The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast

In this episode, Gary Huang is on to discuss 3 potential predictions for the future of e-commerce within the next three years. Gary and I touch on topics like globalization, the impact of AI, and the potential return of aggregators while emphasizing how important it is to start moving manufacturing out of China.  Struggling with tariffs? Unsure about upcoming changes? Let's talk! With Portless, you only pay tariffs after your customers pay you - so your cash always moves faster than your costs. Schedule a risk assessment and leverage tariff deferment today. All new customers get $1,000 to reinvest in their business.  Big Takeaways Globalization is shifting towards a model that may exclude China. AI will significantly impact businesses, potentially leading to many closures. Aggregators in e-commerce are predicted to return with a focus on credible brands. New challenges often give way to new opportunity. New marketplaces present opportunities for sellers to expand beyond Amazon US. YouTube has the opportunity to become a major competitor to Amazon in retail. Diversification away from Amazon is crucial for long-term success. The current economic climate creates both challenges and opportunities for e-commerce. AI tools can enhance efficiency but may also threaten traditional business models. Timestamps 00:00 - E-commerce Predictions and Global Sentiment 02:57 - Globalization 2.0: The Future of Manufacturing 05:50 - The Impact of AI on Business Survival 08:59 - The Return of Aggregators in E-commerce 12:09 - New Market Opportunities Amidst Uncertainty 15:02 - YouTube as Amazon's Biggest Competitor 17:57 - The Seven Figure Seller Summit and Future Trends Gary, thanks for joining us on the podcast today. It was great having you on to talk about your upcoming event and some of your predictions for e-commerce in the future!  If you're interested in 7 Figure Seller Summit which will be held on April 22 - 24th, you can get your limited time Free Pass by clicking on this link.     

Mike Jackness and Aymeric catch up on their e-commerce journey as friends and talk about how timing and luck are so important in entrepreneurial success. Success is always a mix of luck, tenacity, and grit.  It takes a bit of luck to be in the right place at the right time and some grit to keep going when things aren't as profitable as they used to. At the same time, success also involves balancing between trying new things and focusing on what works.  Knowing when to zone in on the one thing or when to test the waters only comes with experience and time.  My good buddy Aymeric who's been a friend of mine is on the podcast today to talk exactly about what it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur.  We've both had our fair share of successful and failed ventures, but that didn't stop us from trying and moving forward.  If you're a business owner looking at the tariffs right now and thinking about moving out of e-commerce, this episode might be eye opening for you. In the end, the choice is yours to make.  Aymeric, thanks for joining us on the podcast today!  If you'd like to outsource some work and get your social life back together, check out the VA Placement service he offers here.  

Tariffs are back again and stronger than ever. Things are still a little shaky at the moment because we never really know what will happen tomorrow but today, Dave discusses 5 ways you can deal with the new tariffs through DDP, diversifying, and negotiation.  Big Takeaways:  It is basically impossible to eliminate the effects of the tariffs but there are ways to minimize them.  DDP shipping puts risk on your supplier, not you. Diversifying sales channels can be a great way to keep your profit margins healthy.  Negotiate discounts with your suppliers to soften the blow.  Moving your manufacturing can reduce tariffs and contribute to a healthier business. Accept that the business landscape has changed permanently. Look for new opportunities that arise from these challenges. Consider manufacturing in Canada and Mexico as alternatives. Evaluate your product catalog in these new market conditions. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 03:03 - Strategy 1: Shipping with DDP 05:50 - Strategy 2: Diversifying Channels 08:59 - Strategy 3: Negotiating with Suppliers 11:48 - Strategy 4: Moving Manufacturing 15:09 - Strategy 5: Accepting Change and Finding Opportunities Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Chris Davey discusses his journey in e-commerce, the growth of his networking event at the Canton Fair, and insights into navigating the complexities of sourcing from China. We share our experiences about the safety concerns in China, travel challenges, and the importance of thorough research when attending trade shows.    We also talk about the networking opportunities going to China provides for Amazon sellers. We delve into the intricacies of product sourcing and development in the e-commerce space, particularly focusing on the advantages of Chinese manufacturing. We discuss strategies for identifying niche markets, the importance of building strong relationships with suppliers, and the rapid product development process that allows sellers to capitalize on emerging trends. The conversation also highlights the significance of differentiation in a competitive market and the benefits of being a first mover. The Big Takeaway Chris's product sourcing strategy involves developing accessories for popular products. The Canton Fair is divided into three phases, each focusing on different product categories. Networking is a key benefit of attending the Canton Fair. Post-COVID, there are fewer American attendees at the Canton Fair. Visa regulations for entering China can be complex and vary by nationality. Chris emphasizes how important of visiting suppliers' factories in China. Attendees should plan for at least 10 days to fully experience the Canton Fair. Designing accessories around popular products is effective. Predictive keyword popularity can lead to successful products. Niche markets can provide significant opportunities. Building relationships with factories is crucial for success. Rapid product development is key to staying competitive. Differentiation is essential in a crowded market. First-mover advantage can lead to increased sales. Networking events like FBA for You foster community among sellers. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to FBA4U and Chris Davey 01:57 - Chris's Journey to E-commerce and Canton Fair 06:02 - Growth of FBA4U and Networking Opportunities 09:56 - Safety and Visa Concerns in China 15:54 - Canton Fair Insights and Supplier Strategies 23:32 - The Speed of Chinese Manufacturing 24:15 - Innovative Product Sourcing Strategies 27:15 - Niche Markets and Competitive Advantages 30:02 - Building Relationships with Factories 32:10 - Rapid Product Development Process 35:13 - The Importance of CAD in Product Design 39:11 - Differentiation in a Competitive Market 43:24 - Leveraging First-Mover Advantage 44:55 - Managing Minimum Order Quantities 46:51 - Building Strong Supplier Relationships 50:18 - FBA for You: Networking and Community Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave interviews Steve Chou, who shares his journey of growing his YouTube channel from virtually nothing to over 400,000 subscribers in just a 2 to 3 years. We discuss the biggest ways you can make creating video content for e-commerce easier, the importance of SEO, and the differences between short-form and long-form video content.  In this episode, Steve emphasizes the significance of watch time in video ranking and shares his strategies to engage audiences effectively. Finally, Steve shares what's in store for the upcoming Seller Summit, happening on May 6th. Need funding for your Canadian Amazon business? Not sure if you should use a Canadian corporation or U.S. LLC to form your company? We'll cover these questions and more in our new course, Start and Grow Your FBA Business as a Canadian. Get early access now!  Want to learn more about video from experts, or learn about new strategies for Amazon? Seller Summit covers everything content creation and e-commerce at Fort Lauderdale, Florida this May 6th. Check out Seller Summit here!  The Big Takeaways Starting with reading blog posts out can help ease into video. Joining a YouTube mastermind group was a turning point for Steve. A "hook" in the first 30 seconds are crucial for engagement. Watch time is a key factor in YouTube SEO. Short form videos can attract a wider audience quickly, which could be useful for brand awareness. Your video content should align with audience interests to avoid confusion from the algorithm. "Social selling" is becoming increasingly important for e-commerce. Faceless content creation is possible but requires a personal touch to get a "human" element in your content. Building a subscriber base through contests or giveaways can be effective. Video content takes time to gain traction. Short-form videos can be chopped up from long video content, which contributes to a broader content strategy. Consistency in content creation is key to success. Investing in good audio equipment is the bare minimum for good videos. Thumbnails with very exaggerated facial expressions can increase click-through rates. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 05:07 - Steve's Journey to YouTube Success 10:01 - Content Creation Strategies 14:58 - Short Form vs Long Form Video 19:52 - Building a YouTube Channel for E-commerce 20:45 - Creating Stories with AI 24:20 - Faceless Content Creation in E-commerce 28:10 - Launching a YouTube Channel for E-commerce 30:57 - The Power of Video in E-commerce 32:23 - Essential Equipment for Video Creation 35:20 - Thumbnail Tips for Higher Click-Through Rates 37:09 - Overview of Seller Summit 2025 Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Tanya Huang shares her entrepreneurial journey, from her experience on Dragon's Den to running a successful ring business. We talk about how customization is another barrier from the competition and how she decided to move on to customized products. We also compare Amazon vs Etsy, and how the two shape up for customized and handmade products.  Need funding for your Canadian Amazon business? Not sure if you should use a Canadian corporation or U.S. LLC to form your company? We'll cover these questions and more in our new course, Start and Grow Your FBA Business as a Canadian. Get early access now!  The Big Takeaways Customization is a really big consideration to customers and helps your products stand out in e-commerce platforms. Understanding customer needs drives product innovation. Etsy provides valuable insights into market research for customized products. Amazon's interface may not be ideal for customization. Etsy's sales have declined but are still higher than pre-COVID levels. New competitors like Temu are changing the e-commerce landscape, bringing Etsy's market share down. Etsy shoppers seek unique, personalized items over mass-produced products. Customization on Amazon is possible but comes with certain challenges. Etsy's decline may be due to increased competition and changing consumer preferences. Sales dynamics differ significantly between Etsy and Amazon. Etsy requires more attention to customer service and product uniqueness, while Amazon requires quick deliveries and cheaper products.  Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Tanya Huang and Her Business 02:45 - Experience on Dragon's Den 06:01 - Transitioning to Silicone Rings 07:47 - Customization and Manufacturing in Canada 11:16 - Engraving Process and Challenges 18:10 - Investing in Engraving Technology 21:34 - Market Research for Customization Ideas 24:01 - Exploring Amazon Custom and Handmade 25:42 - Etsy's Decline: Analyzing the Trends 29:09 - The Impact of New Competitors 32:34 - Etsy vs. Amazon: Sales Dynamics 36:30 - Philosophical Insights on Selling Strategies Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Dave breaks down the huge fee increases for the Amazon Warehousing and Distribution program that takes effect on April 1st, 2025. He talks about the changes in warehousing and distribution fees, specifically on how much the fees have increased from previous iterations.  Need funding for your Canadian Amazon business? Not sure if you should use a Canadian corporation or U.S. LLC to form your company? We'll cover these questions and more in our Start and Grow Your FBA Business as a Canadian Webinar on March 12th, 10am PST! Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months!   Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) was one of the biggest programs that Amazon introduced in 2022, and pushed a lot of sellers into using AWD by increasing prices on the FBA side of inventory.    Back then, it seemed like an attractive alternative because of the low prices despite the shove to get everyone into the program.    That is until today where Amazon announced a fee increase to the AWD program in the most confusing way possible.    Luckily, Dave is here to break it all down for us and how these fees impact your e-commerce business.  Big Takeaways Amazon is increasing fees starting April 1st, 2025. The fee increase is not like previous fee announcements; they've given sellers only three weeks notice. AWD storage fees will increase by 20%. Amazon has changed the name of their "integrated rate" to "smart storage rate". To qualify for the smart storage rate, 70 days of inventory is required. Processing fees will increase from $2.50 to $2.70 per box. Transportation fees will rise from $1.00 to $1.15 per cubic foot. Overall, expect a 15-20% increase in fees. Amazon's tactics make it hard to plan for these increases. Sellers need to increase prices to maintain margins. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Amazon Fee Increases 03:12 - Understanding the New AWD Fees 05:51 - Impact of Storage Fee Changes 09:10 - Processing and Transportation Fee Adjustments 11:03 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave interviews John LeBaron, the Chief Revenue Officer of Pattern.com, the biggest third party seller on Amazon. They discuss Pattern's unique business model and how they help brands grow their presence on e-commerce platforms. The episode covers the importance of unit economics, advertising strategies, and how you can use AI to analyse your competition.  Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months! The Big Takeaways Pattern operates as an accelerator, not a traditional DTC brand, helping brands manage their inventory and online presence. Unit economics are crucial for brands looking to partner with Pattern. Advertising strategies significantly influence organic ranking on Amazon. Pattern leverages patented AI technology to improve conversion rates and predict organic ranking. The company manages over 300 brands, focusing on their growth. Off-Amazon marketing strategies are essential for brand success. Timestamps 00:00 - Introducing Pattern: The Biggest Amazon Seller 03:02 - Understanding Pattern's Unique Business Model 06:01 - The Role of Accelerators vs. Aggregators 08:59 - Expanding Brand Presence Across Marketplaces 11:50 - Target Demographics: Brands Seeking Help 15:09 - Unit Economics: What Matters for Brands? 18:06 - Advertising Strategies and Organic Ranking 21:01 - Off-Amazon Marketing Strategies 24:04 - Leveraging AI for E-commerce Success 26:59 - Improving Conversion Rates Through Data 29:52 - Future Innovations and Conclusion Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Steve Churchill has a lot on his plate.  After being in the Air Force, he decided to start a simple blog on the side, in addition to her demanding day job. His blog, Urban Worm Company, has always been a passion project, and over time he's been able to grow it to become a healthy lifestyle business. Steve talks about how he built his blog, while being a full time airline pilot.  He talks about his business model, the types of goals he has for the business, his approach to SEO, and why he's okay with owning a small business. Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months! The Big Takeaway Running a lifestyle business allows for a better work-life balance and prioritizes quality of life over rapid growth. Using e-commerce principles in B2B environments can lead to stress-free growth and better customer experiences. Finding a niche market and educating customers can help build a loyal customer base and differentiate your business. Cash flow management is crucial for sustainable growth and reducing stress in the business. Prioritizing personal interests and happiness in business decisions can lead to long-term satisfaction and success. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Background 07:00 - Steve's Business Journey: From Air Force to Vermicomposting 14:00 - Building a Lifestyle Business: Prioritizing Quality of Life 21:12 - Using E-commerce Principles in B2B Environments 25:15 - The Power of Niche Markets and Customer Education 28:19 - Cash Flow Management for Sustainable Growth 31:17 - Prioritizing Personal Happiness in Business Decisions 33:37 - Conclusion Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!  

