Podcasts about warehousing

Our guest on this week's episode is Jimmy Roussel, CEO of IDScan.net. Among the problems that supply chains have had to deal with lately is an increasing rise of identity fraud at warehouses and fulfillment centers nationwide. Counterfeit identification is often used by those committing the fraud to get inside the warehouse gate.  Thefts of entire trucks often follow. Our guest discusses the scope of the problem, how it happens, and ways to counteract fraud and theft.Winners of the International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) Award were announced this past week. The IFOY recognizes the most innovative  technologies of 2025. This year's technology competition included 49 products on the initial application list, 21 of which made it final round. The entries were then subjected to strict engineering testing and evaluation to determine winners. We reveal who won and the innovative technologies that were honored.There have been conflicting reports lately about the health of the warehouse automation market, but there is good news for those making and selling  collaborative robots—those are bots that work alongside humans, often referred to as “cobots.” The market for that technology is set to rebound this year following a trough in 2024, according to the latest market outlook report from research firm Interact Analysis.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Suppy Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP)Teamsters ask Massachusetts lawmakers to require human drivers in AVsGlobal trade and AI top LTL industry concernsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics AutomationOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

“The hardest part of robotics isn't actually doing robotics. It's providing a solution that solves a real customer problem.” Melonee Wise's quote from this episode is a good summary of what we talk about in this episode – practical, real-world applications of the technology we see hyped.Robotics, AMRs, humanoid robots, automation, AI – all of these things are hot topics in manufacturing. But the truth is that these solutions may not always result in the most exciting or sexiest applications. But when they're eliminating boring, laborious tasks, it's a huge opportunity across the industry.For part two of our Automate 2025 special episode, we hear from five incredible people, all from different areas of manufacturing, automation and robotics.We kick things off with Melonee Wise from Agility Robotics who you may have heard on the show before. She talks about the practical applications of using humanoid robots and where the industry is headed, while also talking through the biggest concern of adopting this new tech – safety.We kick things off with Melonee Wise from Agility Robotics who you may have heard on the show before. She talks about the practical applications of using humanoid robots and where the industry is headed, while also talking through the biggest concern of adopting this new tech – safety.Glen Guernsey from JR Automation talks about the biggest changes in warehouse automation today – including the ability to handle random SKU palletization. We chat with Zoie Rittling of OnLogic and Michael Maxey from ZEDEDA, about how right sizing AI at the edge is about eliminating boring work. And finally, Robert Ponsonby from Arduino talks about the interoperability and open-source solutions that drive innovation. All are slightly different takes on automation's new capabilities but offer truly great insights for anyone working in manufacturing thinking about the future. In this episode, find out:Melonee talks through Agility Robotics' humanoid demo and the practical applications of this techWhy Agility Robotics focused on bulk material handling at the beginning and takes a tiered approach to complexity Why robots performing individual tasks isn't what's important – it's how this connects to other systems and solves overall problemsWhere the humanoid market is likely headed compared to AMRsWhat the new safety standard means for humanoid implementation and how we could realistically see cooperatively safe humanoids working alongside humansGlen talks about the biggest changes we're seeing in warehouse automation, including the ability to handle random SKU palletizationWhy the labor shortage will need to be supplemented with automationPractical applications of AGVs and AMRs in warehouse operationsWhat the warehouse of the future will look likeZoie and Michael describe edge architecture and how it applies to managing applicationsHow the industry can right-size AI at the edge and how this will look different from using cloud applicationsWhy you need to prioritize integration when looking for the best AI partnersRobert defines interoperability and Arduino's approach to open-source softwareHow interoperability in open source allows for innovation, empowering teams, and rapid deploymentEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It's feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"The most innovative thing that's out there has to do with random SKU palletization... up until recently with the advances in AI and advances in vision systems, this was not something that was easily done." – Glen Guernsey"We've seen on average for rollouts on projects,

What You'll Learn:Why supply chain must sit at the strategy table - not behind itHow SKU discipline drives faster growth and cleaner marginsWhat “AI as servant” really means in ops leadershipWhy executional control beats theoretical plans every timeWhat separates founders who scale from those who stallHow to balance autonomy and shared services in multi-brand orgsHow ops becomes the difference between brand hype and brand healthQuotes:[00:07:25] – “Everything is theoretical - until the customer doesn't get their order.” - JuE Wong[00:22:25] – “World domination with one SKU is better than SKU proliferation going nowhere.” - JuE Wong[00:30:59] – “AI is your servant, not your master.”  - JuE Wong[00:35:08] – “If you're not making money, it's a hobby.”  - JuE WongAbout the Guest:JuE Wong is CEO of PBG, a PE-backed portfolio of six brands and three manufacturers. A six-time CEO across public and private companies, she's known for scaling teams, transforming operations, and embedding supply chain as a core lever for growth, not just cost.Links Mentioned:JuE Wong on LinkedInPerformance Beauty Group Subscribe and Keep Learning!If you're a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don't miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube

