The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast

Chris Davey, CEO and longtime host of FBA4U Meetups, is on the podcast to talk about what's changed at the Canton Fair, how Chinese manufacturing has evolved since 2020, and live-streaming commerce.

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The biggest sourcing event in the world is happening next week.

The Canton Fair, which starts on October 15th, isn't what it used to be. With growing tensions against the US, there has not been as much Western Amazon sellers attending the event.

However, Chris Davey is an exception. Chris has been living in China for 15 years as the host of one of the biggest e-commerce events in China, FBA4U, where e-commerce entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes are welcome.

He's been invited to today's podcast to report on what's changed in the Canton Fair, if it is still worth it to go, and what the e-commerce environment has changed. Have Chinese third-party sellers also been feeling the pressure from Amazon? Or have they all moved to Temu, Shein, and other marketplaces?

We also discuss why China still is the best place to source products from and how countries like Vietnam and Thailand compare when it comes to product sourcing. Chris also talks about live streaming, regulations that Chinese sellers face, and whether working conditions in Chinese factories have improved overall.

• 00:00 - Introduction to Chris Davey
• 00:58 - Details about the FBA4U Canton Fair meetup
• 01:28 - Changes observed at the Canton Fair post-COVID
• 02:31 - Quiet Light Brokerage and business valuation
• 04:26 - Funding options during Q4 with On-Ramp Funds
• 06:51 - Chris's background and experience in China
• 07:27 - History and details of the FBA4U Canton Fair meetup
• 08:58 - Impact of COVID and US-China tensions on trade
• 11:59 - Visiting China for Canton Fair: Guangzhou vs Hong Kong
• 14:27 - Other trade shows around Canton Fair
• 17:22 - Factories relocating outside China
• 19:57 - Productivity and working conditions in Chinese factories
• 23:46 - Living conditions and property prices in Shenzhen
• 29:55 - The Chinese seller scene in Shenzhen
• 36:49 - Live streaming in China and its potential in the US
• 40:22 - FBA4U meetup details and future plans
• 42:16 - Event attendance and changes over the years
• 43:00 - Queueing behavior in China
• 44:20 - Closing remarks and next steps in China trade

Chris, thanks for coming on the podcast. If you'd like to check out Chris and FBA4U, you can check them out here.

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Eugene Khayman, co-founder of Million Dollar Sellers (MDS), who leads the "Gimme Five" campaign aimed at pushing Amazon to give sellers some fee relief after years of rising costs.

Thinking about taking some risk off the table? Or are you looking at taking an extended break from e-commerce in general? Know what your e-commerce business is worth with Quiet Light Brokerage.

The gap between paying for inventory and selling it is where stockouts are born. Onramp Funds closes it with funding that moves with your sales. Built for sellers already doing $10K a month or more across Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, and TikTok Shop. See how much you qualify for at Onramp Funds.

With changes to DD+7, Subscribe and Save, and the additional seller fees tacked on this year, third-party sellers on Amazon are quickly discovering that it might be more profitable to take their products elsewhere. And Amazon has noticed.

Eugene also talks about what he's noticed after years of being in MDS, like the shifts toward DTC and Tiktok Shop and how smaller operators have been the most creative in growing their business.

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 00:58 - Eugene Kaiman and the MDS seller community
• 06:34 - Eugene's 15-year e-commerce path from sneakers to brands
• 09:39 - Why MDS became a seller advocacy hub
• 10:09 - What the Gimme Five campaign is asking Amazon to do
• 11:31 - How SOS campaigns formed in response to fee pressure and policy changes
• 13:28 - Survey data: 52 cents of every dollar goes to Amazon fees
• 14:42 - Does Amazon actually have room to give some margin back?
• 16:16 - When fees make sense versus when they feel punitive
• 18:25 - Why higher fees can also hurt customer value and price competitiveness
• 20:25 - Which fee changes could realistically help sellers
• 22:43 - The Subscribe and Save top-up change and why it matters
• 23:32 - Return fees, removals, and launch risk
• 24:02 - MDS data: launches needed for growth have doubled
• 25:48 - Fees are only acceptable if growth is keeping pace
• 27:23 - Rising risk from competitor attacks, faster cloning, and shorter product life cycle
• 30:54 - Why many sellers are rethinking Amazon as their top channel
• 33:00 - The problem of not knowing the true cost to sell on Amazon
• 34:51 - Two asks for Amazon: centralized communication and a centralized fee committee
• 36:12 - DD plus 7, account reserves, and the hidden bookkeeping cost
• 38:59 - What MDS is, how big it has become, and where it's headed
• 42:57 - Why smaller operators often spot the best new growth ideas
• 43:27 - The rise of authority affiliates and in-person selling networks
• 46:37 - TikTok's promise, limits, and how DTC is becoming more predictable
• 48:19 - MDS, Millie, and the community's newest tools

Eugene, thanks for coming on the podcast. If you'd like to support Eugene and the Gimme Five campaign, here's a link to the X post.

If you'd like to find out more about MDS, you can book a free call here!

