Author: SellerBites

Merry Monday.

Are you having a hard time selling on Amazon lately? It’s not just you, though. But you may want to know other ways to boost your sales through other means—like the ones we share with you today.

• U.K. retailers vs. Amazon 🥊
• How to run a thriving Amazon business 💯
• False decline prevention 🫷
• Dynamic content best practices 💡

BLACK MARKET

Around 35,000 independent UK retailers, led by the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), launched a £1 billion (around $1.27 billion) claim for damages against Amazon. This isn’t just a minor dispute—this is the biggest retail class action yet!

According to The Guardian, the merchants allege that Amazon has been pushing them out of its marketplace.

🔴 What’s got the retailers so riled up?

They claim that Amazon’s 30% commission on every product sold is already squeezing out small retailers. Additionally, they claim Amazon has been playing dirty since 2015 by:

• Using non-public data from independent retailers to launch competing products
• Manipulating the coveted Buy Boxto favor its items over those of the smaller sellers.

BIRA plans to file over 1,150 pages of documents supporting its claims in London’s competition appeal tribunal. 🗂️

Meanwhile, Amazon dismisses these claims as baseless. The company emphasizes that its platform supports over 100,000 small and medium-sized businesses in the U.K., contributing to more than half of all physical product sales. According to Amazon, they only succeed when their selling partners succeed.

Not a first for Amazon

The retail giant also faced similar scrutiny from the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the EU Commission. This led to commitments for fairer competition and restrictions on using third-party data unfairly.

As this legal saga unfolds, it’s clear that the outcome will be significant for the U.K.’s retail sector. For now, we can keep our fingers crossed and hope for a fairer marketplace. Stay tuned for further updates. 👀

TOGETHER WITH EZ-COMMERCE

Ready to run a thriving Amazon business?

As Amazon tightly clings to its crown as the ecommerce king, many embark on becoming successful ecommerce entrepreneurs.

If you’re one of these aspirants, you should first understand the difficulties you’ll face, including securing a sufficient initial investment and mastering the technical aspects of online retail.

Initial investment

Starting an Amazon business requires a substantial financial investment, especially in the first year.

Here’s the estimated capital needed to cover all aspects of setting up and running an online store:

• Inventory: $500 to $1,000, depending on the product type and quantity
• Amazon fees: Enough to cover referral, fulfillment, and storage fees. You can go for self-fulfillment options instead of FBA, but you should be prepared to cover the cost (and probably stress) of storing, packing, and shipping products yourself.
• Marketing and advertising: Starts at $100 for an initial PPC campaign (could be more if you recruit the help of influencers).
• Tools and services: Hundreds to a couple thousand, depending on how many tools, external services (like graphic design), and subscriptions you use.
• Emergency fund: Like personal expenses, a good rule is to keep enough to sustain 3 months of operation without income.

Learning the tech stuff

Mastering the technical aspects of running an Amazon business is another significant hurdle. The platform requires you to gain knowledge on how to:

• Optimize listings, including understanding Amazon’s A9 algorithm
• Navigate Amazon Seller Central and FBA (if you choose this over the self-fulfillment options)
• Analyze data and trends (KPIs, ROI, customer acquisition costs, etc.)
• Comply with and monitor Amazon’s rules, regulations, and policy updates

So, are you ready to run a thriving Amazon business?

We sure hope you are. The sooner you begin your Amazon journey, the faster you can polish your strategy to become a better seller.

If you’re not 100% prepped, don’t worry! There’s EZ-commerce—a trusty partner that can help scale and transform your brand into an Amazon success story.

Click on the link below to learn more. 👇

I want to be the next Amazon success story!

BITES OF THE WEEK

• Gen Z Things: Here’s what you should know about Gen Zs’ spending habits.
• Top Tools: Did you know choosing the right digital marketing tools is enough to keep you competitive without breaking the bank?
• Drone Wars: Who do you think will dominate drone delivery first, Walmart or Amazon?

HOT TOPIC

5 steps to prevent false declines

Have you ever heard of false declines?

The Future of Ecommerce defines them as legitimate orders mistakenly rejected due to suspected fraud. They’re also called “false positives,” which is the opposite of what buyers who experience them feel.

🚩False declines lead to:

• Loss of revenue due to missed sales;
• Loss of loyalty due to bad customer experience, with 42% eventually boycotting brands; and
• Deteriorating brand reputation, especially when shoppers share feedback online.

Of course, buyers aren’t the only problem if you commit false declines. Marketers and influencers might refuse to work with your brand if you’re frequently reported for rejecting orders.

So, how do you avoid false declines?

• Benchmark false decline and fraud rates by market and platform through the help of data and tools. Then, you can set your benchmarks to help you control your numbers. 
• Tailor screening rules: Customize fraud rules for each market and platform to avoid unnecessary declines. For example, new social accounts or email addresses may be a red flag for existing or mature markets. 
• Recruit the help of an expert to review orders. This would help lower false decline rates caused by automated decisions.
• Respond to complaints—promptly and accurately.
• Track your data to check if your strategies are effective and make timely adjustments if necessary.

💉 Prevention is better than cure

After all, it’s easier to have safeguards against negative customer experiences than to re-engage and re-convince customers.

SELLER REFRESHER

Why you should use dynamic content for your business

Imagine if every customer visiting your online store felt like it was made just for them. That would definitely boost your sales and fame, right?

Well, here’s the good news: you can achieve that through dynamic content! ✨

Dynamic content refers to webpage content that changes based on the user’s data, location, behavior, or preferences. According to eCommerce Fastlane, this makes shopping a more personal and exciting experience for everyone.

🔍 Here are some types of dynamic content you can use to enhance your website:

• Personalized recommendations: Suggest items based on what customers viewed or bought before.
• Contextual offers: Provide special deals based on the customer’s location or time of day.
• Interactive elements: Engage shoppers with fun quizzes or surveys to guide them to the right products.
• Real-time updates: Display live social media feeds or news updates to show your business is active and relevant.

Some things to remember

If you’re convinced that you need to add dynamic content to your site, make sure to keep these best practices in mind:

• Protect customer data. Make sure you use, share, and collect data while complying with regulations.
• Start small and let your content grow naturally. Avoid overwhelming viewers with too much dynamic content upfront (which can be complex and costly).
• Update the content regularly. Monitor what works best and ensure the content remains relevant. Make sure you also optimize your dynamic content for mobile.

📝 Last reminder: Always think of your customers when creating content—especially how to engage them. Why having dynamic content can be useful, it still depends on how you can make every customer feel unique and special.

DYK Amazon is facing another lawsuit?

The retailer allegedly used non-public data belonging to UK merchants without authorization to manipulate the Featured Offer (formerly Buy Box). Now, the merchants want to face Amazon in court and demand $1.28 billion. That’s one expensive lawsuit!

By the way, we have another story about an expensive headache that might involve you.

• Identity fraud in ecommerce 🥷
• Important facts about online reviews 📜
• Ecommerce payment preferences 💳
• Seller Fulfilled Prime qualifications 💼

BLACK MARKET

According to a report by Retailbiz, the cost of fraud will reach $362 billion between 2023 and 2028. And do you know how much it will cost to resolve it?

💵 $3.75 per $1 of fraudulent activity!

That’s gonna be a very expensive headache for small and big businesses alike. To curb losses, retailers must understand what ecommerce fraud is prevalent and how they can stop it.

Common retail fraud

So far, identity fraud has been the most challenging problem. There are 3 tactics bad actors use to deceive sellers:

• Account takeover: Cybercriminals stole legitimate customer credentials to commit fraudulent transactions.
  • Solution: Integrate multi-factor authentication (MFA) at login to detect takeovers.
• New account fraud: Cybercriminals create new accounts that they let become dormant for a while. When it’s less suspicious, they will put them to fraudulent use.
  • Solution: Monitor account creation to identify suspicious activities.
• Bot attacks: Bad actors use bots to create numerous fake accounts.
  • Solution: Monitor account creation processes to detect bot activity.

