The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast
An eCommerce podcast for store owners, hosted by 7-figure store owners Mike Jackness and Dave Bryant. We cover everything in eCommerce from Shopify, to Amazon FBA. From email marketing, to Facebook Ads. Never before has there been a podcast with store owners who are so candid. Subscribe to the Ecomcrew podcast today!
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E628: Don't Trust Your Suppliers? This Can Help
12/29/2025
E628: Don't Trust Your Suppliers? This Can Help
In this episode, Mike Babbitt from Synovus is on the podcast to talk about the inherent risks associated with importing goods, and how you can reduce that risk especially when starting with new suppliers. He shares various strategies to illustrate these challenges, and the importance of understanding the international trade landscape. Mike Babbitt, Synovus’s Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance Origination, is on the podcast today to talk about the various risks that importers (and exporters) are facing in 2025 and 2026 and how you as an importer can protect yourself when importing. Mike also talks about the various trends he's observed over the years and how we're slowly moving to a "just right" inventory model. If you're looking to expand your product portfolio with new suppliers, this episode may be for you. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to International Trade and Sonovus Bank 02:56 - Understanding Risks in Importing and Exporting 05:55 - Mitigating Risks with Letters of Credit 09:02 - Practical Scenarios for Using Letters of Credit 11:55 - Exploring Trade Financing Mechanisms 14:57 - Current Trends in Importing and Exporting 17:54 - Reconfiguring Supply Chains and Reshoring 21:06 - Economic Outlook and Consumer Confidence 24:01 - Conclusion and Contact Information Mike, thanks for coming on the podcast. If you'd like to reach out to Mike, you can check him out on his As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E627: Big Changes in Amazon Software this Year
12/17/2025
E627: Big Changes in Amazon Software this Year
Amazon software has changed a lot recently. AI tools, reimbursement services, and product launch software have all been affected in the past year with Amazon suddenly introducing their own tools and undercutting these services. Grab a chance to win an annual membership to Ecomcrew Premium by The Big Takeaway Amazon software has gone through some massive changes this year. Helium 10's affiliate program has eliminated lifetime commissions. Jungle Scout has shifted focus to enterprise customers. Amazon's new reimbursement policies have greatly affected third-party reimbursement services. Chinese software tools are becoming more competitive in the market. AI integration in Amazon tools is still limited. With growing competition, the software space is becoming commoditized with lower prices. There is also a growing trend of rebate services returning to the market. Timestamps 00:00 - The State of Amazon Software in 2025 05:00 - Helium 10's Affiliate Program Changes 10:04 - Jungle Scout's Shift to Enterprise 15:06 - Amazon's New Reimbursement Policies 16:41 - The Rise of Chinese Software Tools As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E626: How Fake Reviews Work Off-Amazon
12/03/2025
E626: How Fake Reviews Work Off-Amazon
Dave interviews Allyse Slocum, the VP of Product @ Trustpilot, to talk about how fake reviews and review manipulation affect independent review platforms like Trustpilot. They explore how Trustpilot works, the difference between store and product reviews, and how Trustpilot handles fake reviews. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card required. Just go to and get clarity on your margins today. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Trustpilot 02:59 - Understanding Independent Review Platforms 05:57 - The Importance of Reviews Beyond Marketplaces 08:59 - Differentiating Store Reviews and Product Reviews 11:53 - The Value of Review Volume vs. Rating 15:04 - Navigating One-Star Reviews 18:06 - Addressing the Challenge of Fake Reviews 20:59 - Getting Started with Trustpilot If you'd like to connect with Allyse, you can check her out on ! As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E625: Ecom Bubble Pop? Pattern Group Posts Major Losses
11/26/2025
