Podcasts about AGL

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Best podcasts about AGL

Latest podcast episodes about AGL

I Learned About Flying From That
136. Engine Failure in the Pattern

I Learned About Flying From That

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2026 29:52


When an explosive engine failure at 900 feet AGL completely covers the windscreen in oil and cuts all electrical power, routine checkride prep suddenly becomes a low-altitude emergency. Flight instructor Mike Pavlik and student pilot Nicolas Kirchner join host Carl Valeri to recount their harrowing Piper PA-28 flight out of Lakeland, Florida. They break down the split-second decisions required to manage a violent mechanical failure, lost communications, cockpit smoke, and pattern traffic—delivering vital lessons on airmanship, resource management, and keeping your cool when everything goes wrong without warning.

DTC Podcast
Ep 643: Amazon Fees Hit 40%: How to Claw Back Margin and Stop Wasting Ad Spend (Pilothouse)

DTC Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2026 30:24


https://directtoconsumer.typeform.com/DTC-Brand?utm_source=podcast-643&utm_medium=podcastTo Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signuppilothouse.coIn 2020, Amazon's fees ran about 26% of your product cost. Today they run 34 to 40%, and once you add advertising most brands are at 50 to 60% before they reinvest a dollar. For the first time in years, the number of sellers on Amazon is shrinking.Tyler, head of Amazon at Pilothouse, is back to explain what he calls the Amazon paradox: you can't afford to be on Amazon, and you can't afford not to be.If you sell on Amazon, buy Amazon ads, or keep putting off the decision to launch there, this is the operator's version of the math.What you get:Where the 40% actually goes, and which parts of it you can still fightThe hidden fee stack (long-term storage, inbound, freight, returns, chargebacks) that quietly takes another 5 to 8% of margin, one fraction of a percent at a timeReimbursements: Amazon loses and damages inventory and wrongly charges you for it, and will pay it back if you dispute it. Most brands never doAGL / AWD, shipping straight from your manufacturer into Amazon's fulfillment network, and the 2 to 5% freight savings that comes with itWhy the April 15 change (Amazon pulling ad spend out of your disbursement instead of your credit card) is a cash flow problem, not an ad problemThe death of the middle: half of Amazon's GMV now sits with roughly 8,000 sellers, down from 15,000, and what changed in the algorithm to cause itCosmo and what comes after A9: why external traffic into your listing now reads to Amazon as brand authorityNike showed up. What happens to the small sellers who used to feast on big brands' unconverted branded searchTACoS as a vanity metric, and the three-report method (SQP, Helium 10 rank, ad spend) that shows whether your ads are driving incremental sales or paying for organic ones you already hadRufus is now Alexa for Shopping, most people use it on the product page rather than in search, and what that means for your listing copyWhat Tyler expects out of Amazon Accelerate 2026Who this is for: Amazon sellers, DTC founders weighing the channel, and anyone managing Amazon ad spend.What to steal: the reimbursement audit, the AGL freight move, and the zero-sale keyword sweep on your last quarter of ad spend.Timestamps:00:00 The Amazon Paradox04:00 Why Amazon Is Getting More Expensive10:00 Hidden Amazon Fees Hurting Margins15:00 Why Brands Still Need Amazon21:00 How to Make Amazon Ad Spend More ProfitableSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://www.pilothouse.co/?utm_source=AKNF643Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Let's Know Things
Virtual Power Plants

Let's Know Things

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2026 18:02


This week we talk about peaker plants, blackouts, and at-home battery backups.We also discuss energy resiliency, solar panels, and hydro.Recommended Book: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson BennettTranscriptPeaking power plants, often just called peaker plants, are power plants that are turned on only during periods of high energy demand. That's in contrast to a baseload power plant, which operates more or less 24/7 to ensure there's a steady amount of electricity available on the local power grid.The need for peak-load energy varies depending on the time of year and which part of the world you're looking at. In general, though, energy demand tends to increase in the morning and evening because of temperature fluctuations and lifestyle rhythms.People are at home in the morning and return from work in the evening, at which point they turn on their ACs or heaters, TVs, lights, electric kettles, and video game consoles. That leads to an irregular surge in demand compared with the steady office and factory demand met throughout the day by the baseload power plant.When energy demand peaks, approaching or exceeding what the baseload plant can reliably provide, the peaker plant is spun up and more energy is added to the grid. This helps avoid brownouts and blackouts, situations in which people lose access to power because there isn't enough to go around.This also helps stabilize energy prices. In most countries, pricing is used to manage scarce energy resources, so as a grid approaches the point where it's running out of available electricity, prices rise to incentivize less energy use. Peaker plants keep those prices from going sky-high by increasing the supply, preventing demand from pushing prices into absolutely ridiculous territory.Some peaker plants operate for a handful of hours basically every day. This is especially true in places with extreme temperature fluctuations, or in areas where the population or manufacturing activity has increased rapidly and the local infrastructure hasn't caught up. In those places, the backup plant is used more regularly because the baseload supply hasn't yet increased to meet that new, consistently higher demand.Peaker plants are often less efficient to run because they aren't meant to be used all the time. Consequently, if the baseload power plant isn't capable of providing enough energy for a region on a regular basis, electricity can get much more expensive for everyone, all the time. A power plant intended for occasional use is instead operating constantly, and it wasn't built to be efficient. It was built to come online quickly and operate only during periods of irregular, excessive need.What I'd like to talk about today is an alternative to peaker plants that was conceived of decades ago, but which has only recently started to be deployed at scale in some areas.—As I mentioned in the intro, a peaker power plant is meant to be turned on irregularly to meet above-average energy needs. Those periodic pops in demand are accounted for, and peaker plants are built specifically to meet them. As a result, these plants are typically more expensive and often more polluting than baseload plants, with many using natural gas or coal to produce extra electricity for the grid.In the late 1990s, researchers proposed that it might someday be possible to link energy-production and storage sites together, creating a more flexible grid system they called a virtual power plant. Further research in the early 2000s expanded on the concept, looking specifically at renewable-energy options and how they might be aggregated into a similar virtual-power-plant setup.The basic idea is to recreate the effect of a peaker plant—adding electricity to the power grid when it's most needed—by aggregating power-generating or storage assets and tapping them only when necessary.Software manages that aggregation of smaller assets, ensuring the additional energy reaches the grid when it's needed and at the necessary scale. Managing these assets in this way allows smaller production and storage infrastructure to recreate the impact of a larger peaker plant.A German energy company called RWE launched the first real-world virtual power plant in 2008, linking nine of its hydroelectric plants into a virtual 8.6 MW unit whose output could be managed and deployed remotely. A few years later, in 2011, a Swiss energy company called Kraftwerke did the same with a slew of biogas, solar, and wind-power infrastructure scattered across seven countries.The concept expanded to include demand-side residential energy assets in 2016, when the Australian city of Adelaide enacted a program backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The program deployed 1,000 battery systems to homes and businesses across the city. Those battery systems were hooked up to solar panels, and the software managing the batteries allowed their stored energy to act like a 5 MW peaker plant.Tesla then applied the same general idea across South Australia, where energy prices had long been volatile, beginning in 2018. That program reached 50,000 homes by 2022. It was acquired by an energy company called AGL in 2025, which expanded it further until the virtual power plant had a capacity of 25 MW of peaker solar energy and 37 MW of battery-stored peaker energy.Now, again, there's a certain amount of energy available on the grid from standard baseload production sources, including traditional coal- and gas-fired power plants, hydroelectric plants, and nuclear power plants.Solar and wind arrays also contribute to the baseline energy load in some parts of the world. That baseline can be augmented by utility-scale battery facilities that store excess wind and solar production. This makes renewables more reliable as baseload options because excess energy generated during the day or during especially windy periods can be stored in those batteries and used later, at night or when the wind isn't blowing as hard.A VPP addresses periods when the available baseload supply doesn't measure up to current demand. When temperatures are especially high and everyone is using their air conditioners more, and a gas plant or solar array can't provide enough electricity to meet demand, the company operating the virtual power plant can draw energy from scattered resources to cover that additional use.In some cases, that means pooling energy generated by small hydroelectric dams. In others, it means drawing a previously agreed-upon amount or percentage of energy from a homeowner's battery backup.Maybe they have a battery that stores excess electricity from their solar panels, which they can use at night. They might also have an agreement with the VPP operator allowing it to draw a certain amount of energy from that battery when necessary, adding it to the grid to ease excessive demand.This kind of agreement is often beneficial for the homeowner sharing some of their excess energy with the grid to help prevent blackouts and excessively high prices. The cost of the battery installation and hardware might be subsidized, or they might make a small amount of money every time that energy is borrowed.There are also variations on this model that provide the homeowner or renter with a fancy thermostat. During periods of high demand, the thermostat might automatically adjust the AC by a degree or two when the grid is being crushed by demand on crazy-hot days. This ensures there's enough energy to go around by reducing demand rather than increasing supply.Some models also use energy-pricing arbitrage, automatically selling stored energy when electricity is expensive and buying it back when electricity is cheap. This helps balance the grid's overall energy load by contributing to it when energy is scarce and expensive, then restoring that energy to the battery when it is abundant and cheap.Increasingly, these systems tap into other resources connected to the grid to reduce demand or increase supply. They might borrow some energy stored in a homeowner's electric vehicle, for instance, which has been left plugged in to charge but can also act as another, quite large, household battery. Or they might reduce the power being sent to heat pumps or water heaters.Each of these devices or other assets is treated as part of the larger virtual power plant, which may be composed of thousands or tens of thousands of homes and all their connected assets. This helps manage supply and demand so that blackouts and dramatically higher energy prices are less likely, even on days with bizarre weather or when larger energy assets, like power plants, aren't operating at full capacity.This is a huge win for resiliency, and it's also often much cheaper than installing and operating a peaker plant, usually around 40–60% cheaper.These systems can also be installed and activated much faster than a full-on power plant, while dramatically reducing the amount of land used for energy infrastructure and the bureaucracy that has to be traversed to get something like a power plant or solar array installed and operating.Those big chunks of infrastructure can take years or decades to bring online, while a VPP can often be up and running within just a few months. It usually requires no new land and no new interconnections in terms of cables or whatnot. It uses infrastructure that's already there in most cases, though it can also be strengthened by deploying assets, like household batteries, that are useful to the homeowner for other reasons. Kind of a win-win.At the moment, virtual-power-plant capacity is limited primarily by regulatory approval, at least in most countries. Energy utilities don't have much incentive to move these systems forward because they get paid for building and managing traditional power assets, and VPPs are not that.Sometimes an energy company will run this type of program, but usually only if it gets to sell the hardware and is paid to manage the software that keeps everything running smoothly. Household batteries and similar assets otherwise represent competition, so utilities are less inclined to allow these systems to move forward or even be legally installed without a fight.That said, the major players in the VPP space right now are Sunrun, Tesla, Renew Home, Uplight, Next Kraftwerke, and sonnen. The latter is the largest VPP operator in Europe and has recently been expanding into the US, especially in Utah.Most VPP deployment in the US is happening in California, Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. These systems are also being deployed across South Australia, Germany, and China, where the first gigawatt-scale residential VPP, which aggregates air conditioners and water heaters across millions of households, has been launched.This category of energy technology has rolled out more slowly than originally anticipated. When the early models were deployed in Europe, their outcomes were considered broadly beneficial, but expansion was hindered by regulations—paperwork, basically—and pushback from existing utilities that didn't want the competition.VPPs were also bundled with other renewable-energy infrastructure and consequently faced substantial opposition in the US, in particular, during both Trump administrations. Those administrations pulled support for renewables across the board and, in some cases, actively tried to kill these industries to make even more room for oil and gas companies.In 2025 and so far in 2026, though, the blazing-fast deployment of data centers has brought VPPs back into the conversation. Data centers require a silly amount of energy to run, and power grids in the areas where they're being built have been strained as a consequence, dramatically increasing energy prices.VPPs won't solve that problem, but they could ease it in several ways. They can temper energy use and make more electricity available during periods of peak demand without requiring the construction of expensive power plants that might not come online for years or even a decade.They could also reframe the use of VPPs so that they're no longer seen primarily as environmental efforts, but as economically viable means of addressing data-center-created energy shortfalls. That could lead to more VPP build-outs because these systems would no longer be such obvious targets for anti-renewable-energy legislation and politics.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaking_power_planthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_power_planthttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X2400097Xhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/05/adelaide-charges-ahead-with-worlds-largest-virtual-power-planthttps://www.nrg.com/insights/energy-education/understanding-virtual-power-plants--a-guide-to-vpps.htmlhttps://techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/home-batteries-are-suddenly-cheap-and-everywhere-heres-why/https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/08/13/tesla-unveils-zero-down-powerwall-lease-program-with-retail-electric-plan-in-texas-touts-global-vpp-potential/https://www.energy-storage.news/base-power-launches-100mw-vpp-programme-in-texas/https://www.ess-news.com/2026/02/12/texas-lands-its-first-battery-only-virtual-power-plant/https://nuwattenergy.com/en/virtual-power-plants-2026https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/25/sunrun-tesla-renew-home-announce-plans-for-16-8-gw-virtual-power-plant-program/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484725003865https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/start-next-kraftwerkes-renewable-virtual-power-plant-stabilises-gridhttps://www.energy.gov/edf/virtual-power-plants-projectshttps://www.woodmac.com/press-releases/virtual-power-plant-capacity-expands-13.7-year-over-year-to-reach-37.5-gwhttps://www.utilitydive.com/news/in-2026-virtual-power-plants-must-scale-or-risk-being-left-behind/810321/https://ieefa.org/resources/case-virtual-power-plantshttps://uplight.com/blog/virtual-power-plants-are-powering-the-grid-of-the-future-and-uplight-is-leading-the-way/https://sepapower.org/knowledge/vpp-and-supporting-der-policy-developments-q1-2026/https://www.energymining.sa.gov.au/consumers/solar-and-batteries/south-australias-virtual-power-planthttps://whatisavpp.com/research/topics/enpal-flexa/https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/virtual-power-plants/rooftop-solar-industry-trump-budget-lawhttps://foleyhoag.com/news-and-insights/blogs/energy-and-climate-counsel/2026/july/virtual-power-plants-the-distributed-energy-revolution-has-arrived/https://ieefa.org/resources/case-virtual-power-plantshttps://sepapower.org/knowledge/vpp-and-supporting-der-policy-developments-q1-2026/https://www.cesa.org/resource-library/resource/puerto-rico-virtual-power-plant/https://www.energy.gov/edf/virtual-power-plants-projectshttps://www.energymining.sa.gov.au/consumers/solar-and-batteries/south-australias-virtual-power-planthttps://www.ess-news.com/2025/01/16/china-launches-work-on-its-first-gw-scale-residential-virtual-power-plant/https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-order-no-2222-explainer-facilitating-participation-electricity-markets-distributed-energyhttps://www.utilitydive.com/news/in-2026-virtual-power-plants-must-scale-or-risk-being-left-behind/810321/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Aviation News Talk podcast
426 Gear-Up Landings & Gear Collapses: How to Prevent Them with Tom Turner + GA News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2026 75:44


Gear-up landings are often dismissed as embarrassing pilot mistakes, but landing gear mishaps are far more common, complicated, and expensive than many pilots realize. In this episode, Max talks with Tom Turner of the American Bonanza Society Air Safety Foundation about why gear-up landings and landing gear collapses continue to happen—and the operating habits and maintenance practices that can prevent them. Turner says the Beechcraft Bonanza, Baron, Debonair, and Travel Air fleet averages about one reported landing gear mishap every week. Those events represent roughly 40 percent of the mishaps reported to the American Bonanza Society. And because many landing gear events do not meet NTSB reporting thresholds, Turner says contacts in the insurance, aircraft rebuilding, and salvage industries believe the actual number may be two to three times higher. The problem is not unique to Beechcraft. Turner previously tracked landing gear events across piston retractable-gear aircraft and found comparable or even higher rates in some other types. Landing gear mishaps also have an outsized impact on aircraft insurance because a seemingly survivable gear-up landing can result in propeller damage, an engine teardown, belly damage, and repair costs high enough for an insurer to total the airplane. Much of the conversation focuses on developing habits that make forgetting the landing gear less likely. Turner teaches the concept "gear down to go down." Rather than beginning the final descent simply by reducing power, landing gear extension becomes the event that initiates the descent from traffic pattern altitude or onto the final portion of an instrument approach. He also teaches Gear Extension Altitude, or GEA. On a straight-in or other nonstandard arrival, the pilot selects an altitude below which the airplane will not descend until the landing gear has been extended and confirmed. Max relates two occasions during his flying career when normal landing gear cues broke down. In one, while training in a Diamond DA42, he reached the flare before his instructor revealed that the gear was still up. In another, while flying a Vision Jet instrument approach, the normal glidepath cue used for gear extension never appeared. The airplane's warning system ultimately caught the omission. That leads to one of Turner's strongest recommendations: regardless of when you normally extend the landing gear, establish a deliberate final gear confirmation on short final, around 400 to 500 feet AGL. If distraction, a changed traffic pattern, a go-around, or some other interruption causes you to miss your normal extension cue, that final check provides one more opportunity to catch the error. Warning systems alone are not enough. Turner describes pilots who continued toward landing while gear warning horns sounded and bright warning lights flashed. During high workload, pilots may simply stop processing repetitive warnings. In multi-engine training, the problem can become particularly insidious because pilots may listen to a landing gear warning horn throughout a simulated engine-out exercise and effectively tune it out before landing. Turner recommends using more than cockpit lights to verify the gear. Listen to the gear motor and notice whether it sounds normal. Feel and observe the expected change in drag and pitch. Compare airspeed, power, descent rate, and aircraft performance with what you normally expect. Then verify the cockpit indications. ABS even recommends holding the gear handle until this entire confirmation process is complete. Go-arounds introduce another human-factors trap. Pilots may vividly remember extending the gear—but the memory may be from the previous trip around the pattern. Turner favors making a go-around resemble a normal takeoff, then using the same normal extension cue on the next approach. Whatever technique a pilot chooses, the key is consistency and making sure the cue will still occur following a go-around. The discussion then turns to touch-and-go landings, which both Max and Tom strongly discourage in retractable-gear airplanes. A pilot reaching to retract the flaps can inadvertently select the landing gear instead. They similarly recommend not reconfiguring the airplane during the landing roll. Wait until the airplane is clear of the runway and preferably stopped on the taxiway before moving flap or similar controls. And pilots should not assume squat switches will save them. Turner describes observations showing that systems tied to weight-on-wheels switches may not recognize the airplane as firmly on the ground until surprisingly late in the landing roll—and may switch to flight mode early during takeoff. Bumps and unloading of the landing gear can further reduce their effectiveness. Gear collapses also have a significant maintenance component. At American Bonanza Society maintenance evaluation events, aircraft are placed on jacks and their landing gear rigging and downlock tensions are carefully inspected. Turner says it is not unusual for roughly two airplanes out of a 24-aircraft event to have gear tensions so far out of tolerance that the owners are advised not to fly until adjustments are made. ABS considers improper rigging serious enough that it developed a 38-step landing gear inspection checklist to supplement normal Beechcraft inspection procedures. Finally, Turner discusses what to do when the gear itself malfunctions. If the gear begins to extend and then jams, perhaps popping the motor circuit breaker, repeatedly cycling it may turn a damaged push rod or rod end into a complete failure. Instead, Turner recommends following the airplane's approved manual landing gear extension procedure, which can place less stress on a compromised system and may give the pilot the best chance of getting all the gear down. The episode highlights the American Bonanza Society's Put Your Gear Down campaign, which makes decades of landing gear operating and maintenance information available to pilots of all retractable-gear airplanes. Its goal is simple: replace the familiar saying that there are "those who have and those who will" have a gear mishap with a third category—pilots who use disciplined operating and maintenance practices to make sure it never happens to them. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1299NEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $949Lightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. News Stories FAA Flags 3D Printed Cockpit Accessories As Unapproved Parts Satellite Device Guides Cessna Accident Rescue FAA's ATC modernization is moving faster FAA Accepts HIMS Reform Petition For Review 8 killed in plane crash at remote Alaska radar site Cirrus Burns During Parachute Deployment Aging GA Fleet Faces Growing Aircraft Parts Challenge Teton Civil Air Patrol Squadron Deactivated, Cessna 206 Reassigned EAA Chapter 1240 Funds Stolen Mentioned on the ShowBuy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 UAV News Talk - Archer Aviation episode NTSB News Talk - episode #37 EAA HeartLand Chapter 1240 Put Your Gear Down Website Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android. Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

