The Buy Box Experts Podcast

Andy Slamans is the Co-founder of Amazing Freedom, a program that helps people build businesses on Amazon and scale to $1 million per year in sales. Within Amazing Freedom, Andy also runs the mastermind group, Amazon Seller Tribe, where he teaches sellers how to grow private label brands of their own.

In addition to this, Andy is a multimillion-dollar brand creator who has successfully launched his own 7-figure brands on Amazon. His goal with Amazing Freedom is to empower other sellers to achieve the same financial freedom and success.

To build a successful brand on Amazon, business owners must know how to maximize direct-to-consumer sales. This is what drives success for the top-performing businesses in the marketplace. Because of this, new private label brand owners should focus on creating unique selling points in order to compete with large, established brands — especially if they're selling in niche categories.

While building his private label brand on Amazon, Andy Slamans grew his direct-to-consumer sales by ensuring that he never ran out of stock. This strategy helped him maintain his rank and continue to improve and scale his brand. He also focused on providing great customer service to stand out from the competition. So, what is Andy's advice to new and current brand owners looking to achieve success on Amazon?

In this episode of the Buy Box Experts podcast, Andy Slamans, the Founder of Amazing Freedom and the Amazon Seller Tribe mastermind, joins James Thomson to talk about how to leverage direct-to-consumer sales on Amazon. Together, they discuss the importance of creating a unique selling point, how working with influencers has impacted Andy's business, and his advice for successfully selling your private label brand. Stay tuned.

Ian Sells is the Founder and CEO of Million Dollar Sellers (MDS), a network of entrepreneurs with specific e-commerce knowledge and verified annual revenue of over $1 million. With more than 400 members, MDS represents over $4 billion a year in sales, much of it through the Amazon Marketplace.

Ian is also the CMO of Elite Seller, an all-in-one Amazon seller software suite, and the CEO of RebateKey, a rebate and coupon site that helps savvy online shoppers save hundreds of dollars a month.

What is one of the best decisions that entrepreneurs can make when building a business on Amazon? According to Ian Sells, it is to join a mastermind group that gives business owners a place to share their knowledge and ideas. Through such groups, entrepreneurs can learn what works — and what doesn't — when growing an Amazon business and preparing for a successful exit.

Many members of Ian's mastermind have successfully sold and exited their businesses. As he says, they have learned that brand owners can effectively negotiate with FBA aggregators about an offer. They have also learned that timing is critical when selling an e-commerce business. Now, Ian is here to discuss these valuable lessons and share his advice for current Amazon sellers looking to exit their businesses.

Ian Sells, the Founder and CEO of Million Dollar Sellers (MDS), joins James Thomson on this episode of the Buy Box Experts podcast to discuss the value of joining an Amazon seller mastermind group. Ian explains how members who have sold and exited their businesses can effectively help new entrepreneurs prepare for successful exits. He also talks about the benefits of creating and documenting standard operating procedures and negotiating with aggregators for better offers. Stay tuned.

Steve Simonson is a lifetime entrepreneur who has founded, purchased, and sold numerous companies over the past 30 years. Currently, he is the Founder of the Catalyst88 MasterMind and the Managing Director of SYMO Global, a consultation practice with a team of experienced marketing and operational executives. Steve also runs the Awesomers.com podcast and website for entrepreneurs.

Within mastermind groups, it's easy for the conversation to solely focus on the small stuff — the hacks and tactics that come from years of experience in entrepreneurship. Lifetime entrepreneur Steve Simonson, on the other hand, would rather focus on the big picture: how to build a substantial business.

With Steve's Catalyst88 MasterMind, his mission is to help Amazon brand owners master the full process of running a business. He helps them perfect their strategies, improve their systems, and scale their brands to success. Now, with the recent interest in investing in private label brands, Steve also shares his expertise on creating an effective exit strategy. So, what is his advice for Amazon entrepreneurs looking to sell their brands?

In this episode of the Buy Box Experts podcast, James Thomson is joined by the Catalyst88 MasterMind Founder Steve Simonson to talk about his members' thoughts on the recent changes in the FBA space. Steve discusses the rising interest in investing in private label brands, the top concerns among Amazon entrepreneurs, and his tips for crafting an effective exit strategy for your business. Stay tuned.

Norm Farrar, also known by his nickname, "The Beard Guy," is the Co-founder of the Centurion League, a mastermind group for Amazon-centric private label sellers. He is an entrepreneur, speaker, and e-commerce expert who is passionate about helping business owners create a strong support network and achieve their highest potential.

Norm is also the host of the Lunch with Norm podcast, as well as the President of HONU Worldwide, the Co-founder of AMZ and Beyond, and the CEO of prReach.