Jeff Oxford is on the podcast today to talk about how you can get free Google Shopping listings as an e-commerce seller. Jeff explains what Google Shopping is, why they're not just paid ads,  and how you can achieve better rankings on Google Shopping. We also touch on why diversification away from Amazon is important and the things we have observed in SEO for e-commerce businesses. Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months! The Big Takeaway Google Shopping is not just about ads; it's a separate search ranking. Amazon dominates Google Shopping listings, holding 50% of the top spots. Domain authority is one of the biggest factors for ranking in Google Shopping. Building backlinks to specific product pages is more effective than general domain authority. Product reviews significantly impact rankings in Google Shopping. Diversifying sales channels beyond Amazon is something worth considering. Recent SEO updates have favored e-commerce sites over content sites, so if you are new to SEO, don't be afraid!  E-commerce has seen significant growth, with a 50% increase over five years. Main image and title optimization are critical for product listings. Having keywords in product titles helps with rankings, but correlation is minimal. Lower-priced products tend to rank better in Google Shopping. Premium brands may struggle with SEO due to higher bounce rates. Core updates from Google adjust ranking factors periodically. A good mobile experience is absolutely essential for website ranking. User experience significantly impacts SEO performance. Content on collection pages can enhance SEO effectiveness. Link building remains a key strategy for improving search rankings. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Google Shopping Listings 03:03 - Understanding Google Shopping and Its Importance 06:07 - Getting Started with Google Shopping Listings 09:03 - The Role of Domain Authority in Google Shopping 11:58 - Optimizing Product Pages for Google Shopping 15:05 - The Impact of Product Reviews on Rankings 17:51 - Diversifying Beyond Amazon 21:08 - The Future of E-commerce and SEO Trends 21:33 - E-commerce Growth and Optimization Strategies 30:04 - Understanding Core Updates and Their Impact 35:52 - SEO Best Practices for E-commerce in 2025 As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Dave dives into Amazon's Q4 2024 earnings report and how it will impact sellers. He dives into  Amazon's online store revenue growth, FBA fee growth, and the huge growth in advertising revenue, which is one of the major sources of income for the e-commerce giant.    Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months!   Takeaways Amazon's Q4 2024 earnings report shows a 7% growth in online store revenue. FBA fees collected from sellers increased by 9% year-over-year. Advertising revenue for Amazon reached $17.2 billion, up by 18%. The growth in advertising revenue is outpacing that of FBA fees. Stock analysts focus on AWS and advertising revenue for Amazon's performance. Sellers are feeling the pressure from rising advertising costs. Amazon's overall retail growth appears to be stabilizing around 7-9%. The podcast encourages sellers to adapt to the changing landscape of fees and advertising. Amazon's claims of faster delivery speeds may not reflect overall sales performance. The launch of Amazon Haul aims to attract more Chinese sellers.   Timestamps 00:00 - Amazon's Q4 2024 Earnings Overview 07:59 - Revenue Growth Insights for Sellers 16:34 - Advertising Revenue Trends and Implications   As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.    Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.    Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!  

