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#147 - Amazon: Facts and Statistics, What to Sell in September, and more

Welcome to Issue #147 of the FBA Monthly, your go-to newsletter for the latest insights, tips, and strategies tailored for Amazon sellers! In this edition, we delve into emerging market trends, highlight essential tools to streamline your operations, and share expert advice on enhancing your product listings. Whether you're a seasoned seller or just starting, our curated content is designed to empower you to grow your business and stay ahead of the competition. Let’s dive in!

Hot News

Amazon took advantage of tax laws that allowed online retailers to avoid collecting sales tax to create a pricing advantage. Now, Temu has a pricing advantage created by not paying customs duties and/or taxes. Amazon didn’t have to collect sales tax because it sold in most states without physical presence, also known as “nexus.” Any retailer was obliged to collect from shoppers only if it had a substantial physical presence in their state.

marketplacepulse.com

Amazon is a more complex phenomenon than a highly successful marketplace selling its items and enabling third-party vendors to use its platform to sell its products. It is a multinational technology company relying on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. Amazon enjoys a reputation as the world’s most influential economic and cultural force. It is also a brand that sets the rules and commands respect even among its FANG peers, Meta , Netflix, and Alphabet/Google, which have demonstrated massive growth in recent years.

investing.com

The hardest part about selling on Amazon is, well, figuring out what to sell on Amazon. You may have what you think is a great idea for a product, but smart sellers rely on data — not always their gut instincts — for which products to invest in. This is especially true in September as we move into the fall months. This time of year is when kids go back to school and seasonal fall items start to pick up again — which sellers can take advantage of.

junglescout.com


Good to Know

E-commerce growth is slowing again, but not because shoppers are returning to physical stores. Online shopping accounted for 51 cents of every new dollar spent in retail. Based on the Department of Commerce data, e-commerce spending in the U.S. was up 6.5% in the second quarter. That’s a slowdown from both the first quarter and 2023 Q2. Three of the slowest e-commerce growth quarters in the past 15 years occurred within the last two years; 2024 Q2 was one of them.

marketplacepulse.com

Amazon has launched a program allowing sellers using its fulfillment services to issue product refunds without customers returning the item, according to an Aug. 13 announcement. Fulfillment by Amazon Returnless Resolutions will help sellers avoid returns-related fees by cutting out the physical reverse logistics process and letting customers keep the items instead, the company said. Some products are ineligible for the program, including dangerous goods, heavy and bulky items, and those with an average sales price above $75.

supplychaindive.com

Amazon is experimenting with removing customer ratings from its product search results page, a test that the retailer says could make it easier for shoppers to scan its vast selection of products. The “limited test” affects only a small set of products, the company told Fortune on Thursday, and only affects the search results page, with star ratings and review count totals still available on individual product pages.

fortune.com

With a market cap of over one trillion U.S. dollars, Amazon ranks first among the leading large cap e-commerce companies worldwide. According to June 2023 data, the e-commerce giant ranks ahead of Alibaba, Prosus, and Pinduoduo. During the measured period, Alibaba's market cap amounted to nearly 214 billion U.S. dollars.

statista.com

Amazon’s used goods marketplace is now known as Amazon Resale. The company revealed the rebrand in a blog post Monday. The store, which offers discounted items on used, pre-owned, and open-box products, was previously known as Amazon Warehouse. Amazon says customers saved 25% on average on products purchased last year through Amazon Resale, which can be accessed via a dedicated storefront or on regular product pages under the section “Save with Used” or “Buy Used.”

geekwire.com

A lawsuit against Amazon by Washington D.C. has been revived after an appeals court in the nation's capitol reversed an early decision to toss the suit, which claims that Amazon hurts competition with its Marketpalce. The ruling comes more than two years after the case had been dismissed in superior court. The lawsuit was initially filed in 2021.

tomsguide.com

India's commerce minister accused Amazon , opens new tab and other e-commerce companies of predatory pricing practices and said the sector's rapid rise should not disrupt millions of brick-and-mortar stores operating in the country. Amazon and Walmart's , opens new tab Flipkart have reshaped India's retail landscape in recent years, with both companies investing billions of dollars to expand and get consumers to their platforms which offer lucrative discounts.