E625: Ecom Bubble Pop? Pattern Group Posts Major Losses
Dave discusses the recent IPO and earnings of Pattern Group, the biggest Amazon seller in the world. He highlights their significant losses and unique business model as exclusive brand partners for big brands like Pandora. He delves into their financial reports to see if they'll be profitable in the future, using their growth projections. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card required. Just go to and get clarity on your margins today. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Pattern Group's IPO and Earnings 02:26 - Understanding Pattern Group's Business Model 05:07 - Financial Overview and Profitability Concerns 07:26 - Skepticism Around Pattern's Earnings and Future 09:52 - Revenue Growth and Market Diversification 11:41 - The Role of AI in Pattern's Strategy As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E624: 5 Tips to Reduce Returns (and Save Margins)
11/19/2025
E624: 5 Tips to Reduce Returns (and Save Margins)
Amazon's return policy has become a huge factor to consider especially when developing products for the new year. Dave shares 5 tips for e-commerce sellers to reduce returns and to restore some bottom line back into their business. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card required. Just go to and get clarity on your margins today. Ever wonder how Chinese Sellers dominate Amazon? We'll spill all their secrets in our webinar that's happening on . We'll show you how to find products that can actually be profitable, how to land them cheaply, and how to rank them easily no Amazon. Timestamps 00:00 - Understanding Amazon's Return Policy 02:51 - The Hidden Costs of Returns 06:01 - Strategies to Reduce Returns 08:49 - Managing Return Merchandise Effectively 12:05 - Improving Product Presentation to Minimize Returns 14:56 - Customer Engagement to Reduce Returns 17:50 - Evaluating Product Viability and Return Rates As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E623: How Working for A Chinese Amazon Business Feels Like
11/11/2025
E623: How Working for A Chinese Amazon Business Feels Like
Dave reveals what its like working in an Amazon Business based in China, sourced from a Chinese forum. He talks about the differences of the Chinese vs. American e-commerce businesses, and how they structure their businesses by expanding to multiple marketplaces almost immediately. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card required. Just go to and get clarity on your margins today. There was a recent post on a Chinese discussion board looking for advice. The author recounted all of his previous experiences working at various e-commerce companies that have an Amazon focus and he realized that the Amazon landscape was changing at a pace he couldn't keep up with. This is particularly helpful for us western e-commerce sellers, because it helps us figure out what the Chinese are doing on Amazon that gets their sales high and prices low. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Chinese Amazon Sellers' Insights 03:08 - The Journey of a Chinese Amazon Employee 06:03 - Daily Operations and Responsibilities 08:58 - Promotions and Performance Metrics 11:58 - Challenges and Strategies in Product Management 15:00 - Expansion into Domestic Markets 15:18 - Challenges of Management and Promotion 16:09 - Cultural Differences in Work Ethic 17:33 - Advertising Frameworks and Product Launches 19:37 - Developing a Unique Marketing Strategy 21:29 - Sales Performance and Product Viability 23:05 - Mental Health and Career Stagnation 24:09 - Product Development Challenges 25:44 - Profitability and Product Selection 27:10 - Lessons from the Chinese Market As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E622: Amazon Ad Costs Are Up This Much
11/04/2025
E622: Amazon Ad Costs Are Up This Much
Dave reveals Amazon's Q3 2025 earnings report, and what it means for e-commerce sellers while focusing on their e-commerce growth, advertising revenue, and third-party seller services. Dave talks about the implications of these numbers for sellers and the overall market. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card required. Just go to and get clarity on your margins today. Timestamps 00:00 - Amazon's Q3 2025 Earnings Overview 04:26 - Advertising Growth Insights 07:55 - Third-Party Seller Services and Fees 10:39 - Amazon's Workforce and Delivery Service Challenges 14:56 - Generative AI Tools for Sellers 16:28 - Conclusion and Key Takeaways As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E621: 5 Tariff Strategies My Company is Taking