It's that time of the year again! In this episode, Dave will be revealing the winners (a couple of which you might not have expected) of last year's survey to find out the Best Amazon Seller Software across five categories: Product and Keyword Research PPC Management Reimbursement Services Repricing Tool Product Launch and Marketing On top of that, he'll be talking about why some categories have lost market share overall, the significant shifts in software usage among sellers, and what he's surprised to see in the results. Let's get right into it: Timestamps:  00:00 - Introduction to the 2024 Software Poll Results 02:09 - Repricing Software Insights 05:59 - Reimbursement Software Trends 06:28 - PPC and Advertising Software Overview 09:48 - Product Launch and Marketing Software Changes 12:39 - Keyword Tracking and Research Software Dynamics 17:21 - Conclusion and Future Predictions To check out the full breakdown of our results, head over to our blog post of the Best Amazon Software of 2022.  Don't forget to leave us a review over on iTunes if you enjoy content like this. Happy selling and we'll talk to you soon!

Chinese New Year is coming up in a few days and if you're relatively new to the e-commerce game, there's a few things you should know about the big holiday. Dave is back on the podcast to cover the impact Chinese New Year has on e-commerce sellers and manufacturers, the significance of the Zodiacs, and the common equivalent for those who aren't aware.  Let's be real – email marketing isn't flashy, but that's what makes it great. Who needs chaos when you can have steady, reliable results? That's where Omnisend email and SMS comes in. Check it out today and use code ECOMCREW. Ever wonder why all of China basically closes down every January for Chinese New Year? You're not alone.  Chinese New Year seems like the one time each year that China (and by extension, a lot of the neighbouring asian countries) goes on holiday for a few weeks.  As an e-commerce seller, you probably know by now to place your orders well in advance to prepare for the holiday. But there's a few extra things you should know about that could maintain and keep you in the good graces of your factory.  Luckily, Dave is on the podcast today to break down what exactly you need to know and how the holiday impacts you specifically. The Big Takeaway Chinese New Year is comparable to Christmas in significance. Chinese New Year happens on the second New Moon in the lunar calendar after the Winter's Solstice (December 20th).  Zodiac symbols can influence business decisions in China. Quality control tends to take a dip if orders are shipped before Chinese New Year. Suppliers may have varying deadlines for orders before they close for the holiday. Expect delays in shipping and logistics post-New Year as every company that's importing from China will also be placing orders in advance of the holiday. Be considerate to suppliers during the holiday period. Freight prices tend to dip after the New Year rush, as demand declines. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 1:43 - Omnisend Ad  2:17 - What is Chinese New Year? How big is the holiday?  3:28 - The traditions around Chinese New Year 4:28 - When exactly is Chinese New Year? 6:07 - Zodiac symbols and how they can affect business 8:40 - Why is it called the Spring Festival?  9:41 - Tip #1: Deadlines for Chinese New Year orders  11:06 - Tip #2: Days off during Chinese New Years  13:19 - Tip #3: Quality control during Chinese New Year 15:08 - Tip #4: Delays  17:05 - Tip #5: Being considerate As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

After visiting a conference recently, a friend of mine told me about a place in where all of the biggest Amazon Sellers (and all the black hat tactics came from) in China congregate: China's New South City. In this episode, Dave talks about his visit to New South City in China, what he found while he was there, and why this place exists.  Let's be real – email marketing isn't flashy, but that's what makes it great. Who needs chaos when you can have steady, reliable results? That's where Omnisend email and SMS comes in. Check it out today and use code ECOMCREW. Ever heard of China South City? It's where all of the top Chinese Amazon sellers congregate and work together. This is also the place where Chinese black hat Amazon tactics comes from.  Dave decides to visit China South City during a recent trip to Asia, and shares what he found, some insider information that he found out about after talking to sellers there, and some of the black hat tactics Chinese sellers are using.  The Big Takeaway: China South City is a massive hub of the biggest Chinese Amazon sellers in Shenzhen, China. Chinese sellers are getting subsidies from the government to encourage exports into other countries. Having all sellers within the same area also encourages collaboration and networking among sellers, unlike in the US or the West in general. Chinese sellers inspect a higher percentage of their products more than Western sellers. Many Chinese sellers operate multiple Amazon accounts for security reasons. The 2021 Amazon ban wave had a significant impact on Chinese sellers; reducing China's overall trust in Amazon. Because of the ban wave, Chinese sellers are also diversifying their sales channels beyond Amazon. Temu is starting to become one of the key places for growth among Chinese sellers. Live selling is a major trend in China, with dedicated studios for streaming in each floor. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to China South City 02:53 - The Structure and Purpose of China South City 06:10 - The Community of Amazon Sellers 09:00 - Operational Strategies of Chinese Sellers 11:52 - Challenges Faced by Chinese Sellers 14:45 - The Impact of Amazon's Account Suspension Sweep 18:05 - Tactics and Strategies of Chinese Sellers 20:57 - Diversification Beyond Amazon 23:47 - The Rise of Live Selling in China 27:12 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Dave interviews David McCormick from Legacy Lawyers to talk about e-commerce taxation in B.C., Canada, specifically regarding the Online Marketplace Services Act, the Ministry of Finance's choice to start charging Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to every B.C. based seller on each of Amazon's seller fees, and why this choice is ultimately flawed.  Let's be real - email marketing isn't flashy, but that's what makes it great. Who needs chaos when you can have steady, reliable results? That's where Omnisend email and SMS comes in. Check it out today and use code ECOMCREW.  E-commerce taxation is a huge mess in British Columbia right now.    If you're not from the great white north, then you should know that Amazon has been charging sellers PST since 2021 – something that Amazon wasn't exactly required to do.    The worst part? They've been charging this on sellers' global sales—whether those sales occurred in Canada, the United States, or Brunei Darussalam. Because of this, many BC sellers have been paying a minimum of 1% of their sales (and most will be closer to 2% or greater) in provincial sales tax (PST).    The Big Takeaway: Provincial Sales Tax (PST) is being applied to fees paid by sellers, and not just customer orders. While Amazon has taken a conservative approach to PST collection by overcharging, sellers face challenges in obtaining refunds for overpaid PST. The Ministry of Finance have been very difficult to appeal with even when having a legitimate defense.  This leaves sellers with no choice; and they may need to engage legal help for refund applications. Political action is necessary to address unfair tax practices. Sellers should be proactive in communicating with their Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to E-commerce Taxation in BC 03:03 - Understanding the Online Marketplace Services Act 06:08 - Impact of PST on E-commerce Sellers 08:55 - Amazon's Approach to PST Collection 12:13 - Navigating Refund Applications and Denials 15:05 - Legal Interpretations and Software Taxation 17:53 - Challenges for Sellers in the Digital Economy 21:13 - Strategies for Sellers to Address Tax Issues 24:04 - Political and Legal Actions for Change 26:51 - Conclusion and Recommendations for Sellers As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!  

  Dave interviews his good friend Ronnie Teja, a well-connected figure in digital marketing, to talk about the 3 online business models that rewards the most while hurting the least. We also talk about which ones are the best to start in terms of capital, and why they're worth it.    Happy new year everyone!   Today's episode is sponsored by Omnisend. Check them out today!    In today's episode, Dave actually flew over to Thailand and recorded this episode in person with his good friend Ronnie Teja to share his insights on living and working in Thailand full-time, the tax implications of running a business around South East Asia, and how much it costs to run a business from one of these countries.    The Big Takeaway: E-commerce, content, and SaaS each have unique advantages and challenges. Living in Thailand offers both benefits and drawbacks for entrepreneurs. Starting with e-commerce can be viable with a small budget. SaaS businesses can yield higher multiples on exit compared to e-commerce. Building a community can enhance business opportunities. High-ticket items often provide better margins in e-commerce. Iterating on SaaS products is more feasible than on physical products. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Ronnie Teja and His Ventures 02:48 - E-commerce, Content, and SaaS: A Comparative Overview 06:10 - Living and Working in Thailand: Pros and Cons 08:59 - Tax Implications and Business Registration in Thailand 11:47 - Choosing the Right Business Model: E-commerce vs. SaaS vs. Content 15:05 - The Future of E-commerce and SaaS Businesses 17:55 - Navigating the Challenges of E-commerce 20:52 - The Role of AI in Software Development 24:05 - Building a Community and Audience for Business 27:00 - Final Thoughts on Business Strategies and Models As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Dave reviews the top 5 episodes of 2024 and what they're about. Check out the top 5 episodes of the year! We've included a snippet of each episode and links to them below.  Merry belated Christmas and Happy Early New Year!  This week, we're rounding out our top 5 episodes of the year along with a short snippet of the episode itself. Feel free to go back and listen to the winners on our links below:  0:57 - Fifth place  2:47 - Fourth place 5:07 - Third place 7:07 - Second place 10:32 - First place  As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!  