🛡️ A holistic solution is necessary

Needless to say, sellers’ and customers’ identities must be protected to combat identity fraud (and other types of fraud actually). To do this, you need a comprehensive strategy to detect fraud early. You can also simplify the checkout process to lessen the hijacking risks while improving shopping experience.

TOGETHER WITH REVIEWSCOOP

4 facts that prove online reviews are essential for business growth

Selling on Amazon involves more than just building a good storefront; it’s about securing high-quality verified reviews on your Amazon product page.

Still not convinced? Here are some online review statistics you need to know:

• 99.9% of customers read reviews when they shop online.
• 96% of those specifically look for negative reviews. Customers are more likely to head straight to the reviews on the product page rather than the descriptions provided by the store.
• 49% of customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends and family. In today’s digital age, where the space is saturated with sponsored ads, word-of-mouth marketing is the best (and probably the cheapest) out there!
• 60% of consumers believe that the more reviews a business has, the more credible they are. Aside from quality, the quantity of reviews matters. It is perceived that a higher number of reviews is linked to a business’ credibility and popularity.

So, does this mean new businesses are at a disadvantage since they don’t have many reviews yet?

Yes, probably. But ReviewScoop is the best solution for this.

It’s the safest way to get reviews and social proof from genuine testers, fast!

What you’ll get:

• Hassle-free process – just reviews, no headaches
• High-quality verified product reviews for as low as $199/month
• Recurring monthly reviews

Use high-quality reviews as leverage against your competitors. Let your products shine with verified product reviews!

Learn more

BITES OF THE WEEK

• New Page: The new FBA Inventory Age & Excess Analytics page analyzes aging inventory.
• Gifts for Dad: Here are some products you may want to consider selling on Father’s Day.
• Google’s Reach: Amazon sellers are turning to Google Ads to boost brand visibility.

HOT TOPIC

The crucial role of payment options in maximizing your sales

As more consumers are being pulled into the world of ecommerce, online shops face the challenge of providing flexible payment options. It’s not an easy task because different buyer generations have different payment preferences.

The Future of Commerce breaks down generational trends in terms of ecommerce payments (so you don’t have to).

🏦 Pay per generation

According to the article, expectations and trends can be grouped into 3 main categories:

1. Security

• Baby Boomers (1946-1964)
  • Have the highest concern for online safety
  • Prefer traditional payment methods
• Gen Xers (1965-1980)
  • Highly concerned with security and privacy
  • Prefer payment methods with strong security records
• Millennials (1981-1996) & Gen Zs (1997-2020)
  • Willing to share data for personalized experiences
  • Prefer modern security measures like two-factor authentication and encrypted payments

2. Buyer financial health

• Baby Boomers
  • Generally financially secure and favor straightforward payment options
• Gen Xers
  • Financially stable and are at the peak earning potential
• Millennials
  • Most face financial challenges like student debt
• Gen Zs
  • Cautious spenders with low credit card usage. They favor budgeting tools and avoiding fees.

3. Convenience

• Baby Boomers
  • Stick to traditional methods (like in-person payment) despite the inconvenience
• Gen Xers
  • Moderate comfort with mobile payments. They prefer digital methods integrated with existing financial tools.
• Millennials
  • Early adopters of mobile wallets and peer-to-peer payment apps
• Gen Zs
  • Same with millennials but may delay purchases if preferred payment methods aren’t available.

Why is this relevant?

Simple: the more payment options you have, the wider your sales net is. 🥅

By offering various payment methods, you’re not only maximizing your sales potential—you’re also making your brand more attractive to all generations of shoppers.

SELLER REFRESHER

Looking to try Seller Fulfilled Prime? Here’s how to qualify for the program

Buyers aren’t the only ones with preferences. As sellers, you also have your favorite news source (*ahem*), business model, and fulfillment options.

⭐ Speaking of fulfillment options, you may be all too familiar with Amazon’s FBA, FBM, and Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP). The first two often have their spotlight moments, so Helium10 focuses on SFP to help you decide whether it’s worth trying (if you haven’t yet).

A little background

ICYDK, SFP enrollment was paused in 2020 and just reopened in October 2023. With the relaunch, Amazon promises better seller services.

SFP grants 3P sellers the Prime Badge—but only when they meet Amazon’s Prime standards. To be eligible you’ll need:

• Established store performance. We’re talking high fulfillment rate and low cancellation rate.
• Swift shipping speed. You should be able to offer same-day or next-day delivery.
• Dependable shipping options. You must use reliable carriers integrated with Amazon’s Buy Shipping Services.
• Proper inventory management. You should have an organized stock level tracking to prevent inventory issues.
• Excellent customer service, especially the means to provide prompt response to buyer inquiries and efficient issue resolution.
• Strict policy compliance. You must meet Amazon’s packaging, labeling, and shipping requirements.
• Good operational capacity, a.k.a. the ability to handle high order volumes efficiently.

⚠️ Warning: Caution is still required

Without a doubt, SFP is a great fulfillment alternative, especially when FBA gets congested. But as we said before, it also has stricter requirements. So while it’s a good idea to explore as many options as you can, it’s still a better one to always proceed with caution.

Happy Thursday.

There’s a question in our minds while writing today’s issue: why do some people prefer working alone and how do they efficiently achieve their goals on their own?

That takes a lot of skills and resourcefulness, so hats off to these amazing humans! But do they also think of hiring a partner once in a while? Because from what we have for you today, having a teammate could be a game-changer.

• Pros of Amazon’s Partner Network ✅
• Getting rich on Amazon 💲
• The secret to gaining solid Amazon presence 🤫
• Ad partner hiring preparations 📃

BIG IDEA

As sellers, you know how crucial advertising is in growing your business. You also know how challenging it can be to find the best advertising strategy for your brand. What you need (and want) is a toolkit filled to the brim with tools, resources, and insider tips—all at your fingertips.

That’s Amazon’s Partner Network for you. It’s your command center where you can finesse your business relationships with Amazon Ads and mingle with the pros.

🏄 Looking for a sign to hop on board Amazon’s Partner Network? Here are some:

• Partner status. Earn your stripes by showcasing your expertise and delivering head-turning results.
• Resource galore. From user guides to case studies to events and webinars, you’ll find a variety of resources to support your journey.
• Certification showcase. The Partner Network allows you to highlight the certifications completed by your team. It’s like wearing a badge of honor for your business!
• Enhanced visibility. By getting your name in the partner directory, you expose your expertise to advertisers eager for top-tier talent.
• Developer resources. Gain entry to a wealth of technical documentation and the latest release information.

👤 Who can join?

Whether you’re an ad agency, a tool provider, or just someone who has a knack for digital advertising, there’s a place for you here. Here’s how you can register:

• Identify your representative. Who in your organization has the authority to accept the Partner Network terms? Identify and create the account.
• Complete the registration form. Disclose all the necessary nitty-gritty about your business.
• Accept the terms and conditions. Review the fine print so you know what you’re getting into.
• Set up your account. Add users and advertisers and then submit your directory profile listing.
• Dive into resources. Once you’re all set up, it’s time to explore! Check out the resources, events, and webinars waiting for you.

💡 Knowledge is power

With a myriad of tools and insights at your disposal, the possibilities are endless. So, dive right in, explore every nook and cranny, and seize every opportunity to elevate your business.

The more you learn and grow, the greater your potential to make a lasting impact.

TOGETHER WITH EZ-COMMERCE

Want to get rich from Amazon? Well, think again

Amazon’s vast marketplace promises financial freedom, passive income, and the ability to work from anywhere. However, the path to riches on the platform requires braving several difficulties. 