10/29/2025
E621: 5 Tariff Strategies My Company is Taking
Dave talks about how the tariffs have impacted his business personally and how he plans to address these challenges. He talks about how you can save your profit margins by manufacturing locally or manufacturing in house (at least by experimenting), and expanding to other marketplaces or countries to save some of that profit margin. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card required. Just go to and get clarity on your margins today. Tariffs have been a significant cost for Amazon businesses, which have ultimately eaten away at profit margins. Timestamps 00:00 - Navigating Tariffs: An Overview 02:50 - Five-Step Strategy for Local Manufacturing 05:52 - Identifying Products for Local Production 08:54 - Leveraging Technology for Efficient Manufacturing 11:47 - Exploring Chemical Products and Local Manufacturing 14:46 - Advantages of Local Manufacturing in E-commerce 16:52 - Diversifying Markets Beyond the US 21:11 - Strategies for Higher Margins and Payment Terms 24:48 - Navigating Tariffs and Legal Considerations As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E620: Breaking Down the New FBA 2026 Fee Increases
10/20/2025
E620: Breaking Down the New FBA 2026 Fee Increases
Amazon's new FBA fees have been announced for 2026 and Amazon themselves claim that their new fees only add 8 cents per unit sold of the average item selling price. Is that really the case though? In today's episode, Dave breaks down how the new fees ACTUALLY work, which products came out unscathed, and Amazon's bigger picture goals. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card required. Just go to and get clarity on your margins today. Amazon released their new FBA fees for 2026. Keeping up with tradition, Amazon released it in the most confusing way possible. They also claim that their new fees only add 8 cents per unit sold of the average item selling price. This leaves sellers scrambling to calculate how their products and profit margins will be affected. Luckily, Dave is breaking down these fees on a per size category level and how these will affect you as a seller, whether you sell small or oversized items. Dave also breaks down the pricing increases for their different programs, namely Amazon's bulk storage program AWD and Multi Channel Fulfillment. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Amazon's FBA Fee Increases 02:53 - The Impact of FBA Fee Changes 05:49 - Analyzing Fee Increases by Product Category 08:54 - The Effect on Bulky Items and Packaging 11:49 - Placement Fees and Their Implications 14:50 - Additional Fee Categories and Inbound Defects 17:50 - Conclusion and Future Considerations As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E619: % Of Chinese Sellers Declining? It's a Lie.
10/15/2025
E619: % Of Chinese Sellers Declining? It's a Lie.
There have been reports of a significant decline in the number of Chinese sellers on Amazon, according to SellerSnooper and Marketplace Pulse, but their disappearance is not that simple. Dave dives into why Chinese sellers are disappearing from Amazon and where they went. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card required. Just go to and get clarity on your margins today. Back in 2022, we did a report on how many Chinese sellers there are on Amazon. The number was up to 55%. Granted that this was back in 2022, you'd expect the number of Chinese Sellers to increase. As of October 2025, the number has drastically lowered to ~30%. This would normally be cause for celebration but the answer isn't that simple. A lot of Chinese sellers have been opening up US LLCs to dodge paying taxes in China, where they aren't as lenient with counting expenses against your business. Timestamps 00:00 - The Decline of Chinese Sellers on Amazon 02:42 - Tax Regulations and Their Impact 05:54 - The Golden Tax System in China 09:03 - Panic Among Chinese Sellers 11:53 - The Shift to US LLCs 14:54 - The Reality of Seller Statistics As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E618: Is Importing from China Dead?
10/07/2025
E618: Is Importing from China Dead?