In this episode, Dave talks about how you can start developing custom software for Amazon, and what the main benefits are. He'll be covering how to setup custom software, the requirements needed, and the advantages of using third-party APIs to enhance data access.  The Big Takeaway Custom software can significantly enhance Amazon business operations. Most off-the-shelf software are mostly perfect; just lacking the necessary customization. Third-party APIs can provide valuable data not available through Amazon's main API. The Selling Partner API is the latest standard for Amazon integrations. AWS costs for API access are generally very low. AI advancements have reduced the cost of software development. Custom software can provide a competitive edge for Amazon sellers. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Custom Amazon Software 02:25 - The Need for Custom Solutions 05:38 - Setting Up Custom Software 10:50 - Understanding the Amazon API 12:41 - Getting Started with Development As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Dave takes a look at one of the biggest Chinese Amazon sellers' documents and reveals how much they were making, how being suspended by Amazon affected their revenue, and how they bounced back well enough to go public.  Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months! This Black Friday, we'll be having the biggest deal of the year on our Develop a Profitable Product course + Advanced Amazon Market course + an amazing discount AND a big bonus for those who signup for the waitlist here. Sign up now! Timestamps 00:00 - Unveiling the Secrets of O Group 10:00 - The Aftermath of the Amazon Incident 20:02 - Strategic Shifts and Market Adaptation As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Mike is joined by Bill D'Alessandro in today's episode where they reflect on their decade-long journey in e-commerce, discussing where ecommerce was, where the industry currently is, and the scary direction that it's moving forward on. They also talk about the big picture, and how to succeed in the next decade if you're choosing to stay in the industry.    Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months! This Black Friday, we'll be having the biggest deal of the year on our Develop a Profitable Product course + Advanced Amazon Market course + an amazing discount AND a big bonus for those who signup for the waitlist here. Sign up now!  The Big Takeaway Restructuring your business can lead to significant cost savings if Amazon's been eating away at your profit margins.  Competition in e-commerce is now global. You're not competing against local businesses when selling items online - you have to stand out against the best of the best.  Getting your inventory perfect has always been a big problem for e-commerce businesses. Growing e-commerce businesses can be capital intensive. To grow and scale, you need more capital than you have in most cases.  To continue to succeed in e-commerce, you'll need a defensible moat like strong branding, regulatory compliances or intellectual property that can help protect against international competition.  Last but not least: If you want to succeed, you have to put yourself in a place of discomfort.  Timestamps 00:00 - Navigating Business Restructuring 02:54 - Reflecting on E-commerce Evolution 06:41 - The Competitive Landscape of E-commerce 10:58 - The Power Shift: Platforms vs. Sellers 14:39 - Challenges of Inventory Management 22:10 - Future Trends in E-commerce 27:01 - Building a Sustainable E-commerce Business As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave talks about the potential impacts of Donald Trump's presidency on e-commerce, focusing on tariffs, currency fluctuations, and whether big tech companies like Amazon will still be under scrutiny from FTC.  Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months! Sign up to get early access a special bonus offer for our BFCM Deal. We'll be having the biggest deal of the year on our Develop a Profitable Product course + Advanced Amazon Market course + an amazing discount AND a big bonus for those who signup for the waitlist here. Takeaways Trump's presidency will almost 100% signify a tariff on all international imports. Companies will have no choice but to either increase their prices, absorb the cost, or to look at sourcing locally. Other than that, expect higher freight costs in the near term. Almost everyone will be placing more orders before tariffs are implemented, which will spike up freight costs. Big tech will certainly be affected too. Trump's stance on TikTok has softened. Amazon and Trump have a rough relationship, and its unlikely that Trump will ease their FTC issues. Chapters 00:00 - The Impact of Trump's Presidency on E-Commerce 10:10 - Tariffs and Their Implications for E-Commerce 14:27 - Currency Fluctuations and Economic Strategies 18:15 - Big Tech and E-Commerce Dynamics 20:24 - Digital Taxes and Global Trade Relations As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Dave discusses Amazon's Q3 2024 earnings report, how much their revenue has grown in advertising, third party seller fees, and retail, and what this means for third-party sellers. He delves into Amazon's revenue streams, particularly focusing on the surge in advertising fees, the relatively stable growth of FBA fees, and the overall impact on sellers in the e-commerce space.    Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months!   Takeaways Amazon's Q3 earnings report shows a 19% increase in advertising revenue. FBA fees growth was only 10%, indicating stability for sellers. Online store revenue increased by 8%, a positive sign for Amazon's growth. The surge in advertising costs is outpacing retail sales growth 2x. Placement fees may not be as damaging as initially thought. Amazon's stock price rose by 6% following the earnings report. The growth rate of advertising revenue is the lowest in four years.   Timestamps 00:00 Amazon's Q3 Earnings Overview 05:03 Advertising Revenue Surge 09:52 FBA Fees and Seller Services 15:05 Implications for Third-Party Sellers   As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.    Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.    Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

In this Halloween special, Dave delves into the billion-dollar ghost companies on Amazon —businesses that have years of history, millions in revenue while being mysteriously hard to track outside the platform. We take a look at who the billion dollar ghost companies of Amazon are, how they exist, why they exist, and Dave even dives into trying to figure out the true identities of some of these ghost companies of Amazon.   Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months!   Takeaways Some Amazon sellers who are doing millions in yearly revenue are surprisingly very hard to track. We call these "Ghost Companies".  A lot of these "ghost companies" operate as resellers with no easily identifiable presence. The registered addresses of these companies often lead to notary publics, PO boxes, or shared office spaces. These resellers sometimes wish to avoid public contact information to limit customer inquiries and warranty claims. The culture of secrecy in e-commerce is likely to persist, with more ghost companies emerging.   Timestamps 00:00 The Billion Dollar Ghost Companies of Amazon 08:18 Understanding the Secrecy of Resellers 18:13 The Gray Market and Its Implications 23:30 The Culture of Secrecy Among Amazon Sellers   As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.    Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.    Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Dave is back for a solo podcast episode to discuss the things you can do when your Amazon business is in trouble. He opens up about the challenges that he's personally facing with 2 e-commerce brands, and what he did to bring up profitability despite revenue going down 10%-50%.    Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months!   2024 was one of the hardest years of selling on Amazon. Between Google SEO updates and Amazon's fee increases, a lot of sellers have been pushed to their breaking point.    While things may seem bleak, the good will almost always come back around.    But how do you stay afloat while things are in the gutter?    In this episode, Dave talks about the few ways you can save your business that don't include selling your business at a loss.    Takeaways Many e-commerce businesses are facing financial difficulties, not just you.  Laying off employees can be a necessary but difficult decision to keep your business afloat. Solopreneurs can also consider reducing their salaries during tough times. Cutting advertising costs can help improve financial health. Managing inventory effectively is crucial for cash flow. Shopping around for 3PL providers can lead to significant cost savings. Reviewing SaaS subscriptions can uncover unnecessary expenses. Chapters 00:00 - Facing Financial Difficulties in E-commerce 03:11 - Navigating Declines in Revenue and Traffic 06:02 - Making Tough Decisions: Layoffs and Cost-Cutting 08:55 - Strategies for Solopreneurs in Financial Trouble 11:46 - Trimming the Fat: Advertising and Inventory Management 15:04 - Optimizing Cash Flow and Reducing Overhead Costs 17:56 - Reevaluating Business Strategies for Recovery 20:54 - Embracing Change and Moving Forward   As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.    Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.    Thanks for listening!   Until next time, happy selling!

Julian Timings from Autron.ai discusses if old Amazon PPC strategies still work in 2024, how video advertising is still profitable, and whether off-Amazon advertising is still worth it. He shares some of the trends that he's seeing in Autron about optimizing campaigns, the average TACOs, and how Autron works to provide PPC management to those without budget, time or expertise. The Big Takeaways of Today's Episode Amazon ad costs have been increasing significantly. Video advertising can be a great ROI for sellers, especially if the creative aspect is locked down. Off-Amazon advertising isn't very profitable - the general trend is that after some time, it isn't worth it. TACoS between 10-15% is more of an exception than a rule. PPC influences organic rankings somewhat because Amazon rewards sales velocity. Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to E-commerce and PPC Strategies 01:58 - Julian's Background and How He Transitioned to Amazon 03:21 - Emerging Trends in Amazon PPC 04:41 - The Importance of Video Advertising 06:58 - Off-Amazon Advertising Insights 09:47 - Identifying New Sales Opportunities for Growth 11:30 - Optimizing Campaign Goals with Autron 13:29 - Campaign Structure and Management Strategies 16:48 - Long-Tail Keywords and Campaign Optimization 18:33 - Targeting Strategies and Keyword Management 19:54 - Understanding TACOS and Profitability 21:47 - The Influence of Advertising on Organic Rankings 23:10 - Autron's Unique Approach to PPC Management 25:58 - Future of AI in Advertising 27:48 - Pricing Model and Customer Alignment 29:11 - Ideal Customer Profile for Autron As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening!

