The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast

In this episode, Mike and Dave evaluate the impact of Google's September 2023 Update on EcomCrew's and other websites, and talk about the new challenges that have popped up because of this update.

Ever since September 2023, ranking on Google as an affiliate site has been harder than ever.

We've seen websites (including ours) decline in organic views from 20% to 80%, while Reddit has started to rank for every keyword.

If Google continue towards this trend of giving big websites all the ranking juice, what happens to affiliate websites? And by extension, what does that mean for all digital media outlets?

Dave and I discuss all these topics and more in this episode. Here are some timestamps to help you along.

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 01:26 - Economies of Scale and Content Sites
• 04:20 - Google's Helpful Update and Content Sites
• 08:07 - The Rise of Reddit
• 19:29 - Challenges of Self-Promotion on Reddit
• 23:36 - The Future of Content Sites and Digital Media
• 24:06 - Conclusion

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at [email protected] if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave discusses how to reduce inbound placement fees with Amazon, how placement fees are calculated and who the winners and losers are since these fees were implemented.

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!

It's been a few months since Amazon implemented their new Inbound Placement Fees.

The amount of increase varies, depending on the product, warehouse location, and other factors. But the good news is that you don't always have to pay the fees.

In this episode, we'll explore the 3 ways you can use to avoid or reduce your Inventory Placement Fee when sending products to Amazon.

1. Shipping to four or more locations can help avoid placement fees.
2. Shipping to Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) can also help avoid placement fees, although it may come with other fees such as receiving and warehousing fees.
3. Choosing a more centralized 3PL can help minimize placement fees and partner carrier fees.

• 00:00 - Introduction to Placement Fees
• 02:20 - Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) as a Solution
• 10:53 - Ship into AWD to Avoid Placement Fees
• 13:48 - Consider the Location of Your 3PL
• 17:09 - Impact of Placement Fees on Profitability

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at [email protected] if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Mike interviews Ajoy Krishnamoorthy, the CEO of Cin7, about the importance of software in e-commerce businesses, the challenges of managing inventory across multiple channels, and the benefits of using AI to forecast inventory for your business.

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!

Branching out into another marketplace can make things more complicated than you think, inventory and accounting wise.

Having an inventory management software can make things easier, but how?

Ajoy Krishnamoorthy, the CEO of Cin7, an inventory management software, is on the podcast today to explain and talk about how an inventory management system can help simplify selling in multiple ecommerce platforms.

• Managing inventory across multiple channels can be challenging and requires a centralised system.
• AI and machine learning can improve forecasting accuracy and help make informed inventory decisions.
• Data-driven insights are essential for optimizing inventory and improving business performance.

• 00:00 - Introduction & Sponsorship
• 01:29 - Introduction to Ajoy Krishnamurthy and Cin7
• 04:46 - Challenges of Managing Inventory Across Multiple Channels
• 10:39 - The Importance of Accurate Forecasting in Inventory Management
• 20:48 - Streamlining Financial Processes with Accounting Integration
• 25:24 - AI as an Enabler for Business Growth

• Brain Dead brand case study
• Ajoy's LinkedIn
• Get 50% off Core Plan for Cin7 for 3 months!

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at [email protected] if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

With Prime Day over and Amazon's Q2 earnings report revealed, Dave recaps how his Prime Day went and what does means for the future of third party sellers on Amazon.

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!

Prime Day 2024 was touted as the biggest shopping event ever, with record sales and more items sold than any previous Prime Day.

But who were the real winners of Prime Day?

Today, Dave talks about his personal Prime Day experience, how Amazon missed their estimates for Q2, and what that means for third party sellers.

• Amazon's Q2 earnings showed sluggish growth in online store revenue and missed estimates for the "third-party seller services and advertising revenue" section. This might mean more fees in Q3.
• Prime Day 2024 was the biggest shopping event ever, but its impact on overall sales is questionable as consumers may be delaying their purchases.
• Buy Now, Pay Later options are gaining popularity, accounting for 7.6% of all orders during Prime Day.
• Amazon Basics was the most searched for brand during Prime Day, indicating consumers' demand for low priced products.
• Apparel is emerging as a strong category on Amazon, potentially due to Amazon's response to Temu and Shein.