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

You probably know by now that the FTC has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that $20 billion was stolen advertising fees. But the question remains; what is the fallout going to be like for Amazon?

Thinking about taking some risk off the table? Or are you looking at taking an extended break from e-commerce in general? Know what your e-commerce business is worth with Quiet Light Brokerage.

In this episode, Dave looks at the potential for seller restitution, how much Amazon sellers could actually get from Amazon, and how sellers can maximize the chances of getting some kind of monetary compensation. Dave looks at past cases involving the FTC vs. tech companies, and Amazon's press release regarding this lawsuit to support today's topic.

In a rush? High-level timestamps can be found down below:

• 00:00 - FTC lawsuit overview
• 00:30 - What today's episode will cover: comparable cases and settlement odds
• 01:20 - Tariff anxiety, business stress, and why some sellers consider exiting
• 02:18 - Why Dave recommends Quiet Light Brokerage for founders thinking about selling
• 04:13 - The FTC's $20 billion allegation and why a settlement is more likely than a trial
• 05:12 - Why FTC cases often end in settlement: the historical success rate
• 06:09 - Amazon's response and its biggest objection to the FTC narrative
• 07:34 - Amazon's explanation for changing ad auction systems as it scaled
• 08:57 - Why sellers still care about auction mechanics, not just ROI
• 11:48 - Fleetcor Technologies Case: hidden fees, FTC action, and a $100 million restitution deal
• 14:45 - Why Amazon's alleged $20 billion damages make a billion-dollar settlement plausible
• 15:43 - Amazon Prime cancellation lawsuit as the closest precedent
• 16:39 - The $2.5 billion Prime settlement and what individuals received back
• 17:37 - Why Amazon may care less about seller backlash than consumer backlash
• 19:02 - Why sellers should amplify the case and pressure Amazon publicly
• 20:59 - A rough payout model: what $20 billion could mean per seller
• 22:55 - Why calculating individual restitution will be messy
• 23:24 - Which ad products may have been hit hardest and a simple 8% refund idea
• 25:21 - The risk of Amazon burying the case versus forcing a meaningful payout
• 26:20 - How Amazon may need to change ad bidding transparency going forward

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave talks to Ben who shares his insights on the Philippines work culture, covering things like internet, the regional differences in English proficiency, and the small cultural nuances that impact hiring and productivity.

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 09:35 - Why is internet slow in the Philippines?
• 12:47 - How to improve internet access
• 14:38 - Electronics pricing and availability in the Philippines
• 16:24 - Side hustle culture among Filipinos
• 17:43 - English proficiency and regional differences
• 23:51 - Call center culture and work hours
• 27:03 - Work-life balance and family considerations
• 28:23 - Comparison of work culture with the West
• 29:34 - Gaming the system and productivity issues
• 33:28 - In-person work as a hiring perk
• 34:02 - Remote work preferences among Filipinos

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Amazon is being sued by the FTC and 22 states across the entire US, alleging that Amazon has purposefully deceived third-party sellers regarding how their advertising auction system works. In this episode, Dave goes through the court fillings and press release by the FTC. As a seller, you should be very upset.

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 02:14 - Details of the FTC's allegations
• 06:02 - How Amazon's auction system has deceived sellers
• 12:13 - Internal documents from Amazon
• 16:04 - Potential impact
• 19:56 - What this means for Amazon
• 21:52 - Implications for Amazon sellers

In this episode, Dave talks about what finally changed in his Facebook Ad Performance after years of frustration and dull performance. He explains what specifically flipped the switch in his thinking, why winning Amazon products don't necessarily translate to Facebook Ads, and what kind of products do work. Dave also lists out a few tips that he's picked up over the years, including what to optimize for, how long to test, and more.

• 00:00 - Why Dave struggled to make Facebook Ads work
• 02:46 - Why Google and Amazon Ads don't translate on Facebook
• 05:40 - The #1 Revelation
• 06:40 - What products work better on Facebook and TikTok
• 09:31 - Why Facebook Targeting is More Algorithm-Driven
• 13:13 - Ad Fatigue
• 14:50 - AI Image Ads vs AI Video Ads
• 17:15 - Iterating on Winning Ads vs. Starting Over
• 21:07 - Optimize for Conversions, Not Clicks
• 22:34 - How long to test ads and what daily budget to use
• 23:03 - Why you should not send Facebook traffic directly to Amazon
• 24:28 - Why busier landing pages often convert better
• 26:22 - The Exchange Life example and the power of visual overload
• 27:17 - Final takeaway - build for the channel, not the catalog

• Quiet Light Brokerage
• The Exitpreneur
• Jungle Scout

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Dave speaks to Michael Shackelford from Genrupt, to discuss the newest AI video model from ByteDance. They dive into Seedance 2.5, how they compare against other AI models, and how small businesses can create high-quality videos efficiently. They dive into the best practices for e-commerce businesses, the several ways users can leverage Seedance 2.5 and post-production tips.