AM/PM Podcast
#548 - All About AGL: Amazon Global Logistics

AM/PM Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2026 34:31


Discover how Amazon Global Logistics could simplify your supply chain, reduce surprise fees, speed up FBA inventory, and change how you ship products globally. Getting inventory from your factory into Amazon FBA can be one of the most complicated parts of running an ecommerce business. Between freight forwarders, customs, placement options, unexpected fees, and changing transit times, sellers have plenty of decisions to make. In this episode, Bradley Sutton sits down with Alex Berry, who leads Amazon Global Logistics (AGL), to break down how the program works and where it fits into an Amazon seller's supply chain.   Alex explains how AGL differs from traditional freight forwarding, including Amazon Managed Placement and Seller Managed Placement. Sellers can choose between different approaches for getting inventory distributed across Amazon's five US regions, while AGL also offers air, standard ocean, and fast ocean shipping options. The conversation also tackles Incoterms such as FOB and DDP, Amazon Customs and Trade (ACT), payment options, and one of the biggest headaches in international freight: unexpected fees. Unlike the common "Bill One, Bill Two" model Alex describes in the freight industry, he says AGL provides the price upfront without a second bill filled with additional charges such as detention, demurrage, or driver wait times. But AGL is continuing to expand. Alex shares updates on dangerous goods support, including electronics with batteries and upcoming lithium-ion battery capabilities, as Amazon works toward supporting more than 99% of ASINs by mid-2027. He also discusses faster routes into the eastern US, premium ocean service into Europe, expanding international shipping lanes, contract pricing for qualifying sellers, and plans that could eventually allow sellers to use AGL to ship directly to non-Amazon destinations such as their own warehouses and 3PLs. Ready to explore Amazon Global Logistics? Visit http://h10.me/agl to learn more, start the onboarding process, and get approximately 8% off your first AGL shipment as a first-time user. Helium 10 Elite members: Keep an eye on your inbox for a separate AGL link specifically for Elite members. Whether you're already using a freight forwarder or simply looking for more options, this episode offers a closer look at what Amazon is building on the logistics side of the business. The biggest lesson isn't necessarily that every seller should switch to AGL—it's that sellers should understand their true landed costs, shipping speed, placement strategy, and supply chain options before deciding what works best. The more efficiently you can get inventory where customers need it, the better positioned your business is to stay in stock, protect margins, and keep growing. In episode 548 of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley and Alex discuss: 00:00 - Introduction 00:38 - Everything You Need To Know About AGL 03:11 - Inside Amazon Global Logistics 07:26 - AGL Vs. Traditional Freight Forwarders 10:27 - How AGL Inventory Placement Works 13:19 - Understanding FOB And DDP Shipping 15:37 - Customs, Duties, And Payment Options 18:01 - Using AGL For Multichannel Selling 19:43 - Avoiding Surprise Freight Forwarding Fees 22:02 - Shipping Hazmat Products With AGL 23:59 - Air, Standard, And Fast Ocean Shipping 25:51 - New AGL Features Coming For Sellers 30:00 - How To Get Started With AGL

Fear and Greed
Afternoon Report | ASX down 0.5pc

Fear and Greed

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 4:29 Transcription Available


This is the Fear & Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes. ASX down 0.5pc; CBA result AGL warns on earnings Tomago smelter set for bailout Premier Investments cuts guidance Trump confirms secret plane swap Join our free daily newsletter here.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fear and Greed Business Headlines
Fear & Greed Afternoon Report | 12 Aug 2026

Fear and Greed Business Headlines

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 4:31 Transcription Available


This is the Fear & Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes. ASX down 0.5pc; CBA result AGL warns on earnings Tomago smelter set for bailout Premier Investments cuts guidance Trump confirms secret plane swap Join our free daily newsletter here.Support the show: http://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marcus Today Market Updates
End of Day Report – Wednesday 12 August: ASX 200 falls 41 - CBA - SEK - PMV in focus - US CPI tonight

Marcus Today Market Updates

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 13:13


The ASX 200 closed down 41 points to 9,209 (-0.45%), as the banking sector came under a little pressure, despite CBA results beating forecasts ever so slightly. WBC continued lower, down 0.9%, while MQG also slipped 0.7%. The Big Bank Basket slipped to $285.41 (0.7%).  Insurers bucked the trend, with SUN better following its results, while IAG also pushed higher. Financials were generally somewhat easier, with ASX falling 2.8% and NWL down 1.3%. The REITs were also weaker, with GMG falling 0.8% and SCG down 1.8%, while industrials generally slipped lower. CPU fell 4.5% following broker downgrades, while BXB was down 1.4%. SGH also drifted on some broker negativity. Retail stocks slipped following an update from PMV, which announced the closure of some UK stores. It fell 11.0%. Both WOW and COL fell 0.9%. Meanwhile, in the technology sector, we saw some profit-taking in WTC, XRO and TNE, with the All-Tech Index falling 1.0%.Resources were mixed as the three iron ore majors gave back some ground, although we did see gains in the lithium sector, with PLS up 4.3% and MIN doing well, rising 2.1%. Gold miners were also in favour as the bullion price pushed higher, with NST up 0.7% and NEM gaining 0.9%. Oil and gas stocks eased back despite Brent crude heading towards US$90, while uranium stocks pushed slightly higher, led by PDN, up 1.3%In corporate news, CBA results were a slight beat, with the outlook appearing to stabilise. The stock fell 0.7%. SEK announced write downs and fell 14.3%. AGL beat forecasts and rose 6.0%. ASX fell following news of class actions, while GQG reported FUM, with money continuing to leak out. PMV fell after a trading update and UK store closures. On the economic front, nothing locally. US CPI tonight.Asian markets were mixed, with Japan up 0.9%, Hong Kong down 1%, China down 0.6%, and Korea up 3.7%. US futures were mixed, the Dow was up 10 points and the Nasdaq up 74. European markets in holiday mode.Marcus Today – Daily Market Insights Marcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without the noise. If you'd like to go further: Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today http://bit.ly/mt-trial-podcast Join Marcus Today Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offer MT20 – Managed ETF Portfolio A professionally managed portfolio run by Marcus Padley and the team, using ASX-listed ETFs with active market timing. http://bit.ly/mt20-podcast Principles – How We Think About Investing A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips. http://bit.ly/mt-principles-podcast — Disclaimer This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice. 

CommSec
AM 12 Aug 26: ASX set to dip ahead of key company earnings

CommSec

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2026 7:57


The Australian share market is poised to open lower after the RBA kept rates on hold yesterday but warned inflation remains too high. Wall Street reversed early gains as hopes of an Iran peace deal faded, sending oil prices back towards one-week highs. Locally, a busy day of earnings includes Commonwealth Bank, AGL and SEEK, while key US inflation data will also be in focus. James Gruber, Equity Market Strategist at CommSec takes you through all the key numbers. Check out our Market News page Follow us on:InstagramLinkedInYouTubeTikTok The content in this podcast is prepared, approved and distributed in Australia by Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814. The information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the appropriateness of the information before acting and if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Enterprise Podcast
Morning Drive: Unlock it

The Enterprise Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2026 10:22


Solar at Abu Zenima. USD 520 mn guarantee facility. Egytrans opens the books to AGL. USD corporate card. Morning Drive is your daily download of the essential headlines shaping Egypt. From business policy and finance to the latest in tech, all in under 10 minutes. Hosted by ‘Synthetic Salma’ — an AI-powered version of our own Executive Editor Salma El-Saeed. You can read the full newsletter on the website. Morning Drive is brought to you by: Madinet Masr GRANITE Financial Holding Bonyan for Real Estate Investments And check out our other show Making It, where we speak to CEOs and entrepreneurs about building a great business in the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ecomm Breakthrough
We Found a Massive Profit Leak in Our FBA Business

Ecomm Breakthrough

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2026 46:49


Jasim Eisa is the founder and CEO of Voadera, a global e-commerce partner helping brands win on Amazon and other online marketplaces. He built the company from selling used books at 15 into a 150-person operation managing over 30,000 SKUs and driving $100M+ in sales. Through Voadera's Marketplace Accelerator, he helps brands fix broken listings, eliminate unauthorized sellers, and scale profitably with full-service marketplace execution. He is on a mission to help great products achieve the dominance they deserve online.Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Challenges of margin compression on Amazon and strategies for adaptation.Importance of operational efficiencies and cost savings for scaling e-commerce businesses.Tactics for reducing operating expenses, particularly in supply chain management.The significance of procurement strategies and direct sourcing from manufacturers.Shipping cost optimization through density and packaging strategies.Fulfillment strategies, including the use of FBA versus third-party logistics.Marketing efficiencies focused on organic ranking and conversion rate optimization.Increasing customer lifetime value (LTV) through various promotional strategies.The role of AI in enhancing operational capacity and workflow efficiency.Key performance indicators (KPIs) for tracking business metrics and ensuring team alignment.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough podcast, host Josh Hadley sits down with Jasim Eisa, founder and CEO of Voadera, to discuss scaling e-commerce businesses profitably on Amazon. Jasim shares how his team achieved nearly $820,000 in operational savings through supply chain optimization, smarter procurement, and shipping density improvements. The conversation also covers marketing efficiencies, coupon strategies to boost customer lifetime value, reimbursement recovery, and practical AI applications. Jasim emphasizes that as brands scale, small per-unit savings compound significantly, making operational efficiency as important as growth.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Stack Small Wins Relentlessly Audit every step of your operations and implement micro-improvements (e.g., packaging, shipping, processes). Small savings per unit compound into massive annual gains. Optimize for Profit, Not Just Growth Regularly review SKU-level profitability, Amazon fees, and inventory levels. Shift focus to efficiency as you scale—margin control is the new growth lever. Use Data to Drive Conversions & LTV Double down on high-converting keywords, continuously test PDPs and coupons, and implement strategies like Subscribe & Save and bundling to increase repeat purchases.Timestamps:00:00:00 Introduction & Cost-Saving InitiativeJasim discusses a major initiative to cut $1 million in operational expenses, focusing on supply chain efficiencies.00:00:24 Podcast Introduction & Guest BackgroundHost introduces the podcast, Jasim Eisa, and his experience scaling an e-commerce business to $100M+ in revenue.00:01:43 Managing Large-Scale Amazon OperationsDiscussion on managing 30,000 SKUs and the complexities of large-scale Amazon selling.00:02:07 Amazon's Evolving Marketplace & Margin CompressionExploring margin compression, Amazon's profit-maximizing changes, and how brands must adapt to new fee structures.00:04:26 When to Focus on Growth vs. Operational OptimizationAdvice for brands on prioritizing top-line growth versus operational cost optimization, depending on business maturity.00:07:30 Leverage in Cost Savings: High-Volume ProductsHow optimizing costs on high-volume SKUs yields significant savings, and the importance of leverage as brands scale.00:08:37 Operational Savings Strategies OverviewJasim outlines the philosophy of achieving savings through many small improvements rather than one big change.00:09:03 Procurement & Cost of Goods OptimizationTactics for reducing product costs by eliminating middlemen and running RFPs to manufacturers.00:10:40 Shipping & Supply Chain OptimizationStrategies for shipping cost reduction, including RFPs for freight, optimizing packaging density, and leveraging Amazon programs.00:13:43 Shipping & 3PL Strategy RecommendationsHigh-level recommendations for shipping from China and choosing between Amazon's logistics and 3PLs.00:15:17 Optimizing FBA Fees & Inventory ManagementBest practices for managing FBA storage, inbound placement fees, and maintaining optimal stock levels.00:17:01 Freight Forwarders vs. AGL RatesComparison of AGL and freight forwarder rates, and when to use each based on business size and shipment volume.00:17:53 Marketing Efficiency: Organic Ranking & ConversionHow aligning SEO, creative, and marketing teams to target high-converting keywords saves money and boosts organic ranking.00:21:39 AOV & LTV Strategies on AmazonIncreasing average order value and lifetime value through coupons, multi-basket analysis, and subscribe & save tactics.00:24:47 Stackable Coupons & Tactical PromotionsUsing stackable and visible coupons to increase conversions, with caveats for premium brands.00:26:02 Ships-in-Product-Packaging & ReimbursementsCost savings from shipping in product packaging and maximizing Amazon/Walmart reimbursements and recovery.00:28:39 KPIs & Data Tracking for Operational EfficiencyKey metrics tracked at leadership and departmental levels to ensure efficiency and profitability.00:30:59 Counter Metrics & Avoiding Operational PitfallsImportance of pairing KPIs (e.g., revenue vs. profit, in-stock rate vs. months on hand) to avoid unintended consequences.00:32:43 Team Structure & KPI ManagementHow leadership and teams use KPIs, Google Sheets, and the Traction framework to manage performance.00:34:33 AI in E-commerce OperationsCurrent state of AI in e-commerce, realistic expectations, and how AI is integrated into specific workflows.00:35:54 AI Use Cases: Creative, SEO, and Product DevelopmentExamples of AI increasing creative output, improving SEO, and aiding product development through contextual prompts.00:39:27 AI vs. Human Labor: Cost-Benefit AnalysisDiscussion on when AI automation is cost-effective versus when human or VA labor is preferable.00:41:08 Final Takeaways & Action ItemsThree actionable takeaways: focus on high-impact savings, optimize high-volume SKUs, and leverage AOV/LTV strategies on Amazon.00:44:04 Book, AI Tool, and Influencer RecommendationsJasim shares his most influential books, favorite AI tool use cases, and respected figures in the e-commerce space.00:46:08 Contact Information & Episode Wrap-UpHow to connect with Jasim Eisa and closing remarks from the host.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites  "Voadera": "00:01:43"  "AGL (Amazon Global Logistics)": "00:11:17"&nb...

Cleaning Up. Leadership in an age of climate change.
Is Australia Finally Turning Its Back on Coal? Lily D'Ambrosio | Deep Dive Australia 04

Cleaning Up. Leadership in an age of climate change.

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2026 51:30


Victoria is undertaking one of Australia's most ambitious electricity transitions. The state is aiming for 65% renewable electricity by 2030 and 95% by 2035, replacing ageing coal-fired power stations with renewable electricity, batteries and offshore wind while keeping the lights on and consumers' bills down. This week on Cleaning Up's Deep Dive Australia, Michael Liebreich is joined by Lily D'Ambrosio, Victoria's Minister for Climate Action, Energy and the State Electricity Commission, who has overseen the state's energy transition for more than a decade. Together Minister D'Ambrosio and Michael examine the policies driving the transition, from renewable energy auctions and large-scale batteries, to offshore wind and transmission planning. Michael also challenges the Minister on some of the most controversial aspects of Victoria's strategy, including unpublished modelling, coal closure agreements, and the politics of moving households away from gas. Topics: Victoria's energy transition and the role of state governments Replacing coal with renewables Batteries, electricity markets and falling wholesale prices Coal plant closures and investor certainty Transparency, modelling and political accountability Transmission, community opposition and Renewable Energy Zones Offshore wind and the future generation mix Gas, household electrification and cost of living Leadership, public confidence and delivering the transition Leadership Circle: Cleaning Up is proud to be supported by its Leadership Circle. The members are Actis, Alcazar Energy, Arup, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Cygnum Capital, Davidson Kempner, Ecopragma Capital, EDP, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Schneider Electric, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information about the Leadership Circle, visit cleaningup.live Links: Lily D'Ambrosio's bio: https://www.victorianchamber.com.au/profile/lily-dambrosio Sign up to our newsletter: https://cleaninguppod.substack.com EnergyAustralia: https://www.energyaustralia.com.au/ AGL: https://www.agl.com.au/  VicGrid: https://www.vicgrid.com.au/ Western Renewable Link: https://www.westernrenewableslink.com.au/ Offshore wind: https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/offshore-wind-energy/offshore-wind-energy-victoria Gas substitution roadmap: https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/victorias-gas-substitution-roadmap Open Electricity: https://openelectricity.org.au/ Acronyms: CSIRO: Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation

The Enterprise Podcast
Morning Drive: Dropping anchor

The Enterprise Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2026 10:27


AGL bids for Egytrans. New CBD tax wrapper. New Samurai bond issuance. Climate as credit variable. Morning Drive is your daily download of the essential headlines shaping Egypt. From business policy and finance to the latest in tech, all in under 10 minutes. Hosted by ‘Synthetic Salma’ — an AI-powered version of our own Executive Editor Salma El-Saeed. You can read the full newsletter on the website. Morning Drive is brought to you by: Madinet Masr GRANITE Financial Holding Bonyan for Real Estate Investments And check out our other show Making It, where we speak to CEOs and entrepreneurs about building a great business in the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Bulls In A China Shop
No Country for Bad Trades: Momentum

2 Bulls In A China Shop

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2026 52:26


In this episode, Cam and Joel go deeper into the force behind the Gap and Go strategy: momentum.Cam breaks down what momentum actually means in the market, why stocks can get repriced violently when institutions realize they were wrong, and how that repricing shows up through gaps, volume, and continuation. Using examples like AGL and HWM, they walk through why some stocks keep running long after most traders would have taken profits.The conversation also digs into the data behind momentum trading, including R multiples, maximum favorable excursion, Monte Carlo testing, and why a small percentage of trades can account for the majority of returns.They also cover one of the hardest questions in trading: when do you take profits, and when do you let the trade keep working?Later in the episode, Cam explains how he's using AI, backtesting, and his own trade history to study momentum, refine his process, and better understand where rules end and human judgment begins.⚠️ Best experienced on Spotify or YouTube - Cam is sharing charts throughout the episode.

Drone News Update
Drone News: DJI's Products in Limbo, Autonomous Airplane Flights, Drone Show Makes History

Drone News Update

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2026 4:48


Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update, We have three stories for you this week: DJI reveals that 25 unreleased products are stuck in regulatory limbo, Reliable Robotics raises 160 million dollars for autonomous cargo flights, and Starlight Aerial Productions makes history at Sun N Fun. Let's get to it.First up this week, DJI has filed a sharply worded brief in its Ninth Circuit court fight with the FCC, and they finally put specific numbers on how much the current ban is hurting their pipeline. According to the filing, the FCC has already voided authorizations for 14 existing products, which includes five drones and nine other products that are currently unreleased, and 25 planned product launches for 2026… This means a total of 39 DJI projects won't hit the market this year due to the FCC ban. According to DJI, this will cause a 1.56 billion dollar loss this calendar year alone. DJI's legal team filed a briefing, arguing that the FCC is trying to run out the clock by not making a formal decision. They are also making a major constitutional argument, claiming that FCC staff shouldn't have the power to ban entire product categories without a full Commission vote and judicial review. DJI is asking the court for a six-month pause on the ban to force the FCC to make a formal decision and issue a final ruling. This is obviously a massive deal for our drone industry, specifically consumers, public safety, and even some enterprise. We will keep a close eye on how the court responds.Next up, Reliable Robotics has closed a 160 million dollar funding round, bringing the company's valuation to nearly 1 billion dollars. The company, led by a former SpaceX engineer, is trying to certify an uncrewed Cessna 208 Caravan under Part 23 airworthiness rules. Instead of building a brand new drone from scratch, Reliable's system retrofits an already-certified Cessna 208 with a continuous autopilot that handles taxi, takeoff, cruise, and landing, all while a ground operator monitors the flight. They actually flew a Cessna with no one on board for 12 minutes back in November 2023. Now, they are planning to run autonomous cargo routes between airports in New Mexico and Colorado starting this summer. This is a huge step for large Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations. By putting autonomy into an airframe the FAA already knows and trusts, they are cutting a clear pathway for autonomous commercial cargo. If they actually start moving paying freight in US-controlled airspace this summer, that will be another major jump forward, and will set a massive precedent for every commercial operator out there. Last up, Starlight Aerial Productions and the Red Bull Air Force, staged what they describe as a first in airshow history: three people in wing suits flying through an illuminated drone formation at approximately 2,000 feet AGL during the night show. The demonstration was part of the event's "Red, White & Blue at 52" theme, marking both the 52nd annual expo and the 250th anniversary of the United States. The performance required months of planning, safety validation, and rehearsals coordinated among the FAA, Starlight, and the Red Bull Air Force to integrate crewed human flight with unmanned aerial systems in a live audience setting. The drone formation used American-made Lumenier Arora drones and was choreographed to create a three-dimensional lighted gateway timed to the wingsuiters' flight paths. And let me tell you, it was a great show and super cool to see the wing suits fly through the drone show! Be sure to join us in the Premium Community for Post flight, where we share our opinions that aren't always suitable for YouTube, and on Monday for the live! We'll see you next week! https://dronexl.co/2026/04/21/reliable-robotics-160m-nimble-partners-faa-certification/https://dronexl.co/2026/04/22/dji-ninth-circuit-opposition-brief-fcc-ban-1-56-billion/https://starlightdroneshows.com/

Marcus Today Market Updates
End of Day Report – Wednesday 8 April: ASX 200 soars 223 points | Ceasefire brings bulls and shorts panic

Marcus Today Market Updates

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 17:09


The ASX 200 jumped out of the blocks again on the ceasefire. The ASX 200 jumped 223 points to 8952 (2.6%). Interestingly, not much intraday volatility. Everything was risk on as peace breaks out. Long term or short term is yet to be seen. Oil prices fell hard, and equities rallied across the board. Banks rallied again with CBA up 1.9% and the Big Bank Basket jumped to $305.03 (2.4%). MQG had a great day up 5.6% with other financials doing great. ZIP up 19.5% and NWL up 10.0%. REITS soared as yields dropped, GMG up 7.1% and CHC up 4.0% with industrials doing well too. QAN up 9.4% and VGN up 11.7% with WES rallying 3.3% and CSL even up 1.3%. REA and tech stock jumped, WTC up 10.7% and XRO up 6.5% with the All-Tech Index up 6.6%. Defensives slipped, TLS down slightly, ORG and AGL fell with retail jumping on hopes for lower petrol prices. Resources on fire, BHP up 3.0% and RIO rallying another 4.4%. Gold miners jumped as bullion took up the baton, NST up 7.1% and EVN up 10.0% with RMS rallying 9.6%. Lithium not left out, PLS up 1.7%, LTR roaring 8.4% ahead. Rare earths up strongly, LYC up %. Oil and gas stocks fell, WDS down 10.5% and STO falling again. Coal stocks also smacked down with uranium stocks back in focus, PDN up 8.5% and LOT up 11.7%.In corporate news, DRO dropped 13.5% on news that the CEO and chair will be stepping down. BGL raced up 18.9% on production numbers as did RRL. PME also doing well following a five-year $23m contract with the University of Maryland Medical System. FLT also doing well on a deal to sell Pedal. On the economic front, dwelling commencements rose 8%.Asian markets soar, Japan up 5.4%, HK up 3.1% and China up 3.4%. Korean KOSPI up 6.9%10-year yields fall to 4.87%. US Futures jump Nasdaq up 812, Dow up 1110. Europe opening significantly better.—Marcus Today – Daily Market InsightsMarcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without the noise.If you'd like to go further:Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today http://bit.ly/mt-trial-podcastJoin Marcus Today Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offerMT20 – Managed ETF Portfolio A professionally managed portfolio run by Marcus Padley and the team, using ASX-listed ETFs with active market timing. http://bit.ly/mt20-podcastPrinciples – How We Think About Investing A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips. http://bit.ly/mt-principles-podcast—Disclaimer This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.

