Scott takes a deep dive into the evolving Amazon marketplace to determine whether it still offers the same potential for success as it once did.

From shifting trends in product sourcing and search traffic to the challenges of launching new private-label products, he explores sellers' strategies to thrive despite increasing competition and changing policies. He also tackles many sellers' pain points, such as account suspensions, bundling complexities, and changes to Amazon’s reimbursement policies.

As Amazon continues to grow, so do the opportunities for partnerships and expansion. However, the platform’s rapid evolution comes with growing pains, and he discusses how sellers can navigate these challenges while staying profitable.

Join Scott as he uncovers what it takes to succeed on Amazon in 2025 and beyond.

Episode Notes:

01:30 - Marketplace Pulse Year in Review

05:20 - Amazon Haul

06:15 - Starting a New Private Label Product

07:05 - Increase in Section 3 Suspensions

09:15 - Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC)

10:40 - Exceptions on Bundles

12:40 - Jungle Scout and Helium 10 Search Traffic

14:20 - Alibaba to Amazon Search Volume

15:40 - Amazon Fees not Going Up

16:15 - Amazon Business Growing

17:10 - Growing Pains of Amazon

17:30 - Amazon Partnerships

17:55 - Amazon Reimbursement Policy

18:55 - Next Podcast Topics

Related Post: Top 50 Amazon Marketing Agencies for 2025

Scott welcomes John Aspinall from PickFu after a two-month hiatus on guests.

Episode Notes:

01:30 - John Aspinall Introduction

03:00 - Graphic Designer vs Merchandising Designer

06:30 - The Clickthrough Rate Comeback

08:30 - Best Practices on Merchandising

14:10 - Optimizing for Humans and Bots

15:10 - Designing Product Images

19:45 - The Image Guidelines

22:20 - Seasonal Merchandising

24:40 - The Risk/Rewards of Merchandising Experiments

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jaspinall

Website: AmazonCTR.com | pickfu.com

Related Post: 7 Pro Amazon Listing Optimization Tips to Send Your Sales Soaring

Scott breaks down the two primary types of Amazon professionals (service providers and brand owners) and discusses the potential of categories such as grocery, beauty, consumables, and pet products.

He demonstrates how SmartScout can help identify valuable brands and gain insights from trade show analysis without attending in person.

The podcast also explores the shift in the beauty industry from “luxury” to “premium” and the implications for resellers due to brand gating initiatives. Plus, a real-world example of how price points can influence consumer choices is shared, using the AMD vs. Intel case study.

Episode Notes:

00:10 - Two Types of Amazon Professionals

01:35 - Strategies for Type 1 Sellers

06:15 - Strategies for Type 2 Sellers

10:30 - Observations and Industry Insights

13:10 - Intel vs AMD Amazon Advertising

SmartScout Tradeshows

AMZ United

Voice of the Amazon Seller

Related Post: Amazon Ungated Categories: Everything You Need to Know

Amazon coupons. Scott explores their potential to significantly boost your sales.

Episode Notes:

00:10 - The Power of Coupons in Boosting Sales

01:35 - Jackery Case Study: High-Impact Coupon Strategy

02:50 - Understanding Amazon's Pricing Flexibility

03:55 - The Changing Landscape of Amazon Discounts

05:05 - The Consumer Perspective on Coupons

06:55 - Coupons as a Strategic Sales Tool

07:45 - Community Engagement and Survey Initiative

09:35 - Golden Seller Awards

Related Post: Top 50 Amazon Marketing Agencies for 2025

Scott examines the evolving landscape of the Amazon seller ecosystem. From web traffic to key tools such as Helium 10 and Jungle Scout declining by 50% over the past two years, the conversation centers on what this means for new and established sellers.

Episode Notes:

00:10 - Market Forces and Trends

02:15 - Traffic Decline of Top Amazon Seller Tools

05:05 - Growth of Large Brands

06:45 - Analyzing The Broader Market

08:10 - Effects of Political Events on Market Dynamics

09:38 - Observations on Chinese Market Impact

10:40 - Insights on Chinese Sellers in the Amazon Marketplace

Related Post: The 10 Largest Amazon Vendor Brands

Amazon has recently updated its bundle policy, and this episode is dedicated to breaking down the implications for sellers of all sizes.

Episode Notes:

01:50 - Updated Product Bundling Policy for Consumables

03:35 - Example of Non-compliant Bundle

04:30 - Case Study: Fender Guitar Bundles

07:43 - The Role of Software in Bundling

Related Post: Traffic Graph Update

Amazon is again shaking up the e-commerce world with its latest initiative: a low-cost store designed to compete with emerging players such as Temu. This new program offers rock-bottom prices and ultra-fast shipping directly from China.

Scott delves into the potential impact of this move on small private label sellers and established brands. He discusses how this strategy could affect product categories and pricing dynamics.

To stay ahead of the curve, Scott also explores the use of SmartScout to identify competitive opportunities and potential threats from Chinese sellers. Join him as he navigates this evolving landscape and discusses strategies to adapt your business accordingly.

Episode Notes:

00:27 - Amazon's new low-cost store initiative

02:35 - Key Aspects of the New Program

04:17 - Invite-only Nature and Sourcing from China

05:20 - Focus on Lightweight Items and Restrictions on Certain Product Categories

05:53 - Branded by Amazon

06:45 - No Returns

07:05 - Fulfillment Fees

07:55 - Impact on the E-Commerce Landscape

10:16 - Strategy and Tool for Small Private Label Sellers

Related Post: How To Use a China Sourcing Agent

Scott explores the limitations of popular FBA calculators and uncovers hidden costs that can significantly impact profitability. He discusses the importance of accurate accounting and inventory tracking, as well as strategies for managing high return rates.

Episode Notes:

01:15 - FBA Calculators Lies

04:35 - Understanding Profitability

08:55 - Amazon FBA Calculator

10:06 - Best Accounting Methods for Amazon Sellers

12:00 - How to Have a Profitable Amazon Business

Coupon Code: Smart2024

Related Posts:

The Best Accounting Methods for Amazon Sellers

Profit Estimations

In this episode, we're joined by Max Sinclair, Founder and CEO at Ecomtent, to explore how AI tools can revolutionize your e-commerce strategy.

Episode Notes:

00:50 - Max Sinclair Introduction and Background

05:40 - AI's Impact on E-commerce

07:20 - Content Creation and the Importance of Visual SEO

08:45 - Streamlining Content Generation

13:30 - How Templates Streamline Content Creation for Non-designers

18:10 - Enhanced Brand Content

20:50 - Primary Image Optimization

25:15 - Technical Insights and Data Usage

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/max-sinclair-ai

Website: ecomtent.ai/

X: x.com/maxsinclair4

Related Post: How to Use AI for Successful Amazon Selling

Get the latest on Amazon's pricing trends, including an upcoming inflation report.

Scott compares 1P and 3P sellers and discusses how major brands like Apple dominate the marketplace. Understand how inflation affects Amazon's pricing strategies, particularly for Chinese sellers. Gain insights into the challenges and methodologies used to analyze price trends across millions of products.

Plus, learn about the prestigious Golden Seller Awards.

00:15 - About The Smartest Amazon Seller

02:30 - Golden Seller Awards

04:20 - Average Price of Selling ASINs

04:59 - 1P Brands Report

08:15 - 1P vs 3P

11:28 - Inflation Prices on Amazon Marketplace

Related Post: ‍How to Search Amazon Storefronts and Sellers