The first of the obstacles is finding two crucial things to kickstart your Amazon journey: the right product and the right supplier.

Finding the right product

Doing this isn’t as simple as picking an item you like or think others will want. The market is incredibly competitive—choosing the wrong product can make or break your Amazon business.

You need to consider:

• Extensive market research. Identify a niche with high demand but low competition by analyzing sales data, competition levels, and market trends.
• Profit margins. A popular product is no good if it’s not profitable.
• Trends vs. longevity. Find evergreen products that consistently sell over time rather than trendy ones.
• Legal and safety considerations. Some products, especially toys, electronics, and beauty products, are subject to strict regulations and safety standards. Make sure you can comply to avoid fines, product recalls, or legal actions.

Finding the right supplier

Once you’ve identified a promising product, the next challenge is finding a reliable supplier that offers:

• Excellent quality control. Conduct factory inspections and request samples to verify their quality control operations and credibility.
• Easy negotiation and communication, especially if they’re overseas. This includes securing written agreements for specifications, payment terms, and delivery schedules to avoid delays and errors in your orders.
• Proper lead times and inventory management. You don’t want stockouts or overstocking as these can significantly affect your margins.
• Smart cost management. The key is to balance competitive pricing and quality, which could require trial and error.

So, are you ready to get rich from Amazon?

The prospect of getting rich from selling on Amazon is undoubtedly appealing. To achieve this goal, you must have realistic expectations and a thorough understanding of the challenges involved—something EZ-commerce has.

Its founder, Dvir Cohen, knows very well that it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. That’s why he’s willing to share the secret of becoming an eight-figure earner like himself (Hint: it involves PPC).

Want to know the secret?

Yes, I want the secret to success!

BITES OF THE WEEK

• Sharing is Caring: Amazon is partnering with Reach to offer “contextual” first-party data.
• DSP Update: DYK you can now customize your advertising budgets, bids, and fees to your preferred currency?
• Call for Submissions: You can now submit an entry to the Amazon Ads Partner Awards 2024.

TRENDING TOPIC

How to find the right ad partner to gain solid Amazon presence

When you think of Amazon, one of the first things that comes to mind is competition. But what if we told you that you can find a partner there to grow your business?

We’re talking about Amazon Ads partners—agencies geared to support your business needs and strategies. 💼 

Why team up?

Sure, you’ve got a team internally. But there’s nothing wrong with bolstering your forces. Plus, you can:

• Gain a fresh perspective. A new eye opens the door to identifying opportunities and avoiding pitfalls that might otherwise go unnoticed. This blend of viewpoints creates a dynamic synergy that pushes innovation.
• Leverage years of advertising experience. Amazon Ads partners offer a buffet of services tailored to cater to your every marketing whim. You can find an agency whose expertise lies in the aspect you’re looking to improve.

🌟 Finding “The One”

To find your perfect partner in the Amazon Ads partner directory, you must separate the diamonds from the rough. First things first, keep an eye out for those gleaming badges of distinction:

• Partner Status badges: These badges indicate a partner’s expertise and dedication in their craft.
• Partner Awards badges: If you spot a partner with this badge, you know you’re dealing with some seriously innovative minds. This is Amazon’s way of honoring those who offer exceptionally good service.

🤝 Your partner awaits

In the big world of Amazon, standing out can be tough. But with the right Amazon Ads partner, it gets easier and more exciting. These partners are armed with expertise and strategies to help your business thrive.

So, go forth and harness the power of collaboration!

ACTIONABLE ADVICE

5 things to do before hiring an ad partner

Advertising on Amazon can feel like navigating a dense jungle. That’s why many sellers turn to advertising partners to help them find their way through this challenging environment. 🧭

But how do you choose the right partner to achieve your business goals?

✍️ Deltamatix shared some tips to get you started.

• Figure out what you need. Knowing your pain points will help you find a partner who can address them directly. For example, if it’s a campaign setup you need, find someone with a solid track record in launching successful campaigns.
• Choose a partner who understands your brand. This will ensure that your ad campaigns resonate with your brand messaging and values.
• Look for industry expertise and experience. When scouting for a partner, dig into their background. A partner with a solid track record can help you build impactful campaigns and optimize them for the best results. 📁
• Assess their communication and reporting. A top-notch ad partner should maintain clear and timely communication and provide regular, insightful reports on campaign performance.
• Check their pricing model. Some opt for a flat fee, while others take a percentage of your total ad spend. Select a partner whose pricing strategy matches your financial plan.

Trusting someone else with your business can be daunting. That’s why thorough research is crucial in finding a partner you can rely on. This way, you can sleep peacefully at night without worrying about your business. 💤

We loved how our very first Brand Deep Dive issue was received the other week. And yes, we’re still hearing you out—if you loved it, then here’s another one for you.

Want your product to be featured next? Hit the reply button! ✉️

• A new player distinguishes itself in the kitchen glassware industry 🍷
• Cut your influencer outreach time to zero ⏱️
• What can you learn from Kitchables? ✍️
• How to come up with a good product? 👀

SCRATCHING THE SURFACE

How a new player distinguished itself in the kitchen glassware industry

Remembered how the Dalgona coffee-making craze went viral on TikTok in 2020? While everyone wanted to master the art of making coffee at home, many also noticed the glasses that weren’t like the normal, colorful mugs lying around in your kitchen. The glassware used in the videos gave that aesthetic TikTok-worthy oomph.

Start-up brand, Kitchables, banked on this popularity back in 2020 and started making their name in the glassware and drinkware category. Their line includes durable and minimalist tea cups, double-walled coffee glass mugs, and wine glasses. 

What sets them apart?

Their affordable yet stylish mugs are their main stars. Who would’ve thought that something minimalist would make its way into the best sellers, even becoming the product the face of Kitchables?

They certainly know their target audience well—but how did they do that?

• They use a minimalist style in their branding and marketing materials. You’ll see light colors in their product photos, storefront, and ads—nothing too flashy!
• They’re consistent with the use of their branding, increasing brand awareness. Whatever material you see on their Amazon store, they also use it on their Instagram page.
• They make high-quality products. Although they aren’t selling in a saturated market, this category is highly competitive. Beyond style, their audience is looking for something durable and functional—which Kitchables gives them.

TOGETHER WITH INSENSE

Want to cut your influencer outreach time to zero?

Tired of wasting hours on influencers who don’t respond to your DMs or emails? Want to ditch the clumsy campaign spreadsheets?

You need Insense.

Insense is the end-to-end solution for UGC and influencer marketing campaigns, trusted by 1,700+ DTC brands and agencies, including:

• WaveBlock – generates 300+ UGC assets per month for TikTok and Instagram
• Any Age Activewear – got matched with 50+ year-old creators within 2 days and received 50+ UGC assets within 2 weeks
• Easy A Media – Ran product seeding campaigns for various brands in different niches, which generated 100+ UGC assets within 2 weeks 

It gets even better—Insense can also provide you with a dedicated platform manager to scale your UGC production and influencer campaigns, saving 40+ hours each month.

Book a free strategy call by June 14 and get $200 for your first campaign!

DIVING DEEPER

What can you learn from Kitchables?

Have a great product first before anything else.

In our last Brand Deep Dive, we emphasized how important it is to identify your product’s unique selling point (USP) and leverage it. But this time, we’re going back to the basics.

In an unsaturated market with low competition, a great product is your best weapon. Kitchables was able to penetrate the market because of its products, particularly the high money-generating double-walled mugs.

The mug is trendy, minimalist, and functional—features that make a good product. Their double-walled mugs are made from grade AA borosilicate glass, which keeps drinks hot or cold for a long time. It’s also scratch-proof and durable, promising long-term use for years to come.

Long story short, Kitchables banked on one thing: quality.

