Become a better FBA seller in 5 minutes

---

Looks like physical stores found a new way to appeal more to younger consumers: biometric payments.

Well, it’s not really that new (Trivia: Modern biometric payments started in the early 2000s). But stores are just realizing their potential as a customer magnet. Of course, online marketplace merchants can also leverage this (if they haven’t yet) as long as they accept digital payments, too. 

Speaking of leverage, how about some info you can use to kickstart your selling week?

• Amazon is flooded 🌊
• Big Spring Sale deadlines 📌
• Branded merchandise for marketing 👕
• Video marketing 📹

HOT TOPIC

A recent article from Fortune has become a hot topic after exposing U.S. sellers’ sentiments toward Chinese competitors. With the latter representing over 50% of Amazon marketplace sellers, the former is worried about lower local brands, jobs, and merchants.

Here are more details on this issue:

👎 Negative impacts on U.S. sellers 

Many U.S. sellers are feeling the negative impact caused by the influx of Chinese sellers.

• U.S. sellers allege Chinese rivals engage in unfair practices such as:
  • Posting fake negative reviews to sabotage competitors
  • Using low-cost tactics that give them an advantage in price and reach

• Chinese competitors also have regulatory advantages, including:
  • No U.S. income tax ⛔
  • The 'de minimis' rule, which allows them to ship orders under $800 to U.S. customers without paying tariffs or duties (but this might be changing soon)
  • Alleged ways to skirt around Amazon's requirement for proper liability insurance

💭 Amazon, listen

Sellers call for government intervention to create a level playing field, engaging with think tanks, lobbyists, and Amazon executives. Billionaire Mark Cuban also tweeted a suggestion: registering Chinese products on a U.S. government site to review intellectual property (IP) before sales.

AMAZON NEWS

Amazon announces deadlines for Big Spring Sale deals and Prime-exclusive discounts

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale will be on March 25 to 31, 2025. And the retail giant is calling the attention of those who wish to participate to submit their deals and Prime-exclusive discounts.

📍 For deals:

• Deadline: March 17, 2025
• To submit your deals, do the following:
  • Go to Advertising and select Deals.
  • Click Create a new deal.
  • Choose an eligible ASIN and click Select.
  • Select Big Spring Sale and click Continue to next step.
  • Set up and confirm your deal details and click Submit deal.

📍 For Prime-exclusive discounts

• Deadline: March 31, 2025
• To submit Prime-exclusive discounts, do the following:
  • Go to Advertising and select Price Discounts.
  • Click Create a price discount.
  • Complete the form. From the Events drop-down menu, select Big Spring Sale. Then, select Prime customers as the Audience type.
  • Click Step 2: Add product, and complete the workflow.

Big Spring Sale is Amazon’s first mainstream sales event this year. If you want to set your store’s momentum this year, we highly recommend that you start with this. 💰

BITES OF THE WEEK

• Across the Web: Amazon’s new ‘experiment’ will help customers discover products outside its app.
• Tax Problems: Amazon is under investigation by Italian prosecutors for alleged tax evasion worth €1.2 billion.
• Trillion-level Market: With tech, better logistics, and stronger Internet connectivity, the global ecommerce market is expected to reach $11 trillion in 2028.

ACTIONABLE ADVICE

6 steps to creating high-converting branded merchandise

Branded merchandise refers to any product featuring your company’s logo, name, or other promotional assets. As added by Shopify, they’re a powerful tool to build brand awareness, foster loyalty, and create new revenue streams.

❔ How to get started in creating them?

1. Establish your goals and budget

• Decide what your merchandise should accomplish. Is it to increase brand awareness? Inspire brand loyalty? Whatever it is, make sure it aligns with your long-term goal, too!
• Then, set a budget to determine which products are the most feasible.

2. Generate product ideas

• Brainstorm ideas that align with your brand’s values and personality.
• Example: To engage customers, consider items like tote bags that encourage word-of-mouth marketing.

3. Choose a distribution method

• Some of the common ones include distributing branded merchandise at trade shows, employee events, or as part of influencer gift packages. 🚚
• You can also use them for loyalty programs or as customer giveaways.

4. Design your merchandise

• Ensure your merch reflects your company’s visual identity and brand voice.
• Example: Good Girl Snacks’ branded apparel mirrors their colorful style.

5. Find a manufacturer

• For simple items, consider print-on-demand services like Printful or Printify.
• For more complex designs, you may need to work with a specialized branding agency like Canary Marketing.

6. Monitor your inventory 

• Keep track of your stock levels and adjust based on demand. 👀
• Use inventory management tools to help manage supplies.

There you have it! Easy-peasy, right?

If you already tried this engagement tactic, feel free to share with us how it turned out. We’d love to know and feature them!

TECH MARKETING

Best ways to use video in your marketing strategies

Feel like you've seen the same video trends everywhere? Let’s break out of the routine!

📽️ Here are 7 unique ways to use video marketing, according to Search Engine Journal.

• Be the trend
  • Start something new! Every viral trend began with one unique idea.
  • Create content that’s fun, authentic, and relatable to your audience. 🤡
• Introduce hypothetical fun
  • Ask “what if” questions to create unexpected scenarios. Example: "What if coffee was the secret to happiness?"
  • Grab your audience’s attention by flipping conventional ideas on their heads and challenging the norm. 
• Mash it up
  • Combine two unrelated ideas to spark curiosity. Example: “My nail salon visit taught me about product marketing…”
    • Mashups add a fun twist, keeping your audience entertained and thinking.
• Look outside your industry
  • Find inspiration in other fields. You don’t need to copy—just draw inspiration to make your content fresh. 💡
• Boost Interactivity
  • Make videos engaging by adding interactive elements, such as augmented reality (AR), AI, or gamified experiences. 
  • Try “choose your adventure” video stories or virtual consultations to involve your viewers.
• Use time-lapse videos
  • Instead of “before and after” shots, show a journey in action! Time-lapse videos work great for home renovations, fitness results, or business transformations.
• Live video isn’t dead—utilize it
  • Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube all offer live video features. Use live streams to connect with your audience through Q&As, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes footage.

Final thoughts

Creative video content can help your brand stand out. Be authentic, take risks, and think beyond the usual formats to boost your digital marketing efforts.

With the right ideas and execution, you could be the next trendsetter! 🫵