Chapters with Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction to Entrepreneur Lounge of India (ELI)0:03 - Guest Introduction: Ajay Rao, Founder & CEO of Emiza Supply Chain Services0:23 - Ajay Rao's Introduction and Background0:49 - Early Career and Entry into Supply Chain (US & India)1:27 - First Venture: ATM Cash Logistics at Writer2:18 - Moving to the Relocation Business within Writer2:56 - Role at Allcargo Logistics: Warehousing and LCL Business3:51 - The Decision to Embrace Entrepreneurship at 404:34 - Identifying the Opportunity in E-commerce Logistics for SMBs5:14 - Founding Emiza Supply Chain Services5:46 - Focusing on the Gap in Warehousing for Emerging E-commerce Brands7:40 - Challenges Faced by SMBs with Traditional 3PL Providers8:01 - Emiza's Agile Network and Business Model8:32 - Vision for Emiza: Dynamic Fulfillment Solutions8:51 - Topic Shift: Building Scalable Platforms for SMBs (Technology)9:28 - Importance of Infrastructure and Process over Technology for Emiza9:53 - Leveraging Existing Marketplaces and SAS Platforms10:24 - Emiza's Value Proposition: Plug-and-Play Infrastructure10:54 - Addressing the Real Estate Cost Aspect and Initial Capital11:44 - Advantage as a First Mover and Focus on Beauty & Personal Care (BPC)12:32 - Topic Shift: Challenges Today in Logistics (Post Quick Commerce)12:50 - Channel Proliferation and the Increasing Demand for Speed13:32 - Quick Commerce Disrupting Traditional Delivery Times13:50 - Adapting Back-End Operations for Speed and Multi-Channel Fulfillment14:12 - Inventory Replication and Management Challenges14:28 - Emiza's Solutions: Appointment Delivery, Same-Day Delivery, Inventory Replication14:59 - Efficient Inventory Management and Return on Capital15:22 - Topic Shift: India's Logistics Cost Compared to Other Countries15:50 - Debating the Reported Logistics Cost Percentage in India16:22 - Inefficiencies in Perishable Goods vs. Other Categories16:52 - Improvement in India's Road Network and Infrastructure17:30 - Rail and Air Network Status17:59 - Development of Warehousing Infrastructure18:13 - Impact of GST on Goods Movement18:33 - India's Advancement in Delivery Speed (10-Minute Delivery)18:51 - Pride in India's Delivery Innovation19:09 - Areas for Improvement: Cold Chain, Rail, Tier 3/4 Distribution19:31 - Topic Shift: Logistics as a Strategic Differentiator20:04 - Speed and Convenience as Key Customer Expectations20:28 - Brands Leveraging Logistics for Competitive Advantage20:47 - Cost Efficiency Through Intelligent Network Design21:17 - Holistic View of Supply Chain: From Procurement to Delivery21:36 - Impact of Efficient Logistics on Top and Bottom Line21:57 - Topic Shift: Impact of AI and Machine Learning on Logistics22:07 - Value and Potential Overuse of AI/ML22:33 - Warehousing and Supply Chain as Cost Centers22:44 - Need for Efficiency in Service Provision23:05 - Focus on Automation (including AI) for Efficiency23:37 - Examples of Automation: WMS, Handheld Devices, Conveyors, Data Usage24:12 - Eliminating Wastages through Data-Driven Insights24:28 - Manpower Optimization and Productivity Monitoring25:12 - Role of AI in Customer Service: Chatbots and AI Agents25:39 - Benefits of AI for Efficiency and Cost Savings25:57 - Topic Shift: Advice for D2C Vendors Based on Emiza's Observations26:18 - Upcoming Opportunities and Trends in the D2C and Logistics Sector26:32 - The Dominance of Quick Commerce26:40 - Category-Specific Reactions to Quick Commerce (Food/FMCG vs. Fashion)27:04 - Brands' Increasing Dependence on Marketplaces27:35 - Importance of Building Own Customer Base (Offline and D2C Websites)27:59 - Brands Pushing into Offline and Modern Trade28:17 - Leveraging AI for Performance Marketing and Inventory Analytics28:33 - Focus on Insight-Based Decision Making and Data-Driven Analytics28:53 - Declining RoRoAS and the Need for Smarter Spending29:13 - Closure of the Session and Thank You

Warehousing is no longer just about storage - it's about speed, sustainability, and smart technology. In this episode, we explore how AI, automation, and agility are reshaping modern warehousing and what businesses need to know to stay ahead in 2025 and beyond.Join Simon Oxley, Global Head of Business Development at Maersk Contract Logistics, and Amita Maheshwari, Global Head of Supply Chain Development at Maersk, as they share insights on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations transforming the warehousing landscape.Topics covered:

Jasim Eisa, Founder and CEO of Voadera, built an $80 million e-commerce business from the ground up, and here, he shares what's working now—and what's not. Scott and Jasim explore big shifts in the marketplace, such as Nike coming back to Amazon and what that means for resellers. Jasim also breaks down how major brands such as Adidas and Michael Kors are changing the way they sell on the platform and what sellers need to know about the growing “diversion economy.” With Amazon tightening its supply chain rules, Voadera is moving away from traditional arbitrage and focusing on direct brand deals and smart acquisitions. You'll also hear practical tips on adapting to Amazon's policy changes, rising FBA fees, and optimizing your logistics to stay profitable.   Episode Notes: 00:18 - Jasim Eisa Introduction 00:26 - The Big Brands' Approach to Amazon 07:12 - Reseller Economy and Marketplace Double-Dipping 08:45 - 1P vs 3P Strategy and Policy Cycles 12:18 - Diversion and the Gray Market 14:45 - Moving Beyond Arbitrage: Brand Direct and Acquisitions 16:03 - Adapting to Amazon's Fee and Policy Changes 18:18 - Arbitrage's Diminishing Role and Supply Chain Optimization 19:52 - Warehousing, Fulfillment, and Grade B Marketplaces 21:28 - Future Investments: Supply Chain, AI, and Creative Tools 23:19 - Building a Top Brand Direct Business 24:29 - Favorite Tools & Technology Stack Related Post: The Best Nielsen IQ and Data Impact Alternatives for Amazon Market Intelligence — Starting with the One Built for Visibility, Not Vanity   How to Reach Robert: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasim-eisa-425735145 Website: voadera.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JasimEisa   Scott's Links: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813 X: @itsScottNeedham Instagram: @smartestseller YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371 Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Our guest on this week's episode is Michael Needham, principal procurement & supply chain at Efficio Consulting. Among the flurry of executive orders issued recently by the White House is one aimed at restoring pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities here in the U.S. Currently most drugs and ingredients are manufactured in China and India. How will such a move affect supply chains? Our guest offers his views on what can be manufactured here easily and what could be more difficult.Measuring the health of our supply chains, the Logistics Manager's Index came out on Tuesday, showing an expansion in logistics activity in May. Logistics expanded for the second straight month, marked by a mix of slowing inventory levels and rising costs across the board, researchers said. We look at the specific numbers and what they mean.This week we saw a study on workplace injuries. This report came from the Travelers Companies. It found that the number of workplace injuries overall continues to decline, although the costs associated with them are climbing. We dive into some of the details of the report and how emphasizing safety can affect the workplace. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:OfficioMay 2025 Logistics Managers' IndexWorkplace injury rate drops, but costs riseVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Storage SolutionsOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

Rohit Gunavanthe, Head of Fulfilment at Pos Malaysia, discusses the postal operator's e-commerce fulfilment business Pos Fulfill. Background to creation of Pos Fulfill Storage, order fulfilment, pick and pack, real time inventory management, and end-to-end-logistics solutions Warehousing, customs clearance, in-store deliveries Geographic coverage across a diverse region, including East Malaysia Integrating with Pos Malaysia's distribution network Eight sites across Malaysia Cross-border capabilities Handling e-commerce returns, including inspecting returned items Business growth Importance of certainty of service  

