation 08:33 - How To Thrive In Reselling 09:21 - How Seller Basics Can Help During An IP Claim 14:50 - How To Let Amazon Know A Brand Is Abusing Brand Registry "Amazon sellers, it's an Uberization concept...it is supplier on demand" - Paul Rafelson 22:14 - What Does Trademark Infringement Mean? 23:27 - What Is Pretextual? 25:04 - What is Amazon's Definition Of Trademark Infringement? 26:43 - What Is The Future Of IP Claims? 29:17 - Seller Basics Website: www.sellerbasics.com Twitter: @SellerBasics Related Post: Winning the Bogus IP Claim War on Amazon

Join Scott as he talks with David Lang and Ryan Sherrard as they discuss how Amazon is known for being a powerful platform for both small and large businesses alike. From Amazon merchants to Amazon Marketplace sellers, it's an important hub of activity and stream of revenue for many entrepreneurs. David Lang, and Ryan Sherrard - three Amazon professionals - recently connected with Scott to discuss the benefits of running your Amazon business from spreadsheets. Their informative conversation touched on topics ranging from data analysis and inventory management to product optimization and understanding customer behavior. With their expertise in Amazon business growth strategies and knowledge sharing, this discussion provides Amazon sellers with invaluable insight on how to leverage spreadsheets and position themselves for success on Amazon. Here's the coupon code for 50% off! SAS50

AI + SmartScout is a powerful combo. I talk about that and how great and challenging the business of taking profit home from selling on Amazon. SMARTPODCAST15 for 15% off! http://www.smartscout.com

Join Scott as he chats with Daniel Boucher about how old prodcuts can become profitable.

Join Scott Klaidas Siuipys as they chat about all things Amazon Deal Strategies. Some may even land you as good as $20M in product!

Join Scott as he chats with Vincenzo Toscano about "Amazon Live". Amazon live is part of Amazon's suite of brand content solutions for helping you drive discovery and connect with shoppers. Scott and Vincenzo talk how this is the most cost effective amazon marketing strategy. Find out how!

Manish from www.cahoot.ai explains a new a better alternative to Amazon FBA.

We talk with Andrew Maff of Blue Tuskr( https://www.bluetuskr.com/). Content Marketing is the sweat equity of Marketing. It doesn't pay immediately, but before you know it, you've amassed excellent motes.

We talk again with Michael White of SmartScout about why big sellers fail on Amazon.

Ever wondered what it's like to sell on Amazon? Here’s the best damn industry report for you.

The Voice of the Amazon Seller unveils insights from over 300 Amazon sellers, revealing the challenges and triumphs of navigating this vast marketplace.

Scott discusses everything from competition pressures and fee structures to the impact of international sellers and the fairness of Amazon's platform.

 

Episode Notes:

02:05 - Survey Overview

02:25 - Seller Demographics

02:55 - Amazon as Main Business

03:14 - Income statistics

03:46 - Challenges of Selling on Amazon

04:54 - Seller Suspension Concerns

07:36 - Perceptions of Fairness in Amazon Marketplace

10:05 - Impact of Amazon's AI Efforts

11:46 - Recommendation to Others

13:59 - Seller Support Satisfaction

16:31 - Business Growth and Profitability

Voice of the Amazon Seller Survey

 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

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We talk with the GS1 on how to get your UPC's squared away with amazon. This is in increasingly timely issue as Amaozn has changed its approach to enforce this. Here's a few helpful links. https://www.gs1us.org/- homepage https://www.gs1us.org/tools/gs1-company-database-gepir - look up who licenses which GTIN https://www.gs1us.org/tools/barcode-estimator/home - barcode estimator https://next-level-supply-chain-with-gs1us.podcastpage.io/ - GS1 Podcast

Join Scott as he chats with Chad Rubin of Profasee on how you can maximize your profit through dynamic pricing. profasee.com

Join Scott as he chats with Yael Cabilly to understand your brands exactly to get an exit strategy.

Scott talks about how YOU can get rich on Amazon

Join Scott as he chats with Jon Yeazel on how and when to move to Shopify. For access to Jon and his community, check out http://theshopifyguy.com

Join Scott as he chats with Tomer Rabinovich about how you can simplify your amazon business while looking at the big picture. Easily implementations to your business.

Join Scott as he chats with Michael White of SmartScout as they analyze the state of the amazon space. Topics include commodities trading why it's similar to selling on amazon and what you can learn from it, building in public, and Alexa for commerce. For a great way to upgrade your selling life. Check out SmartScout! SMARTPODCAST15 https://www.smartscout.com/ https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Join Scott as he chats with Jason Landro, founder of Nectar, about taking your brand to the next level. https://www.thinknectar.com/

Join Scott as he chats with Larry Lubarsky to send to Amazon FBA the best way possible. For a free trial, check out this link: https://www.2dworkflow.com/trial56409654

More than just news. Amazon is changing how DTC brands can operate on the channel. We talk acquisitions and customer out reach. For a great way to upgrade your selling life. Check out SmartScout! SMARTPODCAST15 https://www.smartscout.com/ https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Is Amazon neglecting its sellers?

Scott tackles this question head-on, brings you exclusive insights from Amazon employees and industry experts, and delves into the challenges sellers face, from navigating 1P and 3P complexities to dealing with account suspensions.

Learn the truth behind the trend urging brands to switch selling models and how nuanced decisions based on product categories can make all the difference.

Scott also unveils Amazon's new reseller support initiatives and strategic account services designed to empower your business.

 

Episode Notes:

00:09 - Amazon's commitment to sellers

01:05 - Understanding 1P vs 3P

02:30 - Nuances of 1P and 3P models

05:35 - Strategic Account Services at Amazon

06:55 - New Initiatives for Resellers at Amazon

07:50 - Importance of Compliance and Advocacy

09:11 - Amazon’s Internal Complexity

 

Related Post: The Top 10 Amazon Sellers in the U.S. Marketplace

 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

As we enter a new phase of the show with fewer interviews. Scott shares what he's been doing in the offseason and what's new with SmartScout. For a discount + trial, use SMARTPODCAST15 https://www.smartscout.com/

Join Scott as he chats with Ian Smith on how good A+ Content can double your conversion rate.

Join Scott as he chats with Daniel Tejada of Straight Up Growth about how to rank high on Amazon.