You can be the next Kitchables by:

• Developing a good product and looking for a reputable manufacturer or supplier to produce it;
• Not skimping on materials, especially if you can use the quality of the product as your USP;
• Compounding a good product with an equally good marketing strategy; and 
• Being consistent with your branding across all of your platforms.

SUCCESS BLUEPRINT

How to come up with a good product

As we said for this Brand Deep Dive issue, ecommerce success starts with a good product. Of course, we’re not gonna leave you hanging, so here’s how you can come up with a product to sell on Amazon:

1. Scope out the scene: Before you dive into product development, take some time to snoop around. Check out what’s hot, what’s not, and where there might be some gaps in the market. Tools like Jungle Scout or just a good ol’ Amazon search can help you spot trends and competition.

• Ask yourself: What are the hottest trends in the market at the moment? Is it sustainable in the long run?

2. Find your niche: Look for areas where you can stand out, whether by targeting a specific group of customers or adding a unique twist to an existing product.

• Ask yourself: What are the products I am interested in or willing to sell?

3. Test, test, test: Once you’ve got a solid idea, it’s time to get hands-on. Create some prototypes or samples and put them through their paces. Get feedback from anyone who’ll listen and tweak your product until it’s just right.

• Ask yourself: Is the product good enough to market to the public?

Kitchables wouldn’t be the brand it is today if they didn’t believe in their product first. So, the first thing you should do is believe in making your ideas into reality. Before you know it, the rest of the selling success will follow.

They say the best way to someone’s heart is through the stomach. That’s probably why Amazon recently partnered with Grubhub—to win the hearts of buyers by giving them access to hundreds of thousands of restaurants on the platform.

Strategic, right?

Just like the main characters in the stories we have for you today.

• Omnichannel selling vs. Amazon 🤔
• TikTok’s U.S. plans 🧠
• Low-cost marketing ideas 👛

HOT TOPIC

Amazon is known for its customer-centricity. Even with equally big competitors, Amazon’s winning logistics strategy (a.k.a. fast and free shipping) makes it the main choice for shoppers.

BUT…

Everything has a trade-off. Here’s what Harvard Business Review revealed about the downside of deliveries—and how omnichannel selling strategies can solve it.

🌱 Sustainability over convenience

More often than not, delivery creates more waste and pollution than local store pickups. But would shopping behaviors change if shoppers were reminded about the environmental and social impacts of their retail decisions?

A study involving 200 participants was conducted to answer this question. The participants were informed that store pickup has lower packaging wastes, emissions, traffic congestion, and vehicle accidents than home delivery. Given this, the results revealed that:

• 60% are willing to shift to store pickups and
• 43% of consumers are ready to drop home deliveries to promote sustainable shopping practices

❔ How can omnichannel sellers leverage this?

The willingness of consumers to get orders themselves opens up a competitive avenue for omnichannel sellers, especially those with a physical store or kiosk, because:

• They can potentially capture $100 billion in market share from Amazon;
• They can reduce their logistics costs by 50%; and
• They don’t need to invest in pricey technology; simply providing sustainability information is enough!

What do you think? Is it worth selling on Amazon and having a physical presence? Let us know your insights by replying to this email! ✉️

BITES OF THE WEEK

• Partner Care: Amazon finds ways to make things better for Delivery Partners.
• New Insights: Feedback Manager has three new insights: contacts, response time, and buyer sentiment.
• Best of June: Here are the top 25 best-selling products for June (and why they sell so well).

SOCIAL PULSE

TikTok postpones its European market expansion for 2 reasons

ICYDK, TikTok had plans to launch TikTok Shop in Spain, Germany, Italy, France, and Ireland by July. But according to PYMNTS, those plans are now on hold, along with expansions into Mexico and Brazil.

Instead, the platform is doubling down on the U.S. market.

❤️‍🩹 Why the change of heart?

Despite the potential threats of a ban in the U.S., TikTok shared several  justifiable reasons behind this decision:

• To ease potential users’ concerns. TikTok has a massive U.S. customer base of 170 million monthly users. However, ongoing legal scrutiny is hindering new user growth. To show its value to merchants and consumers, the platform aims to increase its merchandise volume to $17.5 billion this year.
• To avoid potential regulatory scrutiny. TikTok is aware of potential regulatory challenges in Europe. Currently, the platform is under scrutiny by the European Union, particularly regarding a lighter version of its app in France and Spain, which is being investigated for addiction risks. 🚧

Playing it smart

Looks like TikTok is playing it smart by solidifying its hold in the U.S. before diving into more turbulent waters. While European users may have to wait a bit longer for TikTok Shop, U.S. users can look forward to even more exciting features coming their way.

TACTIC TALKS

How to market your business without breaking the bank

Promoting your business on a tight budget may seem tough. So, it’s a good thing effective marketing doesn’t have to burn a hole in your wallet.

💡 eCommerce Fastlane shared some smart, budget-friendly marketing tactics you can start right away:

• Engage on social media. Run contests and interactive posts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. This can help you boost visibility and engage with (potential) customers.
• Use eye-catching infographics and videos. Share visually appealing graphics to convey information and encourage sharing. And don’t forget to showcase your brand’s personality and products through videos.
• Host irresistible giveaways. Everyone loves freebies! Run giveaways aligned with your brand to generate buzz and attract new customers.
• Humanize your brand through a brand mascot. This will help you stand out in the marketplace and foster brand loyalty.
• Explore offline marketing channels. Don’t overlook traditional marketing tactics. Use business cards, banners, and radio advertising to complement your online efforts.
• Tap influencers. Partner with influencers who align with your brand values to reach new audiences effectively.
• Attend events and conferences. These events can help you network with potential customers, influencers, investors, and media personalities. Once you build relationships with journalists, you can get your business featured in media outlets to attract attention.
• Start referral programs. Encourage satisfied customers to refer others to your business through incentives and rewards.
• Send out newsletters. Start building an email list of interested customers. Drive sales through targeted email campaigns featuring exclusive offers and product updates.

✨ Shine without breaking the bank

The moral lesson here is that marketing doesn’t have to be expensive—you just need to be creative and strategic.

New week, new me stories.

We’re also bringing you the freshest news that you need to keep in mind as you head on to this week.

• 2 dark web scams that are plaguing ecommerce 💀
• Get a FREE template for briefing TikTok Shop campaigns 📅
• Walmart+ week will be earlier than Amazon Prime Day 🛒
• Actionable ways to increase sales this 2024

POST OF THE WEEK

BLACK MARKET

There’s always the good and bad side of things—e-commerce included.

All sellers have the same goal: to make a profit out of their business. Some people are trying their best to learn the ins and outs of selling on Amazon regardless of how hard it is but some choose to take the short (not to mention) dark way.

According to Total Retail, there are fraudsters on the dark web who share guides on how these unusual practices work.

But wait, where’s the dark web, exactly?

The dark web isn’t as accessible as you think.

The dark web isn’t open to the public nor can it be indexed by search engines. You need to download a dark web browser to access it. And, fair warning, it’s been called a hotbed for criminal activity.

What are they sharing on the dark web?

They share which products to target, DIY fraud toolkits to purchase, and advice on how to trick returns processes and then file a fraudulent chargeback.

Aside from this, they abuse Amazon’s main policies. Two of the most common scams discussed on the dark web are Item Not Received (INR) and Fake Tracking ID (FTID).

• Item Not Received (INR) or returns abuse
  • A false claim that the order never arrived OR it was stolen upon delivery (ex. Porch pirates)
  • A full refund is then requested
• Fake Tracking ID (FTID) 
  • Alters return postage labels
  • Returning an empty or junk-filled package instead of the actual order
  • Scammers ensure the weight of the returns matches the original order
  • The return center can’t trace the package back to the scammer

How to protect yourself

The bad news is abusers will always continue to find ways as long as there are places like the dark web to thrive on. There’s only one way to defend your business: keep up with their activities.