Dave discusses whether importing from China is still viable in the wake of rising tariffs and changing global dynamics. He explores the impact of tariffs on costs, advantages of Chinese manufacturing, and the quality of products sourced from China. Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card required. Just go to and get clarity on your margins today. Importing from China, even with Trump Tariffs 2.0, may still be viable today and in the near future. Today, it still is the best option compared to the other rising manufacturing companies like Vietnam, India, and Thailand. Compared to America, manufacturing in China is still the best option even factoring in the transit costs and 3PL costs. However, in the far future, China might not be the country to manufacture from. We're holding a special Importing from China webinar on October 8th where we'll be talking about how you can find products that still make sense to source only in China (and skip the ones that don’t) while getting the lowest tariff rates and more! Timestamps 00:00 - Is Importing from China Dead? 02:17 - The Impact of Tariffs on Importing 06:46 - Cost Comparisons: China vs. Other Countries 09:59 -Benefits of Working with Chinese Factories 14:16 - Quality of Products from China 14:45 - Future of Importing from China 20:02 - The Rising Power Theory and Its Implications As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E617: Tai Lopez Charged With Running Ecom Ponzi Scheme
09/29/2025
E617: Tai Lopez Charged With Running Ecom Ponzi Scheme
Dave discusses the recent SEC allegations against Tai Lopez, who is accused of running a Ponzi scheme through his acquisition of legacy retail brands. He dives into the details of the accusations, the flaws in Lopez's business model, and comparisons to other entrepreneurs like Alex Hormozi. What happens to Tai Lopez now? Will he go to jail? Today's episode is sponsored by Sellerboard. Sellerboard helps users track sales, refunds and fees in real time, and even counts your indirect expenses in final profit. Beyond analytics, Sellerboard also streamlines operations with smart portfolios for PPC, inventory forecasting & management and more! Try Sellerboard free for 2 months — no credit card required. Just go to and get clarity on your margins today. Tai Lopez is one of the biggest "entrepreneur turned influencers" in the industry, with 2.5 million subscribers on Youtube, 3 million on Instagram, and 1.1 million on Tiktok. The SEC has come forward with allegations against Tai Lopez and his business partner, Alex Mehr, for running a $112 Million Ponzi Scheme and defrauding their investors. A Ponzi Scheme, by definition, is a "form of fraud that lures investors and pays profits to earlier investors with funds from more recent investors." That means that Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr are allegedly misallocating funds to provide an illusion of great profit margins, leading to more investors buying in on their alleged "success" when they were just using that money to pay their first few investors. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Tai Lopez's Controversy 03:01 - Allegations of a Ponzi Scheme 05:47 - Business Model Flaws and Comparisons 08:56 - Public Perception and Future Implications As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E616: I bought Fake Amazon Reviews. Here's How They Work.
09/22/2025
E616: I bought Fake Amazon Reviews. Here's How They Work.
Dave dives into the world of fake Amazon reviews by purchasing a fake review for himself. He shares where he found a review broker, what the requirements were to purchase reviews, and the shocking surprise he found after. We get a lot of spam in our Facebook groups about "review groups". Its become so prevalent that we decided to actually dig in and see how their whole operation works. And we did exactly just that. In this episode, Dave goes through the experience of buying a fake review and exposes what the full capabilities of review brokers are, where they are from, and how they manage to dodge Amazon. If you're a seller on Amazon or if you're tired seeing odd reviews for products that aren't really that exciting, this episode is for you. Timestamps 00:00 - Diving into the World of Fake Amazon Reviews 12:12 - The Mechanics of Review Brokerages 17:32 - The Scale of the Problem and Amazon's Response As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E615: How Selling on Temu Differs Compared to Amazon
09/16/2025
E615: How Selling on Temu Differs Compared to Amazon