Business News - WA
At Close of Business podcast March 31 2026

Business News - WA

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2026 12:33


Isabel Vieira and Mark Pownall discuss a restructure with WA's biggest wine maker Fogarty Wine Group. Plus: Taco Bell gets lifeline; AGL commits to $490m expansion; and Fuel excise relief to be slow.

FICC Focus
Credit Crunch: AGL's Comer on CLOs, Active Management and Growth

FICC Focus

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2026 59:58


“We traditionally have turned over about 60% of the portfolio per year,” says AGL Credit Management's Chief Operating Officer Wynne Comer, discussing the company's approach to managing collateralized loan obligations. “That's 30% through prepayments, 30% through active management.” Comer joins Bloomberg Intelligence's Noel Hebert on the latest episode of the Credit Crunch podcast to discuss the evolution of the CLO market past and present, her transition from banking into asset management, AGL's extension into private credit and the outlook for continued growth. Comer also explores due diligence, the state of regulation, where bonds play in the CLO market and factoring for AI. The Credit Crunch podcast is part of BI's FICC Focus series.

Marcus Today Market Updates
End of Day Report – Wednesday 11 March: ASX 200 jumps 51 as banks and resources charge higher | US futures positive

Marcus Today Market Updates

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 13:46


The ASX 200 rallied another 51 points in quiet trade. Jumped 17 points at the close on ETF rebalancing. Waiting for more news. Banks and resources led the gains, the Big Bank Basket up to $299.01 (0.8%) with ANZ the standout, up 1.8%. MQG up 1.3% with financials mixed. GQG dropped 5.5% on latest FUM numbers. Insurers better as yields rose on Andrew Hauser's (RBA deputy) comments on inflation. QBE up 1.6%. Retail dropped after bank after bank forecast a rate rise next week to counter the oil price rise. JBH down 1.5% and NCK off 2.9%. Travel stocks failing to find buyers, WEB off 1.8%. Utilities fell with AGL bombing 5.6% with ORG down 1.4%. Healthcare stocks also in ICU today, CSL falling another 1.4% with RMD unwinding 3.4%. Tech lower as sellers took profits after recent rallies. WTC down 3.6% and XRO falling 2.2% with the All-Tech Index down 1.3%.Resources did well, BHP, RIO and FMG pushed higher on IO price rises, rare earth stocks took off on LYC news of a JARE deal and floor price, up 16.2%. ARU jumping 16.0% with ILU also doing well. Gold miners were slightly positive, OBM jumped 21.5% on a big resource upgrade. Oil and gas stocks flat, coal eased and Uranium stocks better in places. It is 15 years since the Fukushima disaster. Japan now keen to embrace nuclear again as oil prices rise.In corporate news, DRO announced a new manufacturing push in Europe. MAQ jumped 7.0% on a $200m hybrid investment. On the economic front, money markets are now pricing in a 77% chance of a rate rise next week. Economists falling over themselves to warn on rises. 10-year yields steady at 4.85%.Asian market recover, Japan up 2.6%, HK up 0.1% and China up 0.5%. Korea KOSPI up 3.5% US Futures down DJ up 165 Nasdaq up 112.—Marcus Today – Daily Market InsightsMarcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without the noise.If you'd like to go further:Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today http://bit.ly/mt-trial-podcastJoin Marcus Today Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offerMT20 – Managed ETF Portfolio A professionally managed portfolio run by Marcus Padley and the team, using ASX-listed ETFs with active market timing. http://bit.ly/mt20-podcastPrinciples – How We Think About Investing A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips. http://bit.ly/mt-principles-podcast—Disclaimer This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.

Uma palavra no seu caminho
II Domingo da Quaresma - Homilia

Uma palavra no seu caminho

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2026 8:23


Tambémesta é a nossa vocação. Somos chamados não por causa das nossasobras ou capacidades, mas segundo o desígnio e a graça de Deus. Asegunda leitura exprime-o com clareza: Ele salvou-nos e chamou-nos àsantidade não pelas nossas obras, mas pelo seu próprio desígnio. Éa sua graça que atua em nós; é o seu amor gratuito que está naorigem de tudo. Àluz deste chamamento, o Evangelho da Transfiguração ganha umatonalidade particular. O episódio acontece depois de Jesus anunciara sua paixão. Os discípulos estão perturbados: não compreendem ocaminho da cruz. É nesse contexto que Pedro, Tiago e João sobem comJesus a um alto monte. E aí Jesus transfigura-Se diante deles. Maisdo que perguntar “como foi”, importa deter-nos no sentido dapalavra. No quotidiano, quando alguém “se transfigura”, querdizer que revela o mais íntimo de si. Na Transfiguração, osdiscípulos veem para além da aparência habitual de Jesus;contemplam a sua identidade profunda. Isso provoca espanto econsolação: “Como é bom estarmos aqui!” Maseste “estar aqui” pode tornar-se tentação. Ficar no conforto daexperiência espiritual, no “quentinho” da fé, esquecendo que omonte não é morada definitiva. Jesus faz subir, mas também fazdescer. A experiência da glória não nos retira do mundo; envia-nosa ele. Subimos para contemplar, descemos para nos comprometermos. Aglória deve reorganizar o quotidiano segundo a graça. OEvangelho fala ainda de Moisés e Elias: a Lei e os Profetas. Jesus évisto transfigurado à luz da história da salvação. Também nós Ovemos transfigurado quando lemos a nossa história e osacontecimentos do mundo à luz da Palavra de Deus. Meditar a vida àluz da Palavra provoca transformação. Notexto grego surge a ideia de metamorfose. A metamorfose não ésimples mudança exterior; é transformação interior que semanifesta por fora. Talvez seja mais expressiva do que a palavra“conversão”, que pode sugerir apenas alteração decomportamentos. A metamorfose é algo que acontece no íntimo. Cadaescuta da Palavra é ocasião de metamorfose. Em linguagem paulina,trata-se de deixar o homem velho e revestir-se do homem novo. Nestecaminho quaresmal, importa fixar-nos na Transfiguração: o Senhornão nos pede nada que não esteja ao nosso alcance com a sua graça.Pede-nos uma vida boa, santa, equilibrada — e dá-nos a forçanecessária. Quandodeixamos que a Palavra se instale no coração, ela transforma-nos apartir de dentro. Por isso, quando pensamos: “Se o Senhor Setransfigurasse diante de mim, eu acreditava”, talvez devamosreconhecer que Ele já Se transfigura diante de nós. Oque nos é pedido é simples e exigente: subir ao monte. Procurar oslugares onde Deus Se torna mais próximo — a oração, a meditaçãoda Palavra, a liturgia, as obras de caridade. Estes exercíciostornam-se lugares de metanoia, de transformação interior. E,pouco a pouco, o Senhor instala-Se luminosamente no nosso coração,gerando a convicção de que Ele é bom, que nos liberta e que noscapacita a viver como filhos da luz.  

Marcus Today Market Updates
End of Day Report – Wednesday 11 February: ASX 200 soars 147 points | Banks hit new records

Marcus Today Market Updates

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 16:22


The ASX 200 soared today as CBA delivered in spades, the index rising 147 points to 9015 (+1.7%). How things have changed around since ‘shambolic' Friday last week. Up over 300 points since then! CBA beat forecasts and drove the banking sector higher. Not often that you see a 6.8% rise in CBA. NAB up 3.4% and the Big Bank Basket up to $292.52 (+5%). Insurers bounced back a little, SUN up 0.6% and MQG jumped 2.7% on broker comments. REITs under a little pressure with GMG down 1.0% and SCG off 0.5%. Healthcare in ICU today as CSL managed to top its shambolic CEO news with a bad set of numbers and dropped 4.6%. Some bargain hunters saving it from a worse fate. RMD dropped 4.7% as it went Ex-Dividend. Industrials were better, retail rose, JBH up 1.3% and WES up 1.0% with SGH also up 3.6% on better than expected numbers. Utilities better and ABB soared 14.8% on its deal with AGL. JHX also beat expectations and rose 10.9%.In resource land, BHP up 1.6% and FMG doing well, up 2.3%. Gold miners started slow but ended up, EVN produced a good set of numbers and strong cash generation. Up 8.9%. NEM rose 2.4% and SBM up 10.5%.  Lithium stocks improved slightly and uranium stocks off the bottom. Rare earths bounced, three-year highs in the underlying starting to feed into the sentiment. In corporate news, results featured strongly, ASX CEO has quit, DMP has a new pizzaiolo. GQG slipped again on fresh FUM.On the economic front, all eyes on US NFP, here we saw first home buyers loans jump the most since 2023!US futures Dow up 141 and Nasdaq up 111.—Marcus Today – Daily Market InsightsMarcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without the noise.If you'd like to go further:Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today http://bit.ly/mt-trial-podcastJoin Marcus Today Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offerMT20 – Managed ETF Portfolio A professionally managed portfolio run by Marcus Padley and the team, using ASX-listed ETFs with active market timing. http://bit.ly/mt20-podcastPrinciples – How We Think About Investing A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips. http://bit.ly/mt-principles-podcast—Disclaimer This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.

Drone News Update
Drone News: Foreign Drone Ban Updates, DHS Creates Counter Drone Office, Super Bowl LX No-Fly Zone

Drone News Update

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2026 5:24


Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week, Updates to the Foreign Drone Ban, the Department of Homeland Security is creating a new permanent counter-drone office, and the Super Bowl LX no-fly zone. Let's get to it.First up, according to a report from Reuters, the U.S. Commerce Department has withdrawn its plan to impose sweeping restrictions on Chinese-made drones. This was the result of the ANPRM we discussed last year, and it was targeting the entire supply chain. Including things like flight controllers, operating software, and data storage. Reports say it's a diplomatic move, as the White House is reportedly freezing some actions against China ahead of a planned meeting between the President and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April. It's also possible the rule is no longer necessary, as the goal has been achieved through the FCC's actions. Speaking of, the FCC has clarified its own rule. The agency partially reversed its sweeping ban on ALL foreign drones, but with some major catches. The new rule exempts drones on the Pentagon's "Blue List"—so aircraft from companies like Parrot, Skydio, and Wingtra are now fine. It also exempts U.S.-manufactured drones, as long as domestic parts account for 65 percent of the cost—but that exemption only lasts until 2027. The most important part for our community is that the ban STILL covers DJI and others. And again, this does NOT ground your existing drone, it means no new DJI models can get the required FCC authorization to be sold in the U.S.Next up, the Department of Homeland Security is getting very serious about counter-drone operations. The DHS announced it's creating a new permanent office called the "Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-UAS." This is being launched with an initial $115 million investment to beef up security for the America250 celebrations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But that's just a small piece of the puzzle. This funding is on top of a $500 million counter-drone program announced last October and a potential $1.5 billion contract for Customs and Border Protection to acquire new counter-drone tech.DHS revealed it has already conducted over 1,500 missions to protect the U.S. from "illicit drone activities" since 2018. That works out to more than four counter-drone operations every single week, happening mostly under the radar. This new office will formalize and expand that capability. It will also serve as the coordination hub for local police departments, which were recently given authority to disable drones under the SAFER SKIES Act. So, what does this mean for you? The World Cup is basically the justification for building a permanent, nationwide counter-drone infrastructure. The equipment and training your local police get for the World Cup won't just disappear after the games. And finally this week, a very important public service announcement if you're going to be anywhere near Northern California for the Super Bowl. The FAA has released its advisory for Super Bowl LX, which is happening on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, and they are not messing around. In the days leading up to the game, from February 3rd through the 7th, there will be a TFR within a one-nautical-mile radius of downtown San Francisco, up to 1,000 feet AGL. On Game day, Feb. 8th, the TFR expands to 2 miles at 11:00 AM, and then to 30 miles at 2:30 PM. If you haven't seen it already, the results of our survey on how the industry will be affected by the FCC ruling is out. So go check out that video and we'll see you on Post flight, the show where we share our opinions that aren't suitable for YouTube. Have a good weekend. https://dronexl.co/2026/01/13/dhs-permanent-counter-drone-office/https://dronexl.co/2026/01/10/commerce-department-drops-drone-restrictions/https://dronexl.co/2026/01/08/super-bowl-faa-drones/https://www.flyingmag.com/fcc-eases-foreign-drone-ban-dji/

Transmission
Redesigning the NEM's wholesale market with Tim Nelson (Australian Government)

Transmission

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 52:21


Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy's unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchAustralia's largest energy market is undergoing the most significant transformations since its conception. Rapid renewable uptake, growing system volatility, and shifting policy settings are forcing a fundamental rethink of how the National Electricity Market (NEM) operates. But with so many moving parts, one question sits at the centre of the transition: how do we build a market that remains reliable, affordable, and investable while decarbonising at speed?In this episode of Transmission, Tim Nelson joins Wendel to unpack the pressures reshaping Australia's power system and what must change to keep pace. Over the conversation, they explore the market design challenges emerging across the NEM, from capacity mechanisms and reliability gaps to consumer expectations, policy uncertainty, and the economics of retiring coal. Tim explains why today's market structures weren't built for a high-renewables grid, how the investment environment is shifting, and what practical reforms could stabilise the system while enabling large-scale clean energy deployment.Key points covered:• Why the NEM's current market design is struggling under the pace of the energy transition.• How retirement timelines for coal generation are reshaping reliability and investment signals.• What Australia needs from a capacity mechanism and what risks must be avoided.• How policy uncertainty and consumer expectations are influencing market behaviour.• What reforms could build a more stable, predictable, and investable market for renewables and storage.About our guest:Tim Nelson is a leading energy economist and policy expert with extensive experience across market design, system reform, and the evolution of Australia's National Electricity Market.With experience at Iberdrola Australia, the AEMC, AGL and Griffith University Tim brings a wealth of knowledge to his current positions including his role as Chair of the independent review of Australia's NEM. Find Tim on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/timnelsonaustralia/About Modo Energy:Check out the Energy Academy Australia here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q-kwsfBPyc&list=PL_lhNBgOJnjTuKzdbLzQirHILoHYjaHYNModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

Transmission
Redesigning the NEM's wholesale market with Tim Nelson (Australian Government)

Transmission

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 52:21


Want the latest news, analysis, and price indices from power markets around the globe - delivered to your inbox, every week?Sign up for the Weekly Dispatch - Modo Energy's unmissable newsletter.https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchAustralia's largest energy market is undergoing the most significant transformations since its conception. Rapid renewable uptake, growing system volatility, and shifting policy settings are forcing a fundamental rethink of how the National Electricity Market (NEM) operates. But with so many moving parts, one question sits at the centre of the transition: how do we build a market that remains reliable, affordable, and investable while decarbonising at speed?In this episode of Transmission, Tim Nelson joins Wendel to unpack the pressures reshaping Australia's power system and what must change to keep pace. Over the conversation, they explore the market design challenges emerging across the NEM, from capacity mechanisms and reliability gaps to consumer expectations, policy uncertainty, and the economics of retiring coal. Tim explains why today's market structures weren't built for a high-renewables grid, how the investment environment is shifting, and what practical reforms could stabilise the system while enabling large-scale clean energy deployment.Key points covered:• Why the NEM's current market design is struggling under the pace of the energy transition.• How retirement timelines for coal generation are reshaping reliability and investment signals.• What Australia needs from a capacity mechanism and what risks must be avoided.• How policy uncertainty and consumer expectations are influencing market behaviour.• What reforms could build a more stable, predictable, and investable market for renewables and storage.About our guest:Tim Nelson is a leading energy economist and policy expert with extensive experience across market design, system reform, and the evolution of Australia's National Electricity Market.With experience at Iberdrola Australia, the AEMC, AGL and Griffith University Tim brings a wealth of knowledge to his current positions including his role as Chair of the independent review of Australia's NEM. Find Tim on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/timnelsonaustralia/About Modo Energy:Check out the Energy Academy Australia here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q-kwsfBPyc&list=PL_lhNBgOJnjTuKzdbLzQirHILoHYjaHYNModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets.All episodes of Transmission are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To stay up to date with our analysis, research, data visualisations, live events, and conversations, follow us on LinkedIn. Explore The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series explaining how power markets work.

The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast
Australia Loses Offshore Project, Ecowende Moves Forward

The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 2:32


Allen covers Ecowende’s first monopile installation in the Netherlands, designed to be the most ecological offshore wind farm ever built. Plus Ireland’s offshore potential proves far smaller than hoped, Australia cancels its third offshore project in recent months, LiveLink Aerospace solves radar clutter in Scotland, GE Vernova secures a Romanian turbine deal, and Canadian tariffs threaten BC Hydro wind development. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes’ YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! If you want to see the future of offshore wind… look to the Netherlands.Off the Dutch coast near IJmuiden… about fifty-threekilometers out to sea… something special is rising from the waves.They call it ECOWENDE.VAN OORD’s installation vessel BOREAS just planted the firstmonopile there on December third. Fifty-one more will follow. And whencomplete… this seven hundred sixty megawatt wind farm will become… themost ecological offshore wind project ever built.Why most ecological?The monopiles come in two sizes. Research shows taller turbines givebirds more room to fly safely between the blades. Some turbines will sportred blades… to make them even more visible to passing flocks. The seabedgets eco-friendly scour protection. And those massive VESTAS fifteen-megawatt turbines? They will sit atop foundations built by SIFand SMULDERS.Power for the Netherlands by end of twenty-twenty-six.Meanwhile… across the North Sea in Scotland…At ABERDEEN Offshore Wind Farm… LIVELINK AEROSPACE just solveda problem that has plagued the industry for years.You see… wind turbines create radar clutter. Their spinning blades confusemilitary and civilian radar systems alike. But LIVELINK’s Air IntelligenceSystem… mounted on the nacelle… eliminates that clutterwithout emitting any signals of its own.The UK’s Department for Energy Security funded the test through the onebillion pound Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.BEN KEENE of LIVELINK says the technology unlocks offshore wind’s fullpotential… while strengthening national security. Clean energy AND defense. Together.But not every nation is celebrating.IRELAND just discovered… its offshore wind dreams may be smaller thanhoped.Energy Minister DARRAGH O’BRIEN receivedconfidential maps this spring. The assessment initially found potential forforty-eight gigawatts offshore.The realistic number?Between three and eighteen gigawatts.Deep waters. Shipwrecks. Arms dumps. Undersea cables. Protectedhabitats. All these stand in the way.The Irish government had targeted five gigawatts by twenty-thirty. Theyface fines of up to twenty billion euros if they miss their climate goals.Social Democrats spokeswoman JENNIFER WHITMORE says she issurprised detailed mapping took this long.Four years from the deadline… and they are only now learning which siteswill not work.Down Under… the news is worse.AGL Energy just cancelled GIPPSLAND SKIES… a two-and-a-half gigawattoffshore wind project in Victoria, Australia.That makes three offshore wind farms scrapped in recent months offAustralia’s south coast. German company RWE abandonedits two-gigawatt KENT project in October. BLUEFLOAT ENERGY droppedGIPPSLAND DAWN in July. AGL says it will focus on onshore wind… batteries… and pumped hydroinstead.But there is bright news from Eastern Europe.GE VERNOVA just signed a deal with GREENVOLT POWER to supplyforty-two turbines for the GURBANESTI wind farm inROMANIA.Each turbine… six-point-one megawatts. Combined with another recentproject… these two farms will bring five hundred megawatts online…powering more than one hundred ten thousand Romanian homes.Turbines start arriving in twenty-twenty-six.And in British Columbia… Premier DAVID EBY has a fight on hishands.A twenty-five percent tariff on imported wind towers threatens BC HYDRO’selectricity supply.PATRICIA LIGHTBURN of the Canadian Renewable Energy Associationsays the tariff could derail projects already announced. BC HYDRO iscounting on those wind farms to close an impending power gap.Canada’s Energy Regulator expects wind to fill seventy percent ofrenewable demand growth through twenty-thirty.The tariff? Nobody saw it coming.Now… for those of you heading to Edinburgh this week…The UK Offshore Wind Supply Chain Spotlight takes place Thursday. JOEL SAXUM and I will be there… meeting with innovating companies andentrepreneurs who are building the future of this industry.If you are attending… come say hello. We'd love to hear from youAnd that is the state of the wind energy industry on December 8, 2025.Join us tomorrow for the Uptime Wind Energy Pocast.