• Monitor news and online discussions.
• Track and detect shady or suspicious transactions.
• Run real-time risk assessmentsbased on your ecommerce data.

You have to be proactive in protecting your business and stay informed about the latest retail scams.

TOGETHER WITH INSENSE

FREE Template: How to Brief for Viral TikTok Shop Campaigns

The #1 TikTok pain point for Amazon sellers is effectively briefing TikTok Shop affiliates to produce high-quality videos that drive sales. Insense, an official TikTok Shop Partner, can help with that.

Insense and its team of TikTok Shop experts will help…

• Produce effective creative briefs for flawless content delivery
• Match you with vetted creators FAST within 2 days 
• Deliver killer shoppable videos in 10 days or less

And they’ve published a FREE Creative Brief Template!

You can use the free template to:

• Accelerate your TikTok Shop video content creation
• Receive flawless content deliverables the first time
• Effectively explain your brand and product for high-impact shoppable TikTok videos

Download your FREE Template

BITES OF THE WEEK

• On and Off: eCommerce alone is not enough – omnichannel strategies for the win.
• Approved Expansion: The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the expansion of Amazon drone deliveries.
• Prep for Prime: Amazon Ads Summit Prep for Prime Day is scheduled for June 4-5.

ECOMMERCE NEWS

Walmart+ Week will run from June 17 to 23, ahead of Prime Day in July 2024

Walmart throws another jab at Amazon by scheduling Walmart+ Week ahead of Prime Day 2024. According to Axios, this member-only sale event will run from June 17 to 23, outdoing last year’s 4-day event that coincided with Prime Day. This bold move aims to draw shoppers in early and give them a head start on summer savings.

🛒 What to expect during Walmart+ Week

This year, Walmart is not stopping at product discounts. Members can also expect Walmart’s first-ever mystery offer, to be unveiled on June 20. They’ll also indulge members with:

1. Gas discounts of 20 cents off per gallon at Exxon and Mobil stations across the country.
2. Travel perks of up to 20% back in Walmart Cash on vacations booked through Walmart+ Travel.
3. One free Express Delivery (usually a $10 fee) to get orders in under two hours.

🗂️ Membership-exclusive wars

Seems like Walmart is also striving for membership supremacy. Here’s a breakdown of what each of these giants offers:

• Price
  • Walmart+: $98 per year or $12.95 per month
  • Amazon Prime: $139 per year or $14.99 per month
• Benefits:
  • Walmart+: Free same-day delivery on orders $35 or more, free Paramount Plus, and gas discounts.
  • Amazon Prime: Free delivery, streaming services, music, and more. Amazon also added a $9.99 monthly grocery delivery subscription for unlimited same-day delivery orders.

Why it matters

Historically, other retailers have timed their own sales events to coincide with Prime Day. But this year, Walmart is taking an early initiative to raise the stakes. This underscores the importance of having a presence on various platforms to turn these wars to your advantage.

🧠 What do you think is the better strategy? Holding a sales event ahead of Prime Day, during Prime Day, or after?

ACTIONABLE ADVICE

10 easy-to-do ways to increase your sales this 2024

With ecommerce getting more competitive every day, it’s important to step up your game. Yes, there are a lot of tips and hacks online—but you can’t do them all, can you?

🎯 Fortunately, eCommerce Fastlane dropped simple and effective tips to boost your sales in 2024:

• Speed up your website. Make sure the images and videos load quickly. Test your website on different devices to ensure it works well everywhere.
• Add trade-in options. Attract more buyers by allowing them to trade in old items for discounts on new purchases. 
• Show reviews and testimonials on your product pages. Customers are highly influenced by other people’s reviews. Don’t forget to encourage them to share their experiences too (and make it easy for them to leave reviews).
• Use high-quality images and videos. Show your products from different angles to help your customers see what they’re buying and avoid returns.
• Offer time-limited discounts. Create a sense of urgency by using countdown timers for special deals. Share these offers on social media and through emails to attract more customers.
• Try up-selling and cross-selling. Suggest better or additional products to customers. For example, if someone buys a phone, suggest a phone case or a charger to increase customer spending.
• Optimize your site for mobile shopping. Since many people shop on their phones, make sure your website also works well on mobile devices. Make the checkout process easy and add options like “one-click buy.”
• Engage on social media. Stay active on social media by regularly posting quality content and replying to comments. Use social media ads to reach more people and boost your sales.
• Offer multiple payment options, including credit cards, digital wallets, and other payment methods to make it easier to shop on your site.
• Use data analytics. Track how customers use your site with tools like Google Analytics to understand what they like. This way, you can improve your marketing and product placement.

💡 The most important tip is…

Adapt to make your business thrive! Keep rollin’ with the punches— that’s how you’ll crush it in 2024.

Happy Friday!

We recently caught an interesting tale of a small brand owner searching for a justifiable means to save her brand. Intrigued? Read on to know more.

• The shocking cost of influencer marketing 🤯
• The solution to PPC challenges 🖱️
• Actionable social media marketing insights 🧠
• Best customer retargeting practices 🏹

TRENDING TOPIC

With Prime Day 2024 approaching, many of you may be considering partnering with influencers to promote your brand. But before you give it a go, MailOnline wanted to call your attention to the price of influencer marketing.

Here’s the story of Prilla Bowen and her attempt to harness the power of influencers to save her brand:

🍋 A saving grace-turned-sour face

Bowen owns Prilla Collective, a small Australian swimwear brand that’s currently on the brink of shutting down. She thought influencers could save her sinking ship—until she realized they were out of her league.

She reached out to 3 influencers and was quoted (in AUD) the following:

• Influencer A with 210,000 followers
  • Post: $4,500 
  • Reel: $6,500 
  • Story: $1,000 for five frames
• Influencer B with 86, 000 followers
  • Post: $2,100 
  • Reel: $13,000 AU
  • TikTok: $3,000
• Influencer C with undisclosed following
  • Post: $53,180
  • Reel: $60,780
  • Story: $33,490 for five frames
  • TikTok: $55,000 with brand highlight; $48,630 without brand highlight

Bowen reiterated that she had no hate whatsoever, but she was genuinely shocked at how much influencers make. As a small brand owner, she couldn’t make that much in her business let alone afford an influencer.

⚖️ Finding balance

It’s worth noting that these prices aren’t absolute. It depends on whether you ask a mega or micro-influencer. You can even try micro-influencer platforms for as low as $400 a month.

But the sad reality here is that most (if not all) small businesses cannot easily jump into the influencer marketing trend. Our advice: try to find another way to save your business or be an influencer yourself to promote your brand for free.

TOGETHER WITH SELLER INTERACTIVE

3 major challenges of PPC marketing and how to solve them

If there’s one common denominator among successful sellers, it’s how much they rave about the ✨magic ✨ of PPC advertising. Understandably so, it’s definitely your best friend in boosting your product’s visibility and growing your business—when done right.

🛑 But like any other tool, PPC advertising has its challenges, such as:

• Intense competition: With countless sellers in Amazon’s vast marketplace, standing out is a big challenge.
• Complex campaign management: Navigating costly and ever-changing campaign intricacies can overwhelm new and experienced sellers.
• Demanding keyword research and targeting: High traffic is the holy grail in Amazon selling.

And for many sellers, the combination of these challenges and the need to juggle day-to-day operations can drain and stretch their resources—and patience—thin. 

🏆 Good thing there are experts

Like Seller Interactive! Their PPC Management Services are everything you’re looking for in a trustworthy partner. They offer solutions for:

• Sponsored Products, making sure your ads are visible by placing them in search results and detail pages for maximum exposure;
• Sponsored Brands, highlighting your brand logo and custom headline on customers’ search results;
• Product photography, providing eye-catching, policy-compliant product images; and
• Keyword research, finding relevant keywords to target the right customers and leveraging negative keywords to optimize your ad budget.