reuters.com

Amazon is bringing back peak season fees for third-party sellers that plan to use its mix of fulfillment services this holiday. The peak fulfillment fees will apply from Oct. 15 through Jan. 14, 2025. In a post on its seller central forum, Amazon said the seasonal fee is similar to those charged by other major carriers, and covers increased fulfillment and transportation operating costs during the season.

sourcingjournal.com

Though Amazon is known for its annual Prime Day event each summer, it’s been feeling like Prime Day happens once a season. First, we had the Prime Early Access Sale in the fall of 2022. Next, we had Prime Big Deal Days in the fall of 2023. And, suddenly, we hit another seasonal shopping event with the Big Spring Sale this past March. So, it’s safe to say another October Prime Day-esque event is on the horizon.

nypost.com

Amazon is making a push to acquire more sellers in China, aiming to expand its offerings of affordable products in the US and elsewhere to take on Temu and other Chinese competitors. At the end of July, Amazon held an event for online sellers in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, telling them it would support their efforts to enter the global market. As examples of past successes in China, Amazon cited Anker, which makes chargers for smartphones and other devices, and robot vacuum cleaner manufacturer Roborock, both of which expanded around the world.

kr-asia.com

Selling on eBay versus Amazon in 2024 presents distinct advantages and challenges that require strategic consideration. Amazon’s sheer market reach is unparalleled, offering access to a vast customer base that can drive significant sales volume. However, this comes with higher selling fees and stringent policies that demand compliance and professional-grade service, especially with the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program.

marketbusinessnews.com


Tips and Tricks

Ecommerce is enjoying a big boost in popularity, thanks to technology. Approximately 80% of adults in the United States are turning to eCommerce to buy goods and services. Similarly, more people are opening online stores, whether as an additional sales channel for their physical store or as an entirely new venture. Because of websites like Amazon, it has become easier for merchants to sell products and services in the online marketplace. It is estimated that sales from global eCommerce will hit $6.3 trillion this year, with $1.1 trillion coming from the US.

influencermarketinghub.com

As e-commerce continues to expand, Amazon's Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program remains a cornerstone for many online retailers, providing a streamlined approach to storage, packaging and shipping. However, the success of an Amazon FBA business heavily relies on sourcing products from reliable distributors. In this article, we will explore key considerations and identify some of the best platforms to find distributors for Amazon FBA sellers.

globalsources.com

One of the most significant advantages of selling on Amazon international marketplaces is that you dramatically increase your marketing reach. You're not just selling to those near your physical stores. Instead, you can potentially sell your products to the whole world. Amazon has stores across the globe. You can reach millions of customers across 21 different countries shopping in Amazon's four American and nine European stores alone.

influencermarketinghub.com

Ever feel like your Amazon store is just another drop in the ocean? With millions of sellers vying for attention, building a brand that stands out can seem daunting. But the truth is, it’s not impossible. In fact, with the right strategies, you can carve out a unique space for your brand on Amazon, even in the most saturated markets. So, how do you make your brand shine in such a crowded marketplace?

azbigmedia.com

You can make good money from selling on Amazon, a platform that generated $524.897 billion in revenue for the twelve months ending March 31, 2023—a 9.87% increase year-over-year. However, your success largely depends on the products you choose and the level of competition. Amazon offers access to a global market, provided you can manage the logistics of supplying in-demand products at competitive prices.

influencermarketinghub.com

Like many people, you might rely on reviews before you purchase a product or service online. The problem with Amazon is that the site has quite a few fake reviews. From Amazon’s own telling, the retailer says it blocked more than 250 million fake reviews in 2023 alone. Money expert Clark Howard says one of the reasons why the issue is so bad is because writing fake reviews has become an Amazon business.

clark.com

If you’re interested in selling products, becoming an Amazon influencer can be a good alternative. Without taking on any risk (you don’t need to spend money on inventory or worry about running costs), you can still enjoy the rush of selling products, albeit not your own. The Amazon Influencer Program has been around for a couple of years already. Unlike Amazon’s affiliate program, it’s more difficult to get accepted, though. That said, it’s far from impossible.

influencermarketinghub.com


Podcasts

Join Bradley Sutton in this episode of the Serious Sellers Podcast as we explore the vital importance of search volume metrics for Amazon sellers. We’ll reveal why accurate search volume data is crucial for making informed decisions on listing optimization, PPC campaigns, and more. We’ll discuss how to gauge demand in a niche and prioritize keywords effectively, while also addressing the limitations of Amazon’s own search volume metrics.

helium10.com