Better Buildings For Humans
Glass vs. Plastic: Are We Settling for Disposable Daylighting? – Ep 114 with David Leinbach & Terry MacGillivary

Better Buildings For Humans

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 29:58


This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski dives into a real-world case study with David Leinbach of Kaiser Martin Group and Terry MacGillivary from Advanced Glazings. The spotlight? A high-profile U.S. government project where cutting-edge daylighting met energy efficiency demands head-on. David and Terry unpack how SoleraWall—a revolutionary glass-based translucent wall system—replaced traditional materials to solve tough design challenges, including heat loss, glare, and longevity. Together, they reveal how thoughtful engineering and collaboration turned a spec rejection into a design triumph, delivering R5 insulation performance (U-Value 0.2) and lasting visual impact. From the installation process to the "quiet wow" of natural light done right, this episode shines a light on how buildings can be both beautiful and brilliantly functional. If you care about smart daylighting, occupant comfort, and better buildings—don't miss this one.More About David K. Leinbach and Terry MacGillivaryDavid K. Leinbach is President and founder of Kaiser Construction. He then acquired Martin Construction Company of Denver, Pa., a commercial contractor in 2010. In 2017 the companies merged into Kaiser-Martin Group thereby creating a General Contracting company suited for future growth.  David also has majority ownership of Kaiser Investment, which is a Property Management firm.   With over 39 years of experience in the construction industry, David has hands-on expertise in all areas of operating a construction firm.  A BS in Business Management and Course work for a Master of Management has helped to enhance the skills needs to meet today's marketplace.  David has the practical experience in the governmental sector; having served 18 years as an Elected Township Supervisor and as the Chairman for ABC SEPA, BIE and the TCACC Legislative Committees.  His community service extends from working with his church, holding a national soccer coaching and referee license, serving on boards for ABC Insurance Trust, PAID, and Tri-County Chamber of Commerce, Steel River Performing Arts Center and other local organizations. Additionally, he serves as Vice-President of MBCEA and served on Nucor Building Group's “Business Advisory Team”. Terry MacGillivary joined Advanced Glazings Ltd (AGL) in 2017 to oversee and manage the development, marketing and deployment of the SoleraWall System - the world's only translucent wall assembly system made of long-lasting glass.   Mr. MacGillivary's wide array of work and life experiences - applied sciences, technical sales, construction management, research and development - have been key in forging a path for the SoleraWall System in new building markets - like the metal building industry.  Mr. MacGillivary is also directly involved in new business development with AGL. This includes program-based corporate projects, special projects as well as international/overseas projects and programs.Contact:https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-leinbach-b3050049/ https://kaisermartingroup.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-macgillivary-2aa68045/?originalSubdomain=ca Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd

Aviation News Talk podcast
404 VFR into IMC: Why GA Pilots Crash in Weather and How to Stay VFR + GA News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2025 55:01


In this episode of Aviation News Talk, we begin with the developing details Weather accidents in general aviation often happen to pilots who genuinely believe they're cautious about flying in marginal conditions. But when you look closely at the chain of decisions that lead up to VFR-into-IMC crashes, a consistent pattern emerges—fatigue, long flights, pressure to complete a trip, weakening visibility, and the belief that "I can stay just under this." In Episode 404 of Aviation News Talk, Max Trescott unpacks a tragic example of this pattern and shows how NTSB data helps explain why GA pilots continue to stumble into weather accidents. Max begins with a detailed look at a 2023 crash involving a Piper Archer, N21480, flown by a 66-year-old private pilot who was en route from Maine to Sun 'n Fun. The pilot had made this long trip multiple times before and was familiar with the route. He departed Maine, stopped twice for fuel, and ended the day by sleeping on a couch in a pilot lounge—after ordering Uber Eats at around 8 p.m. According to his wife, the pilot routinely camped at airports, carried sleeping gear and guitars, and prided himself on being cautious about weather. The next morning, however, the signs of fatigue were visible. An airport employee who spoke with the pilot noted he looked tired and "could see the fatigue in his eyes." Despite checking weather and considering waiting out an approaching system, the pilot ultimately chose to depart. He told ATC he wanted to remain low—around 1,600 feet—to stay VFR under the cloud layer. Unfortunately, this strategy is one of the most dangerous choices a VFR pilot can make. Staying low reduces options, shrinks reaction time, and increases the likelihood of inadvertently entering IMC. Eight minutes after informing ATC he wanted to stay low to maintain VFR, the pilot's track shows the airplane turning right and descending. When the controller asked if he was maneuvering to stay below the clouds, the pilot replied: "Mayday, mayday, in the clouds, I'm going down." Witnesses described the airplane descending nearly straight down. The NTSB report revealed worsening weather, nearby convective activity, cloud bases around 1,300 feet AGL, and an overcast layer with tops near 3,500 feet. The pilot had passed an airport less than two miles before the crash—an airport he may have been trying to return to during his final 360-degree turn. But like many non-instrument-rated pilots who enter IMC unintentionally, he lost control within about a minute, consistent with studies showing that VFR pilots often lose control within three minutes of entering clouds. Max then connects this accident to a broader NTSB study, Risk Factors Associated with Weather-Related General Aviation Accidents (SS-05/01). This landmark analysis compared 72 weather-related accidents with 135 non-accident flights occurring nearby at the same time. The goal was to uncover what differentiates pilots who get into trouble from those who do not. The results were eye-opening. The most significant predictor was the age at which a pilot earned their first certificate, not their age at the time of the accident. Pilots who learned to fly at age 25 or younger had the lowest risk. Those who trained between 25 and 35 had a 4.5-times higher risk, between 35 and 45 had a 4.8-times higher risk, and pilots who started at 45 or older had a 3.4-times higher risk. The South Carolina pilot earned his certificate at around age 49. Another major factor was lack of an instrument rating. Non-instrument-rated pilots had a 4.8-times greater likelihood of a weather accident. Long flights were also a major contributor: legs of 300 miles or more sharply increased risk. Pilots involved in accidents were less likely to have obtained thorough weather briefings and more likely to have had previous incidents or accidents. One of the most striking findings concerned written and checkride performance. Accident pilots had cumulative pass rates averaging 84–86%, while non-accident pilots averaged around 95%. Some accident pilots had multiple failed checkrides, including one commuter pilot who had failed nine practical tests. The study concluded that stronger written and checkride performance was statistically linked to lower accident involvement. From there, Max shifts to what pilots can do differently, starting with awareness. Humans are poor at detecting gradual reductions in visibility—the "frog in warm water" problem. Max describes an early flight to Massachusetts where visibility slowly degraded from 25 miles to around 10 miles, yet he didn't notice until the change became obvious. To counter this, he recommends periodically estimating visibility in flight using runway lengths, moving-map distances, landmarks, and horizon clarity. Max also teaches a simple method for estimating cloud clearance using a 45-degree reference point on the cloud base. By timing how long it takes to reach the point beneath the cloud and using your groundspeed, you can determine if you're maintaining the required 500-foot clearance. The same geometry works for estimating horizontal cloud distance. Finally, Max emphasizes fatigue and decision-making. After nearly 10 hours of flying the day before, poor sleep on a couch, and an early morning departure, the pilot in the accident was not at peak performance. Nutrition also matters—low glucose levels degrade decision-making. Max stresses the need to set clear weather trigger points before departure, brief passengers on them, and stick to the plan. For any pilot who flies VFR, especially on long cross-country trips, this episode highlights why VFR-into-IMC accidents still happen—and how to stay VFR by using better judgment, better tools, and objective visibility cues. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 HOLIDAY SPECIALNEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $949Lightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. News Stories Successful Parachute Pulls Hurricane Relief Flight Crashes in Florida General Aviation Adapts as FAA Adjusts Restrictions Fire Destroys Three Aircraft at Avon Park, Florida Hawker accident pilots chose not to wait for a test pilot Pilot presses wrong lever in unfamiliar plane N59BR, Challenger 1 experimental aircraft rudder pedals crash Joby Tests Military Hybrid VTOL Helicopter pilot pleads guilty in 2021 TN crash that killed passenger New Details on Alaska Airlines Pilot Who Tried To Kill Engines Mid-Flight Mentioned on the ShowBuy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 Max's FLYING Column on use of the Autopilot APR key Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android. Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

Tabletop SportCast
Episode 227: AGL Season 4 Yearbook

Tabletop SportCast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2025 46:13


KeywordsAmerican Grid Zone League, AGL, tabletop sports, season recap, game expansion, player statistics, sports simulation, tabletop gaming, league structure, sports historySummaryIn this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast provides an in-depth look at the American Grid Zone League's fourth season, discussing the league's history, structure, and the recent expansion to 12 teams. He highlights key performances, records set during the season, and outlines plans for the upcoming offseason, including player movements and potential changes to the league's structure. The episode serves as a comprehensive recap of the season and a look ahead to future developments in the league.TakeawaysThe American Grid Zone League has expanded to 12 teams.Season four introduced a Champions League and a National League.Denver won the Champions League with a strong performance.Orlando claimed the AGL Cup, marking their second championship.Player statistics were tracked closely, with new league records set.The league operates without salary caps, allowing for player movement.Offseason plans include a draft and potential player retirements.The league aims to mimic real-life sports structures for authenticity.Player ratings impact team compositions and league dynamics.The host enjoys the ongoing development of the league and its players.TitlesInside the AGL Yearbook: Season Four RecapThe Evolution of the American Grid Zone LeagueSound bites"This is episode 227.""It's been a fun league.""Thanks for listening."Chapters00:00 Introduction to the AGL Yearbook05:28 Weekly Highlights and Game Updates12:44 Overview of the American Grid Zone League19:50 Season Four Expansion and Structure26:42 Season Four Performance and Records36:54 Offseason Plans and Future Prospects40:43 Conclusion and Wrap-Up45:52 NEWCHAPTERLinks3d6 Gaming on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582729880611Fight Card Boxing: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fightcardboxingGreenfox Spreadsheet Overview (Part 1 of 3): https://youtu.be/S8tGSjnCvsY?si=Z28NH_-OrOShTpVs49 QD Hockey 2025-26 NHL In-Season Set: https://www.49sportsgames.com/products/nhl-2024-25-in-season-play-along-pdf

S2 Underground
The Wire - October 15, 2025

S2 Underground

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025 4:07


//The Wire//2300Z October 15, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: CARIBBEAN WAR CONTINUES AS PENTAGON SINKS FASTBOAT AND STRATEGIC AVIATION CONDUCTS SHOW OF FORCE OPERATIONS. CONFLICT BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN CONTINUES. SECWAR'S PLANE SUFFERS EMERGENCY WHILE RETURNING TO USA.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Afghanistan: The conflict between the Taliban and Pakistan flared up again overnight, before both sides agreed to another ceasefire. Despite the various statements of ceasefire by both sides, random skirmishes continue. Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Kabul once again, and Afghan forces conducted random skirmishes at a few border checkpoints along the Durand Line that designates the border between the two nations.Ireland: A mass stabbing was reported in the vicinity of Grattan Wood in Dublin. One individual was killed, and two others wounded during the attack. No further details have been provided at this time.Analyst Comment: Local media has reported that this attack took place at a "residence", which is misleading. The location of the attack was inside a care home that houses underage migrants.Caribbean: Yesterday the War Department announced the kinetic targeting of another fastboat off the coast of Venezuela, bringing the total to 5x vessels sunk so far during this campaign.United Kingdom: This afternoon, American Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made an unplanned emergency landing due to an incident involving his aircraft. The SECWAR was returning to the US from Belgium when a crack appeared in the windscreen of the aircraft, which possibly caused a depressurization incident. The pilots made an emergency descent to roughly 6,000 ft AGL, and proceeded to land safely without further incident.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - DC Judge Kendra Briggs authorized the release of the two individuals who assaulted Edward Coristine, after sentencing them to probation. Both individuals (who have not been identified as they are allegedly juveniles) will face zero jail or juvenile detention time for their violent attack on Coristine, who was a high-ranking member of the DOGE team investigating government fraud during the initial months of President Trump's term. Coristine had intervened to stop a carjacking at a parking garage in DC, which resulted in a gang of roughly a dozen "juveniles" beating him, breaking his nose during the assault. The two individuals prosecuted in this case were the only two in the group that were caught.North Carolina: Following a series of attempted murders in Charlotte on Sunday, the individual who conducted the stabbing of two people has been released from jail. Paulette Gibson (who has an extensive criminal history) was released from jail on $20,000 bail, roughly 48 hours after nearly stabbing two people to death during a street fight.Analyst Comment: In the wake of the exceptionally brutal murder of Iryna Zarutska, North Carolina has passed legislation to stop the practice of cashless bail and overhaul the bail system so as to reduce the likelihood that violent offenders would be released. This was a hotly contested bill that required a veto-proof majority to pass (as the Governor threatened repeatedly to veto it). Eventually the bill was passed and became law on October 1st, but nevertheless, Gibson was released on bail anyway.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: This morning plane watchers noted the presence of several B-52 Stratofortress bombers conducting operations just north of Venezuela. So far the War Department has not commented on this development, and it's not clear as to if these transponder pings are genuine or the result of other platforms spoofing the identities of these aircraft. If genuine, this is undoubtedly a show of force. No operational deployment of B-52's would involve the pilots leaving their transponders turned on, so this was

The Daily Aus
Why some big brands pay no tax

The Daily Aus

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2025 13:21 Transcription Available


Netflix. AGL. Virgin Australia. What do these companies have in common? Well, they generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year, but paid no company tax in the 2023/24 financial year. That’s according to the Australian Tax Office’s annual corporate tax report released last which.So how can this be? We’ll break it down in today’s podcast. Hosts: Billi FitzSimons and Sam KoslowskiProducer: Orla Maher Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘follow’ on Spotify or Apple and to leave us a five-star review. We would be so grateful. The Daily Aus is a media company focused on delivering accessible and digestible news to young people. We are completely independent. Want more from TDA?Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterSubscribe to The Daily Aus’ YouTube Channel Have feedback for us?We’re always looking for new ways to improve what we do. If you’ve got feedback, we’re all ears. Tell us here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast
Australia, China and a big week for V2G

Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2025 69:33


Anna Skarbek from Climateworks Centre on Australia's emissions mission, and the new China targets, while AGL's Jane Butler talks vehicle to grid. Plus: Wind and battery deals.

Serious Sellers Podcast: Learn How To Sell On Amazon
#703 - Amazon Global Logistics & EU Expansion

Serious Sellers Podcast: Learn How To Sell On Amazon

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2025 44:55


Live from Amazon Accelerate, discover how Amazon Global Logistics and Global Selling help sellers streamline imports, expand into EU markets, and scale worldwide with confidence. ► Watch The Podcasts On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Helium10SeriousSellersPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 ► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast ► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension ► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life) ► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft   From the vibrant stage of Amazon Accelerate in Seattle, we're bringing you a special double feature. In this episode, Bradley sits down with Alex Berry, Director at Amazon Global Logistics, and Mike Stiles, Head of US-EU Global Selling at Amazon. Together, they pull back the curtain on two major pillars of scaling your Amazon business: moving products smarter with AGL and selling beyond US borders with Amazon's global marketplaces. Alex shares his intriguing journey from journalism and finance at the University of Missouri to leading Amazon Global Logistics (AGL), the program helping sellers import goods seamlessly from China (and soon Vietnam, India, and beyond) straight into Amazon's network. He explains AGL's role in simplifying freight forwarding, shipment rerouting, and customs, while unveiling innovations like the upcoming “time-to-prime” promise and Amazon Managed Placement, tools designed to give sellers speed, reliability, and visibility across their supply chain. Then, the conversation shifts with Mike Stiles, who has spent more than a decade helping US-based sellers expand globally. He breaks down the Sell Globally workflow, the Marketplace Guidance tool, and strategies to tap into Europe's 10 Amazon marketplaces (and 30+ consumer countries) through programs like Pan-EU FBA and remote fulfillment. Mike also shares how Amazon is listening to seller feedback, simplifying VAT and compliance hurdles, and equipping brands with resources to confidently scale into international markets. Whether you're looking to optimize freight forwarding into the US or unlock new revenue streams in the EU and beyond, this episode is packed with practical insights, upcoming innovations, and step-by-step guidance to future-proof your Amazon business. Where can Sellers learn more about selling globally and the EU? Where can I share feedback? (Evergreen) Sharing a few links here to get you started: https://sell.amazon.com/blog/amazon-usa-vs-europe https://sell.amazon.com/global-selling/europe In episode 703 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley, Alex, and Mike discuss: 00:00 - Amazon Global Logistics and AWD 04:10 - Benefits of Using AGL as Forwarder  11:03 - AGL Program Expansion and Future Vision 11:42 - Improving Logistics Through Dynamic Routing 14:39 - International Shipping Destination Expansion Strategy 16:06 - AGL Program Enhancements and Innovations 18:57 - Origin Splits for Cost Efficiency 21:40 - Global Expansion and Seller Feedback 22:35 - Global Logistics for International Expansion 30:03 - EU Marketplace Expansion and Global Selling 33:39 - Expanding Sales Into the EU 40:00 - Amazon's PanEU Program Overview  44:28 - Bradley's Cross-Border Expansion Commitment

Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast
AGL's struggle with coal

Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2025 61:12


AGL boss Damien Nicks discusses how the country's biggest coal generator is managing the transition to renewables, storage and electric homes. Plus: When will another wind farm get finance?

Sky News - Paul Murray Live
Paul Murray Live | 13 August

Sky News - Paul Murray Live

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 49:49 Transcription Available


Hamas celebrates Anthony Albanese’s ‘political courage’ for recognising Palestine, new data exposes alarming rise in racism in maternity wards. Plus, AGL stock dives after announcing bold green energy strategy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CommSec
Market Close 13 Aug 25: Profit results weigh on ASX200

CommSec

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 9:59


The ASX200 slipped around half a percent despite briefly touching a third straight all-time high at the open, with more winners than losers overall but some heavyweight profit results dragging the index lower. Miners and healthcare stocks helped offset losses in financials and utilities, while standout movers included Tyro Payments after takeover interest, Evolution Mining on strong gold prices, and IAG on a big profit lift. On the downside, CBA tumbled after results, AGL swung to a loss, and Beach Energy fell on a broker downgrade. Investors are now watching tomorrow’s July jobs data for clues on the next RBA move. The content in this podcast is prepared, approved and distributed in Australia by Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814. The information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the appropriateness of the information before acting and if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Money News with Ross Greenwood: Highlights
The Market Wrap with Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst at eToro Australia

Money News with Ross Greenwood: Highlights

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 9:37


AGL dragged the Utilities sector and the market back today, but can their outlook improve? MARKET WRAP: ASX200: down 0.6% to 8,827 GOLD: $3,365/oz BITCOIN: 182,916 CURRENCY UPDATE: AUD/USD: 65.5 US cents AUD/GBP: 48.3 British pence AUD/EUR: 56 Euro cents AUD/JPY: 96 Yen AUD/NZD: 1.09 NZ dollars See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Amazon Guy
BREAKING NEWS: Amazon Stops FBA Prep Services in 2026 What Now?

My Amazon Guy

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2025 8:02


Send us a textAmazon will stop offering prep and labeling services for FBA by January 1, 2026.This includes AWD, AGL, and the Supply Chain Portal, forcing sellers to prep and label themselves.The policy shift affects new sellers most, especially those unfamiliar with third-party providers.Want help finding trusted FBA service providers? Book a call: https://bit.ly/4jMZtxu#FBAChanges #AmazonSellerTips #AmazonPrep #amazonsellernewsWatch these videos on YouTube:Improve Search Rank and Drive Growth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyeMk5p-oww&list=PLDkvNlz8yl_b9RMGmU9XeqkI9D7QDOAI8&index=2The Easy Way to Find Amazon Keywords That Rank: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kmBZPid_iA&list=PLDkvNlz8yl_b9RMGmU9XeqkI9D7QDOAI8&index=3-----------------------------------------------Struggling with ads? Download our free PPC guide made for Amazon sellers: https://bit.ly/4lF0OYXWant better rankings? Grab the free Amazon SEO toolkit and start fixing your listings: https://bit.ly/457zjSlDon't wait for trouble, download the Crisis Kit before your account goes down: https://bit.ly/4maWHn0Timestamps00:00 - Amazon Ends Prep Services for FBA00:26 - Why This Change Matters to Amazon Sellers01:18 - Amazon Says Sellers Already Do Their Own Prep01:41 - Will This Make Amazon Fulfillment Faster?02:28 - Ongoing Delays and Lost Inventory in AWD02:54 - Amazon's Transition Options: DIY or Third-Party03:38 - Relabeling Problems and Seller Frustrations04:37 - No Reimbursement for Improperly Labeled Items05:34 - Is Amazon Just Avoiding Responsibility?06:28 - Why New Sellers Will Struggle the Most07:23 - What This Means for FBA Sellers Moving Forward----------------------------------------------Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguySubscribe to the My Amazon Guy podcast: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwSupport the show

LuAnna: The Podcast
'I don't often get the chance to see another woman's actual a**hole

LuAnna: The Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 60:53


BE WARNED: It's LuAnna, and this podcast contains honest, upfront opinions, rants, bants and general explicit content. But you know you love it.On this week's Luanna: The Podcast: Anna's been to the BAFTAs and rubbing shoulders with celebs, whilst Lu's been rubbing her bum on a riding saddle and getting friction burn. Plus: When your Dad has an AGL baby, a Dubai poo explosion, Peter Andre in hot water over his new film and eating raw mince like steak tartare. Remember, if you want to get in touch you can: Email us at luanna@everythingluanna.com OR drop us a WhatsApp on 07745 266947Please review Global's Privacy Policy: https://global.com/legal/privacy-policy/

After America
Oligarchy or democracy?

After America

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 36:41


With Americans facing shortages and price hikes, the Trump administration is orchestrating a colossal transfer of wealth and power to the very rich. On this episode of After America, Elizabeth Pancotti, economic policy specialist and former advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders, joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss what the second Trump administration is doing to the American economy. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 8 May 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order ‘After America: Australia and the new world order’ or become a foundation subscriber to Vantage Point at australiainstitute.org.au/store. Guest: Elizabeth Pancotti, Managing Director of Policy and Advocacy, Groundwork Collaborative // @ENPancotti Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Show notes: Trump’s tariffs won’t wreck Australia’s economy. But America’s could be cooked. Dollars & Sense (April 2025) New Polling: Republican Plan to Gut Vital Programs, Shower Ultra-Wealthy With Tax Breaks is Unpopular With Voters, Groundwork Collaborative (February 2025) Are the Big Two too big? Reining in the supermarket giants, Follow the Money (October 2024) Power gouge: how AGL and Origin are milking monster profits from battling families, the Australia Institute (December 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business News - WA
At Close of Business podcast May 2 2025

Business News - WA

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 9:56


Claire Tyrrell and Kathy Skantzos discuss Kimberley icon Sam Lovell's commitment to WA's cultural tourism. Plus: Gold Road in halt amid M&A rumours; Woolworths flags $25m project; AGL seeks to triple Kwinana output.