👌 From stressful to stress-free

It’s the promise Seller Interactive makes through its comprehensive PPC advertising services. Let them do the heavy lifting so you can focus on other aspects that will make your business the talk of the ecommerce town.

Schedule my FREE consultation

BITES OF THE WEEK

• Expert Insights: A seasoned ecommerce expert reveals some proven ecommerce strategies.
• Shopping Statistics: Here are the shopping trends shaping 2024 based on what clicked in 2023.
• Social Agencies: Is your social media partner one of the top social media marketing agencies?
• Fraud is Bigger: Reports show online fraud is growing faster than online retail.

SOCIAL PULSE

Actionable social marketing insights for better brand promotion

With the boom of social commerce and social media marketing, the rapid changes in trends can be overwhelming. Not to mention the increasing aggressiveness of brands vying for customers’ attention.

🦭To avoid drowning in the nuanced social world, you need some targeted advice and recommendations. Luckily, Franchise Times collected expert insights you can learn a thing or two from:

• Dunkin’ (Jill Nelson):
  • Authenticity and relatability: Create posts that spark personal connections and resonate with followers.
  • Trend engagement: Participate in current trends and jokes to maintain relevance.
• Soci (Damian Rollison):
  • Platform evaluation: Assess each social media platform based on your brand’s needs and audience engagement.
  • Consumer preferences: FYI, younger consumers prefer Instagram and TikTok for discovering local businesses.
• Dave’s Hot Chicken (Brad Haley):
  • Amplify organic posts: Highlight organic social posts on your brand’s channels to showcase authenticity.
  • Authenticity is king: Focus on genuine content rather than overly edited posts.
• 7 Brew (Cory Hinton):
  • Unpolished content is OKAY: Embrace the casual and unrefined nature of TikTok posts. This way, you can stay genuine and quickly follow trends.
• Playa Bowls (Becca Steinberg):
  • Trend monitoring: Stay on top of trends and adapt your content to leverage current popular themes.
  • Influencer collaboration: Work with influencers to extend the reach of organic content.
• GoTo Foods (Dawn Ray):
  • Platform agnosticism: Meet consumers where they are, regardless of the platform, and evaluate new platforms for potential value.
  • Strong presence on new platforms: Adopt new social media platforms like Threads as extensions of existing successful strategies.

🔑 Meaningful interactions are the key

All these insights point to social marketing being your bridge to customers. Because in the end, it’s all about building communities and engagement. Once you have that connection, it’s much easier to promote your brand and products.

TACTIC TALKS

5 best practices for retargeting customers

Let’s say you’ve had a little hiccup in your business and missed some customers. Does this mean you’ve lost them forever?

According to Shopify, there’s still hope through retargeting.

Retargeting is a way of convincing users who have previously interacted with your brand to come back. But first, you need to do some things to ensure you’re doing it correctly.

✨ Best retargeting practices

• Build audiences: Use ads to encourage newsletter sign-ups, which provide free future engagement opportunities.
• Use multitouch campaigns: Combine email marketing with retargeting ads to reinforce messaging across different touchpoints.
• Start small: Begin with a small budget and keep an eye on your profit margins. It’s recommended to set a bid cap conversion for maximum efficiency.
• Do product page retargeting: Target people who recently viewed specific products for higher chances of conversion. Also, remember that shorter retargeting windows (within 3 days) are more effective than longer ones.
• Try homepage and collection page retargeting: Focus on brand benefits and social proof to build trust and encourage click-throughs. Don’t forget to add strong CTAs.

🎯 Why should you retarget?

Why not just find new customers, right?

Well, there’s usually no “love at first sight” in ecommerce. Also, 96% of people who visit your website aren’t ready to buy yet and need more wooing.

Instead of repeatedly courting new people, it’s more efficient to capitalize on relationships you’ve already built. After all, most of use still believe in second chances.

Humans are social beings. We crave connection and thoughtful interactions, which is especially true in the ecommerce industry. To show consumers that you see them behind the screen, your ad campaigns should reflect that you listen to what they want AND need.

Of course, we also listen to what you crave. So, here’s a list of must-knows and must-dos to create campaigns that’ll captivate your target customers.

• Maximizing Amazon Ads’ potential 📈
• Initial costs of selling on Amazon 💰
• Amazon PPC’s pros and cons 🆚
• Foolproof dayparting strategies ⏲️

BIG IDEA

With 63% of shoppers starting their product hunt on Amazon, it’s clear that this platform is the place to be. No wonder sellers on the platform earn between $1,000 and $2,500 per month, with some reaching $45,000 annually.

However, Amazon houses an overwhelming volume of products. So, how can you ensure you stand out from the crowd? ✋

Influencer Marketing Hub lists the tactics you can try to do this by leveraging the three types of Amazon ads:

• Master Sponsored Products. Most customers don’t browse beyond the first page of search results. This ad type puts your products front and center, targeting specific customers based on keywords, categories, or brands.
• Use Sponsored Brands. Similar to Sponsored Products, this will help you get noticed. The difference is that these ads are designed to enhance brand visibility rather than promote a specific product.
• Add Sponsored Display ads to the mix. These ads target shoppers based on their buying behavior, not keywords. Unlike other ads limited to the platform, these ads extend your reach outside Amazon.

💡 Best advertising practices

Do note that simply putting out ads isn’t enough anymore. To truly maximize results, you need to master campaign optimization.

Here are some best practices to elevate your advertising game:

• Diversify ad types: Don’t put all your eggs in one ad basket. Use all available ad formats to increase brand visibility and drive sales.
• Target wisely: Mix and match different targeting methods to reach your ideal audience.
• Regularly test keywords: Keep tabs on your keywords’ performance and adjust accordingly.
• Conduct regular audits: Regularly audit your campaigns to ensure you’re on track to meet your goals.
• Optimize daily: Stay agile and make tweaks as needed to stay ahead of the curve.

🌊 Riding the Amazon wave

Facing the giants can be daunting, especially for small businesses. But it’s not impossible to break through; it will just probably require doubling your efforts.

Just always remember that you’re not just trying to sell—you’re carving out your space in a bustling marketplace.

TOGETHER WITH EZ-COMMERCE

Initial costs you need to cover when starting on Amazon

Almost everyone’s telling you to sell on Amazon if you want to get rich. What they don’t publicize is the initial costs you might shell out on your first year of selling.

So, we’re here to tell you straight up what you need to prepare for financially.

• Product inventory: Initial inventory purchases can be expensive, particularly if you’re ordering in bulk to get better pricing. It’s recommended to canvas suppliers before signing a deal with them. Some manufacturers require a minimum order quantity (MOQ), and the number might be too high, especially if you’re just starting. Don’t be afraid to negotiate this with them!
  • Price: Depends on the product, but you might need to invest at least $500-$1,000 just for stock.
• Amazon fees: Selling on Amazon comes with various fees, including referral, fulfillment, and storage fees. These can add up quickly and eat into your profit margins. For example, FBA fees cover the cost of storing, packing, and shipping your products, but they’re not insignificant.
  • Price: The Individual Account costs you $0.99 per item sold, and the Professional Sellers Account is $39.99 per month.
• Marketing and advertising: To get your product noticed, you’ll need to invest in marketing and advertising. Amazon PPC campaigns, social media advertising, and influencer partnerships can cost several thousand dollars annually.
  • Price: This depends on your budget. But it’s best to start with a budget of at least $100 for a successful PPC campaign.
• Tools and services: Subscriptions to essential tools for product research, keyword optimization, and inventory management can add up. Additionally, hiring professionals for photography, graphic design, and copywriting to create compelling product listings can be a significant expense.
  • Price: Depends on whether you’ll do all of these yourself or find someone reputable to handle this for you.