Michael Kim is the Founder of Cendana Capital, a fund of funds that makes anchor investments in very early stage VC funds.We talk characteristics of the best investors, how Cendana does diligence on fund managers, portfolio construction best practices, Michael's “60x rule”, and why high ownership to fund size is the main driver of returns.We also get in to how VCs are using AI, the competition between Seed and multi-stage investors, why US endowments are under siege, and how secondaries are driving most early stage venture returns today.Michael also opens up about the early days of starting Cendana, the 18 month grind raising Cendana Fund 1, the day he almost died, and ranking in the top 2% globally in Call of Duty.Special thanks to Roger Ehrenberg, Kevin Hartz, Semil Shah, Jeff Claviar, Beezer Clarkson, Jack Altman, Jeff Morris Jr, Sheel Mohnot, Nichole Wischoff, Ted Alling, and Rick Zullo for their help putting this episode together.Thanks to Bolt for supporting this episode. Check out their world record largest (up to $1m in prizes) at: https://bit.ly/ThePeelBoltHackathonTimestamps:(4:24) The day Michael almost died(5:10) Call of Duty & video games(9:34) Hiring @ Cendana(10:31) How Cendana uses structured and unstructured data(16:51) How VCs are using AI(19:55) Why secondaries are driving most early stage venture returns(22:01) Deciding when to sell secondaries(24:28) Best performing venture funds ever(27:26) The best VCs have amazing access to the best founders(33:42) Why Cendana backs Solo GPs(35:57) How to invest over time and hype cycles(41:35) Why multi-stage firms are investing earlier(44:45) Cendana's current thesis: High ownership % to fund size(45:51) Why Cendana started backing non-lead VCs(48:41) How Cendana does diligence on fund managers(52:22) VC NPS Scores and Ron Conway's Silver Bullet(53:49) Good vs bad new VC firm strategies(56:36) Determining defensibility of a strategy(57:57) “Messy middle” software buyout fund(1:03:25) Portfolio construction best practice(1:08:11) Michael's 60x Rule(1:14:28) How Seed funds compete with multi-stage funds(1:20:05) Should you collect logos writing small checks?(1:21:07) Becoming an LP for the city of SF(1:24:42) Taking 18+ months to raise Cendana Fund 1 in the GFC(1:26:48) Warehousing the first Cendana Fund 1 investments(1:29:56) How to do a first close(1:34:29) Why it's hard to kill a VC firm(1:37:00) What happens to ZIRP tourist fund managers(1:40:22) How to raise a Fund 2 or 3 today(1:42:07) “US endowments are under siege”(1:44:55) What the best GP LP relationships look like(1:46:41) What Fund of Funds get wrong(1:50:43) The three most interesting trends in venture todayReferencedCheck out Cendana https://www.cendanacapital.com/Deep Checks https://www.deepchecks.vc/Prior episode with Eric at Bolt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q6n1vqUrF4Follow MichaelTwitter: https://x.com/MKRocksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-kim-cendana-capital/Follow TurnerTwitter: https://twitter.com/TurnerNovakLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnernovakSubscribe to my newsletter to get every episode + the transcript in your inbox every week: https://www.thespl.it/

At ProMat 2025, Kevin chats with Doug Schuchart of Beckhoff Automation and Craig Henry of Murrelektronik, two leaders from the MHI Solutions Community, to explore what digital transformation means in warehousing. Their lively conversation unpacks the gap between aspiration and execution, diving deep into how companies can take meaningful steps toward better data visibility, predictive maintenance, and long-term ROI. From hard-earned lessons to surprising insights, they emphasize the importance of asking the right questions before diving into technology.Learn more about Zebra Robotics here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Amazon has introduced Vulcan, its first robot with a sense of touch, now operating in Spokane and Hamburg fulfillment centers. ⏱️ Time Stamps: 0:00 – Amazon announces Vulcan robot 0:15 – Vulcan's capabilities: Force sensors, suction cups & vision 0:53 – Hair straightener meets ruler? Describing the tech 1:30 – Why warehouse automation is gaining momentum 2:40 – Human dexterity vs robots 3:25 – Will Vulcan ever hit stores? Not so fast 4:00 – Naming robots: Why always sci-fi? 5:00 – What's realistic: 10–20 year outlook for stores 5:45 – Final thoughts on Vulcan's warehouse potential This clip of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five is brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand,. #AmazonVulcan #warehouseautomation #retailai #AmazonRobots #FulfillmentTech #retailinnovation #RetailFastFive #omnitalk #robotics #aiinretail For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/AUSpdi73JPk

Our guest on this week's episode is Hamilton Galloway, head of U.S. consultancy at Oxford Economics. Many of our listeners use forklifts in their supply chain operations every day. They really are the workhorses for moving products within facilities. But you might be surprised at the impact that the forklift industry makes on the overall U.S. economy. Recently the Industrial Truck Association, the industry organization that represents the forklift industry, partnered with Oxford Economics to evaluate those economic impacts. We share the remarkable numbers of the industry's contributions to GDP, jobs, taxes, and more.Logistics companies are taking a hard look at how artificial intelligence can help their operations. This week you saw how AI is having an effect on overworked logistics employees. Are those effects good or bad? A new survey of more than 300 supply chain decision makers found that companies are prioritizing technology investments, compliance, and outsourced services to optimize their supply chains and adapt to changing regulations—specifically as they navigate today's evolving trade and tariffs landscape. We share some of the interesting findings.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Oxford EconomicsIndustrial Truck AssociationLogistics workers have highest burnout riskReport: supply chain optimization takes center stageVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: KardexOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

Our guest on this week's episode is Keith Peterson, director of operations at The National Motor Freight Traffic Association. For many years, less-than-truckload motor freight has been classified by a complex and rather outdated system. That is about to change – starting in July the industry will begin listing freight commodities in a system that is more condensed and modernized. But, what will this new freight classification system mean for both carriers and shippers? Our guest explains.Many companies have been stockpiling extra inventory ahead of the implementation of new tariffs, but a new report this week shows that there can be possible downsides to that strategy. We share what they are and who is affected.Despite the economic uncertainty, a new report from DHL Express shows that small and mid-sized companies seem to be beating the odds. DHL Express surveyed more than 400 customers—all small or mid-sized businesses in the United States—and found that despite the prevailing economic turmoil, most are confident in their business outlook.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:National Motor Freight Traffic Association U.S. firms stockpile goods ahead of tariffsReport: small businesses buck the oddsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: KardexOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