Drone News Update
Drone News: Concerning Congress Bill, AMA Clubs Can Fly Over 400, New DJI Enterprise Accessories, ParaZero Parachute for Matrice 4

Drone News Update

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 6:15


First up, Senate Bill 1249 in Congress proposes to change how navigable airspace is defined, and would give the first 200 feet above the ground to states and private property owners.This bill also gives mandatory standoff distances from structures, including 200' laterally and 50 feet over the top of structures. Sadly, this is not a new idea. 5 years, we spent a significant amount of time fighting something similar proposed by the Uniform Law Commission (or ULC) proposed the same before being shut down.This is obviously a terrible idea and is proposed by a US Senator Mike Lee from Utah, who has a history of proposing bills that would severely limit UAS operations.Please reach out to your senators and representatives, as this affects ALL UAS operators, including drones, model airplanes, FPV, and helicopters.Next up this week, some news for recreational flyers who fly at the Academy of Model Aeronautics, or AMA, club sites. The AMA announced they've secured a National Authorization that allows members flying at designated club sites within Class G airspace to operate above the standard 400-foot Above Ground Level, or AGL, limit for routine flying. Depending on the specific site's location and assessment within Class G, the new authorized altitude limit could be up to 700 feet AGL, or even 1,200 feet AGL. Third up, DJI has expanded its enterprise payload lineup with two new accessories aimed at public safety and inspection users. They've launched the Zenmuse S1 Spotlight and the Zenmuse V1 Speaker. The S1 Spotlight is designed for the Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 350 RTK platforms. It's a high-intensity light source with an effective illumination range of up to 150 meters, or about 492 feet. It features adjustable brightness levels and can synchronize its angle with the gimbal's pitch movements, keeping the light focused where the camera is looking, which is pretty neat. Then there's the Zenmuse V1 Speaker, which is compatible with the Matrice 300 and 350 series drones. This isn't your average Bluetooth speaker; it boasts a maximum volume of 120 decibels and an effective range of about 100 meters, or 328 feet, at a more typical 75 decibels. It supports text-to-speech conversion, audio storage, and real-time playback, making it useful for broadcasting instructions or warnings during emergencies. These kinds of accessories really enhance the utility of these enterprise platforms for first responders and inspection teams.And finally this week, ParaZero, known for their drone safety systems, has launched the SafeAir M4 parachute recovery system, specifically designed for the DJI Matrice 4 series drones. ParaZero's Press release says the SafeAir M4 meets the requirements of the ASTM F3322-22 standard for parachutes used in Operations Over People, or OOP. https://dronexl.co/2025/04/16/dji-launches-zenmuse-s1-spotlight-and-zenmuse-v1-speaker-for-enterprise-drones/https://dronexl.co/2025/04/15/parazero-launches-safeair-m4-drone-parachute-system/https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1249/text/is?format=txt&overview=closedhttps://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amagov/2025/04/15/flying-sites-in-class-g-airspace-granted-higher-altitudes/?_gl=1*1uaan0o*_gcl_au*NzU5NzI5MTc0LjE3NDQ5MDM2MzA.&_ga=2.207238160.221137029.1744903630-1851979334.1744903630

Capitalist Culture
The Cognitive Edge: Military Strategy, AI & Capitalism in High-Performance Leadership

Capitalist Culture

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 55:30


I'm thrilled to share some incredible insights from my latest episode featuring Mark McGrath, the Chief Learning Officer at AGL and a former captain in the United States Marine Corps. This conversation is packed with wisdom on leadership, decision-making, and thriving in complex environments. Here are some key takeaways:

S2 Underground
The Wire - December 20, 2024

S2 Underground

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 7:12


//The Wire//2000Z December 20, 2024////ROUTINE////BLUF: FAA ENACTS MORE NO-FLY-ZONES AROUND ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS IN TRI-STATE AREA.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Germany: This evening a vehicle-ramming attack took place at a Christmas Markt in Magdeburg. A vehicle rammed into a crowd of people partaking in celebrations, killing 11x and wounding upwards of 60x people. AC: As this incident is currently developing at the time of this report casualty figures will likely be revised as the situation develops.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. – An agreement has not yet been reached in Congress regarding the budgetary continuing resolution, indicating that a government shutdown may begin at midnight.Northeast: Throughout the region more flight restrictions have been emplaced, with 8x new airspace closures being announced throughout the tri-state area. Continuing the trend from New Jersey, the airspace closures are largely centered around electrical substations located on Long Island.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the closed-door meetings amongst high-ranking counterterrorism officials, it would seem that no one has pondered the reasoning as to why our critical infrastructure sites do not already have no-fly-zones around them. This is largely due to the historical analysis that the implementation of such can actually cause more harm than good, mostly because it highlights exactly which sites are most vulnerable to drone attacks.Additionally, most of the no-fly-zones have been emplaced with parameters that are largely ineffective. For instance, most of the TFRs have been enacted covering the airspace from surface level to 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL). This is not just a random number, this is the parameter set by the FAA for the use of recreational drones. Without special approval, recreational drones can't be flown at an altitude of over 400 feet AGL in the United States. From a counterterrorism perspective, this is utter nonsense. No would-be terrorist seeking to use a drone to target critical infrastructure is going to play by the rules.Once again, this small detail dismissed by most is a massive ‘tell' that indicates how incapable federal agencies are. Remember, the FBI is coming at the issue from the angle they always do…that they can't stop any terror attack that they don't have a hand in planning and carrying out themselves. In short, if a would-be attacker doesn't get groomed and assisted by the FBI at some point during their attack preparations, the FBI is powerless to stop (or even know about) the attack in the first place. For instance, the FBI is coming off of their recent bust, the November arrest of Skyler Philippi, who was allegedly planning to use a drone to attack an electrical substation in Nashville. This case involved the FBI choosing to provide materiel support to a well-known mentally unstable individual, to include providing attack plans, explosives, and assistance at the attack site on the day of the planned attack.This is the mindset federal agents are operating from; that terrorism as the American people instinctively know it doesn't really exist, and that any serious threat to the homeland simply can't materialize without the FBI's help. This is a very dangerous perspective to operate from, as it very obviously injects ego into counterterrorism doctrine. Putting up a no-fly zone around electrical substations strongly indicates this hubris; anyone with any minuscule counterterrorism experience can assert that these no-fly zones are going to do more harm than good because the lawful users of drones are not causing the problems. From the perspective of warfare doctrine, wargaming this decision for five minutes continues to demonstrate how bad of an idea this is. Much like how any obstacle on the battlefield must be observed at all times, the implementation of a no-fly-zone must

Serious Sellers Podcast: Learn How To Sell On Amazon
#604 - The Road to $30 Million of Amazon Sales