Today's episode is part 2 of last week's podcast, where Mike goes into the details of Icewraps' sale, how he built up profitability from being in a loss at the start of the year, and the mindset he had during negotiations.  Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months! It's been nearly 10 years since I first bought IceWraps.  After a long journey of facing Amazon's sudden fee increases, COVID and logistical challenges, I felt that it was time for me to take some chips off the table and finally sell off the last ecommerce business that I'm holding.  It's time for me to get some breathing room back, and move on to another project.  Takeaways Raising prices and cutting unnecessary costs helped turn the business from a loss to being profitable. Transitioning to AWD reduced storage costs significantly. When you have the mindset of being done and over a business, you might be willing to do all it takes to sell. However, it's important to maintain a two-way street and make sure you don't accept terms that seem unfair.  Timestamps 00:00 - The Journey of Selling Ice Wraps 03:07 - Challenges Faced During the Sale 05:56 - Turning the Business Around 09:13 - Cost-Cutting Strategies 12:08 - The Sale Process and Negotiations 15:02 - Finalizing the Sale and Transition 17:55 - Reflections on the Sale 20:59 - Lessons Learned and Future Outlook As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Mike is back on the podcast to look back on IceWraps' journey, from facing burnout to regrets from running more than one brand at a time.  Today's episode is sponsored by Autron. Maximize your ROI with Autron's real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Start optimizing today and get 30% off for 3 months! Takeaways Selling at the peak of your business can mean sacrificing future cash flows. Focusing on one business can lead to greater success. Running multiple brands at a time can dilute your effectiveness. Timestamps 00:00 - The Journey of Ice Wraps: A Decade in E-Commerce 08:02 - Lessons Learned from Selling Ice Wraps 15:59 - Defining Success: The "One Thing" Focus 21:49 - The Transition: From Acquisition to Sale As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave recaps Amazon Accelerate 2024, highlighting some announcements that sellers should know about, and some developments that impact e-commerce sellers.  Amazon Accelerate 2024 has just wrapped up this year, and there's been a few announcements that Amazon revealed that may or may not pass the smell test.   In the online event, Amazon announced a range of new programs and services to help brands build relationships with third party sellers and increase their sales and profitability. Apart from the announcements, Amazon is also making a big push to being a part of the entire supply chain process - from logistics to delivery.  The Big Takeaways of Today's Episode Amazon Accelerate is the biggest event of the year for Amazon with over 4,000 live attendees and 450,000 virtual views. Amazon receives over 125 million product reviews annually. Same-day or next-day delivery 2x conversion rates. A new seller dashboard is available and offers better analytics for sellers. Live chat support is now available for all cases. One-on-one assistance is also now available for sellers. Amazon is starting to focus on owning the entire supply chain process - from logistics to delivery.  Buy with Prime aims to capture off-Amazon sales. Amazon Accelerate Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Overview of Amazon Accelerate 01:17 - Key Statistics and Announcements 04:40 - Positive Developments for Sellers 11:44 - Skepticism Towards Amazon's Announcements 16:27 - Amazon's Supply Chain Strategy As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave talks about how Temu is pressuring Amazon with its low prices, fast shipping and surge in popularity. Ever since Temu's viral marketing ad in the Superbowl, they've grown to become one of the biggest competitors to Amazon.  But how is Temu able to offer lower prices compared to sites like Amazon and even eBay? It has something to do with its business model and the fact that it lacks a few key features of other e-commerce sites. But is there more to it? In this episode, we'll talk about how Temu has disrupted the e-commerce space, how Temu keeps its products cheap, and how they cut costs.  The Big Takeaways of Today's Episode Temu has disrupted Amazon's dominance in the North American e-commerce market. Temu is able to offer fast shipping times because of their logistics model that mirrors Amazon's FBA. The Chinese government may be indirectly supporting Temu's growth by heavily supporting exports. Temu Prices Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to E-commerce and Temu 02:54 - Temu's Disruption of Amazon 05:45 - Logistics and Shipping Innovations 09:03 - Pricing Strategies and Market Competition 11:50 - Government Subsidies and Economic Implications 15:08 - Amazon's Response to Competition 18:02 - Conclusion and Future Outlook As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Mike Jackness interviews Michael Kaufman – the CEO of ProTuff Products. We talk about Kaufman's journey in the e-commerce industry, how he differentiates his products by offering an extended warranty and how lifetime warranties guarantees 5 star reviews. How to Find a Profitable Product Course Open Now Still struggling to find your next great product? The EcomCrew How to Find a Profitable Course is open now and is just $499 for one week only. We'll cover everything from using the ‘Cockroach approach' to developing large and bulky products, avoiding placement fees, and more. Check it out now. How Do You Use Lifetime Warranties To Guarantee 5 Star Reviews? As a shopper on Amazon, you've probably bought something that have warranty cards as a part of the products' insert.  But most companies don't stand behind their warranty policy, or they just straight up have flimsy policies.  Having a lifetime warranty means that you'll have to approve every warranty that comes in, no matter what. However, the bright side to this is that this almost always guarantees a 5-star review since you will actually be standing behind your own warranty policy.  The Big Takeaways of Today's Episode Offering a lifetime warranty can help differentiate your products and build a solid review profile. Automating the warranty registration and claim process can save time and money, since you don't have to hire someone to approve warranties. Selling seasonal products can be challenging, but offering incentives for early registration and extending the product's use for other purposes can help mitigate the seasonality. Building a list through warranty registration is a TOS-compliant way to communicate with customers on Amazon. Choosing the right warranty duration and offering additional benefits can encourage customers to register and leave positive reviews. Lifetime Warranties Episode Timestamps:  00:00 - Introduction and Small Talk 03:14 - ProTuff Products and the Pool Tools Niche 11:29 - Differentiating Products with a Lifetime Warranty 18:10 - Building a List through Lifetime Warranty Registration 21:03 - Incentivizing Lifetime Warranty Registration and Positive Reviews 26:57 - Streamlining Warranty Management As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!  

Elizabeth Corbett discusses the biggest mistakes e-commerce brands make with packaging, the opportunities they're missing out on and the easy ways you can save on packaging costs.    Packaging is one of the most important aspects to improving your customers' unboxing experience.   Its the one opportunity you have to communicate with your customers so you should be investing quite a bit into it.    That's why we've invited Elizabeth Corbett to the podcast to talk to us all about packaging, the biggest mistakes brands make, and why you should consider eco friendly solutions for packaging.    Here's some timestamps to get you by:  00:00 - Introduction 01:28 - Packaging Mistakes 04:11 - Packaging Waste and Cost Savings 07:00 - Benefits of Shipping In Its Own Container 10:43 - Dealing with Porch Pirates and Returns in DTC Packaging 14:41 - Considerations for Sourcing Packaging Materials 18:55 - The Impact of Freight Costs on Packaging 27:25 - The Growing Importance of Sustainable Packaging 33:34 - Contact Elizabeth for your packaging concerns   As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.    Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.    Thanks for listening!   Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Mike and Dave evaluate the impact of Google's September 2023 Update on EcomCrew's and other websites, and talk about the new challenges that have popped up because of this update.  Ever since September 2023, ranking on Google as an affiliate site has been harder than ever.  We've seen websites (including ours) decline in organic views from 20% to 80%, while Reddit has started to rank for every keyword.  If Google continue towards this trend of giving big websites all the ranking juice, what happens to affiliate websites? And by extension, what does that mean for all digital media outlets?  Dave and I discuss all these topics and more in this episode. Here are some timestamps to help you along.  Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 01:26 - Economies of Scale and Content Sites 04:20 - Google's Helpful Update and Content Sites 08:07 - The Rise of Reddit 19:29 - Challenges of Self-Promotion on Reddit 23:36 - The Future of Content Sites and Digital Media 24:06 - Conclusion As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave discusses how to reduce inbound placement fees with Amazon, how placement fees are calculated and who the winners and losers are since these fees were implemented.  Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!  It's been a few months since Amazon implemented their new Inbound Placement Fees.  The amount of increase varies, depending on the product, warehouse location, and other factors. But the good news is that you don't always have to pay the fees. In this episode, we'll explore the 3 ways you can use to avoid or reduce your Inventory Placement Fee when sending products to Amazon. The Big Takeaways Shipping to four or more locations can help avoid placement fees. Shipping to Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) can also help avoid placement fees, although it may come with other fees such as receiving and warehousing fees. Choosing a more centralized 3PL can help minimize placement fees and partner carrier fees. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Placement Fees 02:20 - Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) as a Solution 10:53 - Ship into AWD to Avoid Placement Fees 13:48 - Consider the Location of Your 3PL 17:09 - Impact of Placement Fees on Profitability As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Mike interviews Ajoy Krishnamoorthy, the CEO of Cin7, about the importance of software in e-commerce businesses, the challenges of managing inventory across multiple channels, and the benefits of using AI to forecast inventory for your business.   Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!    Branching out into another marketplace can make things more complicated than you think, inventory and accounting wise.    Having an inventory management software can make things easier, but how?    Ajoy Krishnamoorthy, the CEO of Cin7, an inventory management software, is on the podcast today to explain and talk about how an inventory management system can help simplify selling in multiple ecommerce platforms.   The Big Takeaway Managing inventory across multiple channels can be challenging and requires a centralised system. AI and machine learning can improve forecasting accuracy and help make informed inventory decisions. Data-driven insights are essential for optimizing inventory and improving business performance. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction & Sponsorship 01:29 - Introduction to Ajoy Krishnamurthy and Cin7 04:46 - Challenges of Managing Inventory Across Multiple Channels 10:39 - The Importance of Accurate Forecasting in Inventory Management 20:48 - Streamlining Financial Processes with Accounting Integration 25:24 - AI as an Enabler for Business Growth Resources Brain Dead brand case study Ajoy's LinkedIn Get 50% off Core Plan for Cin7 for 3 months!   As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