Chris Cser and Joe Lynch discuss global giants - ICAT moves the world's largest cargo. Chris is the Director of Operations at ICAT Logistics Detroit where they handle the shipments that other companies don't, can't, and won't. Summary: Global Giants: ICAT Moves the World's Largest Cargo In this podcast, Chris Cser, Director of Operations at ICAT Logistics, takes us on a journey through the complex world of global logistics. Founded in 1992 in Baltimore, ICAT Logistics has expanded across the United States and Europe, specializing in handling unusual, high-value, and oversized freight that often falls outside the scope of standard containerized shipping. Chris shares his personal story of entering the logistics industry and delves into the intricacies of project cargo, from moving entire assembly lines across continents to navigating the challenges of transporting oversized, heavy, and hazardous materials. He also discusses the importance of having a logistics partner with global expertise and the ability to provide flexible shipping options in the face of unexpected disruptions. Throughout the podcast, Chris emphasizes the need for companies to ensure compliance and ethical practices in their global supply chains, highlighting the severe consequences of non-compliance in today's transparent world. Finally, he touches on his company's role as the preferred logistics carrier for the National Guard and their involvement in upcoming events. #ProjectCargoLogistics #GlobalTransportationExpertise #SpecializedFreightSolutions About Chris Cser Chris's expertise in global logistics is tied to his experience growing up and marrying into a military family. That background has helped him build the skills to develop a worldwide network of trusted partners over the past three decades. His leadership in international logistics is enhanced by his continuous education including extensive travel in Europe, Asia, Mexico and the Middle East to see port operations for himself. In his off hours, Chris is a sports enthusiast who enjoys cooking. As the father of a son with Coffin Siris Syndrome, Chris devotes significant time to advocating on behalf of people with CSS and Autism. About ICAT Logistics ICAT Logistics Detroit is family-owned and operated and has been since its inception more than 30 years ago when it was created to ensure safe, secure and timely delivery of goods. Customers have come to depend on the experience, knowledge and capabilities of ICAT Logistics Detroit and its established partnerships around the world. Their team always finds a way to get the job done. It's the result of years of working together and building a worldwide network of resources and relationships to solve complex shipping challenges. The experts at ICAT Logistics Detroit know that every shipment is mission critical to our customers, who represent a wide range of companies from multinationals to family-owned enterprises and start-ups. We think through the critical details so that they don't have to. The best routes. The most efficient modes of transport. Getting through customs. Packaging bulky loads. Warehousing, if necessary. Key Takeaways: Global Giants: ICAT Moves the World's Largest Cargo Discover how ICAT Logistics has expanded across the United States and Europe over the past 30 years. Learn about the complexities of handling unusual, high-value, and oversized global transportation. Explore the challenges and regulations involved in transporting oversized, heavy, and hazardous materials. Understand the importance of precise project management and sequencing when moving entire assembly lines and manufacturing equipment. Gain insights into the evolving regulations and safety concerns surrounding the transportation of lithium batteries. Recognize the significance of having a logistics partner with global expertise and flexible shipping options. Appreciate the complexities of moving freight internationally, including regulations, customs clearance, and multiple parties involved. Timestamps (00:00:02) ICAT Moves the World's Largest Cargo (00:01:52) Navigating the Challenges of Global Logistics (00:03:14) Chris Cser's Journey into Logistics (00:04:44) Defining Project Cargo: High Value, High Consequences (00:07:05) Moving Manufacturing Equipment Across the Globe (00:08:51) Moving Big, Bold, and Hazardous Freight (00:13:14) Lithium Batteries: A Hot Topic in Freight (00:19:18) International Customs can be Challenging (00:19:48) Navigating Global Logistics Challenges with Flexibility (00:26:06) Navigating the Complexities of Global Logistics (00:29:32) Ensuring Compliance in Global Supply Chains (00:32:18) Navigating the Complexities of Project Cargo (00:37:56) National Guard Logistics with Chris Cser Learn More About Global Giants: ICAT Moves the World's Largest Cargo Chris Cser | Linkedin ICAT Logistics: Detroit Agency | Logistics ICAT Logistics Mission Accomplished: Beating The Clock With An Oversized Cross-Border Delivery | ICAT In Perfect Harmony: Icat's Custom Shipping For The United States Air Force (Usaf) Band's Precious Cargo | ICAT Oversized Fire Truck To Iraq | ICAT EV Charging Stations Get A Boost From Icat Logistics Detroit | ICAT The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube

Join host Kevin Lawton on The New Warehouse Podcast as he sits down with Scott Reid, VP of Sales at Fives Intralogistics, to discuss the concept of right sizing automation in the warehousing industry. They explore what right sizing automation means, the challenges it presents, and how companies can effectively plan for both current and future automation needs. Tune in to gain insights on modular, scalable automation solutions and their impact on labor and facility management. Learn why adopting a phased approach and partnering with knowledgeable experts can make all the difference in optimizing your warehouse operations for long-term success.Learn more about MHI's CSS Industry Group here.Learn more about Zebra Robotics here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

In this special episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin chats with Kristi Montgomery, VP of Innovation, Research, and Development at Kenco Logistics, and Mel Alwood, Regional VP of Operations at Neovia Logistics, to preview the upcoming WERC Conference taking place June 8–11, 2025, in New Orleans. Hosted by the Warehouse Education and Research Council (WERC), the conference centers on one powerful theme: Leading with Vision. Kristi and Mel share how this year's focus mirrors the realities of today's warehousing challenges and opportunities, including workforce transformation, AI, peer learning, and networking. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime member, this conversation unpacks why the WERC 2025 Conference remains the go-to educational event for warehouse professionals.Learn more about Zebra Robotics here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

In this episode of the Industrial Advisors podcast, hosts Bill Condon and Matt McGregor delve into the recent surge in activity by Chinese third-party logistics (3PL) companies in the US industrial market, particularly in the Inland Empire region. This spike in activity was driven by companies anticipating tariffs from the Trump administration, leading them to import goods ahead of expected cost increases. The discussion highlights the reasons behind the increased presence of Chinese 3PLs, the strategies they employed to circumvent tariffs, and the potential future impacts on the market, including influence from major players like Amazon. With insights based on recent research and market observations, this episode provides a comprehensive overview of current trends and future projections in the logistics and industrial sectors.   00:00 Introduction and Market Anticipation 00:35 Chinese 3PL Companies' Market Activity 01:08 Inland Empire: The Hotspot for Chinese 3PLs 02:25 Impact of Tariffs and Trade Wars 03:48 Shift to Chinese 3PL Model 05:28 Future Market Predictions and Amazon's Role 08:10 Conclusion and Local Market Insights   You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube, For more, visit industrialadvisors.com

Our guest on this week's episode is Ken Ramoutar, Chief Marketing Officer at Lucas Systems.  As supply chains adjust to changing conditions, they will continue to need tools to increase flexibility, speed, and productivity. That's where technology can come to the rescue. Our guest offers insights into how new technologies can help operators address the many challenges they face today.Most economists are predicting that an uncertain market like this one means individual shoppers will cut back on discretionary spending - things like luxury goods and travel. Instead, they'll save up their money because most models predict the tariffs will cause higher prices on goods. And that may already be happening, but this week we saw two measures that showed that many consumers are actually buying more goods in certain sectors. We explain why.Despite the economic uncertainty we've been experiencing, wages for truck drivers and warehouse staff surged in the first quarter amid strong demand for frontline workers nationwide. This is according to a report from two employment industry companies – resume-building platform Resume Now and talent-matching platform Talroo. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Lucas SystemsThe grocery sector holds strong as consumers cut discretionary spendingCensus data shows that retail sales grew in MarchReport: trucking and warehousing pay up in Q1Visit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: ID LabelOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

Our guest on this week's episode is Will Eadie, chief strategy officer at WorkJam. As the United States works to ramp up its manufacturing base, one area remains a problem – and that is finding good workers to provide the needed manufacturing labor. What are the challenges in hiring for manufacturing and how do companies retain good workers? Our guest offers his insight and potential strategies.Warehouses can often be dangerous places to work. People and machines are constantly moving around. Products are being lifted overhead in an environment where speed it essential. Sadly, all of this movement can occasionally lead to accidents. We share some new research into what causes accidents in warehouses and how good training and awareness are needed to prevent them.We write a lot in DC Velocity about how artificial intelligence is making slow but steady inroads in supply chains. Most of the focus has been on the technology itself and not so much the people working with it. However, CMA CGM, the big French ocean container carrier and logistics provider, is taking a different approach to AI implementation.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:WorkJamNew report highlights the importance of forklift safetyCMA CGM to spend $110 million on bespoke AIVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: ID LabelOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