• 00:00 - Introduction: Amazon's Q2 Earnings and Prime Day 2024
• 03:06 - Sluggish Growth and Missed Estimates
• 09:47 - Prime Day 2024: The Biggest Shopping Event Ever?
• 13:02 - The Rise of Buy Now, Pay Later
• 17:42 - Amazon Basics: The Most Searched for Brand on Prime Day
• 21:24 - Apparel: A Strong Category on Amazon

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at [email protected] if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

To find out what exactly happens to these returns and where they go, Dave stuck an Apple Airtag in it and tracked it over the next 3 months.

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!

Have you ever wondered what happens to your Amazon returns?

Earlier in the year, Dave bought an Amazon Basics gym bag that he needed to return. To find out what exactly happens to these returns and where they go, he stuck an Apple Airtag in it and tracked it over the next 3 months. Here's exactly where it went and how I found it.

• Amazon inspects returns for their condition and might resell them to liquidators if they're not "like new".
• 80% of customers mark items as "wrong item sent" to avoid return shipping charges.
• There is a huge reseller market for Amazon returns.

• 00:00 - Introduction: Tracking an Amazon Return
• 08:05 - The Reseller Market for Amazon Returns
• 13:17 - Buying Back the Returned Item
• 17:05 - The Environmental Consequences of Returns

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at [email protected] if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Dave joins the podcast today to talk about Prime Day 2024; what their early sales look like, whether Chinese Marketplaces are going to start more shopping holidays, and why this might be the worst Prime Day so far.

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!

Prime Day 2024 has been nowhere close to what we've seen in sales the year before.

Now these might be niche and brand specific, but it's worth pointing out that maybe this year hasn't been as great as last year, where we saw 2.5x to 3x the number of sales.

From a mixture of the early results and an overall negative perception of the shopping holiday, here's why Dave and I think this might be one of the worst Prime Days since its inception.

• Prime Day sales boosts might not be felt by everyone - it could vary depending on brand and niche.
• If you aren't trying to spread brand awareness, it might not be worth it to sell your products at a loss.
• Chinese competitors like Temu and Shein might start to challenge Amazon's dominance on Prime Day and create their own shopping holidays in the US.

• 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor
• 02:17 - Early Results of Prime Day
• 02:39 - Feelings about Prime Day
• 04:17 - Why this might be the worst Prime Day
• 06:32 - Pent-up demand and scouting orders the day before
• 09:57 - The Negative Perception Around Prime Day
• 12:41 - Will chinese competitors hop on the same trend?
• 14:17 - Predictions: More shopping holidays are coming
• 18:10 - Casual stories with Mike and Dave

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at [email protected] if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Dave and I discuss the reasons why e-commerce valuations have significantly decreased this year, Mike's run at the World Series of Poker event, and the potential valuation of content websites.

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!

It's been almost a year since I last sold off one of my e-commerce businesses.

Since then, a lot has changed.

Amazon's new fees were implemented, interest rates have skyrocketed, and FBA Aggregators are few and far between.

I invited Dave over today to discuss how Amazon may or may not have had a hand in directly affecting the valuations of e-commerce businesses, and why the market hasn't recovered from 2 years ago. Here are some of the big takeaways from this episode:

• E-commerce valuations have decreased mainly due to the uncertainty caused by Amazon's fees and policies. Who knows when Amazon will come out with more fees that'll impact profitability?
• Google's latest algorithm update has hit a LOT of content websites, leading to decreased traffic for everyone involved which directly impact its valuations.
• If your e-commerce business is sold at a 2x multiple, it might not be enough for you to retire. Wouldn't it be better to hold onto your business instead?

• 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor
• 02:56 - Mike's Run at the World Series of Poker
• 08:13 - E-commerce Valuations
• 20:07 - Valuations for FBA Businesses
• 21:06 - Valuations for Off-Amazon Brands
• 22:01 - Uncertainty in Content Site Valuations
• 28:14 - Decision to Hold onto a Profitable Business
• 31:08 - Dave's Funny Story
• 34:21 - eBay's Attempt to Change

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at [email protected] if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Brandon Eley joins the podcast to talk about his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges and opportunities of picking a complex product for private labelling, and why the road less travelled can be the better option when picking a product.

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!

Complexity can be an opportunity.

You've probably heard me say it multiple times if you're a loyal podcast listener.

But today's episode is a prime example of this phrase.

Brandon Eley sells shoes at his company, 2 Big Feet. What sets his business apart from other shoe stores is that he only sells shoes for US sizes ranging from 15-25.