With Prime Day over and Amazon's Q2 earnings report revealed, Dave recaps how his Prime Day went and what does means for the future of third party sellers on Amazon.    Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!    Prime Day 2024 was touted as the biggest shopping event ever, with record sales and more items sold than any previous Prime Day.   But who were the real winners of Prime Day?    Today, Dave talks about his personal Prime Day experience, how Amazon missed their estimates for Q2, and what that means for third party sellers.    The Big Takeaway Amazon's Q2 earnings showed sluggish growth in online store revenue and missed estimates for the "third-party seller services and advertising revenue" section. This might mean more fees in Q3.  Prime Day 2024 was the biggest shopping event ever, but its impact on overall sales is questionable as consumers may be delaying their purchases. Buy Now, Pay Later options are gaining popularity, accounting for 7.6% of all orders during Prime Day. Amazon Basics was the most searched for brand during Prime Day, indicating consumers' demand for low priced products.  Apparel is emerging as a strong category on Amazon, potentially due to Amazon's response to Temu and Shein.  Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction: Amazon's Q2 Earnings and Prime Day 2024 03:06 - Sluggish Growth and Missed Estimates 09:47 - Prime Day 2024: The Biggest Shopping Event Ever? 13:02 - The Rise of Buy Now, Pay Later 17:42 - Amazon Basics: The Most Searched for Brand on Prime Day 21:24 - Apparel: A Strong Category on Amazon   As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.    Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.    Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

To find out what exactly happens to these returns and where they go, Dave stuck an Apple Airtag in it and tracked it over the next 3 months. Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!  Have you ever wondered what happens to your Amazon returns? Earlier in the year, Dave bought an Amazon Basics gym bag that he needed to return. To find out what exactly happens to these returns and where they go, he stuck an Apple Airtag in it and tracked it over the next 3 months. Here's exactly where it went and how I found it. The Big Takeaway Amazon inspects returns for their condition and might resell them to liquidators if they're not "like new".  80% of customers mark items as "wrong item sent" to avoid return shipping charges. There is a huge reseller market for Amazon returns. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction: Tracking an Amazon Return 08:05 - The Reseller Market for Amazon Returns 13:17 - Buying Back the Returned Item 17:05 - The Environmental Consequences of Returns As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Dave joins the podcast today to talk about Prime Day 2024; what their early sales look like, whether Chinese Marketplaces are going to start more shopping holidays, and why this might be the worst Prime Day so far.   Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!    Prime Day 2024 has been nowhere close to what we've seen in sales the year before.    Now these might be niche and brand specific, but it's worth pointing out that maybe this year hasn't been as great as last year, where we saw 2.5x to 3x the number of sales.    From a mixture of the early results and an overall negative perception of the shopping holiday, here's why Dave and I think this might be one of the worst Prime Days since its inception.    Big Takeaways Prime Day sales boosts might not be felt by everyone - it could vary depending on brand and niche. If you aren't trying to spread brand awareness, it might not be worth it to sell your products at a loss. Chinese competitors like Temu and Shein might start to challenge Amazon's dominance on Prime Day and create their own shopping holidays in the US.   Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor 02:17 - Early Results of Prime Day 02:39 - Feelings about Prime Day 04:17 - Why this might be the worst Prime Day 06:32 - Pent-up demand and scouting orders the day before 09:57 - The Negative Perception Around Prime Day 12:41 - Will chinese competitors hop on the same trend? 14:17 - Predictions: More shopping holidays are coming 18:10 - Casual stories with Mike and Dave   As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.    Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.    Thanks for listening!   Until next time, happy selling!

Dave and I discuss the reasons why e-commerce valuations have significantly decreased this year, Mike's run at the World Series of Poker event, and the potential valuation of content websites.  Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!  It's been almost a year since I last sold off one of my e-commerce businesses.  Since then, a lot has changed. Amazon's new fees were implemented, interest rates have skyrocketed, and FBA Aggregators are few and far between.  I invited Dave over today to discuss how Amazon may or may not have had a hand in directly affecting the valuations of e-commerce businesses, and why the market hasn't recovered from 2 years ago. Here are some of the big takeaways from this episode:  The Big Takeaways E-commerce valuations have decreased mainly due to the uncertainty caused by Amazon's fees and policies. Who knows when Amazon will come out with more fees that'll impact profitability?  Google's latest algorithm update has hit a LOT of content websites, leading to decreased traffic for everyone involved which directly impact its valuations.  If your e-commerce business is sold at a 2x multiple, it might not be enough for you to retire. Wouldn't it be better to hold onto your business instead?  Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor 02:56 - Mike's Run at the World Series of Poker 08:13 - E-commerce Valuations 20:07 - Valuations for FBA Businesses 21:06 - Valuations for Off-Amazon Brands 22:01 - Uncertainty in Content Site Valuations 28:14 - Decision to Hold onto a Profitable Business 31:08 - Dave's Funny Story  34:21 - eBay's Attempt to Change As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Brandon Eley joins the podcast to talk about his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges and opportunities of picking a complex product for private labelling, and why the road less travelled can be the better option when picking a product.  Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!  Complexity can be an opportunity.  You've probably heard me say it multiple times if you're a loyal podcast listener.  But today's episode is a prime example of this phrase.  Brandon Eley sells shoes at his company, 2 Big Feet. What sets his business apart from other shoe stores is that he only sells shoes for US sizes ranging from 15-25.  Now you must be thinking: "How big is his target market?"  Don't worry, I asked him the same question. Here's some timestamps below if you want to skip directly to it:  Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor 01:28 - Starting Too Big Feet and Meeting the Demand 07:12 - Challenges in the Shoe Industry and the Evolution of Too Big Feet 14:15 - The Journey of Manufacturing Shoes 19:06 - Creating Affordable Options for Customers 27:40 - Quality Control and Addressing Manufacturing Defects 36:13 - Success and Growth of Michael Ellis Footwear Takeaways Starting an ultra-niche ecommerce business can be successful, especially if there is a demand for a specific product or service. Manufacturing shoes is a lot more complex than you think. It involves designing patterns, selecting materials, and working with factories to create the final product. Offering affordable options for customers with specific needs can help differentiate a brand and attract a very loyal customer base. Investing in quality control and addressing manufacturing defects early is key to maintaining customer satisfaction. As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave shows 10 ways you can reduce stupid PPC Spend and maximise efficiency just in time for Prime Day.  Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!  Prime Day 2023 saw people spend up to $12.9bn alone.  Obviously, everyone wants a piece of the pie. You can expect competitors to increase their ad spend 2x or even 3x more just for the possibility of more sales. To prepare for this year's Prime Day, there are some ways you can maximise the efficiency of your ad spend. However what these sellers fail to notice is that it's all about maximising efficiency of your running ads.  That's why my partner-in-crime, Dave Bryant, is on the podcast today to talk about the 10 ways you can maximise your efficiency and reduce ad spend. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor 01:28 - Topic: Reducing PPC Spend on Amazon 03:51 - Optimizing Targeting Options in Auto Campaigns 05:16 - Optimizing Targeting Options in Manual Campaigns 07:37 - Using Dynamic Bids Down Only and Avoiding Broad Match 10:30 - Avoiding Ads in Other Countries and Turning Off Sponsored Display 13:52 - Unclicking Expanded Product Targeting and Using Exact Match 17:44 - Conclusion and Call to Action The Big Takeaways Increasing conversion rates can lower ad costs and improve ROAS. Turn off loose match targeting in auto campaigns and optimize targeting options in manual campaigns. Use dynamic bids down only and be cautious with broad match keywords. Don't let Amazon set up ads in other countries and consider turning off sponsored display campaigns. Lowering prices may be a better option than increasing PPC to improve profitability. As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Aaron Hughes makes his second appearance on the Ecomcrew Podcast to talk about all things Tiktok Shop, and why people should start leveraging the platform for their ecommerce businesses.  Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!  During my last eCommerceFuel Live Trip, the one common topic that frequently came up was  about was how good Tiktok Shop was for their businesses.  Unfortunately, ice packs don't really have a passionate audience, so I brought in someone who's products have had a significant uplift from TikTok Shop alone. That's why I've invited Aaron Hughes on the podcast today!  Aaron Hughes is no stranger on the podcast but he's back to talk about how Tiktok Shop has performed for his business, the impacts the platform has had on his business, and a few tips for people who haven't bit the bullet yet.  Timestamps 0:00 - Intro  0:33 - Sponsor Segment  1:43 - Recording Issues  3:03 - TikTok Shop for E-commerce Marketing 7:59 - Getting Set Up on TikTok Shop    9:17 - The TikTok Ban 12:00 - Aaron's Strategies for Tiktok Shop 15:33 - How long did it take to start being successful?  17:32 - Top 3 Tips for TikTok Shop 20:25 - Leveraging Controversial Topics 21:53 - Building a Foundation on TikTok  23:00 - Aaron's New AI Listing Tool 27:32 - Mike's Last Question  The Big Takeaways Don't discount your products' potential performance on TikTok Shop, whether they're a commodity or not.  TikTok has become what everyone thought Walmart was going to be.  Aaron, thank you again for coming on the podcast. If you guys want to learn more about Listbutler or hiring from India, you can contact him directly at aaron@listbutler.ai.   As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling! 