Thinking about taking some risk off the table? Or are you looking at taking an extended break from e-commerce in general? Know what your e-commerce business is worth with Quiet Light Brokerage.

• 00:00 - Introduction to Seed Dance 2.5 and its significance
• 02:07 - The breakthrough capabilities of ByteDance's Seed Dance 2.5
• 04:10 - Differences between Seed Dance 2.0 and 2.5
• 05:18 - Creating seamless 30-second videos with AI prompts
• 07:35 - Platforms and tools for accessing Seed Dance 2.5
• 09:24 - Addressing privacy concerns with Chinese AI models
• 11:38 - Cost and efficiency of AI video generation
• 13:41 - Prompting strategies for high-quality AI videos
• 16:08 - Using video references to improve AI output
• 19:13 - Structuring prompts for effective AI video creation
• 22:02 - Leveraging YouTube and TikTok videos as references
• 24:23 - Workflows for AI video production and post-production tips
• 33:57 - Services offered by GenRup for AI video creation

• Quiet Light Brokerage
• The Exitpreneur
• GenRupt
• GenRupt Agency
• Jungle Scout
• Higgsfield - one of the platforms mentioned that offers Seed Dance
• CapCut - another platform mentioned that offers Seed Dance
• Dreamina - ByteDance's own platform mentioned for using Seed Dance
• Google Omni - Google's video editing model
• Suno - AI-generated music platform

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave dives into 3 fascinating and wildly successful Amazon businesses and uncovers what sets them apart from every other e-commerce business, their business models, and how they became successful.

Thinking about taking some risk off the table? Or are you looking at taking an extended break from e-commerce in general? Know what your e-commerce business is worth with Quiet Light Brokerage.

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 01:39 - Business #1 and their unique business model
• 02:37 - Business #1's Unique catalog size
• 04:04 - How Business #1 gets their products
• 05:03 - Business #1's affiliate marketing tactics
• 07:28 - Overview of Business #2
• 08:53 - Business #2's revenue, ownership, and connections
• 13:42 - Business #3's suspension, pivot and second life on Amazon
• 17:26 - Business #3's IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
• 21:40 - Business #3's stock performance

• Quiet Light Brokerage
• The Exitpreneur

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Amazon's Q2 growth has been crazy in the past few weeks. With a 20% growth, Dave explores the possible reasons why Amazon's retail division has seen so much growth.

Thinking about taking some risk off the table? Or are you looking at taking an extended break from e-commerce in general? Know what your e-commerce business is worth with Quiet Light Brokerage.

• 00:00 - Amazon's Stock Surge and Retail Growth
• 02:13 - The Seven Year Business Itch and Selling Your Business
• 03:09 - Amazon's Quarterly Highlights and AI's Role
• 04:38 - How Amazon's Retail Division Is Achieving 15% Growth
• 06:33 - Impact of Tariffs and De Minimis Changes on Amazon
• 08:59 - Chinese Competitors and US Market Disruption
• 11:23 - Amazon Haul and Low-Price Opportunities
• 12:46 - Amazon's Expansion into Essentials and Fast Delivery
• 16:34 - Inflation and Its Effect on Amazon Sales
• 19:00 - Amazon's Competitive Pricing and Future Outlook

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Parag from WebGility shares what he's observed in the profitability differences between six, seven, and eight-figure e-commerce sellers. Other than that, Parag also dives into SKU level economics, overlooked fees, and the best channels to expand to, to maximize profits.

Accounting is one of the most boring things about e-commerce.

But it remains to be one of the most important parts of running an e-commerce business.

Because if you are only keeping an eye on your top-line revenue, you might be overlooking an important aspect of your profitability.

That's why in today's episode I'm joined by Parag Mamnani, the CEO of Webgility, where we talk about the most overlooked factors that affect profitability and what the biggest differences are between 6, and 8 figure sellers.

Thinking about taking some risk off the table? Or are you looking at taking an extended break from e-commerce in general? Know what your e-commerce business is worth with Quiet Light Brokerage.

• 00:00 - Introduction to seller profitability tiers
• 00:29 - WebGility's role in e-commerce bookkeeping
• 04:28 - Differences between WebGility and competitors
• 07:15 - Real-time SKU level data and AI integration
• 09:33 - Lessons from scaling from six to eight figures
• 11:02 - Emerging profitable channels beyond Amazon
• 13:22 - Channel expansion and complexity management
• 16:42 - Impact of AI and brand differentiation
• 18:28 - Transparency and competition on Amazon
• 21:38 - Revenue size and scaling challenges
• 24:32 - Thresholds for business sophistication
• 28:47 - Granular expense analysis for profitability
• 32:36 - WebGility's SKU-level reporting and support
• 34:51 - The importance of accountability in financial data
• 35:32 - Ideal customer profile for WebGility

• WebGility - https://www.webgility.com
• Quiet Light Brokerage - https://quietlight.com
• The Exitpreneur - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Exitpreneur

Want to hear more about Parag or Webgility? You can learn more about Parag through his linkedin page here, and through his company Webgility.

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!