Upside

In this episode of Upside, Ali Shariat and Leon Rymer break down the biggest announcements from Amazon Accelerate in Seattle and the Unboxed advertising conference in San Francisco. We analyze Amazon's new AI-powered Seller Assistant, sponsored prompts, and the expansion of global warehousing and distribution facilities in China. We also explore multi-channel logistics improvements, listing protection updates, and new advertising solutions from Unboxed like Diva Plus and full-funnel campaigns.

In this episode, Ali Shariat and Leon Rymer break down the FTC and 22-state lawsuit alleging Amazon secretly manipulated ad costs over seven years across Sponsored Products, Brands, and Display ads. They explain how Amazon allegedly used hidden "soft reserves" to quietly turn second-price ad auctions into first-price auctions, causing sellers to pay their maximum bids up to 80% of the time. Learn about the leaked internal emails, Amazon's weak public defense, and three tactical steps sellers can take right now to lower costs and protect their ad budgets.

In this episode of Al's Wacky Business Ideas, he pitch zero- and low-cost side hustle concepts that anyone can launch over a single weekend. From consignment e-commerce reselling and hyper-local print-on-demand merch to an automated grocery price-comparing app and seasonal house decorating services, explore creative ways to make extra cash with minimal upfront investment.

In this episode, Ali Shariat and Leon Rymer break down the seven critical ways your e-commerce dashboard might be lying to you. From misleading review averages and brand ad spend traps to hidden cash flow delays and inventory rank drops, they unpack why top-level metrics rarely tell the whole story and how to dig deeper into your numbers.

In this episode of Upside News, Ali Shariat and Leon Rymer break down the latest AI and e-commerce news. We debate if OpenAI's ChatGPT 6 Astra signifies the AGI era, explore Amazon's Rufus rollout on WhatsApp, and analyze TikTok Shop opening EU markets to UK sellers.

In this episode, Ali Shariat and Leon Rymer answer the most common questions raised by premium brands and distributors evaluating Amazon. They address whether listing on Amazon cheapens a luxury brand's image, how convenience shoppers respond to brand stories, and whether a brand can test the platform secretly without upsetting existing wholesale stockists.

In this episode, Ali Shariat and Leon Rymer break down the latest e-commerce and retail headlines in the UK. We discuss Amazon’s official launch of Prime Air drone deliveries, the rising UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) and its potential impact on Q4 consumer confidence, and the long-awaited UK arrival of Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD).

In this episode of Upside, Ali Shariat and Leon Rymer explore how e-commerce brands and business owners are adapting to the modern artificial intelligence landscape. Most people are still interacting with AI like it is 2024, treating software as simple Q&A tools rather than giving them genuine agency to operate alongside them. We break down why relying on basic prompts is obsolete and explain how to shift toward AI agents that act as virtual coworkers sitting at the table with you.

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.