Here’s a not-so-surprising news: Amazon remains the top and most trusted online marketplace. But it isn’t the only main character in the global ecommerce industry, as we’ll share with you today.
What can we say, we love starting the week discussing other profitable selling journeys you could set your sail on.
- Must-know Southeast Asian ecommerce trends 🌏
- The solution to repetitive marketing scripts 💡
- Amazon’s Generic Product Policy 📦
POST OF THE WEEK
ECOMMERCE NEWS
If you think Amazon’s Prime Day’s $14.2 billion sales were big, wait until you hear about the ecommerce numbers in Southeast Asia (SEA).
According to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE’s report, Shopee alone accounted for 48% of SEA’s market sharelast year, earning $55.1 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV).
🗺️ Charting the SEA
Here are some interesting facts about SEA’s ecommerce market:
- Lazada is losing. Its GMV fell almost 2 points with $18.8 billion. One reason could be Alibaba’s growing competition against Pinduoduo-owned Temu. For now, Lazada has redirected its focus to the supply chain.
- TikTok is rising. TikTok Shop is going head-to-head with Lazada. The social media app reportedly has US$16.3 billion in GMV.
- Temu to follow. Temu concentrates its efforts in North America and other regions first. It’s available in Malaysia and the Philippines, with plans to add Indonesia soon.
- Beauty tops the categories on TikTok Shop and Shopee. Other notable categories include Women’s Fashion and Home and Living. 💄
- Live thrives. ShopeeLive and TikTok Shop have reportedly spent millions in live commerce investments.
- AI applications are starting to emerge in different platforms.
- Consolidation is another key trend as ecommerce platforms diversify their services.
- There’s a new competitive dynamics for 3P Logistics since platforms are focusing on in-house (1P) logistics.
But why do SEA trends matter?
One of the reasons why Amazon succeeds in pooling new customers is its constant market exploration and expansion. It caters not only to U.S. consumers but to all shoppers across multiple countries and regions.
If you want to replicate its success, you may want to tap into Asia’s massive and profitable market. In that case, knowing what SEA shoppers want is your key to thriving.
And if you need more scoops about other ecommerce markets, feel free to send us a message on what region you want to know more about. 🌏
TOGETHER WITH STORI AI
The perfect solution to avoid repetitive marketing scripts
You probably have a lot of products to sell and even more things to do. But what if in your busyness, you’re missing out on marketing your products?
These situations might be familiar to you:
- You have dozens (or hundreds) of products to offer and sell;
- You have to prepare the content (posts, images, blogs, etc) and schedule them;
- Doing all this takes a lot in terms of time, money, and/or people–resources that you may not have at the moment; and
- You’re probably still not using AI tools.
We have a solution for you!
STORI AI does it all so you don’t have to do it yourself. Within minutes you can:
✅ Create a brand (for consistent communication style and tone)
✅ Generate and edit content (images, text, etc)
✅ Automatically convert product shots into posters
✅ Publish and schedule it on (almost) every social channel
Of course, it’s better to experience all of this yourself. So, try STORI for FREE by clicking on the link below. 👇
Elevate my brand’s communication
BITES OF THE WEEK
- eBay Answers: eBay updated its advertising program and will be addressing raised concerns.
- Amazon Scam Alert: Impostor brand call centers pretend to be Amazon to scam unknowing customers.
- Chinese Competition: Alibaba's Taobao will offer free overseas shipping, boldly challenging Temu and Shein.
- Why Prime: ICYDK, here’s why Prime Day was ‘invented’ (and how it compares to other sales events).
SELLER REFRESHER
What you need to know about Amazon’s Generic Product Policy
Thinking about selling generic items on Amazon? Hold on, there's something you should know first!
Generic products are unbranded items without a distinctive name or logo. And ICYDK, Amazon has a Generic Product Policy to help customers spot the difference between generic and branded products.
📋 What you need to know
- Creating a generic ASIN means other sellers can't change your product details or add offers. This keeps things clear and consistent for everyone.
- If you change another seller's generic product page or add offers, you'll get a listing error. Check Amazon’s guide for help if you encounter error codes 5882, 5885, 5886, and 5887.
🛒 So, how can you create a generic ASIN?
If your product doesn't have a Universal Product Code (UPC) or Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), you must first apply for an exemption to get approval from Amazon.
- Use the Add Product option. Fill out the product name and category and then check "This product does not have a brand name."
- Next, select the “I don't have a Product ID” box.
- If you need an exemption, click the “Apply to sell” button that appears.
- If you don’t require an exemption, you can proceed to the next step.
- Wait for approval, which you'll receive in about 48 hours. Once your GTIN exemption is approved, wait 30 minutes before adding your product to the catalog.
Ready to create generic listings?
Knowing how to create a generic ASIN and getting the right approvals ensures that your product listings stay accurate and error-free. Keep these steps in mind, and you'll be on your way to successfully selling generic products on Amazon! 🎯