Now you must be thinking: "How big is his target market?"

Don't worry, I asked him the same question. Here's some timestamps below if you want to skip directly to it:

• 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor
• 01:28 - Starting Too Big Feet and Meeting the Demand
• 07:12 - Challenges in the Shoe Industry and the Evolution of Too Big Feet
• 14:15 - The Journey of Manufacturing Shoes
• 19:06 - Creating Affordable Options for Customers
• 27:40 - Quality Control and Addressing Manufacturing Defects
• 36:13 - Success and Growth of Michael Ellis Footwear

• Starting an ultra-niche ecommerce business can be successful, especially if there is a demand for a specific product or service.
• Manufacturing shoes is a lot more complex than you think. It involves designing patterns, selecting materials, and working with factories to create the final product.
• Offering affordable options for customers with specific needs can help differentiate a brand and attract a very loyal customer base.
• Investing in quality control and addressing manufacturing defects early is key to maintaining customer satisfaction.

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at [email protected] if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

In this episode, Dave shows 10 ways you can reduce stupid PPC Spend and maximise efficiency just in time for Prime Day.

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!

Prime Day 2023 saw people spend up to $12.9bn alone.

Obviously, everyone wants a piece of the pie. You can expect competitors to increase their ad spend 2x or even 3x more just for the possibility of more sales. To prepare for this year's Prime Day, there are some ways you can maximise the efficiency of your ad spend.

However what these sellers fail to notice is that it's all about maximising efficiency of your running ads.

That's why my partner-in-crime, Dave Bryant, is on the podcast today to talk about the 10 ways you can maximise your efficiency and reduce ad spend.

• 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor
• 01:28 - Topic: Reducing PPC Spend on Amazon
• 03:51 - Optimizing Targeting Options in Auto Campaigns
• 05:16 - Optimizing Targeting Options in Manual Campaigns
• 07:37 - Using Dynamic Bids Down Only and Avoiding Broad Match
• 10:30 - Avoiding Ads in Other Countries and Turning Off Sponsored Display
• 13:52 - Unclicking Expanded Product Targeting and Using Exact Match
• 17:44 - Conclusion and Call to Action

• Increasing conversion rates can lower ad costs and improve ROAS.

• Turn off loose match targeting in auto campaigns and optimize targeting options in manual campaigns.

• Use dynamic bids down only and be cautious with broad match keywords.

• Don't let Amazon set up ads in other countries and consider turning off sponsored display campaigns.

• Lowering prices may be a better option than increasing PPC to improve profitability.

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at [email protected] if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!

Aaron Hughes makes his second appearance on the Ecomcrew Podcast to talk about all things Tiktok Shop, and why people should start leveraging the platform for their ecommerce businesses.

Today's episode is sponsored by Clearco, a company that provides ecommerce businesses with working capital to fund inventory, marketing, shipping and logistics, and more! Check them out today!

During my last eCommerceFuel Live Trip, the one common topic that frequently came up was about was how good Tiktok Shop was for their businesses.

Unfortunately, ice packs don't really have a passionate audience, so I brought in someone who's products have had a significant uplift from TikTok Shop alone. That's why I've invited Aaron Hughes on the podcast today!

Aaron Hughes is no stranger on the podcast but he's back to talk about how Tiktok Shop has performed for his business, the impacts the platform has had on his business, and a few tips for people who haven't bit the bullet yet.

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:33 - Sponsor Segment
• 1:43 - Recording Issues
• 3:03 - TikTok Shop for E-commerce Marketing
• 7:59 - Getting Set Up on TikTok Shop
• 9:17 - The TikTok Ban
• 12:00 - Aaron's Strategies for Tiktok Shop
• 15:33 - How long did it take to start being successful?
• 17:32 - Top 3 Tips for TikTok Shop
• 20:25 - Leveraging Controversial Topics
• 21:53 - Building a Foundation on TikTok
• 23:00 - Aaron's New AI Listing Tool
• 27:32 - Mike's Last Question

• Don't discount your products' potential performance on TikTok Shop, whether they're a commodity or not.
• TikTok has become what everyone thought Walmart was going to be.

Aaron, thank you again for coming on the podcast. If you guys want to learn more about Listbutler or hiring from India, you can contact him directly at [email protected].

As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at [email protected] if you're interested.

Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time, happy selling!