Serious Sellers Podcast: Learn How To Sell On Amazon

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2024 41:50


Join us for an insightful journey with Joe Sanhanga, a remarkable e-commerce entrepreneur generating millions annually through unique and high-priced products. Listen in as Joe shares his inspiring story from his roots in Zimbabwe to his educational pursuits in the UK and the US, ultimately landing in Las Vegas. His journey began on platforms like Shopify and WordPress, selling distinctive items such as African-style swimsuits and nano tape toys, before discovering the immense potential of Amazon's FBA and FBM models. Through their conversation, Bradley and Joe emphasized the transformative power of networking at conferences like Amazon Accelerate. Explore the strategies behind Joe's successful transition to selling on Amazon, starting with assisting a soil business during the pandemic and leading to the creation of "Wonder Soil," a private-label product on Amazon. Joe's ventures into innovative products like tanning lamps, vitamin D lamps, and seasonal depression lamps highlight the importance of team collaboration and strategic Amazon sales optimization. With aspirations to surpass a $30 million run rate, Joe shares valuable insights into leveraging Amazon's platform to achieve extraordinary growth in niche markets. Discover the challenges and tactics involved in marketing high-priced products, like a $599 lamp, in a competitive landscape dominated by lower-cost alternatives. We discuss the advantages of having larger margins for experimenting with keywords and bidding strategies, alongside the creative approaches necessary to maintain product visibility amidst Amazon's policies. Joe also shares his experiences optimizing advertising strategies, managing warehouse transitions to Amazon's Warehousing and Distribution system, and utilizing tools like Helium 10's Adtomic to automate and enhance PPC strategies. This episode provides a comprehensive view of the perseverance and innovation required to thrive in e-commerce, offering inspiration and actionable advice for sellers at any level. In episode 604 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley and Joe discuss: 00:28 - E-Commerce Strategies and Global Perspectives 04:54 - Amazon Product Sales Success Story 05:41 - Amazon Brand Growth During COVID 11:37 - Strategies for High Price Point Products 11:50 - Product Pricing and Brand Strategy 15:23 - Optimizing Keywords for Product Sales 18:21 - Amazon Advertising Strategy Discussion 19:14 - Managing $120,000 of Ad Spend With Adtomic 23:49 - Amazon PPC Management Strategies 27:52 - Optimizing Ad Placements to Lower ACoS 30:51 - Pricing Strategy Impact on Sales 32:45 - Warehouse Cost Savings and Amazon Advertising 34:28 - Inventory Management for Amazon Sellers 38:14 - Optimizing Amazon Listings for Conversion 41:17 - Online Presence and Networking ► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast ► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension ► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life) ► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft ► Watch The Podcasts On Youtube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos Transcript Bradley Sutton: Today we talked to a $30 million a year seller who is selling, and has sold, some of the most unique products I've ever heard of, including one at a $600 price point, when everybody else is priced at only 40 bucks. How cool is that? Pretty cool, I think.   Bradley Sutton: Hello everybody, and welcome to another episode of the Serious Sellers Podcast by Helium 10. I'm your host, Bradley Sutton, and this is the show that's a completely BS-free, unscripted and unrehearsed, organic conversation about serious strategies for serious sellers of any level in the e-commerce world. In my travels recently, one of the things I like about going to conferences and it's what I always tell people about is that you know you can meet different people, network with people and find out about their story, and that's kind of like how I structure this whole podcast. But then I actually did that recently at Amazon Accelerate and I'm glad I did it, because I'm glad I did it. As I went to this one mixer that they organized and I was at first, I was like, oh man, I was so drained after that day and I'm like, oh man, it's gonna be a crowded place. I don't like to be in crowded places, but you know what? I'm going to hop on this little lime scooter from my hotel and go over to this restaurant where the event was and I was sitting down talking to some people at the table and then I met today's guest there, Joe. How's it going?   Joe: I'm going good. Thanks for having me on.   Bradley Sutton: Awesome, awesome. Now, you said you're in Vegas right now. Right?   Joe: Yes, we're in Las Vegas, Nevada.   Bradley Sutton: Now, that's not a typical Vegas accent you've got. So where were you born and raised?   Joe: Yeah, so I was born in Zimbabwe, raised as well in Zimbabwe, then I moved out to England where I spent a lot of my time there doing some education and stuff and then I got tired of the cold being a Zimbabwean.   Bradley Sutton: You went to the opposite, then if you went to Vegas, I cannot imagine a more opposite than cold place.   Joe: Oh yeah, 100%. I just went on to Google and I was like okay, I want to go somewhere in America, but I need to find somewhere warm. And I think the first thing that came up on the search was Death Valley, but there was nothing over there. So the second thing was Phoenix and Las Vegas. So, I eventually found myself in Las Vegas just because of the ease of doing business. Ability to meet people here is really good.   Bradley Sutton: And did you go to university uh over in UK or in the US?   Joe: yes, I did university in the UK as well as in the US, so I got an accounting degree back in uh UK um and then in the US, I did a um was a business management degree with some entrepreneurship uh additional to that   Bradley Sutton: was it like a unlv or?   Joe: I know this was in um in Phoenix in ASU, yeah.   Bradley Sutton: ASU, uh, Sun Devil right? Joe: yes, sir, okay, there, you see it.   Bradley Sutton: I always test my I don't know. I'm not going to ask you any kind of mascot because from England I don't know anything about England schools, but I know most of the US schools have mascots here. Actually, I'm wearing a. We'll talk about this later. I'm wearing a mascot from a minor league baseball team is my hat. This is called from nearby to Arizona is Albuquerque Isotopes. But the reason I use this today was because this is very similar, this logo, to our Helium 10 Adtomic logo. I know you and I were talking about Adtomic, doesn't it look like the A from Adtomic yeah,   Joe: it actually does. Now I see it when you mention it.   Bradley Sutton: So that's why I wore this on purpose. There's a method to my madness, but anyways, before we get to Adtomic, talking about Adtomic, I just want to talk about your e-commerce journey. So when you graduated from, after you know, there at ASU, did you get into e-commerce at all, or at what kind of?   Joe: So this was actually still back in England , around 2017 is when I kind of got first into my e-commerce kind of journey, which was on Shopify. Specifically, Shopify and WordPress was where I started out and I bought a random course of somebody online, learned all about basically advertising from like Facebook, from Instagram, from Google, sending it to this website and landing pages that we used to do. And then, within being in that realm, I started hearing this FBA term being thrown around.   Bradley Sutton: What were you selling on Shopify in those days?   Joe: Oh, so I remember we had to go at, we did these other swimsuits that we did African style print swimsuits, and then we also went on and started doing it was like these little tape toys, sort of like double-sided type tape. Yeah, exactly so we were doing those. It's called nano tape, um, so, yeah, that's basically how, how that started and then,   Bradley Sutton: and then that's when you, when you kind of like, learned about the amazon, uh potential.   Joe: So I heard, obviously, being in that space, I started hearing this word FBA being thrown around uh, the acronym, and you know. Then I went on Google, searched up, okay, what is FBA? And it's some sort of Amazon selling thing. Okay, and then there's FBM as well. So now I'm like, okay, there's these two terms, what is this all about? And that's basically when I started doing my research and I was like, okay, this Amazon thing seems to actually have some stuff to it. And at the time I think the platform is not the way. It's so different now, because sometimes I've got screenshots of my old dashboards and it just looks completely different. So, yeah, that's how I basically then started with Amazon.   Bradley Sutton: Did you start selling like your own account, you know, on Amazon, start selling your own products, or did you just start working for other companies that were selling on Amazon?   Joe: Yeah, so to begin with I was working with this other lady. She basically had soil and the way we actually started working together was I created a website for her, put on Shopify, to sell the soil, and then she was bagging up the soil to try and get it to consumers, because her business was mainly sending thousand-pound totes to farmers. But she said, how can I get this you know three-pound bag to people that are at home and want to grow some plants and what actually it was? This was around 20.   Bradley Sutton: Soil on Amazon, man, when you think you've heard it all.   Joe: It's called Wonder Soil. It's actually one of the rivals to Miracle-Gro and we actually I actually raised it to get the Amazon choice badge. We were on Business Insider as one of the top growing brands on amazon too, um, but basically the cool thing about it was we've tried to find a way to get the soil to consumers and everything worked well, because this was during covid, so people were at home, people had nothing to do, and you know people are growing stuff at home, people. You know we're just trying to, yeah, so the product hit at the right time uh, what year is this 2020.   Bradley Sutton: Okay. 2020 okay yeah. Oh yeah, I mean that was a good time. Yeah, during covid, people were always are really trying to make their own gardens and stuff like grow their own vegetables and stuff like that okay yeah this is a private label brand or you're reselling um others?   Joe: oh, so we actually have manufacturers in China. Uh, that we get all that product for We've actually gotten rid of our warehouse Now. We've gone full into AWD, so we're getting.   Bradley Sutton: Let's talk about that a little bit later in the show too. I haven't talked to many people who are doing that, so I'll be interested in that, ok.   Joe: Yeah, so that's, that's what that one. And then there's another lamp company, which is pretty funny, is tanning lamps and vitamin D lamps, so we run through those on Amazon as well. Those are actually the only there's a lamp that can give you vitamin D.   Bradley Sutton: It's the only lamp the same like the sun.   Joe: Yes, you spend five minutes every other day in front of it and it'll give you. And there's studies on YouTube. People use this lamp, where this lady her name is Carnival Doctor on YouTube. She did a study with a lamp for six weeks and her levels went from 20 something to 40 something vitamin D. She feels healthier than ever and it's perfect. It stopped her from having to buy, you know, vitamin D pills and, of course, all those sorts of things. So, yeah, it's the only one, and you get tan at the same time. So now, that's the difference. So, there's two lamps One gives you vitamin D and one gives you a tan, because there are some people that don't want the tanning effect. So that's what it is. So, it's-.   Bradley Sutton: Now what if you put this tanning lamp over your miracle magic soil? Are you going to create some like hybrid plant? Oh my, you sell the most interesting things. All right, there's a third account too,   Joe: yeah, so it's basically the third account is also in lighting, but this one is seasonal depression lamps where basically you look at it so that one is its own brand.   Bradley Sutton: Did you say depression? Yes, depression lamp Like as in I'm very depressed and I'm sad like that word depression.   Joe: Yeah, depression, you're sad. What does that have to do with a lamp? So, you look at this lamp for 30 minutes and you become happy. I know it sounds stupid, but minutes and you become happy. I know it sounds stupid, but that one doesn't give you vitamin D.   Bradley Sutton: That one doesn't give you vitamin D. Nor a tan. Yeah, you see. Hey, there's a product idea. You got to combine all three and then, oh my goodness, you'd have the most amazing.   Joe: That would be powerful. We've had people that have requested you know, do you have one that does both, or this, this, this? But because of FDA regulations, we've had to separate a lot of the things.   Bradley Sutton: Is these three separate companies or is it like the same group of people who's all owning all three of these?   Joe: So two of the companies is one group of people and the other one is one person.   Bradley Sutton: And then, what do you do in these?   Joe: So I run just an Amazon account. So I run just an Amazon account. So running the ads, running the listing optimization, making sure the account is obviously hitting the sales numbers, everything that just literally goes through Amazon and inventory everything.   Bradley Sutton: What's the overall projected sales for all three combined on Amazon?   Joe: So for all three combined, we're looking at 28. We're on pace to do 28 million this year on all three.   Bradley Sutton: Will that be your best, our biggest year yet.   Joe: Yeah, this would be our biggest year yet. We've seen record numbers in previous months. In previous, like this past quarter, we'd had record sales as well. I know we had our biggest. We had, I think, our first. We had two days in September where we had 100K sales days, which was the first time we've done that. We also had our highest sales days in the past two years. Nine of those days in our top 10 sales were all in September. So we've had record sales. Especially Q3 was really, really amazing. I think we were up about 800K across the board in Q3 alone. So we're on pace to do a really good year and it sets us up for our plan is to do a 2.5 million month at least once this year in total and that will set us up for a run rate for next year. We want to push over to that 30 million stage.   Bradley Sutton: If you're like me, maybe you were intimidated about learning how to do Amazon PPC, or maybe you think you just don't have the hours and hours that it takes to download and sort through all of those sponsored ads reports that Amazon produces for you. Adtomic for me allowed me to learn PPC for the first time, and now I'm managing over 150 PPC campaigns across all of my accounts in only two hours a week. Find out how Adtomic can help you level up your PPC game. Visit h10.me forward slash Adtomic for more information. That's h10.me forward slash A-D-T-O-M-I-C. I'm just curious, before we get into some more details about, like, your advertising because I know that's one of the things that is your specialty these lamps that you're doing like, were these kind of like inventions, or? Or there was an existing market of vitamin D lamps or an existing market of lamps that make you happy Like was that an existing keyword or is this something that you're you guys invented and kind of like created the demand for?   Joe: So it's actually crazy. You say that is because the first vitamin d lamp started in 1924. It was a guy by Dr. Sperti is his name. He's the guy who made it. He invented it and he started selling it throughout the US. It was a company in Kentucky, um, but he was just selling it out of his own like little warehouse and then eventually he got old um and then sold off for business and then basically that's where we put it online, um to run it through Amazon, and we first were going like, for example, the vitamin D one it's the only lamp that's there. The only competition are these vitamin D pills that you'll see on Amazon. But our price point for the lamp is like 599. And we're competing against people that can buy a bottle for four bucks, five bucks on Amazon. So it's been a pretty interesting game competing against people that can buy, you know, a bottle for four bucks, five bucks on amazon. So it's been a pretty interesting game. But it moves. It moves um on amazon. What's the price of the product?   Bradley Sutton: you said 599 599, 599, yeah, wow, uh, I want to. I'm trying to look at, look for it on amazon right now. What's the brand name called?   Joe: SpertI s-p-e-r-t-i, and then you'll see vitamin d we got to show the audience this.   Bradley Sutton: Okay, oh, my goodness gracious, here it is. Hold on, this is incredible. All right.   Joe: That's it and it's right. That's the first one that's popped up against our competition. All those are competitors on the right.   Bradley Sutton: So 500 and Sperti. So that was what the doctor's name was. Who?   Joe: made this up.   Bradley Sutton: Yeah, Dr. Sperti, that was his name yeah, there was a ready demand for this out there.   Joe: Oh, huge, because, if you think about it, vitamin D pills are basically the same target market as us. Yeah, so this is just a non-invasive way that you buy and you keep this for a very, very long time. So that's that. So something interesting. As you go through this, this listing, you're not going to see the word vitamin d anywhere on the listing and you'll notice our carousel images, our images on there. we have our box images because amazon actually took us down because our lamp has the word vitamin d on it.   Bradley Sutton: ah, yeah, yeah, I see it in the video there, so you don't have vitamin d anywhere in there, but you probably got indexed for the keyword by Amazon.   Joe: Exactly so. That's why we use UVB, which is basically the term for vitamin D. So Amazon is not allowing us to use it, even though we're FDA approved and everything. Amazon is just not letting us go for that.   Bradley Sutton: I see some of your main keywords. Yeah, vitamin D lamp.   Joe: Oh yeah, we can use them in the back. Vitamin D light.   Bradley Sutton: Vitamin D therapy lamp, vitamin D light therapy. Now, I'm just curious. I don't talk very often with people who have this high price point. What is different about having a product that's in the hundreds of dollars? Like, do you approach advertising differently, cause it's not like where I mean. You might now you know you, you might get a hundred clicks with no sale, but still you just get one, the 101st click. All of a sudden, that's $600 of revenue. So, so, like, how is it different, uh, with something like this, compared to your, your other products, which I'm assuming is like more you know, regular pricing 10, 20, 30 bucks.   Joe: So the cool thing about it is that across all the catalog that I, that I that I run, I have products starting at like five bucks, all the way to this one that has $5.99. So the landscape with this one is totally different. Like you said, you can set up an ad, you'll get 50 clicks at $1.20 CPC and, based on our margins, we're still clean on a sale. If we get one sale, we profit. So the cool thing about it is you just have to be a bit more patient. However, because we have such kind of should I say a big space for those clicks, it allows us to test a lot of keywords in this space and we really kind of exhaust any keyword that's there without having to really be careful, unlike if I was selling a smaller, less priced product, I can't just throw in all the keywords and just you know it'll go crazy if it's like a $60 product.   So with this, it gives me that comfortability to go out and bid higher and also it allows me to, like I said, like if you saw on that page where you searched, my competition were those pill bottles that are like five bucks, six bucks, seven bucks, so I can bid above all of those guys. So I ensure that every time you search the keyword I'm going to be first, because there's no way they're going to bid the same amount of dollars. I'm going to bid because their price points are different. However, they can take a loss on a sale because they have repeat products. So people finish that bottle, they come back and buy another With ours. That person buys a lamp and is done. So we obviously have to gauge it to a point whereby, okay, this is our ACOS target and at this A-cost target we're profitable. So that's now how more I manage that one. It's more ACOS targeting, but I'm basically trying to make sure I stand out for every single eyeball that's there because I have the room.   Bradley Sutton: So this is interesting because, regardless of the price point, there are similar kind of scenarios where it would be like this they're probably actual keywords of how somebody who's searching for this exact thing is probably very limited Vitamin D lamp or lamp for tanning, you know for your other product, or it's not. Like oh there's you know 5,000 way, you know 5,000 ways that are going to come up in Cerebro to search for this one thing. You're like it's kind of like that way with coffin shelf. If you're looking exactly for a coffin shelf, that's pretty much it, that's it. Coffin shelf or shelf shaped like a coffin, like there's very limited number of words. The other keywords I get sales from is more like the, you know, gothic decor or spooky things. So how are you doing your keyword research? Like using Helium 10 or amazon, for you mentioned you do a lot of testing for targets. So like, where are you coming up with these keywords to test to see if any of them stick?   Joe: So that's. It's more like said, I run Cerebro on a lot of those vitamin D bottle and pills and basically a lot of my. So, like I've said, I've exhausted the keyword vitamin D and the more you get long tail with this product, the less traffic you have. You know, for some of the products you can get long tail with a bunch of keywords and you still have traffic. Like, for example, if it's like a Ziploc bag, I can put Ziploc bag for Legos, Ziploc bag for sandwiches, Ziploc bag for this. You know the list is endless and you have traffic with this. Not many people even know this lamp exists.   So what I've actually done is sometimes I go and target competitor company names and key names. So if it's like some company that sells a bottle of vitamin D lamps or vitamin D pills, I'll actually target their brand because when I look at their keyword, it's people that are repeat purchases, so it always has traffic. And but because I can bid high on their own company name, I'm going to show up first and I have the room with my price point to show up consistently and eventually, if you're somebody that is very hooked on buying these products, for vitamin D pills, you're going to see my product and think, okay, what is this? Because it's coming up. I've seen it so many times when I come and buy this product that when you read about our process, you then be like, okay, so this is something that actually can benefit me and can work as an alternative for ingested pills and all the other disadvantages that come with that. So that's basically how I find other keywords and start going for those.   Bradley Sutton: You know, price game is something nobody ever wants to play, and you're not playing at all, you're doing the opposite. You know, like on some of these keywords I do see some like people ranking for, like vitamin D lamp, but they're, just like you know, $20 products and they're selling thousands of units. But then are you going after those people too, Like the people who are going after that or how? How, how do you still get sales when people can technically get something one 10th the price? People you just got to like, make sure that they know the value of what you, that yours is different.   Joe: Yeah, so that's where we have to communicate that through the listing, and it's because a lot of those $20 lamps that you're seeing there, those are not actually vitamin D lamps, those are seasonal depression lamps. So if you're looking at, can you see that Alaska Northern Lights big box on the right where your mouse is? Yes, that's one of the lamps that I sell. That's for seasonal depression.   Bradley Sutton: Okay, I was about to click on that, but no, I'm not going to click on the sponsored ad and charge you $3 right there. So good thing I didn't.   Joe: But then if you look at to the left, you've got that product. That's 19 bucks. Those are actually seasonal depression lamps, so they don't give off vitamin D. So somebody would purchase that and then they'll realize that doesn't give you vitamin D. So they'll probably return it and then come back to ours. But if they're looking for seasonal depression those would be those ones.   Bradley Sutton: This is just an interesting niche. This is kind of fascinating to me. So then, overall, almost $30 million. What are you spending per month? Or what are you paying Amazon for advertising per month?   Joe: So monthly. Right now we're spending total across the board with about 120K a month on advertising budget.   Bradley Sutton: Advertising. And then, what's your TACoS then? At kind of, is it different per account? Are you looking at your TACoS?   Joe: yeah, so the lamp TACoS are, like, I think, close to two percent um, and then uh, because that ACoS is really low, um. However, with uh, with the one that's got the majority of the products, our tacos right now we are sitting at a 5.38. That's what we just closed out at, okay. Okay, our ACoS is at 15 point. I think it was 15.5 is what we ended on in September. We brought that down from a 20 ACoS down to a 15. Our goal was to bring it down to 10, but obviously we've done about 50% of that target. Now, which is hard, you know, if you're spending, you know, over a hundred K. To bring down a cost by 5% is really difficult. So that's, that's where we are.   Bradley Sutton: Are you using Adtomic for all of this spend, all of this $120,000 spend?   Joe: We've launched. So with Adtomic, we've put in some rules for some SKUs and we're watching that and I actually had a call with Travis, like I said before, to try and we've got different rules for different products and we're trying to see how we can build out those rules in Adtomic.   Bradley Sutton: Like rules that you were just using manually, like downloading search term reports. What are some of the rules? Tell me how you run your PPC.   Joe: So most of my rules would come into the shipping product, one where basically first rule is identifying the product, pricing. So if it's a bag so let's say Ziploc bag, right, we've got a Ziploc bag, a four by six size. We have different variations. So we have a hundred pack, five hundred pack, thousand pack. The hundred pack could cost maybe 19 bucks, five hundred pack 50 bucks, other one 99 bucks.   So based on those, we make rules where if it's the $19 one, we want to start our bids at $0.40 or something like that. Somewhere it makes sense. But then if it's for the 1,000-pack one, we can start off our bidding at $2, $3. And that's because if somebody then buys it it's $99. So it's more of guiding based on that price threshold of the product and getting that rule in. And then, as we keep going, we want to make sure that if it's not getting any spend after two weeks it'll look back and add, you know, 10 cents to it if it's getting too many clicks. And if it gets like 10 clicks at that price, at that um, 44 cents, uh, whatever, 40 cents, um, and no sales, it'll dial it back by five cents or something like that, just to just to start, you know, bringing it back to see what we can get. So those are.   Bradley Sutton: So then, instead of basing your rules in Adtomic, like, necessarily on ACoS, you're like doing it on the, the performance, like clicks and. Are you doing impressions at all, or just mainly clicks? Mainly clicks and then sales? What about your keyword harvesting? Did you set up any keyword harvesting rules on your auto or broad campaigns? Yes, and what's your thresholds there?   Joe: So with there we do have our keyword harvesting set up and we usually just go in when it shows us. Then we'll add and accept whatever we want to Others we don't and we basically just throw them in. So we have one that right now has some rules and we've been working with the one that keeps the ACoS threshold in different margins. That's been looking good. So we've actually decided that when we've got launch ASINs because we're planning to launch another 42 products, I think it was soon is put those into the ACoS threshold, get those spending. Then, once we've gotten some traction with those, we start messing with the bids ourselves because we look at these in different silos as well in terms of market share.   So if it's like tapes, we might not be the biggest player in tapes, so we can't really go out the income on the market. But if it's like Ziploc bags, Celo bags, we have tons of market share. Our brand is known. The moment you see our packaging on our default listings, you know it's us. So we bid higher on those ones to really just take up and kill anybody that's coming in. And we're happy to take up that high bid because people repeat purchase on those ones so we can lose money on the first sale because we can look at the lifetime value of those customers and it makes sense.     Bradley Sutton:   How many targeting type, different targeting types are you doing per product? You know for me, sometimes a lot of some. I'll have three main keyword ones, at least, obviously, to start, because then I'll cap it and start new ones, but I'll have an exact, you know, like, like atomic calls, a performance campaign. I'll have a broad campaign with broad targets. I'll have an auto, but then I'll also a lot of times have an ASIN targeting campaign, product targeting campaign. I'll also do a sponsor display campaign. I might do a video, two video campaigns, like a keyword video campaign, an ASIN video campaign and then maybe, if I have, you know, three products in a certain brand, I might have a sponsor brand that's feeding a few of those. Like, are you doing all of those or just you're just keeping it to the basic keyword targeting campaigns? What do you guys do so?   Joe: So for every ASIN we basically have five different ads and it starts off with broad, which is obviously our broad keywords, and then we'll go to exact keywords where basically we don't start off by putting keywords in the exact. We let you know, get it from helium and atomic and then we put those in uh based on what it's telling us, and then we've got auto testing. So we uh, or it's called a auto cam, just normal campaign, which is obviously we let that run in the order category. Then ASIN testing, where basically we're running targeting that specific category of that product. And the cool thing about those ascent testing is it helps us identify new markets. So let's say we have a variation in poly and plastic packaging and let's say this product is sitting at number two. We might actually take that product. And then let's say we have other products that are like three, four, five, six in that category. We might take the number two product and move it to mailbags. It'll drop the BSR because of its historical performance and its ability to perform. We might actually start testing a different category just to gain more market share in a different category because we know we've kind of succeeded in that one. So that's more for ASIN testing.   Then we have ASIN targeting, where we actually we use our Cerebro to get competitors, Black Box to get competitors Then we obviously target those competitors depending on how many reviews they have. So if it's somebody that's got anything less than four stars, what they're targeting you, because most of our products are sitting within the 4.5 to 4.89 range. So anybody below four stars we're targeting you, and then we also use what's it called. Then those are basically the five that we do per ASIN and then we also use what's it called. Then those are basically the five that we do per ASIN. And then we have started testing some display campaigns. We had VCPM running, which was a waste of money really. It was just the attribution was wrong. So what we're doing now is some display campaigns to actually do some retargeting and basically that's where we've got started going. We haven't done much sponsored brands. Things have just really been working in sponsored product for us.   Bradley Sutton: Or the auto and maybe broad campaigns. Did you set any atomic rules as far as when to suggest a negative match or like a poor performing search term? Or how are you managing the spend on your auto campaigns? Because you know, sometimes if you just let Amazon do what they want, they'll just show you for all kinds of crazy stuff and they don't care about how much your spend is. So what are you doing to keep your auto campaigns under control?   Joe: Yeah, so what we basically do, obviously we have the loose you select the loose substitute compliments and all that type of stuff. We have those like basic keyword rules that we set our bids at where, and we do that based on our pricing. So, depending on the product's price, we'll add in those rules and then basically when Adtomic starts showing whatever negative is in there, we'll go in and either accept the negative and or reject it. And I remember I don't know if it was Travis who told me we don't want to is it reject the negative or something, because it will completely kind of block it out forever or something like that In Adtomic. If you were to do that on a negative, I think it was if you fully approve a negative. So we kind of just watch it and see if it's really a negative and then we test it out. But that's how we kind of do it. So we haven't really put much rules on that side. It's more depending on the price of the product.   Bradley Sutton: And then you said for like keyword harvesting, like if an auto finds something like is it just one for you? And then you, hey, I'll go ahead and move it to one of my manual campaigns. Or do you want to see like two or three orders of some new keyword before you put it to your exact campaigns, or what's your threshold there?   Joe: Yeah, usually we try and get up to about five, five orders. Um, cause, that's that we've, we've, cause we've had keywords where you might get an order or two, and then it just starts burning money after that. So, yeah, um, we let whatever's winning win and then if something shows promise and you know it comes up with like five orders, uh, that'll be cool and then we'll add it back in. And the cool thing about it is, if it was obviously like the, the lamps, five orders is a bit too many for a keyword. But if it's the Ziploc bags, we know we can easily get those five orders and it justifies because you know that the, the traffic on those is way more than the people that are looking for the lamps. So it just depends on the product as well.   Bradley Sutton:     What is what brought you from, I forgot what you said like, from 20 to 15 a cost, like? What specific strategies you think? Like, was it something different? You were doing um, or, or you just change the rules, or what. What can you attribute that lowering of ACoS to?   Joe: Okay. So basically, we started a KPI where we looked at the number of ACoS campaigns that are above 100% in our account, because I think we have about 4,000 something campaigns running. So basically, when we sorted that out, we would start off with, like, let's say, 40. Then of those 40, that's our priority for the month and basically, we'd look at what the ad type is. We'd look at what the ad type is, we'd look at where the you know impression share is going. Is it top of search, is it product key, is it product pages or is it in the categories? And then basically sometimes we would notice that, let's say, if it's product search for this specific ad, it's showing a way better ACoS but it's not getting as much spend and impressions as this one. But you know, the product page is just spending money. So what we'll do is we'll change the percentage on the impression share to show more on that specific placement that's actually performing the best.   And what we realized is a lot of our ACoS started just, you know, dropping for those campaigns where we doubled down. Yes, it might not spend as much, you might not as much traffic, but if our ACoS drops, you know, by 50% on that campaign, that's a win. So that's what we're doing. And then sometimes it's actually where you're getting a bunch of sales at like 60, 70% ACoS from top of search, but this product page placement is at 20% ACoS but it's not getting as much spend. So now we'll move our spend and our impression share more on that product page and reduce the top of search. Even though it cancels out some sales, the profitability of investing in that product placement on the product pages makes more sense. So that's how we've been kind of juggling the placements and it's been helping really well to cut ACoS.   Bradley Sutton: When you launch new products. What's your strategy? Is it strictly I mean, like do you have this big audience that you're able to promote to and then they send a lot of traffic that way, or is it 100% with PPC that you're launching products? What's your strategy? Like?   Joe: So 100% of PPC. We have been talking about, you know, starting to get an email list together, but, as you know, with Amazon you don't get that information of your customers, so it's very difficult. If we had like a website, then maybe we could leverage that side of it. But, like I said, 100% of all sales is Amazon and unfortunately, we don't have the customer data. So what we usually do is set up our PPC. Sometimes, depending on the market or the product, what we'll use are the deals, if it's promotions, and sometimes we've actually, you know how you can now put price, the strikethrough pricing. So sometimes when we launch a new product, we launch about a few bucks higher than we're actually planning to sell, and that's because we just want to get the featured offer pricing going. And then, once the featured offer has registered onto Amazon, we'll set a strikethrough price at the intended selling price that we want to and then we'll pump up our PPC. Why? Because now our product is showing amongst everybody else to have this discount of like 20% or whatever it is, and that increases our conversion rate because obviously people are seeing this discount. And then sometimes you might actually get the badge that says lowest price in 30 days and on a new launch. That helps quite a lot and basically that's what we do.   Then we start pumping PPC and then, once that ends, we actually noticed with another product where we were averaging about, I think it was 0.78 run rate so which is basically close to a sale a day on that product at 24 bucks. We raised the price to 28 bucks so that we could make a strike through at 24. And then at the end of the strike through because after 30 days when you set the strike through it stops the deal, we actually realized that our run rate went to 0.68 at 28 bucks. So we started noticing that the difference in sales were not actually bad from the price going back to four bucks. That's because we just had forgotten to change it back to that 24. So it actually helped us realize like wait, we were still selling at that 28 bucks, so now we just drop it back and when we drop it back to 24 with that strikethrough it just increases the sales and obviously the conversion rate and the ACoS, which allows us more dollars to spend on that product.   Bradley Sutton: Before you switched to AWD, did you guys have your own warehouse? Did you have multiple 3PLs, One 3PL? What were you doing?   Joe: So we had our own warehouse and basically obviously we're shipping it from China to our warehouse and then from our warehouse to Amazon, and then basically with AWD, and the fees just got out of hand. It kind of priced us out of obviously doing that route, which is why we went with AWD. And it's kind of been our first kind of-.   Bradley Sutton: The new fees you're talking about, like the inbound inventory placement fees and things like that,   Joe: all that type of stuff, yeah, it kind of really hit us hard. So we realized, and we priced everything up in Seoul, it's way more lucrative to go with AWD, and you have to have   Bradley Sutton: Is that AGL too? Or just like? Are you actually having Amazon ship from China or you're shipping it into AWD?   Joe: We're shipping it into AWD. Right now, we haven't fully gone into Amazon shipping it from China, but we're shipping it into AWD. And that's basically where we just noticed that economics-wise it just made way more sense to go with AWD. So we took that big step of obviously getting away with our warehouse and now just sending product into AWD. How big was your warehouse? It was pretty big. It was pretty big. I don't know how many square feet on the top of my head.   Bradley Sutton: Do you know how much it costs per month? About?   Joe: Yeah, it was close to about. I think it was like 25 grand.   Bradley Sutton: Oh my goodness, yeah, so we're talking probably 20,000 square feet or above. They're in Vegas. Yeah, it was pretty big. And then how many full-time employees had to run it?   Joe: So we had four people there   Bradley Sutton: and then now you had to let them go after you close the warehouse. So then it's not just $25,000 a month, but then probably another $10,000 of salary you're saving.   Joe: yeah, so there's a big saving, when you look at it, from everything. And we've kept one person I think it was that basically helps us with inventory forecasting and just helping manage kind of the inventory side of AWD. Because right now we've moved into AWD. But some issues we've had with AWD is when FBA goes out of stock there's like a two-week period we've seen that it takes for that transfer of inventory to go into FBA and that's because AWD hasn't learned our sell through rates yet. So right now, for example,   Bradley Sutton: you can't control that at all. Like you can't just force AWD to say, hey, I know I'm going to sell more, send more to FBA. Like you have to wait for them to be able to see it.   Joe: Yeah. So you can manually send more. But because we have a catalog of 900 products, it'll be very tenacious to look at FBA for all these products and then go to AWD and manually click one. So what we've done is we put the auto replenishment. But because Amazon hasn't learned our products yet, literally, we had a product that had a sell-through rate of I think it was it'll go through about 300, 400 products a month. We ran out of that product and AWD transferred 10 units to FBA and it took two weeks to get those 10 units and those sold out within a day. So it was just the worst and the worst.   Bradley Sutton: I got to start you on Helium 10 inventory management, because helium 10 inventory management is created for people who have three PLs and then and then we tell you, all right, set up a new shipment. But theoretically somebody just asked me to say the other day we don't integrate yet with AWD. I know that's on the roadmap, but like a third-party warehouse, like you know how much inventory is there, so you put the number in and then you know what you know. Helium 10 knows what your inventory is in Amazon. And then so we would just tell you the same way hey, it's time to trigger, you know. So I know you said before like hey, yeah, you might not have time to, you know, be checking 800, but that's the whole point of inventory management where you just you know you better send, you know, 500 units in from your warehouse and so, yeah, we'll get you started on that.   Joe: Yeah, that would be a lifesaver because this is how it's impacting my ads now. So you know back in the day, if you run out of stock on FBA, your listing is not showing anymore, your ads are not delivering. However, with AWD, if you've got stock, what it's done now is it changes our seller delivery date. So we realize that with this duct tape,   Bradley Sutton: and you're conversion like tanks right, because it says like oh, delivery in three weeks or something crazy like that.   Joe: So this duct tape product had delivery in two months. I'm not waiting two months to get duct tape.   Bradley Sutton: So instead of the listing going dead, it still shows available, but then two months.   Joe: So people are clicking on this sponsored ads and they're like, yeah, I'm not waiting two months to get a duct tape, I'm going to the alternative person which is their competitor. So, I'll add just hitting, hitting, hitting, hitting, no sales. And you're like what's going on? And then now when you look at it and it's fine detail, delivers in two months. You're like that's so. Now we've had to end the crazy thing about when you've got 4,000 ads, because you've got five ads SKUs, you can't go and manually turn all those off and then wait until it comes back in stock to turn it back on. So that's been a nightmare as well.   Bradley Sutton: Now Interesting, okay. So yeah, it looks like AWD, like overall pretty decent. You save all those fees, probably thousands and thousands of dollars of fees. You're saving tens of thousands of dollars in warehouse, tens of thousands of dollars in warehouse. But on the flip side, you almost have to, you know if, if you're not using Helium 10, um for inventory management, you almost have to like hire another full-time employee just to manage that, depending on how many SKUs you have, or else, or else you're going to lose, you know too much money.   It's not just the lost sales, what's advertising, like you said, very good, very good, uh, very good point. Um, if I were to ask you like, all right, hey, end of the day, not everybody can, can have a business that does 30 million a year. What set? What has set you guys, uh, apart? Obviously, you know you have some cool patent and some product. You know for one of them that that nobody else can get. That's been around since 1920, but it's anybody you know. I'm sure there's billions of or millions of businesses that were made a century ago, that that technically you could sell, but that doesn't mean you're going to be a 30 million dollar seller. So what sets you guys apart, would you say?   Joe: I think it's that consistency and never give up mentality when you start off a product, because a lot of things that I've seen with other sellers is they're quick to write off a product because they're not profitable with it within the first kind of initial launch phase. And what I've noticed is we stick out with the product and our launches are in strategies here. So we start off with a launch. So, let's say, we're doing zip bags right and we have these zip bags. They're heavy duty, so it's four mil size. When we start off with a zip bag, we're happy to lose some money on that because we know it's repeat purchases. So we now have to calculate and understand okay, this is the frequency of those sales, this is what we expect to come in, what sizes are winning, and basically having the consistency to keep pushing, even though it might not be profitable to start. Eventually, when you start getting those repeat sales, you'll see the profitability come in and that's where those products, when they start winning. You do the exact same thing with new launches and it's, like I said, that consistency to keep doing that with new launches and new launches and new launches has been a game changer. And then also just not being afraid to test Amazon. So you know, like I said with our vitamin D one, we've thrown different keywords in there, we've thrown different words in there, even at times where you get delisted because Amazon said these things don't work or this is, you can't put that writing, so it's.   It's helped us push our listing and appear in different places and we always do tracking to see if it's click-through rates, if it's the title. So, for example, some of our titles have our brand name, which is spot and industrial. That's a pretty long brand name and if you look at our uh, a product of ours on mobile devices, our brand name takes up should I? I say, 40% of the title. So a lot of our keywords and use cases don't actually show on mobile. So what we did test was removing the brand name and leading with the use cases and the product keywords and it started converting better because nobody cared what our brand name was.   But if they're seeing that zip bag for Legos, for this, for this, and it's heavy duty and it's waterproof, that's what people want to see and it increased our click-through rates, which increased our conversions as well. So stuff like that and they're minute tests. But if you do that on a catalog and with products at a volume, it can be a massive scale. And when you realize that from a potential of okay, we have 800 ASINs, 50% of them increase in conversion rates by just 10, 20% I mean in click-through rates you're bringing in even way more traffic and if you hold your conversion rates, that increases your sales without having to do any change in bids and anything like that. So those key changes allow you to save your dollars but still gain on all that traffic.   Bradley Sutton: Now, if I were to ask you your favorite Helium 10 tool, is it Cerebro, is it Adtomic? Is it Magnet? Chrome extension, what is it?   Joe: I would say I love the Chrome extension because it helps me. If I go onto a competitor, straight away I see what they're lacking If they don't have 150 characters in their titles, if they don't have enough bullets, if they don't have, you know, enough bullets, if they don't have enough images. So the moment I see a competitor that doesn't check all the boxes that the Helium tool shows, I'm targeting them. Why? Because if you look at my products I have 10, you know most optimized on your thing. Then at the same time I look at keywords and it gives me a breakdown of how much revenue is in this keyword, how much revenue is in this industry. So before we go launch a specific product like we were launching an anti-slip tape because we want to add to our tape ranges so just looking at that, you'll look at that keyword anti-slip tape. It brings in 600 million a month from all these different competitors.   Now I can run those competitors through Black Box and I love Black Box as well because it helps me really fine tune what I'm targeting and who I'm looking for. So, I can say they get X amount of revenue monthly with X amount of reviews. Like I said, if they have anything below four, Black Box shows me those people. Those are easy people I can add to my product targeting campaigns and I know, because our listings are optimized, we'll easily take some sales from those people. Campaigns and I know, because our listings are optimized, we'll easily take some sales from those people. So, I would say the listing Blackbox and also the Chrome extension will be my two favorite.   Bradley Sutton: All right. If anybody wants to find you on the interwebs out there, like on LinkedIn or somewhere like you open to saying how they can find you guys out there.   Joe: Oh yes, of course, on LinkedIn obviously it's just Joe Sanhanga, my name, and then on Instagram it's j.sanhanga, which is my last name, s-a-n-h-a-n-g-a, and that's mostly where I am on social media. But any questions or whatever I can on LinkedIn, you can just pop it in and I'll try and help where I can.   Bradley Sutton: Awesome, awesome. Well, thank you so much for coming on the show and hope to see you at an upcoming event soon then.  