Welcome to this special panel episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, recorded live at ProMat 2025 in Chicago. In this episode, host Kevin moderates a conversation with leaders from Nucor, Big Joe Forklifts, and David J. Joseph Company (DJJ) to explore the evolving role of sustainability in the warehouse and the material-handling industry. Panelists include Luke Johnson, Sustainability Supervisor at Nucor; Daniel Aguirre, Commercial Director at Nucor's Warehouse Division; Martin Boyd, Chief Marketing Officer at Big Joe Forklifts; and David Hodory, Marketing Manager at DJJ. The discussion dives into modern steelmaking, innovative racking systems, warehouse electrification, and how companies can implement practical and measurable sustainability goals today.Learn more about Zebra Robotics here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Welcome to another week full of valuable insights for transportation folks, and DJ Shirley of Baker Brothers Installations joins us to share what we should know about the warehousing industry! DJ discusses his time at TQL learning sales processes, the subsequent challenges he faced while attempting to start a brokerage, an overview of the rack integration business and its full-cycle solutions for warehouse needs, the growing trend towards used racking materials as a cost-saving measure, and the industry's safety concerns and rising lead times due to tariffs! This episode further explores project implementation processes and potential opportunities for freight brokers in warehousing projects. Be sure to listen to our conversation!   About DJ Shirley DJ comes to BBI as a proven leader with extensive experience in both inside & outside sales along with operations. With a career that has predominantly been in the Third Party Logistics arena he has built numerous books of business by utilizing cold outreach accompanied by outbound marketing campaigns. In order to maintain efficiency DJ has adopted the mindset that every client relationship is a partnership which results in the details coming standard.   Connect with DJ Website: https://bakerbrothersinstallations.com/  Email: djshirley@bakerbrothersinstallations.com  

In this podcast episode, we talked with Eddy Zulkifly about From Supply Chain Management to Digital Warehousing and FinOpsAbout the Speaker: Eddy Zulkifly is a Staff Data Engineer at Kinaxis, building robust data platforms across Google Cloud, Azure, and AWS. With a decade of experience in data, he actively shares his expertise as a Mentor on ADPList and Teaching Assistant at Uplimit. Previously, he was a Senior Data Engineer at Home Depot, specializing in e-commerce and supply chain analytics. Currently pursuing a Master's in Analytics at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Eddy is also passionate about open-source data projects and enjoys watching/exploring the analytics behind the Fantasy Premier League.In this episode, we dive into the world of data engineering and FinOps with Eddy Zulkifly, Staff Data Engineer at Kinaxis. Eddy shares his unconventional career journey—from optimizing physical warehouses with Excel to building digital data platforms in the cloud.

Our guest on this week's episode is Dr. Robert Sroufe, professor of sustainability at the Falk School of Sustainability & Environment at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. Supply chains are among the largest users of our world's energy. Yet our industry is one of the most advanced in advocating for sustainability. But as political winds shift dramatically in Washington, many environmental policies may be on the chopping block. Where do our industry's efforts lie going forward? Our guest has some insights and suggestions to better our supply chains while reducing their negative impacts on the environment.The White House termed Wednesday as Liberation Day – the day the administration announced all of the new tariffs. But it seems that supply chain leaders are feeling more shackled than liberated by the tariffs. We report on what leading supply chain groups, researchers, and economists are saying about how the tariffs will affect supply chain operations and world trade.This week the March Logistics Managers' Index report emphasized all the volatility we've been observing in the economy. Economic activity in logistics expanded in March, but at a much slower rate compared to the first two months of the year. We look at the numbers and what trends they may reveal about the health of our supply chain industry.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. All episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Falk School of Sustainability & Environment, Chatham University in PittsburghMarket analysts say Trump tariffs spark economic risksLogistics industry growth slowed in MarchVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: ID LabelOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

Our guest on this week's episode is Rosemary Coates, executive director of the Reshoring Institute. We've seen a roller coaster week involving tariffs. First they are on, then exceptions, then some reprieve. It makes one dizzy. But one of the stated aims of the new administration for establishing all of these tariffs is to force more manufacturing to return to domestic shores. Is that a workable strategy? Our guest offers some insights into reshoring initiatives and what industries are best suited to returning their manufacturing to America.Adding to the theme of this week's episode, we look back at the tariff directives this week for international trade. What actually happened and how did the week end? We also discuss how this appears to be more of a negotiating strategy based on the president's past history of negotiating deals. Yet in the middle of all of it, how can supply chain managers properly plan and not add the costs often associated with uncertainty?Despite the chaos, supply chains seem to be holding their own, as reflected in the monthly numbers reported this week in the Logistics Managers' Index. Rising inventory levels boosted activity across the transportation and warehousing industries. This occurred because companies were replenishing inventory following the holiday peak season, but also because they were rushing to import products ahead of tariffs. We break down the numbers and what they may predict for future supply chain health.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:The Reshoring InstituteAs tariff policy sows uncertainty, supply chain professionals look for mitigation strategiesNavigating the tariff wave: 7 strategies for global supply chain optimizationLogistics activity expanded in FebruaryVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics AutomationOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

Join us in this enlightening episode of the eCom Ops Podcast with Juan Camilo Meisel, CEO and founder of GRIP Shipping. Dive into the world of e-commerce logistics, uncovering the complexities and the crucial role of data-driven decision-making. Discover how Juan's journey from ButcherBox to founding GRIP Shipping is revolutionizing the way e-commerce handles perishable goods.

Our guest on this week's episode is Brian Lynch, EY Americas Transportation Sector Leader and an Executive Director in the Transaction Strategy and Execution practice at EY-Parthenon. With the ratification earlier this week of the new 6-year agreement between dock workers and ports on the East and Gulf Coasts, it seems like we will have some labor peace that will last a while. Our guest discusses what that bit of certainty means to both shippers and carriers. Mobile robots in the warehouse—such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), goods-to-person systems, and automated storage and retrieval systems—have now been accepted as mature technologies. Susan Lacefield, executive editor of Supply Chain Xchange, joins us to talk about the industry acceptance of these technologies and to preview the latest issue of SCX that focuses on robotics and automation.Supply chains are among those industries where workers face a higher level of risk of injury, according to new research released by manufacturer Kuru. The study analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify where supply chain jobs rank among jobs from other industries for the potential for on-the-job injuries.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:EY AmericasSupply Chain XchangeReport: Transportation and warehousing top list of most injury-prone industriesVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics AutomationOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

In the world of power logistics, the stakes are high, and the challenges are unique. In this episode of Supply Chain Decoded, Jenni Ruiz sits down with Agustin Harriague, VP of Logistics, Inventory, and Warehousing at Mitsubishi Power Americas, to unpack the biggest misconceptions around cost, carrier relationships, and RFP strategies in the industry. Agustin shares his insights on why logistics isn't just a cost center but a competitive advantage, how shippers should move beyond price-driven decisions, and what true partnerships with carriers should look like—especially in an industry where long-term strategy beats short-term savings. Plus, he reveals the risks of cutting corners, the evolving role of technology in procurement, and what shippers and carriers alike often get wrong about the market. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.