In today's episode, Joshua George shares the 5 biggest SEO-related mistakes that he's noticed after countless discovery calls with ecommerce entrepreneurs made through his agency, ClickSlice. Mike and Joshua also talk about the many SEO challenges that business owners have been facing from recent Google updates.  Joshua George is the founder of ClickSlice, an award-winning SEO agency based in London. He's also a regular speaker who focuses on spreading SEO education.  I've invited him over to the podcast to pick his brain about what the current SEO landscape is shaping up to be, and whether the challenges that I'm personally facing right now are just a symptom of Google's newest core update or if they're a serious issue.  The Big Takeaways Backlinks are the most challenging, but most rewarding factor to contribute to your SEO rankings.  There's a hidden opportunity to get your collection pages ranked on Google!  Sub-collections and separate URLs for certain categories of products can actually help your SEO rankings.  Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor 01:57 - Joshua's Background and Experience with SEO 03:25 - The Impact of Google Updates on SEO 08:42 - The Importance of Long-Tail Keywords and Transactional Intent 10:08 - The Value of SEO and the Common Mistakes Brands Make 13:19 - Mistake 1: Not Doing Enough Keyword Research 14:17 - Mistake 2: Not Adding Content on Collection Pages 21:24 - Mistake 4: Not Leveraging Blogs Properly 25:35 - Mistake 5: Not Building Quality Backlinks 29:24 - Where to Find ClickSlice and Closing Remarks Joshua, thank you again for coming on the podcast! It was nice chatting with you, and picking your brain about my SEO challenges. I look forward to meeting you in person soon! You can find Joshua George through his agency's website, ClickSlice. If you have any inquiries about how you can boost your SEO rankings, book a free discovery call! I highly recommend putting more time and effort into SEO in general. You can also find Joshua George on Twitter, or LinkedIn.  If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com. Also, if you have any questions or any topics you'd like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes.  Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Mike and Dave discuss Ecomcrew's new feature, the trending products tab on Amazon. They list out some of the top opportunities found, and why they may or may not be a very good idea.  The conversation covers a wide range of trending products and niche opportunities, including the impact of the pandemic on consumer behavior, the rise of hyper-seasonal trends, and the potential for creating brands around products you wouldn't normally think of. 

Adam Craft, founder of Elevated Craft, joins Mike Jackness on the EcomCrew podcast to discuss his personal journey in building a brand. Adam shares his approach to product differentiation in a saturated market, and how building a strong brand was the first priority for Adam. This meant that learning the basics of Amazon wasn't his priority. It was all in the hands of agencies.  Eventually, Adam learned about the challenges of relying on agencies and how much better it would be to learn and implement marketing strategies yourself. Adam also shares his experience with using Kickstarter, and how his upbringing impacted his business mindset. 

In this episode, Chris and Julia Tunstall share their journey of building a successful brand in the cocktail industry, what it's like to have your spouse as a business partner and a few tips on how they make it work.    Chris and Julia Tunstall are the owners of the brand, A Bar Above, and have been friends of mine in the industry for longer than I can remember.   I've invited them on the podcast today to find out their entrepreneurial story, and how they manage to stay business partners together through 10 years of being in the business together.    Spoiler alert: it takes a whole lot of effective communication, trust, and a clear list of roles and responsibilities between each other. Ultimately, they emphasize the importance of finding a system that works for both partners and playing to each other's strengths.   The Big Takeaways Here's a few of the big key points from this episode:  Creating a high-quality experience for your customers, whether a physical or a digital product, can lead to customer loyalty and repeat purchases. If you sell B2B, you'll know that there's a problem if they make a complaint.  Focusing on customer satisfaction and providing exceptional products can lead to long-term success. Clear roles and responsibilities are crucial for a successful partnership, especially if you're working with your spouse.  Effective communication and trust are key to navigating the dynamics of being both business and life partners. Understanding and respecting each other's working styles can help create a harmonious working relationship.   Timestamps  00:00 - Introduction and Background 03:09 - Transition from Education to Physical Products 07:23 - Expanding Product Line and B2B Market 12:23 - Innovative Experiences for Consumers 19:08 - Customer Satisfaction and Future Growth 20:32 - The Impact of Reviews on Product Success 21:23 - The Importance of Consistent Branding 22:16 - The Evolution of Launch Strategies 23:26 - Appreciating Well-Designed Websites 24:41 - The Challenges of Working with a Spouse 28:12 - Navigating the Dynamics of Being Business and Life Partners 30:48 - The Pressure of Being the Sole Income Provider 32:34 - Understanding and Respecting Different Working Styles   Chris and Julia, thank you again for coming on the podcast! It was nice catching up with you again, and I look forward to meeting you both in Vegas soon.   If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com.   Also, if you have any questions or any topics you'd like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes.    Thanks for listening!  

In this episode, Mike and Dave dissect Amazon's latest announcement regarding Return Fees, how this will affect sellers starting on June 1st, and a possible option to combat these fees.  Another day, another fee gets announced. It seems like third-party sellers are getting hit left and right lately with new fees, the latest one being Return Fees. In this episode, Dave and I are going to dive into the latest announcement regarding Return Fees, what this means for sellers, and how you can possibly combat these fees.  The Big Takeaways  If you're in a hurry, here's a few of the big key points from this episode:  Starting June 1st, Amazon will start charging sellers $2-$4 extra dollars to process returns.  This will only affect SKUs that have surpassed the return threshold in their category. The specific thresholds have been listed by Amazon here.  To check for your product's return rate, check out Amazon's SKU Economics Dashboard which is available in Seller Central.  Take into account your product's return fees, and double check if your products are still profitable.  If you're over the Return Threshold for your product, increase your price.  Turning on the "Returnless Returns" option for your most returned products can be a viable way to combat these extra charges.  Timestamps  Podcast Start - 0:00 Looking at return rates and return thresholds - 0:35  The return fees announcement - 1:22  The published thresholds for categories - 2:21 How return fees affect your products profitability - 3:30 All the new fees to think about - 4:54 Tip: The SKU Economics Dashboard - 5:20 How the Return Rate Thresholds are calculated - 6:08 What sellers should do - 6:56  Mike's most returned product - 7:05 Tip: How to "possibly" combat these return fees: turning on returnless returns - 7:47 Dave's most returned products - 10:33 People taking advantage of Amazon's return policy - 11:26 The automotive category's return threshold - 14:11 The silver lining: being forced to double check operational costs - 15:39  Return fees will be charged for units above the threshold - 19:12 How return fees compare to storage fees - 20:46 Return fee predictions - 21:43  Catching up on Hockey with Dave - 21:57 Links to Tools Mentioned:  Link to Amazon Return Thresholds  Link to the SKU Economics Dashboard  Link to Helium10  Dave, thanks again for coming on the podcast! It was nice catching up with you again, and I look forward to the follow-up episode we'll do about returns soon.  If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com. Also, if you have any questions or any topics you'd like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes.  Thanks for listening!