The Ramp Up
Peter Gleysteen: On reimagining the markets

The Ramp Up

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 68:23


Peter Gleysteen, Founder, CEO & CIO at AGL Credit Management joinsyour host Brian Bejile, CEO of Octaura on The Ramp Up. Peter is a legend in thestructured credit industry, successfully navigating every economic cycle andmarket crisis since his career began in 1975. Pulling from his uniqueupbringing, Peter has honed the ability to shed a different perspective throughouthis career – leading him to launch innovations that laid the foundations of howtoday's loan market operates. With experience starting not one, but two buysideshops, Peter is an incredible wealth of knowledge. About PeterPeter Gleysteen is the Founder, CEO, and CIO of AGL Credit Managementwhich he established with the support of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. AGLcreates and manages corporate credit investments including CLOs and privatecredit with managed assets of $16 billion.Gleysteen has over four decades of credit and management experienceand successfully navigated every economic cycle and market crisis since hiscareer began in 1975. Gleysteen's prior two employers were JPMorgan Chase &Co. and CIFC Asset Management.At JPMorgan Chase, and antecedent entities Chemical Bank and ChaseManhattan, Gleysteen was the lead banker on many of the largest LBO, M&A,and Restructuring financings in the 1980s and 1990s. He ran global loansyndications as Group Head of Global Syndicated Finance, was responsible forthe global corporate loan portfolio as Group Head of Global Capital Management,and then served as the Chief Credit Officer.Gleysteen was integral to the evolution of the bank loan asset classfrom inception, including making the first “B-Loan” in 1989 and conceiving andinstituting the “Market Flex” pricing convention in 1997.Gleysteen founded CIFC Asset Management in 2005 and managed it as CEOfrom inception to 2014 when it was sold. He served as Vice-Chairman and specialadvisor until 2016.Gleysteen formed AGL Credit Management in 2018 and launched it in2019. In 2024, AGL announced an exclusive private credit collaboration withBarclays Bank PLC.Gleysteen has a BA in History from Trinity College, a MBA, ExecutiveProgram, from the University of Chicago, and attended St. PetersburgUniversity, when Russia was the USSR. He is a member of the Council on ForeignRelations and a board member of Mystic Seaport Museum.

Serious Sellers Podcast: Learn How To Sell On Amazon
#593 - Tips To Save Money On Your Amazon Product Shipment and Logistics

Serious Sellers Podcast: Learn How To Sell On Amazon

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 34:09


ounder & CEO at Forceget, a leading expert in global supply chain and logistics, who reveals crucial strategies that Amazon sellers need to thrive in the fast-approaching holiday season. Burak unpacks how to save money on logistics and explore new marketplaces amidst the rise of new players like TikTok Shop Temu, and Shein. As a special treat, Burak shares his favorite restaurants in Istanbul, just in time for Bradley who is heading to the upcoming conference in the city. We break down the factors driving up international shipping prices, from reduced vessel schedules to container shortages and shifting market demands. High inflation and the growth of platforms such as Temu and AliExpress are reshaping e-commerce, creating new challenges for Amazon sellers. Learn how to navigate Amazon Global Logistics' practices, adapt to the new fees, and optimize your shipment strategy to stay competitive in today's volatile market. This episode is a goldmine of insights for those grappling with the costs of selling large items on Amazon. Discover why more sellers are turning to third-party logistics providers and exploring multi-channel selling to maximize profitability. We highlight the benefits of early inventory planning, the impact of Amazon's new delivery rules, and the critical need for flexible fulfillment options. Plus, find out how expanding into physical retail stores like Walmart can be a game-changer for your business. Tune in for expert strategies that can transform your logistics approach and boost your bottom line this Q4. In episode 593 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Bradley and Burak discuss: 00:00 - Global Supply Chain Insights and Tips 04:11 - Impact of Rising International Shipping Prices 07:20 - Impact of New Amazon Fees 12:26 - Amazon Global Logistics vs Independent Freight Forwarder 16:38 - Maximizing Amazon Seller Profitability 17:31 - Expanding Sales Beyond Amazon  23:00 - Diversifying Sales Channels and Maximizing Profits 24:03 - Saving on FBA Fees and Freight 30:11 - Benefits of Investing in Your Brand's Website ► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast ► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension ► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life) ► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft ► Watch The Podcasts On Youtube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos Transcript Bradley Sutton: Today we've got one of the world's leading experts on global supply chain and logistics and he's going to talk about a wide variety of topics, like things Amazon sellers can keep in mind for Q4, how they can save money on logistics and expanding to other marketplaces. How cool is that? Pretty cool, I think. Black Box by Helium 10 House is the largest database of Amazon products and keywords in the world. Outside of Amazon itself, we have over 2 billion products and many millions more keywords from different Amazon marketplaces, from USA to Australia to Germany and more. Use our powerful filters to search through this database for pockets of opportunity that you might want to get into with your first or next product to sell on Amazon. For more information, go to h10.me/blackbox. Don't forget you can save 10% off for life on Helium 10 by using our special code SSP10. Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of the Serious Sellers Podcast by Helium 10. I am your host, Bradley Sutton, and this is the show. That's completely BS-free, unscripted and unrehearsed, organic conversation about serious strategies for Serious Sellers of any level in the e-commerce world.  And we got somebody who helped Serious Seller all over the world, I think the third, maybe fourth time he's been on the Podcast. Burak, how's it going? Man? I'm great. Bradley, Thanks for having me again. Burak: I'm great. Bradley, Thanks for having me again. Bradley Sutton: Are you in Miami right now? Burak: Yes, Miami Florida. Bradley Sutton: Okay, I'm wearing my Miami hat. This is, like, I think, an older minor league baseball team or something. That's why I'm wearing my Miami hat today in your honor. But you're originally from Turkey. Did you know that I'm going to Istanbul in a little bit? Burak: I think you mentioned. Yes, I'm very excited. I wish I was there to take you to the best food restaurants, you know. Bradley Sutton: You'll have to tell me what the good ones are. Are there any in Istanbul that for sure I need to go to so I can maybe even by myself I can go? Burak: I think you should definitely visit Galata Port. It's a new place. It's right by the water. There are some good Kebab places and also definitely Baklava. You should try Gülolu, the best Baklava in the world. Bradley Sutton: Perfect, all right, I'm going to those places. By the way, I'm not sure when this podcast is going to go out, but if anybody is in Turkey and is down to meet me on September the 4th or 5th and you want to go with me to one of these restaurants or take me there. Conference I'm speaking at, you can get a link to it at h10.me forward slash Istanbul. H10.me forward slash Istanbul. It will forward you to the conference I'll be speaking at. So, I'd love to do like a little mini-Helium 10 meetup over there. Now. We're not here just to talk about Turkish food and Turkish delights. I'm sure we could spend a whole episode. You know as much as I love food to talk about that. But you know you're one of the leading experts in the world about, you know shipping and logistics and things like that, so let's just hop right into it. You know the last time you were on this show was episode 457. So, by the way, if anybody wants to get Burak's more of his backstory, actually go back to the very first episode he was on, which is episode 324. You can learn about his origin story. And then 457, we talked about some other topics, but what was 457? I think it was around, like you know, May, June of last year. So obviously you know things in logistics change month by month, even. What are some of the biggest changes that sellers should be aware of, just in general? First of all, in the logistics world, whether it's about pricing or taxes, what can you tell us has been different since the last time you were on the show? Burak: You know you're right, things sometimes change its daily base and you know, when we started ForceGet, it was probably five years ago, we were mainly focusing on international shipping, but we became more like a supply chain. Now there has been a lot of changes within our company as well as in the world. In the industry, with the e-commerce, especially with the Amazon FBA plus, the new players are coming into the market TikTok, Teemu, Shein and Shopify. According to the reports, they have lost some revenue. However, a lot of companies they're trying to enter omnichannel. That's something that I mentioned before we start recording. When it comes to international shipping, actually, international shipping prices increased. Compared to six months ago. I think we have seen the lowest shipping prices last probably a few decades. Full container price was almost uh 1500 dollars from China to Los Angeles. Now it went back up to seven, eight thousand dollars. Now we see the range of five thousand, five thousand, five hundred dollars, which is, I think, a hell to range for both um shipping lines, freight forwarders, as well as for f the um e-commerce and amazon sellers. Bradley Sutton: Prices went down but then prices have been going up again for different things. Obviously, there was that thing that happened last year in the Red Sea and things like that. So obviously there's always random things COVID, or there's a container ship blocking the whole Suez Canal or something like that. Those would obviously have an effect. But the recent price increases in shipping, like what is that attributed to? Because, like, is that because of the, the war that that's happening, or is it something else? Burak: Actually, this was uh sort of uh happened, I would say, inorganically. Uh, one of the reasons was the shipping lines. Uh, you know all these worldwide companies like Hyundai, Zim, Evergreen. I'm sure everybody's familiar with that big logo block less US channel they have canceled a lot of scheduled vessels because maybe 30%, 40% of the container vessel was not 100% fulfilled, vessel was not 100 percent fulfilled. Basically, they were losing a lot of money so they decided to roll over one of the week's shipping schedules to the next one. So basically, there was not enough demand but there is a lot of supply. Obviously then the prices start going down, basically in order to save money on the fuel, maybe the crew, maybe the insurance. So, they started to cancel a lot of scheduled vessels and obviously this caused a big chaos in the market. A lot of containers went, uh from China to other places like Europe, us did not come back. Then we start having container shortage. So, this is something uh started organically. Uh, there was not enough demand in the marketplaces, like in the US, like North America, USA, Canada, because of, I would say maybe, high inflation, or companies like Teemu, AliExpress start to do very cheap price Drop shipping from China, which is something interesting that we maybe talk later. Teemu is start entering US market. Start working with local 3PLs to acquire Amazon sellers to start selling the ones which are qualified OEC. Start selling on Teemu so they will start doing local deliveries with a shorter period of delivery times, which I believe they will try to attract Surplus. What is Surplus? The product that already has been sitting in the US for a long time. Amazon sellers or their wholesalers they cannot sell it, so they need to liquidate the product. So, Teemu was basically saying that hey, use our platform to liquidate them, not on the retail price, but heavily discounted price, maybe 60%, 70%. So, I think all these things happening last two years after COVID, when we saw a very big peak when the Amazon sellers were making really good money but then the sales dropped a couple of different reasons, and I see that it's the same thing is affecting the international shipping prices and fulfillment prices. Things are really very different right now compared to even six months ago. Bradley Sutton: Obviously, this has been the year of crazy Amazon, new fees and new announcements, you know, be it inbound, placement fees, and so I want to talk just a little bit about that. First, like in your you know you're handling both sides, you know, be it. You know shipping side, be it logistics side, warehousing and things. What have you seen as far as how this has changed, what Amazon sellers are doing, like, for example, me, I've got my own warehouse, but still now I'm being very mindful of how many you know, like, how many, you know what kind of boxes I'm putting in. Like, like, maybe before I was only trying to do you know a certain number of shipments, but now I'm like, no, I got to have minimum five, you know of one box or, oh, I need to try and increase a 15 because I got to avoid that placement fee. But what have you noticed as far as your clients? How are their practices different because of some of these new fees? Burak: Man. It's a really, really long topic actually when it comes to make it shorter version. When Amazon came up with this, the idea was start charging sellers for all those distribution fees that they need to ship to many small warehouses across fulfillment centers across the nation so the end user can receive the products not in two days but one day, even maybe sometimes half day. But we have seen a lot of case studies actually our customers. They created five shipments and when, let's say, 100 cartons, Amazon asked you to ship 50 cartons to Texas, we saw that the final delivery address Amazon distributed these products were still Pennsylvania or Florida or still North Carolina maybe. So what? Amazon was actually telling sellers in theory hey, split the shipments to five locations because that's going to be closer to the buyers. That was not really the case. Yeah, I guess they're still working on a lot of Optimization, uh structure. Obviously, this was like a new project for them. But there has been a lot of confusing for sellers. A lot of seller's kind of felt like they have to use Amazon Global Logistics to avoid those uh placement. But then when they tried to book the shipment, amazon Global Logistics did not arrange to pick up. Three weeks, four weeks' time Then they have charged people wrong HDS code. So, a lot of sellers they paid very high tax and duty instead of some other lower charges that they're supposed to receive. I mean, obviously we talked to a lot of people, some people they have good experience with Amazon Global Logistics, some people have bad experiences. But in my opinion that was not really fair for Amazon to tell people, hey, if you use AGL, then you will not be paying any of these fees, but then if you don't, then you have to pay for it. I guess I understand they have invested billions of dollars into this fulfillment center supply chain logistics, so they want to leverage the power of their seller the seller power, I would say. But I think I would not put all my eggs in the same basket, so I would not just use AGL and AWD, you know AWD also a new program Amazon has launched like two years. But since they're pushing a lot harder right now and I think the fourth quarter will be very tough uh test for Amazon with all the check-in processes, transferring uh products between the fulfillment centers and making sure that they become available and one of my I believe most of our customers now start looking into FBM options. Number one very high FBA fees. Number two all these delays with AGL, AWD, fulfillment center transfers. Obviously, amazon is going to prioritize. The products are already sitting in the fulfillment centers. They will prioritize to ship the products first, not receive the products first. So that always has been the case. So, if you ask my opinion, it's going to be a tough year for a lot of sellers to get and understand these FBA fees. But also try to be profitable. You know that's something that we've been talking about. It doesn't make sense anymore to say, hey, I'm seven, eight figure seller, but how much profit I'm making? So, I believe to make plan B, plan C is very, very important, Bradley. Bradley Sutton: Me having my own warehouse and obviously I can repack things and I do smaller quantities. I can easily make sure to send to four or five locations to get that, you know to skip the low inventory fee. But if I'm sending in containers and before I would send to Amazon directly, I pretty much have no option, right, like I am going to get that low inventory fee no matter what unless I send to a 3PL first and they divide it. Or am I thinking of that wrong, since I don't send containers directly to Amazon? I don't know, but is that correct? Like pretty much anybody who's sending full containers or containers that can't be broken up or shipments that can't be broken up, they're forced into this fee. Burak: Yes, kind of. But we have done some case studies to see what really makes sense, if it makes sense to ship, because Amazon Global Logistics is also not charging sellers the market fees. They're charging actually higher, a lot higher. So, if you're looking at door-to-door shipment from China to one of the most popular Amazon FBA fulfillment centers, let's say ONT8, which is in Los Angeles, California Riverside, if you use us it's going to cost $6,000, but with Amazon Global Logistics they're charging $8,000 or $9,000. So basically, they're kind of charging a little higher so that they can use probably that money to distribute the products within three to four different locations. And if it is LCL, then less than full container. Yes, you can actually choose to use your own freight forwarder and price is very similar. But one of the things that we realized; their FC transfer times a lot longer than using an independent Freight Forwarder. So, which means if you ship with AGL it will maybe be fully delivered to Amazon, fully check in, all received 90 days, versus you use your own Freight Forwarder, probably it will be delivered and checked in 45 to 50 days. So, does it matter for you? Maybe it doesn't really matter because the sales are not that fast right now, unfortunately, I don't see really much Amazon sales recently saying that, hey, I'm running out of inventory all the time. I hope it's a good problem. I hope some of the people having that problem. But majority of the people are saying, hey, I'm not in the rush, so I'm okay to take these fees. But then you should really understand the cost of actually paying everything in advance and your cash tied up to. If you're using a loan, if you're not using just cash, if you're, you know, withdrawing some money with, I don't know, amazon financing or third-party money, you get funding. So, you need to understand you may be paying monthly two to 3% because these are short term funds, so probably charging 20, 25% annually. So, every month you're paying two to 3% something that you're not selling. So that's basically three percent minus from your actual margin. So, there are so many things to consider. You know trying to explain as basic as possible. So definitely understand and see what is better for your business. And if I were a big seller, I wouldn't send all of my inventory FBA. I would keep some of my inventory in a 3pl close to amazon and send it in a you know, smaller batches and more frequent. This way I'm not going to be paying high inventory fees, the storage fees and, more importantly, I can test other marketplaces. You know, I can try to drive traffic. I will do FBM, I can do Tic Tac Shops or maybe even Walmart. So, it will give you more flexibility instead of sending everything to Amazon, FBA. And if one day somehow your listings get suspended or hijacked or your sales is down for some reason, then you'll be like, oh my God, what I'm going to do versus you have some inventory in a different location and you can start considering some other options. Bradley Sutton: We talked about new inventory fees that Amazon sellers are having to do, and then the question about whether to go AGL and things like that. But you also mentioned Fulfilled by Merchant. Now, for me, I do all of my products both. I have two SKUs for every product. I have FBM and FBA, and I always tell people to do that. Not necessarily anything to do with logistics, but just because there's still some people out there who don't have Amazon Prime and then, especially if we're talking about products that are priced below $25, they actually prime prices them out of it. So, like, if you're only FBA and you've got like a $24 product, when that person checks out, it's going to add like $8 shipping and now that $24 product became $32 product and you just lost that sale, probably you know, to somebody else and then so for, for that person, I can. I always have a skew. The buy box is actually the FBM skew, because it's only I'll do 2497, you know, with shipping, free shipping, I can, I can fulfill, uh, for almost the same as Amazon, considering that I don't have to pay, I don't have to send it to Amazon. I have to send Amazon pick and pack fees, but that's my reason for doing FBM, but are you saying that you're actually seeing some sellers go to Seller Fulfilled Prime and not do FBA, or you're just saying they're just forgetting Prime at all and having a listing that's strictly FBM? Burak: For larger items. We see sometimes only FBM, because some people say that, hey, Amazon is taking 50% to 55% of my sales price for large items. FBA is extremely expensive and I feel like a lot of people, a lot of buyers, are more price sensitive recently compared to two years ago. That's real. Most of our customers, they have both FBA and FBM. They do most likely what you do. Because you're right. I mean, some people they don't need the product in one day, they want to do the cheaper version. So why wouldn't you add an additional strategy to your listing? And it's your own money versus paying Amazon and 3pl will handle that a lot cheaper and then, if it is not a big item, your shipping price is not going to be that expensive. You can still buy the shipping within Amazon, which is great. You don't have to have your own ups FedEx account. But majority of our customers, they want to test new marketplaces. I  know that our some of our customer they're investing into their own websites and when they get the order, they drive traffic, they convert. Then it's much easier to launch a product with your own email marketing, like with your own email database which you've been talking about. You know how to launch a product, like all the honeymoon period, amazon changing the algorithms, a lot of our customers also they have problem with launching a brand-new product on Amazon. It's not that easy as it used to be like a few years ago. So, people are testing different marketplaces and different channels to see if they can get a better ROI. Obviously, amazon still has. It's very interesting actually, when we see the Amazon's quarterly earnings report, we see that Amazon is keep growing their profit, number of buyers, their revenue. We see a big part of it from the seller's fees revenue. But there is a fact that Amazon does not want to leave the market share to other players that aggressively come in, especially out of China. We see that a new Amazon program is going to roll out which is Dropshipping from China. I don't think that's a great idea, but I think just Amazon wants to keep it. Bradley Sutton: I don't think any Amazon seller is based in the US thinks that's a good idea. Burak: Not only Amazon sellers, but I think it's also not fair for other traditional importers who have, like a warehouse people in here. They're paying tax and payrolls. That's my personal opinion. Obviously, it's not a yes or no, white or black topic. A lot of people have their own opinion. But eventually I know that we have some importers, like traditional wholesalers, that their business is down 30 to 40% just because a lot of people buying products directly from China and those companies. Of course they have a cheaper price. They don't have local expenses, all these utility fees, the warehouse rents and et cetera. We all know that it all adds up. So, I think it's going to be a tough uh year for next year for a lot of amazon sellers. That's why I think it's a really good idea to start considering uh different strategies and different plans for uh increasing the revenue and profitability.. Bradley Sutton: We're heading close to Q4. Um, amazon's made different announcements as far as hey, have your inventory in by. I think one of them was like, if you want it for Black Friday, you got to have it in by October 19th, or something like that. They had said what are your predictions as far as like? Is this year the same thing as every year, where Amazon has a deadline and you got to kind of stick to it, or do you notice anything from some of these announcements where you think there's something that sellers need to be aware of going into this year's Q4? Burak: I think last week they announced a new Q4's delivery structure and delivery rules. Some of them are the restriction with FBA delivery appointments, reduction in capacity limits, holiday peak fulfillment fees. So, all these are basically saying that the amazon sellers uh, need to plan better when they're going to send their inventory, how they're going to send it. And you know the thing. What amazon wants you to do is actually send your inventory as early as possible. So, this way they can charge you a lot higher for the fourth quarter, with the maximum amount of, you know, the low inventory fee. Because even if you don't ship it to Amazon, you still pay in that inventory because inventory fee, because Amazon thinks that, hey, I, I allocate some space for you according to your sales history. Now, whether you ship it or not, I'm going to still charge you that. So, we have a lot of sellers. We I think they still don't know exactly how this fee structure is going to work for seasonal products. We had a client they shipped like four or five containers for Christmas lights, Christmas tree decorations. So, they don't have enough space right now in Amazon FBA. So, I think that is a problem for sellers, like they sell seasonal products. So basically, like what amazon is saying versus what they are doing. I think it's a little bit opposite, um, because you cannot really ship as much as you want, but then amazon is saying, hey, send me all this product. I want to charge you more, but same time you cannot do it. So, I don't think there's going to be a big solution for these people. The best to do is create an FPM auction to make sure you don't get charged all these high FBA fees, especially for the long term, and, God forbid if you miss that season. You can't sell out everything and you have some inventory left over. In January you definitely need to take the product back, otherwise your fees are going to be very high. Bradley Sutton: In the past you've talked about ways that, without even doing anything, major Amazon sellers can possibly save money, like they're probably doing something wrong or not taking into consideration the right tariff and or you know they're letting their freight forward or take advantage of them in a certain way. Can you remind everybody out there what are some easy steps they can take to save money? You know, without having to completely overhaul their entire system of where they could save a little bit of money potentially here or there, just by maybe doing a little mini audit on their SOPs or something like that. Burak: You know, I really think that they should go download their FBA fees and to see how much they're spending on their storage. That's one thing that Amazon is going to hit everyone really bad this year, especially in the fourth quarter. And what is the average age of their inventory stays in the FBA before they sell out. I know that there are a lot of people their sales decrease. I think one of the best ways to do is have a 3PL option. Ship everything to your 3PL and then ship it frequently to Amazon FBA. Because, yes, you will be maybe paying that placement fees but at the same time you can manage your listings somehow. We have seen last year, last quarter, that a lot of shipments delivered to Amazon but Amazon took way longer to check them in. So, we had some clients that they ship product to Amazon FBA. It's delivered but Amazon never checked in. They waited the busy season to pass. So that was pretty bad for some people and they were selling like toys or I remember we had a client that we shipped for them puzzles but Amazon checked them in like very late, so they had to like sell it for a cheaper price. So, you should plan it. Send in your inventory as early as possible on FBA and keep constantly shipping to Amazon FBA to avoid the fees. I think the big saving this year can be from the FBA fees. Obviously check the Freight prices. Compare AGL with other Freight Forwarders to deliver the products instead of one place to five locations. That's a good way to do it. HTS code is a great way to check that. But I think this year's big jackpot is going to be FBA fees. Bradley Sutton: We've been going over some beginner strategies, some advanced strategy. But if some of this is a little bit over your head or you want to just get a nice overview for you or your team about logistics and shipping, Burak actually is in Freedom Ticket 4.0. So, if you guys want to have your team go over some of the basics and some advanced stuff, to go into your Freedom Ticket inside of Helium 10 and then click on the week or the group of modules called supply chain and logistics, and then you're going to see some different modules here that Burak has done. That will help you with that. So, make sure anybody who's a Helium 10 member make sure to go into Freedom Ticket and be able to see it. Do you remember some of the other things that you talked about in that module? Just to let people know what to expect in there. Burak: I think yes. One of the things that relates to FBA fees are the product size, whether you can make your product smaller so Amazon will charge you smaller tiers. I know that we used to do some free audits for the FBA fees that what we realize is actually customer products are a different size than what Amazon is actually charging them, so Amazon is supposed to charge them lower. So definitely, order your competitor's product to see their packaging so that you can redesign your, maybe package. This is a little bit of my background. I lived in China eight years. I've done a lot of sourcing so I'm kind of familiar with like how to make things like lighter, maybe smaller, maybe if you're paying too high for the duty and tax because your product has a different material. So definitely I would say, order your competitor's product to see the size of the box. Maybe they fold the product, they maybe made it smaller. It's definitely helping to see what are the product sizes, mustard cartons and maybe even labeling and maybe inserting some special cards from the competitors. Obviously not asking five-star reviews, but you could see some other maybe conversions that they are doing, maybe because you have other products in the same category. You don't know whether your customers have them. You know they love your brand or not, but you can actually let them know that you're selling some other products that can be related. So, I think it's a good idea to order a competitor's product to see if you can save anything on the size of the product which can save you money on shipping fulfillment in the 3PL as well as Amazon FBA. So, it could be up to 10% to 15%, which is going to be, when you look at it, annually. It's a huge saving. Bradley Sutton: What else do you have for us? We've got sellers of all levels here and I think nowadays maybe people are thinking about some of these newer marketplaces, like TikTok Shop, which now you know, has fulfilled by TikTok and then, and then Teemu is now trying to recruit, you know, US sellers. You know I'm trying to get on the Teemu platform just to just to see how the process goes myself. But what are some things you think you know? When we think multi-channel, you know, gone are the days where people can just say, hey, I'm only going to sell on Amazon, and then maybe there are some days where it's like, oh no, I only need to worry about Amazon and Walmart. So, 2024, 2025, we live. I think it's the year of the many marketplaces trying to make a name for themselves. What are some trends that you're seeing? What is some advice you have for other sellers? Burak: You know? I think the Teemu strategy is very different than Walmart. If I want my products because, if you think about it, Walmart has thousands of stores across US and Canada and even in Mexico. Now they're trying to acquire sellers and they have been very active. You know we go to a lot of different events Prosper Show and others. You see that all the time Walmart's booth there. They're trying to acquire D2C brand events like a shop talk and stuff. What I see is, if you want your products to be in a long term, maybe one day a big brand acquires you because you're in a niche category. Let's say you're in a cosmetic, you're doing something maybe just special for lips or for some special type of skin. I don't know. You could be acquired by a big brand if your product can be on the shelves like physical stores. We have so many customers in the past that they started only online but then they were invited to as a test run to start selling on the retailers. Like you know, it could be Dick's Sports, it could be Walmart. If you're in a sports category, you know those retailers are trying to get some good brands on their shelves which can add a lot of value to your branding and people who see you actually on the physical store. They can go and buy online, because I personally love to compare the price in a retailer versus online. It could be Target. It helps you to find and give your brand a big shout out and people can go and find you and then wholesalers can find you. Maybe, like a retailer chain can find you. So, there's actually both options. I think you're right. I mean, there's so many options. It makes really sense to enter all of these platforms to have reached out the maximum amount of audience. But obviously you need to understand how to manage that inventory because different market channels require maybe different UPC codes, which one of our customers? They had an issue. What the UPC codes the factory is putting actually has not been scanned by the retailer. So, the UPC codes was not valid, so they had to bring the products back, relabel it. Uh, baby steps are good if you're a brand-new seller. Amazon FBA is very good way to start, but maybe it's not that profitable as it, as it used to be. Definitely look for the fpm options and then whatever makes more sense. But I would definitely keep one more sales channel, one more marketplace. Teemu is not the great one yet, because either you need to have a special invite, we have so many people actually asking about the Teemu. Either you have to be invited by a friend or referred by Teemu team directly so you can actually send an email to Temu. But I think in the long term it will be great to invest into your own website because you can easily launch different products. Great to invest into your own website uh, you can do it on Shopify and you know you will have definitely better margins in that and some people they have their own website. They even never want to go to Amazon because they want. They don't want to compete on the price. You, we all know that how amazon works, so it's really a long-term plan. I don't think anyone can really get rich that fast anymore through the e-commerce. I think it's all about branded strategy and it makes more sense to invest in your own website and Shopify. Obviously, amazon has the traffic. It's very hard to bring in traffic. It's not hard but it's going to be expensive in that converting. But, I know that Shopify is working a lot on how to convert more on the products they left in the cart how they can have better conversion. It's very interesting. Recently, I see that installment options pops up on many websites If you're selling an expensive product and I was going to buy a kayak for summertime, it was like $800. I'm like I don't want to pay $800. Then it pops up, hey, you want to pay six times. I was like, okay, but I still didn't buy. But it made me think about okay, that's doable, Bradley Sutton: You're a little bit more hesitant. Burak: Yes, exactly, you're a little bit more on the fence, exactly so looking for different channels definitely is a good strategy and eventually it's your own business. You know we have seen a lot of changes with Amazon algorithm. Maybe this new AI tool that Amazon is offering actually messes up a lot of people's listings. Have you heard? Have you tried using Amazon AI? Did it affect your ranking on keywords? Bradley Sutton: No, I'm not touching that, I don't want. I opted out of that immediately because I don't want Amazon doing anything, because the Amazon AI is nowhere near where it needs to be. All right. So, before we get into your last strategy of the day, just heads up for everybody out there. You want to get some more information about what ForceGet does. Go to h10.me forward slash ForceGet. That'll take you right to our hub website where you can open up a contact with them right there. How else, other than your website, can people find you on the interwebs like Instagram or LinkedIn you want to promote at all? Burak: Yes, absolutely, and they can subscribe to my YouTube channel. We are recording a lot of real case studies and scenarios, what's going on and we're going to a lot of different in-person events. We will be in Amazon Accelerate in Seattle. We will go to other events throughout the year so they can come and meet us in person at most of the events, as well as find us on forescan.com. Bradley Sutton: All right, what's your last 30 or 60 second tip for our sellers out there? Burak: Be careful about your lending costs. That's something that a lot of people they don't really pay attention. Profit is everything. Bad profit means bad cashflow and bad cash flow means that you can't be sustainable in your business. So, understand your lending cost. Look at your FBA fees, how you can save and what is the strategy. Are you paying too much for your international shipments? Are you paying too much for FBA fees? Are you paying too much for long-term storage? So, find out where you can make optimizations, where you can make savings. I believe this business is open to different optimizations and every different aspect you get closer you can find 1% or 2% saving, and if you find three to five different ways of savings, you can save up to 10%. So, talk to the experts. Don't forget to subscribe to the Helium 10's newsletter. I see a lot of interesting topics actually about that. So being part of the community, it's the most important things and whenever you have a problem, ask the right people, get the right answer to fix your problems. Bradley Sutton: Awesome. Well, Burak, thank you for coming on here. I'll let you know what I think about those restaurants you told me and then I'll see you at Amazon Accelerate in Seattle and hopefully some other sellers that are listening to this episode, and we'll definitely have you back on in 2025 and let's see what else has changed in the world of shipping logistics. Burak: Looking forward to see you, Bradley.