Meenu Seda from IMGadgets joins us on the podcast to talk about her experience selling Temu. She explains how products are sent to Temu customers, what the commission fees are on Temu, and how their sales compare against Amazon. Get mystery shopped for your brand and 2 competitors of your choice FOR FREE! Stord will provide a detailed report that outlines the specific areas you are out performing your competitors and where your competitors are outperforming you. In today's episode, we have a special guest who does things a little different compared to the rest of us. Meenu Seda is the CEO of IMGadgets, and sells on Temu as an additional revenue stream alongside Amazon. She's here today to talk about Temu and how different it is compared to Amazon, particularly in regards to their commission fees, their pricing system, and their delivery system. If you're a seller looking to expand your audience, this episode is just for you! Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Temu and E-commerce Opportunities 02:54 - The Journey of a Canadian Seller on Temu 05:57 - Understanding the Product Landscape and Market Dynamics 09:00 - Sales Performance and Comparison to Other Channels 11:47 - Marketing Strategies and Advertising Tools on Temu 14:54 - Pricing Models and Commission Structure 17:57 - Creating High-Converting Listings on Temu 21:04 - How Reviews Work on Temu 24:00 - Returns and Customer Service on Temu 26:55 - Final Thoughts and Tips for Success on Temu Meenu, thanks for coming on the podcast! We really appreciate your candor and informing us (and the audience) about what its like to be selling on Temu. As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E614: 3 Massive Opportunities in Ecommerce for the Next 3 Years
09/08/2025
E614: 3 Massive Opportunities in Ecommerce for the Next 3 Years
Dave pitches 3 ecommerce trend predictions that he thinks is going to happen within the next 3 years, why he thinks its going to happen, and the opportunity that lies ahead for you. Get mystery shopped for your brand and 2 competitors of your choice FOR FREE! Stord will provide a detailed report that outlines the specific areas you are out performing your competitors and where your competitors are outperforming you. There are some massive opportunities in e-commerce within the next few years. Amazon has been investing a lot into a specific category, which means that customers will be getting a lot of targeted ads for this category within and outside of Amazon. This is just one of the predictions we have in store for you today. Another prediction that we think is going to see massive popularity on Amazon is based on its popularity in Asia. While not as prevalent in the North American markets, this certain strategy has been seeing massive numbers in customer acquisition and average order value specifically. Here's some timestamps down below to get into the predictions! Timestamps 00:00 - E-Commerce Predictions for the Next Three Years 01:57 - How This Strategy Saw Massive Success in E-Commerce 07:29 - The Gambling Trend 11:49 - The Next Big Category in Amazon As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E613: Another Aggregator Bubble? Pattern Files to Go Public
09/01/2025
E613: Another Aggregator Bubble? Pattern Files to Go Public
In this episode, Dave delves into the business model and financial performance of Pattern.com, a previous guest on the podcast and the biggest seller on Amazon, as they prepare to go public. He talks about why Pattern's business model is a little odd, and their business statistics like revenue and profit margins. Will Pattern be able to go public? Here's what Dave thinks. Get mystery shopped for your brand and 2 competitors of your choice FOR FREE! Stord will provide a detailed report that outlines the specific areas you are out performing your competitors and where your competitors are outperforming you. Pattern.com is one of the biggest sellers on Amazon, among Anker and Sports Research. They are one of the few sellers on Amazon to make it to the top while also filing to go public, but will Pattern succeed? Personally, I'm not so sure. They have a little bit of an odd business model while also marketing themselves a little oddly. The Big Takeaway Pattern is one the largest sellers on Amazon, who shifted from selling their own products to becoming exclusive distributors. As an exclusive distributor, Pattern buys inventory instead of taking it on consignment. Their revenue growth is significant, but profit margins are low. Comparing against traditional straightforward business accelerators, analysis shows competitors have better profit margins. The company markets itself as a SaaS provider, but operates more of a brand accelerator. The market for brand accelerators is becoming crowded which will make it hard for Pattern to receive new clients consistently. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Pattern's IPO and Business Model 05:04 - Financial Performance and Profit Margins 09:49 - Comparative Analysis with Other Companies 14:59 - Do we think Pattern can go public? As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E612: The 5 Ways Anker Dominated Amazon
