In this episode, Ali Shariat and Leon Rhymer break down the most common questions and costly mistakes new brands encounter when launching on Amazon. They unpack outrageous £100k agency quotes, realistic break-even timelines, and what duties a brand must retain when outsourcing. They also clarify the difference between feasibility and forecast spreadsheets, discuss the risks of using third-party resellers, and explain how to troubleshoot conversion issues without panic-switching off ad campaigns.

In this episode of Upside News, Leon Rymer and Ali Shariat break down live selling's massive expansion, shifting global trade policies, and severe supply chain cost surges impacting e-commerce sellers. We examine live-shopping platform Whatnot crossing one billion orders and securing a $20 billion valuation. Comparing Whatnot’s run rate against traditional broadcast channels like QVC, they evaluate whether brands should commit the 20+ hours per week required for live selling or leverage third-party agencies.

Welcome to our special 100th episode of Upside, recorded live in the Cambridge countryside! To celebrate this milestone, we flipped the script and put our CEOs, Ali Shariat and Zamir Cajee, in the hot seat for an unfiltered, no-holds-barred Ask Us Anything where our team could ask absolutely anything without boundaries.

In this episode of Upside News, Ali Shariat and Leon Rhymer break down the latest news headlines impacting e-commerce brands and Amazon sellers. They dive into Amazon's battle to protect its $20 billion quarterly ad revenue against emerging AI trends, the importance of building a strong brand moat as voice and AI shopping evolve, and the indirect fulfillment dynamics between TikTok Shop and Amazon FBA.

In this episode, Ali Shariah and Leon Rhymer analyze the battle between TikTok Shop and Amazon to answer where e-commerce brands should focus their time and resources. They compare TikTok Shop's rapid gross merchandise volume growth against Amazon's dominant market presence, highlighting major demographic shifts as older cohorts rapidly join social platforms. The hosts break down the full sales funnel, explaining why Amazon operates as an unbeatable bottom-funnel conversion machine while TikTok excels at top-funnel discovery, education, and demand creation. Rather than choosing one platform, Ali and Leon reveal the playbook for using both channels in tandem to drive sustainable e-commerce growth, while addressing critical long-term challenges such as virality dependency, affiliate content quality, and customer trust.

In this episode, Ali Shariat and Leon Rhymer sit down with James Sutcliffe, the founder of The Founding Network. The Founding Network is a robust community that brings together over 1,200 founders to share their expertise and navigate the complex challenges of scaling a business. James opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, detailing how he took the leap to start his venture during the COVID-19 pandemic with a baby on the way. He provides candid insights into the realities of the founder experience, exploring the emotional isolation of building a company and the intense financial and reputational strain it creates. The conversation dives deep into the practical hurdles of business growth, explaining why many founders transition from being the core engine of their business to its biggest bottleneck as they approach the £1 million to £5 million revenue marks.

Join Ali Shariat and Leon Rhymer for this week's Upside News as they break down the latest developments impacting Amazon sellers. From new US tariffs and postal duty changes to Amazon's AI image disclosure rules and rising freight costs, they explain what these updates mean for your business. Plus, they discuss the growing pushback against Amazon's increasing fees and wrap up with a few positive industry headlines.

In this episode of Good, Bad & The Ugly, Leon Rymer, Will Plant, and Cormac Wooller review, analyze, and rank the biggest World Cup advertising campaigns and sports marketing strategies. From clever guerrilla marketing moves by Levi's and Beats to high-stakes campaign blunders like Budweiser’s Qatar stadium ban and Nike’s controversial billboards, the hosts explore what makes sports advertising iconic or forgettable.

In this episode, Ali Shariat and Leon Rymer discuss the latest developments in e-commerce and Amazon selling. They break down major industry news, including the latest changes affecting Temu and other global marketplaces, before answering some of the most common questions from brands. The conversation also covers the biggest mistakes businesses make when launching and scaling on Amazon, with practical advice on advertising, forecasting, inventory management, and long-term growth strategies.

Many brands struggle with agencies because the common "one-size-fits-all" model often prioritizes internal scalability over true strategic growth. To avoid this, it is crucial to find an external partner whose incentives align with your specific business goals, rather than just acting as a churn-heavy service provider. When evaluating a potential partner, look for transparency, proactive communication, and an ability to demonstrate how their work directly impacts your profitability.