Our guest on this week's episode is Matt Wicks, senior director of robotics automation at Zebra Technologies. Robotics are rapidly gaining acceptance in distribution operations. They can work 24/7 with a high degree of uptime and accuracy. Our guest shares in which areas of warehouse operations robotics are proving to be the most useful, trends that are leading to their adoption, and what might be hindering robotic deployments in some cases.During this first month of the new administration in Washington, we have seen a shift away from support of electric vehicles, including electric trucks that serve our supply chain operations. As a result, California has responded with adjustments to its electric vehicle mandates. In this segment, we discuss other trends and hindrances towards electric vehicle adoption, as well as an innovative technology that is being piloted for long-haul trucks in Europe.Supply chains continue to deal with a growing volume of returns following holiday peak, and 2024 was no exception. Recent survey data from technology company Akeneo showed that 65% of shoppers made holiday returns this year, with most reporting that their online experience played a large role in their reason for doing so. We look at how the returns season went this year and what practices retailers can implement to decrease the number of product returns.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Zebra TechnologiesDHL tests electric truck with on-board generatorJD Power says that EV growth will stagnate in 2025 due to federal policiesReport reveals that 65% of consumers made holiday returns this yearVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics AutomationOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

Our guest on this week's episode is John (Jay) Rogers, CEO and co-founder of Haddy. There has been a push in the past few years to do more manufacturing here at home. One of the key technologies that is enabling more domestic production is digital manufacturing. That's where Haddy comes in. Haddy is the world's first 3D printing furniture manufacturer powered by AI and advanced robotic technology. Jay Rogers talks with us about this unique approach to manufacturing. A new report from Colliers, the industrial real estate firm, reveals data on fourth quarter warehouse construction. The report shows that renters of warehouse space should begin to see some relief after the seriously steep rent hikes they're seen in recent years. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released its annual list of the nation's top truck bottlenecks. This is the group's 14th annual report on this issue. Its goal is not only to identify the top congested freight markets, but also to help local, state, and federal governments target funding to areas most in need of relief. The full report shares ways to reduce chokepoints, lower emissions, and drive economic growth. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:HaddyColliers reports that warehouse construction rates return to pre-pandemic levelsATRI releases the annual list of the nation's top truck bottlenecksVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics AutomationOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply

Send us a textOn this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin welcomes Troy Strawhecker, Chief Strategy Officer and Partner at JT Logistics. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, JT Logistics is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider specializing in warehousing, transportation, and value-added services. While they operate across various industries, a significant focus is on food-grade warehousing—a sector that demands rigorous compliance and precision. Troy provides insight into what makes a warehouse food-grade, the complexities of handling food supply chain logistics, and how JT Logistics ensures compliance while scaling its operations.Learn more about Zebra Robotics here. Learn more about Nucor Warehouse Systems here. Take your sales to the next level with MPC! Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Join hosts Harshida and Ninaad as they dive into the future of last-mile logistics with Nicole Mazza, Founder & Chief Commercial Officer at Relay Technologies. Nicole, a trailblazer in urban delivery, shares how Relay is transforming the last-mile into the last 100 meters—leveraging hyperlocal pit stops to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and support sustainability. She also opens up about her journey from scaling Stuart Delivery to $400M in revenue to launching Relay, navigating fundraising challenges, and embracing AI-driven logistics.This episode is packed with insights on rethinking traditional delivery networks, leveraging data for real-time optimization, and building a more flexible, scalable, and cost-efficient logistics model.What You'll Learn✅ Turning the Last Mile into the Last 100 Meters – How hyperlocal pit stops create faster, cheaper, and greener deliveries.✅ The Power of Data in Logistics – Relay collects 1,600+ data points per shipment to drive efficiency and optimize delivery routes in real-time.✅ Revolutionizing Urban vs. Suburban Delivery – Why urban logistics is more challenging than suburban delivery, despite higher density.✅ Fundraising & Scaling a Logistics Startup – Lessons from navigating investor skepticism and securing a $35M Series A.✅ The Future of AI & Automation in Logistics – How AI can reduce inefficiencies, optimize fleet management, and reshape the logistics workforce. Episode Highlights

Our guest on this week's episode is Maggie Barnett, CEO of third party logistics company LVK. It has been a whirlwind week in Washington. First the administration announced shocking new tariffs. Then within hours those new tariffs for Canada and Mexico were called off and postponed for a month. New Chinese tariffs remain. With all of the back and forth and uncertainty, how are supply chains to plan for their future? Our guest offers some advice and also discusses the changing de minimis rules for importing small-value items that had formerly been exempt from tariffs.Economic activity in logistics expanded in January, growing at its fastest clip in more than two years; that's according to the latest Logistics Managers' Index (LMI) report, released this week. We look at the solid numbers and what they mean for the near-term future of supply chains.Artificial intelligence is one of the biggest buzzwords of the year, but a new study shows that although most supply chain organizations are testing it out, a lot of them are running into challenges. This news comes in a new survey from the analyst group Gartner that found that generative AI (GenAI) is being deployed by 72% of supply chain organizations, but most are experiencing just middling results for productivity and ROI. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:LVKLogistics Managers' IndexThe logistics economy picked up speed in JanuaryGartner says GenAI tools create anxiety among employeesVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics AutomationOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply

Send us a textThe labor challenges in warehousing persist, with shortages and inefficiencies making it difficult for companies to find and retain reliable workers. In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin welcomes Asher Lichtman, Head of Business Development at Spotwork, to discuss how the company is redefining temporary staffing in the warehousing and light industrial sectors. Spotwork, a Canada-based company expanding into the U.S., offers a tech-driven, on-demand staffing solution designed to provide complete visibility, accountability, and flexibility for employers and workers alike.Learn more about Big Joe Forklifts here.Learn more about Nucor Warehouse Systems here. Find us at ProMat in Booth E1043! Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Send me a messageHow is automation transforming warehousing and supply chains? What role does sustainability play in logistics, and can businesses balance cost efficiency with environmental responsibility? In this episode of The Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast, I sit down with Seth Weisberg, CEO of ABCO Systems, to explore these pressing questions.Seth shares his journey from PricewaterhouseCoopers to leading a third-generation logistics integration company. We discuss how automation, AI, and electrification are reshaping warehouse operations, optimising space, and reducing carbon footprints. While automation boosts efficiency, it also raises concerns about labour displacement—Seth provides a nuanced take on how businesses can navigate these shifts.We also examine the impact of data-driven decision-making in logistics, from improving pick paths to reducing packaging waste. Seth highlights how optimising packaging—by selecting the right box sizes—can cut down on material waste, improve transport efficiency, and lower emissions. The conversation extends to the circular economy, where repurposing materials and rethinking logistics models can further reduce environmental impact.Whether you're a supply chain professional or just keen to understand how warehouses operate behind the scenes, this episode offers a critical look at the intersection of logistics, technology, and sustainability.