Kevin Williams is on the podcast today to talk about his entrepreneurial journey. From founding brands like Brush Hero to appearing on Shark Tank and finally, to diving deep into AI, we cover the lessons that he's learned through each brand and venture.  Kevin Williams is the founder of MadBrains AI, a company that specializes in AI literacy and training. With an extensive background in ecommerce, Kevin consistently provides practical tips to digital marketers on how to leverage AI for their brands. Kevin and I met quite a while back in 2015, where Kevin held a presentation on the importance of product validation before marketing, and that's when I had an epiphany — if no one is interested in your product before you go to sell, it's not worth it.   After years of friendship, I've decided to get him on to catch up with him and get a background of his experience as an entrepreneur. Here's some timestamps:  Timestamps:  Podcast Start - 0:00 Mike's Reason for Getting Friends on the Podcast - 0:30  Kevin's Product Validation Presentation and Business Model - 1:30  Traffic is 4x more expensive now - 2:44  Kevin's Patent Concept - 4:17  The Origins of Brush Hero - 6:28  Importance of Storytelling - 7:26  How Counterfeits Destroyed Brush Hero - 8:41 Being CEO of Balls.co - 11:48 "What happened to Balls.co?" - 13:59 Diving into AI - 20:14 "What's one thing that I should have asked?" - 28:26 If you're in a hurry, I've listed a few of the big takeaways I personally found to be the most impactful:   Traffic is so way more expensive now. In 2015, it would cost 25c - 50c to buy traffic on Facebook Ads. Currently, it costs $3-$4 to buy traffic. If you want to start buying ads, it might be more cost-efficient to use a cheaper social networks like TikTok.  Being granted a patent is a bucket list item for most tinkerers and engineers. However, a lot of people don't go beyond that point. Partnering with a patent holder can be a good way to find products to sell on Amazon.  Storytelling boils down to three main points:   Man - your brand or product   Mountain - the big problem   Getting Over Mountain - how your product solves your problem Online reviews have a big impact on offline sales. If your product is available in a brick and mortar store, shoppers will normally try to price-match by checking your product on Amazon and they'll run into your negative reviews.  Running a business that's based overseas while having staff that's based in a separate country can be very physically and mentally taxing.  Getting shadowbanned on your advertising account is more common than you think. It's a term that describes getting really poor performance on your advertising account, without explicit notice from the platform.  Balls.co suffered from their success in the influencer marketing. After receiving a lot of traffic from their influencer marketing, they were starting to be seen as an entertainment company instead of a product company. This meant that they werent getting much sales from their marketing efforts. All of the Fortune 10,000 companies are concerned about the implications of AI, but only 5% of them have training in place.  You should be leveraging AI to automate customer service. There is no reason for you to be doing first-contact customer service anymore as a business owner and AI can make this a lot easier for you.  Taking the previous point a step further, you can use AI to sift through previous chatlogs,  emails and reviews for practical information that you can use in your marketing, customer service and product development.  You need to be checking your SEO and keyword rankings almost daily. AI generated content is really finnicky as of now, and it can affect your keyword rankings on Google by a huge margin.    Kevin, thanks for coming on the podcast! It was nice seeing you again, and I hope our paths cross again before the next eCommerceFuel Live.  If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn, where he publishes practical AI tips every week. You can also find him through his company MadBrains.  Thanks for coming on to the podcast Kevin!  Also, if you have any questions or any topics you'd like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes.  Thanks for listening!

Jeff Oxford joins us on the podcast today to talk about the most recent Google Update, who the winners were, and how search is going to look like with AI in the horizon.   Jeff Oxford is the Founder and SEO Director of 180 Marketing, a marketing agency that specialises in SEO strategies which cover everything from keyword research to webpage optimization.   Today, he's on the podcast to talk about the most recent Google update that happened in March. Specifically, we'll dive into the criteria that Google uses to rank websites, the winners of the most recent update, and why brand metrics plays an important role in search.    The big takeaway here is that no matter what, keep playing the long game. When it comes to content, it's only a matter of time until your content starts making its way through the algorithm and to the audience that you're targeting.    It really is just a matter of time. It might be an overnight viral success, or it might be a crawl towards the goal, but it's a matter of when it happens instead.    Timestamps:  Podcast Start - 0:00 Catching up with Jeff - 0:31 Google's March Core Update - 2:14  Why Mike was excited for this update - 4:30  Playing the long term game - 6:03 Google's update patterns - 7:40 Mike Jackness History Lesson - 9:31  How Google finds cheaters - 12:23  Why Reddit and Quora won the last update - 14:43  Why Brand Metrics matter for SEO - 15:58 How do you get started in building your SEO? - 18:13  Stick with it! - 20:31  What is Search going to look like moving forward? - 22:38 How will Google incentivise making good content with AI in the future? - 28:11 Learn more about Jeff Oxford - 30:39   Jeff, thanks for coming on the podcast! It was nice seeing you again, although through a virtual screen instead of in person but we'll take what we can get!    If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com.    Also, if you have any questions or any topics you'd like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes.    Thanks for listening!

In the world of ecommerce, opinions on starting a dropshipping business really differ. Some people say it's an unprofitable business model while others swear by it.    Well, dropshipping is still very much around. But as Amazon moved into a position of dominance, its appeal has waned. The fact that some so-called “gurus” who sell dropshipping as an “easy” way to earn millions hasn't helped either.   However, there are those who own sustainable dropshipping businesses.    Pat Haggerty, owner of Right Channel Radios, is one of them.   I've asked Pat to join me in this podcast episode to talk in detail about his business, Right Channel Radios.    I hope our discussion didn't only prove informative but encouraged you to look at dropshipping businesses in a different, albeit more positive light.   Pat, thank you for accepting the invite to record a podcast together. I really appreciate it, and I look forward to seeing you again in the next events.    If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com.    Also, if you have any questions or any topics you'd like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes.    Thanks for listening!

Dana Jaunzemis joins the EcomCrew podcast today to talk about how she evaluated businesses before purchasing them, why she chose to sell her businesses, and ultimately chose to retire.    Dana Jaunzemis and I met for the first time years ago during my eCommerce speaking circuit and has since become a great friend of mine. She's the killer combination of having a really interesting background, while also being incredibly intellectual business-wise and philosophically too.    She's been a good friend that's always been helpful when I've run into troubles of my own, especially those regarding burnout, identity and the end goal as an entrepreneur.    Today, I wanted to pick her brains on the podcast about what it's like to have been recently retired from eCommerce, how she still finds a sense of fulfilment and the factors she considers before buying a business, which may or may not have been on my mind lately.   "E-commerce, while easy, is the highest risk type of business [in my opinion]." - Dana Jaunzemis   Timestamps:  0:00 - Podcast Start 0:31 - Introduction 2:49 - Dana's Career Timeline 4:54 - The Appeal of E-Commerce for Introverts 6:28 - Is E-Commerce Difficult?  9:19 - The Difference Between Successful and Failing Businesses 11:44 - How lessons in life can apply to your future 15:40 - Factors to Consider When Buying A Business 16:31 - Factor #1: Profitability 16:46 - Factor #2: Where Your Skillset Fits In 24:24 - Why Dana chose to sell her business 30:01 - Risks of e-commerce 31:41 - Factor #3: Inventory Costs  34:19 - Finding Fulfilment in Retirement 38:14 - Knowing when 'enough' is enough 41:53 - Moving Goalposts  46:30 - What was it like buying a business with friends?    Dana, thank you for accepting the invite to record a podcast together. I really appreciate it, and I look forward to seeing you again in the next events.    If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com.    Also, if you have any questions or any topics you'd like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes.    Thanks for listening!  

John Di Giacomo joins us on the podcast today to talk about the most common lawsuit claims that he's personally seen in the past few years in the ecommerce industry, and how you can avoid them.    John Di Giacomo is the founding partner of Revision Legal, a law firm with expertise in Internet law, copyright & trademark law, and related areas.    Today, he's on the podcast to talk about the most common cases that have been on the rise recently. Specifically, we'll be talking about ADA Cases and CIPA claims, and how ecommerce sellers can protect themselves from these claims.    The big takeaway here is to make sure that you're protected from these false claims.    Because it's not a matter of if it happens, but a matter of when it happens. The best way to protect yourselves is to take preventive action before these claims ultimately kill your business, because it can definitely happen.    John, thanks for coming on the podcast! It was nice having you back on after several years since your last episode and I hope to hear good news from you in the future.    If any listeners would like to have a discussion about this, let me know by emailing us directly at support@ecomcrew.com.    Also, if you have any questions or any topics you'd like us to discuss on the podcast, you can email us directly as well! We would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review on iTunes.    Thanks for listening!