Investing in the right operating procedures and systems is very important if you're hoping to sell your private label business down the road. This is because these factors make brands much more attractive to investors and FBA aggregators looking to invest in profitable businesses.

This is what Norm Farrar and the members of his Centurion League mastermind group have learned from their experiences selling and exiting businesses on Amazon. They have also learned the importance of staying on top of your competitors, diversifying your product lines, and identifying the right time to sell your business. Today, Norm is here to discuss these valuable takeaways and many more. 

Norm Farrar, the Co-founder of the Centurion League, joins James Thomson in this episode of the Buy Box Experts podcast to discuss the importance of investing in your operating procedures and systems when preparing for an exit. Together, they talk about the main concerns of current mastermind members, how to make your business more attractive to investors, and the best ways to build a successful brand on Amazon. Stay tuned.

Kevin King is the Founder of Billion Dollar Seller Summit, an event for large sellers leveraging the Amazon channel. He is also the Co-founder of Freedom Ticket, a training and mentoring program for Amazon private label sellers. In addition to this, Kevin runs Helium 10 Elite, a webinar and networking program for advanced sellers looking to scale their businesses quickly.

Kevin has been involved in e-commerce for over 25 years, and he first began selling on Amazon and eBay in 1999. Since then, he has developed, sourced, and sold hundreds of products on Amazon, generating millions of dollars in gross revenue.

There are many key steps involved in starting and successfully growing an e-commerce brand on Amazon. These include putting the right systems and processes in place, hiring the right people and agencies to work with, and implementing the right financial structures.

However, with increased demand for private label FBA brands, it is also important for new brand owners to start their businesses with the mindset that they may want to sell a few years down the line. Because of this, brand owners should start preparing for an exit early. So, what do you need to know to effectively position your Amazon brand for a future sale?

In this episode of the Buy Box Experts podcast, James Thomson is joined by Kevin King, the Founder of Billion Dollar Seller Summit and the Co-founder of Freedom Ticket, to discuss how FBA private label brand owners can prepare for an exit when starting their businesses. Kevin explains how his mastermind helps brands prepare for a future exit and shares the concerns his members have about selling their businesses. Stay tuned.

Brandon Young is the Head of the Inner Circle Mastermind for private label brands leveraging the Amazon channel. He also runs Seller Systems, a mastery training company for entrepreneurs, brand owners, and brand managers. At Seller Systems, Brandon and his team teach sellers how to research, start, and scale their Amazon e-commerce businesses.

Brandon began selling on Amazon in 2015, starting with arbitrage and reselling. Seeking a more scalable business model, he pivoted to wholesale and private label, and in June 2016, he launched his first private label products. Less than five years later, Brandon has scaled the business to multiple brands and eight figures in annual revenue.

When it comes to shopping on Amazon, many customers don't care very much about brand loyalty. Typically, they buy whichever products best meet their needs. For this reason, it's important for private label brand owners to implement strategies that help them build loyalty and generate repeat customers.

With more FBA aggregators showing interest in private label businesses, sellers are starting to spend more time on their branding. As Brandon Young says, one of the best ways to create a brand that boosts customer loyalty is to focus on building relationships with customers after a purchase. So, what are Brandon's strategies for effectively engaging with customers and generating brand loyalty for your private label business?

In this episode of the Buy Box Experts podcast, James Thomson is joined by Brandon Young, the Founder of Seller Systems and Head of the Inner Circle Mastermind, to talk about preparing a business for sale and building brand loyalty on and off of Amazon. Brandon explains how to re-engage with customers after their first purchase, the importance of encouraging repeat sales, and why brand owners should know who they're selling to. Stay tuned.

Melissa Simonson is an e-commerce expert and the General Manager of Empowery eCommerce Cooperative, a nonprofit that helps e-commerce entrepreneurs join forces with like-minded brand owners. Melissa has spoken at a number of events, including the Empowery Women's Conference, the White Label Expo, and more. She is passionate about helping e-commerce entrepreneurs improve their businesses and achieve success.

How can you scale your Amazon private label business from zero to $1 million in revenue? When is the right time to sell your profitable business? And, how can you determine the best exit strategy once you are ready to sell?

According to e-commerce expert Melissa Simonson, the recent interest in FBA private label businesses has provided an exciting opportunity for Amazon sellers — particularly those who didn't expect to attract investors. However, it can be challenging for entrepreneurs to know the right steps to take when exiting their businesses. Luckily, Melissa's here to share her tips for building your brand on Amazon and successfully preparing it for a sale.

Melissa Simonson, the General Manager of Empowery eCommerce Cooperative, joins James Thomson in this episode of the Buy Box Experts podcast to discuss the common questions and concerns of current Amazon entrepreneurs. Melissa shares her advice for attracting investors, preparing your business for a sale, and determining the best exit strategy for your brand. She also shares how Empowery helps Amazon sellers improve their businesses and achieve success. Stay tuned.