08/20/2025
E612: The 5 Ways Anker Dominated Amazon
Dave dives into Anker Electronics' success, the #1 largest Amazon FBA seller in the world. Dave talks about the controversial tactics they employed to reach the top and their innovative marketing strategies. This includes using KickStarter for product launches which admittedly is a very uncommon thing to see from a billion dollar company and the top talent they hired so early on. Even if you don't have ambitions to be at the top of the top, there are some things to learn from Anker. Get mystery shopped for your brand and 2 competitors of your choice FOR FREE! Stord will provide a detailed report that outlines the specific areas you are out performing your competitors and where your competitors are outperforming you. Anker electronics is literally the biggest third-party seller on Amazon. But what did they do to get to the top? Apart from selling great products, hiring the best they could, and marketing their products well, it doesn't seem like anything special. In this episode, Dave dives into Anker's success and the 5 controversial tactics they employed into their business that propelled them to the top. The Big Takeaway Anker Electronics is one of the largest Amazon sellers in the world. The company was founded by an ex-Google engineer, Stephen Yang. Anker's success is attributed to some innovative marketing strategies, including using Kickstarter campaigns to pre-launch their products. They've also hired top-level talent quite early on for their business growth. Anker has avoided black hat tactics that plague the top of the top especially. Anchor has diversified into a completely different direction while also still being somewhat related. Timestamps 00:00 - The Rise of Anchor Electronics 10:03 - Innovative Marketing Strategies 19:05 - Controversies and Challenges 23:46 - Lessons from Anchor's Success As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E611: How He Became The Largest Amazon Seller Without Using FBA
08/13/2025
E611: How He Became The Largest Amazon Seller Without Using FBA
Dave dives into the huge business of FilterBuy, one of the largest e-commerce companies on Amazon that actually does NOT use FBA. FilterBuy specializes in selling HVAC filters and is founded by David Heacock, a good friend of mine from way back in the day. We explore the company's impressive growth, why David chose to manufacture from the US and why logistics are the main business that David is in. With that being said, what business are we all in? Get mystery shopped for your brand and 2 competitors of your choice FOR FREE! Stord will provide a detailed report that outlines the specific areas you are out performing your competitors and where your competitors are outperforming you. Amazon makes it really hard for sellers to avoid using FBA. FBA sellers get faster shipping times, better customer service and a nice badge that says "Prime Delivery" on your listing. With all of these things stacked against FBM Sellers, how do you succeed? To answer that question, we tell you about how Filterbuy became the biggest FBM seller on Amazon based on my interview with CEO and founder, David Heacock. The Big Takeaway FilterBuy is the largest seller on Amazon that does not use FBA. David Heacock kind of foresaw how important American manufacturing would be and was one of the first to adopt the strategy. The company's success is more than just product cost. David credits it mostly to efficient logistics. Manufacturing in America allows for reduced freight costs and just-in-time inventory unlike manufacturing in China. Pre-orders or Kickstarter launches are actually a viable strategy that most sellers sleep on. There's significant cash flow opportunities on Kickstarter and you also get to order the exact amount of opportunity for those pre-orders, which is a great strategy for the pre-launch period of new products. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to FilterBuy and Its Success 05:52 - David Heacock's Vision and Strategy 12:27 - The Importance of Logistics and Manufacturing in America 20:16 - Long-Term Thinking in Business 24:08 - Conclusion and Key Takeaways David, I apologize that we weren't able to get your actual interview up but we were really grateful for the opportunity to interview you nonetheless. If you're interested and want to follow David Heacock on social media, you can find him at As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E610: Amazon Has Massive Q2 Ecom Growth
08/05/2025
E610: Amazon Has Massive Q2 Ecom Growth