Airplane Geeks Podcast
809 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024

Airplane Geeks Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 124:01


From EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024, the GoAERO competition for emergency response aircraft, Bose headset technology, the Honeywell Anthem™ Integrated Flight Deck, and the Pivotal Helix eVTOL. In the news, Southwest Airlines changes its boarding process, will begin redeye flights, names a transformation executive, and comes under increased FAA scrutiny. Also, the FAA and NATCA come together on changes to address controller fatigue. Guest EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 Our Innovation and Entrepreneurship Correspondent Hillel Glazer attended EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 and captured many interviews. We hear four of them in this episode: GoAERO Prize CEO Gwen Lighter GoAERO is looking for teams to design and build the world's first-ever autonomy-enabled Emergency Response Flyer. The vision is a world where every first responder has life-saving aerial capability enabled by compact size and autonomous operations. With support from Boeing, NASA, Honeywell, RTX, and many others, teams will work will make emergency response aircraft accessible to all. Over $2 Million in prizes will be awarded. Video: Ready. Set. GoAERO. https://youtu.be/WwPBletov_s?si=Id26BnAg4fhouRXt Bose Product Manager Jason Brisbois Jason and Hillel talk about Bose aviation headsets and the noise-canceling technology they utilize. Honeywell Project Pilot Ed Manning The Honeywell Anthem™ Integrated Flight Deck is installed in a Pilatus PC-12 test aircraft which recently completed its first flight. This milestone demonstrated the system's safety and maturity and is a step forward on the certification path.  Pivotal Director of Product Marketing Greg Kerr The Helix eVTOL is Pivotal's first aircraft to be produced at scale. The single-seat tilt aircraft employs fixed rotors and tandem wings. It is classified as a Part 103 Ultralight. The carbon fiber composite Helix weighs 254 lbs empty. Pivotal Helix at AirVenture Video: Pivotal | The World is Yours to Explore Aviation News Southwest Airlines Launches Enhancements to Transform Customer Experience And Improve Financial Performance Southwest Airlines will assign seats, offer premium seating options on all flights, and add 24-hour operation capabilities to introduce redeye flights. Southwest Officer Ryan was named Green to lead new efforts as Executive Vice President Commercial Transformation. The airline says that 80% of Southwest customers and 86% of potential customers prefer an assigned seat. Southwest expects roughly one-third of seats across the fleet to offer extended legroom. See also: The end of an era: Why I'm sad about Southwest Airlines saying farewell to open seating by Benét J. Wilson. Oversight may have led to Southwest Airlines flight using closed runway at Portland Jetport The NTSB preliminary report says that the flight crew of a Southwest Airlines plane that took off from a temporarily closed runway at the Portland Jetport did not realize the runway was closed on that day. FAA Investigation Continues Into Southwest Low Altitude Alert At TPA Southwest Airlines flight WN-425 descended to within 150 feet AGL about 4 miles from the end of the runway at Tampa International Airport. The aircraft should have been at 1,600 feet. The tower controller called a low altitude alert and the crew answered they were performing a go-around. The plane landed at Fort Lauderdale International Airport about 40 minutes later and then returned to Tampa International. Southwest under FAA audit after series of safety incidents The airline said “We recently formed a dedicated team of subject-matter experts and leaders from Southwest, our union partners, and the FAA to bolster our existing Safety Management System. This group is tasked with performing an in-depth, data-driven analysis to identify any opportunities for improvement.”  FAA, Controllers Reach Agreement on Fatigue Mitigation FAA and NATCA Reach Agreement to Address Controller F...

Airplane Geeks Podcast
804 Triphibian

Airplane Geeks Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 89:52


Boeing CEO testifies before Congress and prosecutors ask for criminal charges, investigators look into a low-altitude Southwest flight and an activist investor wants Southwest CEO out, NTSB released a close-call preliminary report, and Cirrus won't approve a certain 100LL fuel. Also, an Australia Desk report, the E-3 AWACS jet, and a Triphibian. Aviation News Boeing CEO grilled at Senate hearing: ‘The problem's with you' Boeing CEO David Calhoun testified at a two-hour Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations hearing. Calhoun admitted that whistleblowers were retaliated against. Subcommittee chair Sen. Richard Blumenthal stated “After whistleblower John Barnett raised his concerns about missing parts, he reported that his supervisor called him 19 times in one day and 21 times another day. And when Barnett asked his supervisor about those calls, he was told, ‘I'm going to push you until you break.'” Blumenthal said that in his opinion, the Department of Justice should criminally prosecute Boeing for violating its 2021 deferred prosecution agreement. The DOJ has until July 7, 2024, to decide how it will act. Video: Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun testifies before Senate committee on safety issues — 6/18/2024 https://www.youtube.com/live/2LNgce5vLLk?si=baqPzBhFJf8kOZCt Victims' Attorney Asks DOJ To Fine Boeing; Prosecute Executives In his 32-page letter to the DOJ, Professor Paul Cassell of the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City asks for $24 billion in fines, that part of the $24 billion fine should be used for “corporate compliance and new safety measures,” that a corporate monitor is appointed to review the safety measures and “to direct improvement as appropriate.” Also that the DOJ prosecutes former Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg and other “responsible corporate executives.” Exclusive: US prosecutors recommend Justice Dept. criminally charge Boeing U.S. prosecutors asked Justice Department officials to bring criminal charges against Boeing for violation of the deferred prosecution agreement. Federal officials are investigating a Southwest Airlines low flight over Oklahoma City suburbs A Southwest Airlines plane triggered an automated low-altitude alert nine miles out from the Oklahoma City airport. Flightradar24 shows the plane descending to about 525 feet AGL over Oklahoma City suburbs. Air traffic control asked, “Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You doing OK?” The pilot responded, “Yeah, we're going around.” The air traffic controller responded telling the pilot to maintain 3000 feet. Federal officials are investigating. Southwest's Diehard Fans Don't Want Airline to Change Activist hedge fund company Elliott Investment Management has taken a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest Airlines and wants to oust the airline's CEO Robert Jordan. Elliott says Jordan “has delivered unacceptable financial and operational performance quarter after quarter and Jordan and former CEO Gary Kelly (currently the executive chairman) “are not up to the task of modernizing Southwest.” Elliott wants to replace Jordan and Kelly with outsiders and make “significant” changes to the board of directors with others who bring airline experience. NTSB Releases Preliminary Reports On Two Airline Close Calls In April 2024, a Swiss Air A330 aborted its takeoff from Runway 4L at JFK after they saw taxiing traffic on the runway. One controller cleared the Swiss flight for takeoff, and a ground controller cleared four other airplanes to cross the same runway. In February 2023, TCAS (traffic/collision alert system) issued “resolution advisories” over an inbound Mesa Airlines Bombardier CRJ900 and a SkyWest Embraer EMB-170 at  Hollywood-Burbank Airport. The two aircraft came within 1,700 feet of each other. Cirrus: G100UL Use May Void Warranties GAMI Responds To Cirrus G100UL Service Advisory General Aviation Modifications Inc. has invested in developing an unleaded,

Aviation News Talk podcast
322 N960LP TBM 960 Truckee crash; Robinson helicopter factory tour + GA News + GA News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2024 76:12


Max talks about the details of the crash of a TBM 960, N960LP, at Truckee, California last weekend. He also talks in detail about his factory tour last week of Robinson Helicopter. Weather at the time the pilot flew the approach was ½ mile visibility and snow with clouds scattered at 300 feet and overcast at 700 feet. However the approach minimums were 1 mile visibility and the MDA is 582 feet AGL. The pilot flew the instrument approach more or less successfully, though he descended more than 200 feet below the minimums, and he started his turn for the missed approach 1.3 miles beyond the missed approach point. While he flew the approach with the autopilot, he flew the missed approach by hand, and lost control. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, the Cash app, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. News Stories Committee Says Pilots Shouldn't Have To Report ‘Talk Therapy' Sessions Updated ACS/PTS Documents Available – Effective May 31, 2024 Cessna 172 damaged by jet blast Hartzell Aviation rolls out FAA Safety Tip videos How Sling Pilot Academy Made Their Trainer Whisper Icon Aircraft files for bankruptcy, seeks buyer American Airlines Pilot Arrested Before Flight for Suspected Intoxication FAA halts Sequim wing-walking flights, revokes owner's pilot license Mentioned on the Show Robinson Helicopter Company Factory Tour video #227 My Near-Fatal Icing Incident #233 What You Need to Know about Advisory Glide Slopes Truckee Airport Procedures and Noise Abatement Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android. Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

Aviation News Talk podcast
319 Hot Springs Jet Crash, United FL 2477 Houston Overrun, Fuel Related Accidents + GA News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2024 57:55


In this episode, Max discusses the crash of N1125A, a 1991 ASTRA/GULFSTREAM 1125 SP business jet at Ingalls Field Airport in Hot Springs, Virgina. It was the third fatal business jet crash in the U.S. in just five weeks. Five people on board were killed. The aircraft had been purchased just 3 ½ months early. ADS-B data shows it had a normal approach on the ILS down to about 1000 feet AGL, where the data stopped. Strong winds prevailed, and it's likely that there were strong downdrafts on short final, which may have brought the jet down. Several airline pilots send feedback about the United flight 2477 taxiway overrun at Houston. They also talked about the FOQA programs which would have provided automatic reporting, if this approach to landing met the airline's criteria for an automatic go around. Max also read listener emails related to the ten fuel-related accidents discussed last week. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, the Cash app, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. News Stories IAI Astra crashes short of runway, killing 5 Fatal Business Jet Accidents Climbed Steeply in 2023 Student Pilot Totals Increase, Female Participation Up Survey says new pilots take fewer weeks but spend more to earn certificate United Pauses Pilot Hiring Amid Boeing Delays OzRunways becomes part of ForeFlight family Victim's phone video helps explain plane crash Pilot-Seat Blunder Led to Latam Mid-Air Plunge Man who crashed snowmobile into Black Hawk suing for $9.5M Mentioned on the Show Astra Jet N1125A accident ADS-B Data Fear of Landing Blog NTBS Final report: N90559 Stall/Spin/Spiral Accident Airline Speedrunning Tweet AC 120-82 Flight Operational Quality Assurance Rob Mark's JetWhine blog Rob Mark's video: Flying the A380 Coleal 2009 Legal Interpretation Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android. Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.