If you’re looking for reputable experts to do PPC management and listing optimization, EZ-commerce can do it for you!

Ez-commerce was established by Dvir Cohen, an eight-figure seller and the author of more than 100 children’s Kindle ebooks. They help brands scale and transform to achieve real net success in the Amazon market.

Want to learn more? Click on the link below.

I want more PPC tips!

BITES OF THE WEEK

• Keep Advertising: Even if you’re organically on page 1, advertising still helps with sales.
• Media Envy: Amazon’s commercial shows marketers’ envy and how Amazon Ads can help.
• Ad-ding Up: Amazon reported a 24% growth ($143.3 billion total) in its advertising business.

HOT TOPIC

Does Amazon PPC boost sales or drain your cash?

So, you’re hustling to get your products noticed on Amazon. You’ve set up your listings and optimized your keywords. Now, you’re contemplating dipping your toes into pay-per-click (PPC) ads. 🤔

Will that really boost your sales, or are you just throwing money down the drain?

Brand Builder University weighed the pros and cons of investing in PPC ads (so you don’t have to).

👍 The good stuff

• The ranking factor: Imagine launching a product and it appears on page one of search results. That’s what Amazon PPC does—boosting your visibility and helping you climb search result rankings.
• Strong Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): On average, you get $4.50 back for every dollar spent. So, no, Amazon ads aren’t just throwing money into a black hole.
• Unique visibility: Amazon PPC gets your products in prime spots where shoppers are throwing money at anything that catches their eye.
• Depth of data: Amazon is a goldmine for customer data. PPC provides valuable insights—from simple click data to more complex metrics like impression share—all essential for growing your business.
• PPC efficiency: PPC advertising flips the script on traditional advertising costs. Instead of shelling out money just to get your ad in front of people, you only pay when someone takes action and clicks on your ad.

👎 The not-so-good

• Rising costs: As more sellers join the fray, bidding wars intensify and the Cost-Per-Click (CPC) continues to climb.
• Increasing complexity: With new ad types and targeting options popping up, it’s a jungle out there for newbies.
• Platform limitations: Want to retarget shoppers or play around with custom landing pages? It’s possible, but it’s not as straightforward as other platforms.

So, is PPC marketing worth it?

Definitely.

Sure, there are hurdles—but what business doesn’t have challenges? Plus, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

So, strap in and get ready to conquer the world of advertising, one click at a time. 🖱️

SELLER REFRESHER

How to maximize your reach through dayparting strategies

Did you know you can control when your ads shine the brightest?

Yep—through dayparting. It lets you schedule your ads to appear when your audience is most likely to make a purchase.

📍 Interested to get started? Here are some hacks from JungleScout to guide you:

• Start wide, then narrow down. Begin with broader time windows and refine them as you gather more data.
• Dig into data. Analyze past performance to spot trends and pinpoint those golden hours. ☀️
• Find your peaks. Identify the hours when your audience is most active and ready to splurge.
• Mind the time zones. Ensure your ads are synced with your audience’s time zones.
• Experiment. Try different strategies and see what works best.
• Tweak, rinse, repeat. Set your schedule, but don’t hit snooze. Keep an eye on performance and adjust your strategy as needed. 🔁

Daypart to not part with success

Dayparting is your precision tool for hitting the bullseye in advertising. Instead of tossing ads into the void, you’re analyzing data and refining your strategy to maximize your return on investment.

⚠️ However, it can also be a double-edged sword. Be wary of overspending during peak hours; too much of a good thing can be overwhelming. Also, don’t ignore off-peak hours—they may hold untapped potential.

Here’s a random question: Do you think having a famous brand ambassador will speed up your ecommerce success?

Alibaba thinks so, as it named soccer star David Beckham its global ambassador. Looks like the Chinese ecommerce giant is now eyeing U.S. consumers, low-key declaring war with U.S.-grown retailers.

But that’s not the juicy part of our today’s lineup. You know what comes after the appetizer—the main course.

• Walmart and Amazon’s delivery war 🪖
• A FREE way to manage your Amazon accounting 🧮
• Reselling on Amazon ♻️
• Amazon’s expanded logistics service 🚛

ECOMMERCE NEWS

Walmart is determined to keep the retail showdown with Amazon going by upping its delivery game.

According to Industry Dive, Walmart delivered 4.4 billion items with same-day or next-day shipping across the U.S.! ⚡

That’s not all—20% of these items reached customers in under 3 hours! Now, that’s giving Amazon a serious run for its money.

How did Walmart pull this off?

CEO Doug McMillon couldn’t hide his excitement during a recent earnings call and spilled the beans on what they did.

• Boost delivery efficiency. Faster delivery speed attracted more shoppers, leading to more sales. The surge in sales prompted Walmart to pack more items into each delivery route, slashing net delivery costs per order by 40% in the U.S.
  • Internationally, Walmart is also picking up the pace. Same-day orders in India surged over 150%. In China, 55 million orders were delivered in 1 hour. 💨
• Stores as strategic assets. By leveraging their more than 4,600 stores in the U.S., they’ve managed to reduce delivery time and costs over time. They’re even adding parcel stations to stores to streamline last-mile delivery.

🆚 A tale of two strategies

When you compare these figures to Amazon’s 4 billion same-day or next-day U.S. deliveries in 2023, it’s clear both giants are neck-and-neck. But they’re taking different paths to get there.

• Walmart taps into its vast network of physical stores for these speedy deliveries.
• In contrast, Amazon focuses on optimizing its fulfillment network, given its lack of physical stores.

For sure, this battle between retail titans is far from over. So buckle up, as it’s only getting more exciting.

TOGETHER WITH UNLOOP

A FREE way to manage your Amazon accounting

The road to making money on Amazon is full of sharp turns. For instance, you’d have to navigate around accounting challenges standing between you and a smooth-sailing cash flow.

Unloop knows how exhausting managing your books can get. That’s why they devised Unloop Connect—a self-serve app that’ll help you brave endless Amazon transactions with ease.

🔢 What can Unloop Connect do?

The main charm of Unloop Connect lies in its ability to automate your accounting process. But aside from this, you can squeeze 4 amazing benefits out of this app:

• Streamline your transactions by connecting Amazon to QuickBooks Online and letting the app categorize them for you.
• Monitor how much you’re making and spending with organized profit and loss reports.
• Show off your finances to potential investors with confidence.
• Complete your bookkeeping conveniently with its easy-to-use interface.

Why should you choose Unloop?

First off, its app is FREE! Who doesn’t want an extra hand with crunching numbers without the extra costs?

But if you want a more premium experience, they also offer comprehensive accounting services. You’d have to shed a few dollars, but their team of experts will make it all worth it. They’re more than willing to handle your books if the free app seems overwhelming. 🤝

Ready to transform your Amazon accounting journey? Get started with Unloop today and book a 30-minute discovery call!

BITES OF THE WEEK

• Memorial Day Deals: The memorial celebration continues with extended Amazon deals and sales.
• AI Talks: AI is powering conversational commerce, consequently helping Indian businesses grow.
• Commerce Fusion: Shopping becomes an interactive adventure when social media and ecommerce mix.

TRENDING TOPIC

Should you start selling used items on Amazon?

Recommerce, or the sale of secondhand goods, is more than just a trend. According to Ebay’s new Recommerce Report, it’s now a lifestyle choice—to shop in a smart, sustainable manner. 

🌱 Here are other interesting findings in the report:

Why do people love preloved?

According to 28,000 global consumers, sellers, and buyers, the top reasons are:

• Saving money (62%)
• Helping the environment (26%)
• Finding hard-to-get items (25%)
• Buying affordable brands (24%)
• Hunting for unique finds (18%)

Who buys preloved goods the most?