Dr. Oliver Dlugosch is the Co-founder and Senior Vice President of Operations at Razor Group, a Berlin-based company that buys Amazon FBA merchants. Before this, Dr. Dlugosch worked as a Senior Consultant at McKinsey & Company and managed the marketing for Fortuna Düsseldorf, a German soccer club. He earned his Ph.D. in Economic Sciences from The University of Freiburg (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg) and his master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of Düsseldorf.

Brian Strini is the Senior Vice President of the North American branch of Razor Group. Prior to joining Razor Group, he worked in venture capital and private equity M&A roles at firms such as Anheuser-Busch, Goldman Sachs, and Quintana Capital Group. He holds a BBA from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from London Business School.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been an enormous increase in e-commerce businesses across industries. This has led to a rise in competition for investors, and many firms have resorted to cold-calling brands in order to make a deal. However, this typically leaves brand owners feeling bombarded and overwhelmed with offers. So, what is the best outreach approach for aggregators looking to make a valuable investment?

According to Dr. Oliver Dlugosch and Brian Strini, it's important for FBA aggregators to consider a brand owner's needs and desires when contacting them about a sale. At their firm, Razor Group, the team avoids cold-calling and instead opts for other forms of outreach, such as email. This way, the brand owner has time to process the offer — and prepare for a profitable sale.

In this episode of the Buy Box Experts podcast, James Thomson is joined by Dr. Oliver Dlugosch and Brian Strini from Razor Group to discuss the best ways to contact FBA brand owners about a sale. Together, they compare Razor Group's process for investing in US brands versus European brands and explain their tried-and-true outreach approach. They also share their expert advice for current FBA investors. Stay tuned.

Mindy Fashaw is the Chief Operating Officer at Pacvue, an enterprise platform that helps brands, sellers, and agencies optimize their e-commerce advertising. Clients use Pacvue to programmatically manage their campaigns on Amazon, Walmart, and other marketplaces in order to lower costs, grow share of voice, and increase sales. Before joining Pacvue, Mindy held leadership roles at Amazon and Newell Brands.

Dave Vermeulen is the Director of DSP Advertising for Buy Box Experts. In 2001, Dave founded Seattle Ad Force, Inc., a full-service agency that supports mid-sized and large advertisers with their DSP advertising strategies. His specialties include DSP advertising, programmatic media buying and planning, mobile advertising, and more.

In order for e-commerce sellers to grow and scale on Amazon, it's essential that they effectively target potential customers and drive them to their product listings. While many sellers have used Amazon sponsored ads for this purpose, it may be time to start incorporating another strategy: Amazon DSP.

Amazon DSP enables brands to programmatically buy display ads on and off Amazon to reach a bigger audience and promote their products. Amazon DSP also helps brands and advertisers improve their organic rankings, remarket to customers, and collect valuable data. So, what do you need to know about Amazon DSP to start boosting your e-commerce business today?

In this week's episode of the Buy Box Experts podcast, James Thomson is joined by Mindy Fashaw and Dave Vermeulen to discuss what e-commerce sellers need to know about Amazon DSP. Mindy and Dave discuss the differences between Amazon DSP versus sponsored ads, the types of Amazon sellers that should use Amazon DSP, and the benefits of Pacvue's Amazon DSP software. Stay tuned.

Christian Salza is the Managing Director of Berlin Brands Group, a firm that creates, acquires, and grows brands globally. At Berlin Brands Group, Christian manages M&A responsibilities and drives global expansion. Before this, he held senior roles at multiple firms that built and sold brands online.

Christian has over 20 years of experience in corporate and start-up environments across Europe, the United States, and Asia. He is also a Board Member of Talentroad GmbH and a Member of YPO's Berlin chapter.

With the recent interest in FBA private label brands on Amazon, most aggregators and investors choose to focus solely on brands within this marketplace. However, buying Amazon-centric brands may be limiting your growth potential. So, how can you broaden your investments beyond Amazon?

As Christian Salza advises, aggregators should consider buying brands in other e-commerce marketplaces. By optimizing the unique demand of each marketplace, you can scale your business to global success — without the limitations of the Amazon platform. This is the secret behind Berlin Brands Group, a firm that has been successfully acquiring and building private label brands for over 15 years.

In this episode of the Buy Box Experts podcast, James Thomson interviews Christian Salza, the Managing Director of Berlin Brands Group, about the value of investing in FBA brands in different marketplaces. Christian shares his advice for buying brands outside of the Amazon marketplace and explains how his firm evaluates potential brands for sale. He also talks about Berlin Brands Group's strategies for achieving long-term success. Stay tuned.