Today, Dave summarizes the most important points sellers should know about from Amazon's Q2 earnings — highlighting an impressive 10% growth, breaking out of the 6% streak they've been seeing for years. However, there's a slight caveat to these good news. This doesn't mean that people are buying more from Amazon. Listen in to find out. Get mystery shopped for your brand and 2 competitors of your choice FOR FREE! Stord will provide a detailed report that outlines the specific areas you are out performing your competitors and where your competitors are outperforming you. The Big Takeaways E-commerce sales grew 10% year over year, a significant increase. FBA fees also grew at a rate of 11%, matching e-commerce sales growth. Advertising costs for sellers are rising significantly, up 23% year over year. To avoid getting bled out slowly, sellers need to make sure their options are properly set. Amazon's growth may not be as positive as it appears on the surface. Sellers should consider raising prices in response to increased costs. Timestamps 00:00 - Amazon's Q2 Earnings Overview 01:56 - E-commerce Growth Analysis 06:45 - FBA Fees and Advertising Costs 12:18 - Conclusion and Key Takeaways As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E609: 3 Ways Your Business Is Leaking Profits And How To Solve It
07/21/2025
E609: 3 Ways Your Business Is Leaking Profits And How To Solve It
Nate Littlewood, fractional CFO and mentor, is on today's episode to shed some light on the 3 most common financial challenges that affects most e-commerce entrepreneurs and talks about how to fix them. He talks about the ways you can optimize inventory, cash flow, and reduce overhead costs. Get mystery shopped for your brand and 2 competitors of your choice FOR FREE! Stord will provide a detailed report that outlines the specific areas you are out performing your competitors and where your competitors are outperforming you. Cash flow is king when it comes to e-commerce businesses. More often than not business owners need to use debt to order more inventory, while keeping the price the same. Does that really make sense if all your profit ends up going to your SBA loan leaving you with nothing? It doesn't. That's why in today's episode we have Nate Littlewood on the podcast. He's a fractional CFO with a background in finance, and he helps e-commerce entrepreneurs figure out how they can improve their finance literacy. He's on the podcast today to talk about the 3 ways e-commerce businesses can improve their profit margins so they can start feeling their bank accounts grow. The Big Takeaways Many entrepreneurs have most of their cash flow tied up in inventory, making business cash flow a huge struggle. Fixing inventory can be an easy way to gain back some cash flow which makes your business more nimble and adaptable. Every now and then, you should assume that your SaaS budget is zero and make a case for why certain tools need to be purchased again. The 80-20 rule or The Pareto principle should help you with deciding which products to axe and which to keep. Offering more product variations does not lead to linear increased sales. Having low cash flow stops your business from growing faster than it could. Investing in supply chain optimization can also free up cash flow for your business. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Financial Challenges in E-commerce 03:02 - Understanding Inventory Management and Cash Flow 18:48 - Optimizing Indirect and Overhead Costs 25:02 - Negotiating Discounts and Customer Retention 26:29 - Identifying Overspending in SaaS and Marketing 28:23 - The Importance of Inventory Management 30:40 - The Unsexy Side of Business Operations 32:00 - Applying the Pareto Principle to Product Portfolios 39:00 - The Dangers of Overcomplicating Product Offerings 41:03 - Focusing on Strengths and Delegating Tasks 44:28 - Helping Founders Achieve Financial Clarity Guest Resources As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E608: Was Prime Day Really Down 40%? Early Results
07/14/2025
E608: Was Prime Day Really Down 40%? Early Results
Dave reveals his brands' revenue numbers from Prime Day and talks about what the overall experience was for sellers on Prime Day, from large aggregators to smaller sellers. Did the transition from a two-day to a four-day format make more money than last year? Did it cause a dip? We examine whether Amazon's claims were BS in today's episode. Get mystery shopped for your brand and 2 competitors of your choice FOR FREE! Stord will provide a detailed report that outlines the specific areas you are out performing your competitors and where your competitors are outperforming you. Last year, Amazon's Prime Day results were lukewarm across the board with sellers seeing a 1.5x - 2x increase in sales except for a select few. How was this year's Prime Day? Well, Amazon claims that Prime Day 2025 was the biggest prime day ever compared to previous years. But is it really? With Prime Day done and dusted, Dave reveals his brands' revenue numbers during the big shopping holiday to share how his experience was. Dave also