Send us a textThis episode of The New Warehouse Podcast features Anthony Jules, Co-Founder and CEO of Robust AI. Anthony shares insights into Robust AI's mission to redefine the relationship between humans and robots in warehouse environments. With decades of experience in robotics and AI, Anthony provides a deep dive into the development of Carter, their cutting-edge autonomous mobile robot (AMR). Tune in and learn how Carter delivers an innovative solution to boost productivity while creating a seamless and enjoyable user experience. Learn more about Surgere here. Find us at ProMat in Booth E1043! Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Our guest on this week's episode is Kristen Purvis, product manager at ePost Global. Retailers have just completed a very successful holiday shopping season. But now those same retailers are dealing with many unwanted gifts in the form of returns. Are there ways they can successfully managing them? Our guest has some insights into ways to cut costs, be more sustainable in reverse logistics operations, and incorporate artificial intelligence into returns processes.Technology is vital to any business operation, but a recent study shows that logistics leaders view it as fundamental to managing growth in an increasingly complex global trade environment. The study, which was released this week by logistics technology vendor Descartes Systems Group, found that 74% of supply chain and logistics leaders view technology as fundamental or highly important to their organization's growth strategy in the face of rising global trade challenges. It's been a busy week in Washington DC as the new administration has officially started the process of appointing directors to top posts, including those that oversee and regulate our supply chains. We talk about the new nomination for Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, as well as important appointments to head the Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Maritime Commission. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:ePost GlobalSupply chain leaders say technology is key to business growth as global trade complexities riseDuffy wins Senate committee approval as Transportation nomineeTrump names new heads of federal transportation panelsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025Other linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply

In this episode, I chat with Dave Gulas, co-founder and president of EZ DC, a cutting-edge third-party logistics company specializing in warehousing, fulfillment, and transportation for e-commerce brands. With 20+ years in logistics, Dave offers a behind-the-scenes look at how growing businesses can avoid common pitfalls in scaling operations.What You'll Learn:The challenges e-commerce entrepreneurs face as they scale, from inventory chaos to customer service nightmares.How third-party logistics (3PL) companies help businesses save time and focus on growth.Key signs it's time to outsource your logistics and fulfillment operations.Real-world stories of how logistics can make or break a business—and how EZ DC steps in to help.Practical tips for optimizing your supply chain without breaking the bank.If you've ever felt overwhelmed managing orders or wondered how to take your e-commerce business to the next level, this episode is packed with insights just for you.Resources & Links:https://davegulas.com/https://freightbydave.com/ Dave does the logistics.https://ezdc3pl.com/ Brands rent space…  they fulfill orders…Check out Dave's podcast, Beyond Fulfillment Podcast, for more on logistics and business growth. Mischa's Stuff!Join my Podcast guest speaking Masterclass: Register NowThis Masterclass will teach you:How to speak with confidence and authenticity.How to find podcasts that attract your ideal audience.How to get booked without the hassle.Ideal for coaches, course creators, and heart-centered entrepreneurs who want to generate leads, customers, and sales in a genuine way.Join us and start your journey to becoming a podcast guest-speaking pro!Register Now______________________For social Media: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mischaz/Subscribe and share with your business associates who could use a listen!

What You'll LearnCurating World-Class Content: How Manifest Vegas designs an agenda tailored to supply chain leaders' needs.Balancing Innovation & Practicality: Ensuring valuable insights while avoiding product pitches.Lessons from Startups: What established logistics players can learn from agile newcomers.Future of Manifest: How the event is evolving with new themes like cold chain logistics and sustainability.Highlights[00:01:00] – The year-long planning process behind Manifest Vegas and how industry insights shape the agenda.[00:04:15] – How AI and geopolitical trends influenced the 2024 event's focus.[00:07:00] – Striking the right balance between educational content and sponsor participation.[00:11:15] – The growing importance of visibility and sustainability in supply chain decision-making.[00:16:45] – Cold chain logistics: a new frontier for Manifest 2025.Quotes[00:03:00] “We're people-led. We first look at the individuals we want to showcase, and then the topics naturally follow.” – Tanzil Uddin[00:05:30] “75% of Manifest attendees list relevant and actionable content as their primary reason for attending.” – Harshida[00:08:15] “Understanding your customer market is key. It's not about offering a solution to everything, but addressing the specific challenges.” – Tanzil Uddin[00:15:00] “We took attendee feedback and expanded beyond logistics to cover inventory, demand planning, and sustainability.” – Tanzil UddinAbout the GuestTanzil Uddin is the Senior Vice President of Production at Manifest Vegas, one of the logistics industry's most influential events. With years of experience curating content that addresses the evolving needs of supply chain leaders, Tanzil's work focuses on fostering collaboration between shippers, startups, and investors. His expertise ensures that Manifest remains at the forefront of supply chain innovation and strategy.Connect with Tanzil on LinkedIn: Tanzil UddinLearn more about Manifest Vegas: manifestvegas.comRegister now and secure a $200 discount: https://ManifestVegas.com/Join/E-Com-Logistics-Podcast Subscribe and Keep Learning!If you're a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don't miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges. Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube

In today's episode we're joined by Jamie Cord, CEO of JT Logistics joins us to discuss the impact of warehousing trends on trucking and the state of warehousing outlook. Follow the Loaded and Rolling Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode we're joined by Jamie Cord, CEO of JT Logistics joins us to discuss the impact of warehousing trends on trucking and the state of warehousing outlook. Follow the Loaded and Rolling Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I get Brian to share his journey through e-commerce, highlighting his transition into the AI space and the development of deepm.ai, a tool for competitive ranking intelligence on Amazon. We get into the importance of understanding Amazon's A9 algorithm, recognizing personal strengths and weaknesses, and the role of pain in personal and professional growth. Brian reflects on his experiences as an employee in Fortune 500 companies and emphasizes the need for preparation and resilience in the face of challenges. We wrap it up with insights into targeting the right audience and the services offered by his new venture. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates 02:55 Brian's E-commerce Journey and AI Integration 05:53 Understanding Amazon's A9 Algorithm 08:56 Identifying Personal Strengths and Weaknesses 12:08 The Importance of Pain in Growth 15:03 Transitioning from Employee to Entrepreneur 18:05 The Role of Preparation in Success 20:50 Handling Opportunities and Challenges 23:47 Target Audience and Service Offerings 29:30 Understanding Competitive Intelligence and the A9 Algorithm 36:19 The Importance of Brand Visibility and Marketing Strategies 39:59 Identifying Target Audience and Brand Owners 42:36 Amazon's Business Model and Market Dynamics 49:40 The Future of Warehousing and Automation 51:50 Innovations in 3D Printing and Marketing Strategies Learn The "Secret" of Selling In The Make Every Sale Programhttps://saleswhisperer.gumroad.com/l/OiXZk Join The Inner Circle Market like you mean it. Now go sell something. Connect with me: X -- https://X.com/saleswhisperer Instagram -- https://instagram.com/saleswhisperer LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesaleswhisperer/ BUSINESS GROWTH TOOLS https://12WeeksToPeak.com https://CRMQuiz.com https://MakeEverySale.com