• Young people love secondhand shopping, with 24% of millennials and 21% of Gen Z buying secondhand items every month. 🗓️
• But it’s not just the young—59% of people of all ages bought secondhand items in 2023. 

What are the top items?

The most popular secondhand items are:

• Clothes (48%)
• Books (34%)
• Shoes (24%)
• Home and garden items (23%)
• Tech and electronics (22%) 

💕 Should you give preloved some lovin’?

Well, it’s definitely worth considering. By selling secondhand goods, you’ll help the environment AND attract buyers looking for unique and affordable finds. 

But as always, weigh up the good and the not-so-good before you go all in.

SELLER REFRESHER

Amazon expands logistics service to defend ecommerce crown

ICYDK, Amazon’s logistics expansion plans ceased post-pandemic to adjust to new normal practices. But now, the ecommerce giant is putting the pedal to the metal for a grand logistics comeback. 

EcommerceBytes consolidates reports documenting how the retailer plans to fend off competitors.

🚚 The grand strategies

• Quick expansion: For this year alone, Amazon has signed at least 6 new leases in the western part of the country. Amazon currently operates in 413 million square feet of industrial real estate, and it plans to expand by another 16 million square feet.
• Decentralization: Amazon is now split into 9 regions from the previous 8 regions. FBA sellers are required to store inventory across multiple locations. 🌍
• Many small stations. Amazon is investing in communities, including small towns and rural areas. Strategically scattered fulfillment centers minimize final-mile transportation costs.

Amazon’s fulfillment network facilities are further divided into:

• Sortable fulfillment center
• Non-sortable fulfillment
• Sortation centers
• Receive centers
• Delivery stations
• Special stations

Go big or go home

Amazon’s decision to decentralize and expand is mainly due to the big moves of its competitors. The equally big Walmart is utilizing its existing physical stores for order fulfillment. Smaller rivals Temu and Shein are also putting pressure on ecommerce in general (but can’t compete in terms of fulfillment yet).

Needless to say, Amazon is determined to cling to its reputation as the ecommerce king. 👑

It’s a great era to be a small business owner.

A survey revealed that U.S. shoppers are willing to shed $2,000 more to make sure their favorite local shops stay open. Isn’t that sweet? 🍭

But regardless of the size of your business, the key to being shoppers’ favorite is to keep your eyes and ears out to monitor consumer trends and behaviors. And of course, we’re always glad to assist.

• Seller vs. fraudulent returns 📦
• Actionable PPC tips 🚶
• Small businesses’ charm among consumers 🪞
• Canva’s making it easier to create Amazon ads 🤝

BLACK MARKET

Fraudulent returns can have a significant negative impact on your business. Unfortunately, it’s a problem that many sellers are all too familiar with.

A seller recently shared on Seller Central how a fraudulent return cost them $1,000! 💸

What happened?

• A customer initiated a return for a tool priced at around $950 to $1100.
• However, when the seller opened the return package, they were surprised to see an old, damaged tool instead of the new one they sent to the customer.
• Upon further inspection, the serial numbers didn’t match, and the seller realized the customer had sent back something they’d never sold in the first place!

🥊 Sellers vs. fraudulent returns

Other sellers chimed in and shared similar struggles with frequent fraudulent returns. They also shared some ways to deal with this issue:

• Take lots of photos of the items and serial numbers to secure supporting evidence.
• Open a case for FBA returns reimbursement and upload all relevant evidence.
• Charge a restocking fee for returned items materially different from what was sold.
• Report the fraudulent return as theft and contact the authorities.

📌 Gentle reminder

If you ever run into this sticky situation, don’t wait around! Make sure to file your counteractions right away and report the fraud. It helps protect your business while keeping fraudsters in check and the marketplace fair for everyone.

TOGETHER WITH EZ-COMMERCE

Boost your sales with these 3 very straightforward PPC tips

You’ve probably read through dozens of Amazon Pay-Per-Click tips. But trust us when we say that this time, we’re giving you tips you can use to grow your sales. Best thing about it? It’s straightforward and no fuss.

EZ-commerce.net implements these 3 PPC strategies to enhance their client’s sales.

1. Initiate a down-only campaign targeting long-term keywords. 

• Set a low bid of $0.02, but aim to appear at the top of search results by bidding 200 to 500 percent higher (put 200-500 percent at the top of the place).
• Monitor performance every 72 hours, and if there are no impressions, increase the bid percentage by at least 50%. 

2. Implement the “Dvir Golden Nugget Trick” (aka an EZ-commerce secret!) 

• Create an automatic campaign targeting “close match”. 
• Start with a modest bid of $0.02. Incrementally raise the bid by 20% every 96 hours or 4 days.
• Once the bid cost approaches $1, reset to $0.02 and repeat the process. You’ll see sales with a very low ACOS that will lower your account’s total advertising cost of sales or ACOS. 

3. Generate a coupon code offering at least a 20% discount. 

• The code should be valid from the current date plus 2 days, and run for 30 days. 
• Run the “abandoned cart” Brand Tailor promotion to re-engage these abandoned customers who will buy your product with the coupon code now. 

Happy with these tips? Reach out to EZ-commerce.Net to get more tips and an account audit!

Give me more PPC tips!

BITES OF THE WEEK

• Price Cuts: Walmart and Target are slashing prices—a hopeful sign that inflation’s cooling down.
• Serving Shoppers: Advertisers can buy access to Walmart’s shoppers.
• Disaster Proof: Here’s how to keep your business running even during times of disaster.

TRENDING TOPIC

Why do people buy from small businesses?

At the core of any successful small business lies its customers. They’re not just faces in the crowd—they’re the ones who keep the lights on and the doors open. By understanding their motivations and preferences, you’re paving the way for long-term success.

📖 The Ascent reported survey insights that shed light on why customers choose to support small businesses.

• Location and convenience. Small businesses are close by and easy to reach, which customers love. In fact, 49% of customers prefer local establishments simply because they’re accessible.
• Product quality. What small businesses lack in quantity, they more than make up for in quality. A solid 45% of customers are drawn to the meticulous attention to detail small businesses provide. 🔍
• Reasonable prices. Small businesses may seem more expensive than mass-producing companies. But surprisingly, 43% of consumers choose small businesses for their prices. They believe small businesses can offer better prices, especially during economic fluctuations.
• Local community support. A notable 41% of customers consciously choose to support local businesses. To them, you’re not just a business—you’re part of the neighborhood.
• Local economic impact. Customers value the role of small businesses in driving local economic growth and job creation. Consequently, 38% of customers prefer to spend their money where it directly impacts their community’s prosperity.

Rooting for the underdog

If you’re ever worried about being drowned out by big-box competitors, don’t fret. Turns out, 78% of consumers prefer the warm, fuzzy feeling of a mom-and-pop shop over a soulless corporate giant.

One thing you can do to fuel this support is to root for your business too. Connect with your community, share your story, and give customers a reason to trust you. 🤝

TACTIC TALKS

An easier way to create Amazon ads through Canva

If you’re using Canva to create content for Amazon, your job just got easier. Amazon Ads Tech Evangelist Jeffrey Cohen recently announced the beta launch of Canva Connect.

✨ What’s awesome about it?

Canva Connect will allow you to:

• Seamlessly connect Canva to your Amazon Ads creative library;
• Import/export your brand content;
• Run creatives through pre-moderation to ensure they meet Amazon standards;
• Use Canva tools like Magic Expander, Magic Eraser, and Background Remover; and
• Collaborate with teams

Overall, this saves time and effort when creating Amazon content and designs. 👏

Want in?

If you’re an Amazon Ads partner, you can reach out directly to Cohen for beta access. Otherwise, stay tuned for when the public release will be—we’ll be sure to let you know when we hear something. 👂