Send us a textIn this episode of the New Warehouse Podcast, host Kevin Lawton is joined by Joe Abeln from AlStef Group and Gina Baldwin from Felins to discuss the SLAM (Scan, Label, Apply, Manifest) process in warehousing. SLAM, originating from Amazon's operations, plays a crucial role in the final steps before a product exits the warehouse. The discussion sheds light on the importance of automating SLAM processes, reducing packaging waste, and exploring sustainable solutions. Joe and Gina delve into the impact of high-volume operations, innovations in linerless labels, and sustainable packaging materials. They also touch upon regulations like EPR and how companies can start their sustainability journey by reviewing their current practices. Tune in to learn about the latest trends and practical steps to enhance both efficiency and sustainability in your warehouse operations.Learn more about MHI's SLAM industry group here.Learn more about Surgere here. Find us at ProMat in Booth E1043! Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Chris is the CEO of SyncShow, a company dedicated to helping organizations achieve sustainable growth through what he called, the Great 8 Pillars. An absolute wizard in aligning marketing, sales, and customer strategies. Chris has guided multiple businesses to find their potential, overcome growth obstacles, and achieve lasting success. Through his case studies at work, he realized he had an entire playbook dialed up, so he wrote his book, The Great 8 Pillars, which outlines the entire approach to building a customer first culture, improving operational efficiency, and fostering team collaboration, especially between sales and marketing teams Chris is not only a thought leader in business strategy but also a passionate advocate for creating value driven systems that empower teams and organizations to thrive. In today's episode, we'll dive into the Chris Peer story, the principles behind the Great 8 Pillars, and how you can implement these strategies to elevate your business to the next level. You can connect with Chris Peer here: chrispeer.com syncshow.com Download his free business strategy templates at g8p.co Download the Truck Parking Club App today and get $25 off your first booking with code lombard25 www.truckparkingclub.com Donate to Project61 https://ironmanfoundation.donordrive.com/participant/lombardtrucking Get 10% off Registration for Broker Carrier Summit in Indianapolis April 28th-May 2nd 2025 using code LOMBARD https://brokercarriersummit.com/

Our guest on this week's episode is Ian Wilson, Senior Analyst with Intelligence Solutions at Everstream Analytics. At what seems like the 11th hour, dockworkers and ports on the East and Gulf Coasts agreed to a new contract. What will labor peace mean for shippers using those ports? Our guest has some insights. He also talks about whether there will be possible impacts for shippers on the West Coast due to the out-of-control wildfires raging around Los Angeles.In a report in the MIT Sloan Management Review, researchers Tom Davenport and Randy Bean wrote about five trends in AI and data science that all businesses should be paying attention to this year. AI has become a very hot topic in logistics circles in the past couple of years, so any research that sheds light on how this technology is affecting business and commerce is something we want to pay attention to. The five trends range from the promise of agentic AI to the struggle over which C-suite role should oversee data and AI responsibilities.We're in a part of the business cycle where it can be pretty difficult to find enough warehouse space to rent or lease, whether you're a manufacturer, retailer, or a 3PL. This information comes from a quarterly measurement from the commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. The report said the overall national industrial real estate vacancy rate edged higher in the fourth quarter. More vacancy means it's easier to find a place to rent—although vacancy still remains well below pre-pandemic levels. We discuss the report's outlook for available space in the new year. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Everstream AnalyticsFive trends in AI and data science for 2025Demand for warehouse space cooled off slightly in fourth quarterVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: CSCMP EDGE 2025Other linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply

Send us a textJoin host Kevin Lawton in this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast as he discusses The Robotics Industry Group from MHI with special guests Dean Elkins, Senior Director of Robotics and Vision at Gray Solutions, and Chris Lingamfelter, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Robot Advisors. Discover insights into the mission and activities of TRG, the importance of robotics in supply chain efficiency, how different industry professionals collaborate within the group, and best practices for attending trade shows like MODEX and ProMat. The conversation also delves into the challenges and benefits of adopting robotics technology in warehouse operations, providing valuable guidance for end-users.Learn more about TRG here.Sign up for Warehouse Wisdom Wednesdays right here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Our guest on this week's episode is Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics. Schenker is one of the world's leading economists and he shares his insights into what happened in 2024 with the U.S. economy as well as predictions for 2025. Our discussion includes the economic outlook for supply chains and the material handling industry in particular, inflation, consumer prices, interest rates, employment, and looming tariffs One of the top themes we covered in the past year was the labor pool, and specifically how employers in the logistics sector have struggled to find either qualified employees for increasingly technical positions, or simple enough at all for even entry level positions for things like warehouse work and truck driving. This week a report was released that identified five workplace trends that are coming up in the new year, and methods for how employers can best adapt.With peak shipping season behind us, it's time to move on to peak returns season. We are now in the thick of it when it comes to reverse logistics, as retailers and e-commerce fulfillment companies deal with all those post-holiday gifts coming back. We preview a January story in DC Velocity that reveals that many retailers are rethinking their approaches when it comes to managing their returns processes. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more.  All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Prestige EconomicsWorkplace report finds 5 trends sweeping global labor poolVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Werner Premium ServicesOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply

Send us a textWhat happened in 2024 and where are we right now? Tune in as we take a look back on this year in warehousing and discuss top trends, challenges and what customers are still looking for in their warehouse.I'll be joined by Parth Pethani, Director, Warehouse Design and Innoviation, and Hunter HeLal, Head of Warehouse Product Solutions at Prologis Essentials to get their insights on what they are seeing from their various warehouse clients and also what they think warehouse operators should be doing to prepare for 2025.Learn more about Prologis Essentials here.Sign up for Warehouse Wisdom Wednesdays right here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Send us a textIn this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, host Kevin Lawton discusses the exciting world of robotics in the warehouse sector with Kevin Heath, Director of Global Robotics at Dematic, and Jim Skelding, VP of Sales and Marketing at Motion Controls Robotics. They delve into the mission of The Robotics Group within MHI, current challenges in the robotics market, trends in technology adoption, and the future of automation. The conversation also highlights the importance of advanced automation technologies, ROI considerations, self-integration, and the potential impact of future innovations on warehouse operations.Find out more about the MHI industry group here.Sign up for Warehouse Wisdom Wednesdays right here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

On the Overthinking It Podcast, in Michael Schur’s “A Man on the Inside,” starring Ted Danson, who is this Man, what is he Inside, and what then is Outside, if not Himself? Episode 856: Warehousing People originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

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.