shares how 10 anonymous brands from various revenue numbers did during Prime Day, with data taken from SellerSnooper. Are Amazon's claims BS? Or are they technically correct? We find out in today's episode. The Big Takeaway Initial reports indicated a 40% dip in Day 1 sales. Amazon claims that Prime Day 2025 was the biggest Prime Day ever. 8 out of 10 tracked companies saw sales gains during Prime Day, but how big were they? Sellers reported varied performance, with some seeing modest gains. Many sellers felt Prime Day performance was average this year. Sellers should definitely be cautious about discounting heavily during Prime Day. Timestamps 00:00 - Prime Day Overview and Initial Impressions 02:17 - Amazon's Shift to a Four-Day Event 04:41 - Analyzing Amazon's Sales Claims 07:03 - Performance Insights from Various Brands 09:01 - Seller Strategies and Experiences 11:17 - Overall Reflections on Prime Day Performance As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E607: 5 Product Trends To Watch On Amazon
07/09/2025
E607: 5 Product Trends To Watch On Amazon
Dave talks about five trending products - going into the rise of Labubu dolls, the potential of cosmetic tape, and the overall growth of sexual health products, especially on Amazon. Get mystery shopped for your brand and 2 competitors of your choice FOR FREE! Stord will provide a detailed report that outlines the specific areas you are out performing your competitors and where your competitors are outperforming you. Looking for a new product to launch on Amazon? Or maybe its time to expand the product catalogue and have no idea where to begin? You're in luck! In today's episode, Dave breaks down 5 trending product categories that might be the next step for you and your brand. The Big Takeaway: Understanding consumer behavior is key to successful product launches. Piggybacking on popular search terms in your niche can be a good idea for your next product. Identifying trends early can lead to capturing and dominating market share before competition sets in. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Amazon Product Trends 02:27 - The Rise of Labubu Dolls 06:07 - Exploring Cosmetic Tape Trends 09:17 - The Growing Market of Sexual Wellness Products 11:28 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E606: Is Bryan Johnson's "Blueprint" Amazon Brand Dying?
06/30/2025
E606: Is Bryan Johnson's "Blueprint" Amazon Brand Dying?
Dave delves into health influencer Brian Johnson's Blueprint brand to see how well this entrepreneur turned influencer business is performing on Amazon. We take a look at their revenue numbers, their quality control issues and overall brand strategy to see if influencer-led brands are actually killing it on Amazon or not. Get mystery shopped for your brand and 2 competitors of your choice FOR FREE! Stord will provide a detailed report that outlines the specific areas you are out performing your competitors and where your competitors are outperforming you. The Big Takeaway Brian Johnson's brand generated an annual revenue of approximately $4.5 million. Quality control issues have affected customer satisfaction according to recent reviews. Their average review rating for their top product is declining due to quality control issues. Pricing on Amazon is significantly lower than on the brand's website. Brian Johnson hasn't really been pushing the brands' presence in his socials. Blueprint's performance is not as impressive as their competitors. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Brian Johnson and Blueprint 03:03 - Blueprint's Performance on Amazon 05:45 - Revenue Analysis and Keyword Analysis 08:58 - Quality Control Issues and Customer Feedback 11:48 - Brand Strategy and Pricing Dynamics 15:06 - Conclusion: The Future of Blueprint As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E605: Alibaba is Seeing Surging Demand From These 2 Countries
06/23/2025
E605: Alibaba is Seeing Surging Demand From These 2 Countries
Today, we have an exciting guest on the podcast - Rah Mahtani from Alibaba.com. We dive into the impact of tariffs on Alibaba's business, the shifts in sourcing behavior among American importers, and the biggest emerging countries in manufacturing that might be worth considering in the future. Struggling with tariffs? Unsure about upcoming changes? Let’s talk! With Portless, you only pay tariffs after your customers pay you – so your cash always moves faster than your costs. All new customers get $1,000 to reinvest in their business. For today's episode, we have a special guest. We have the Head of Commercial Strategy of Alibaba, Rah Mahtani. We talk about tariffs, other countries that are seeing rising demand and what Alibaba is currently focused on to grow their portfolio of manufacturers. This episode is one not to miss! The Big Takeaway Tariffs create cash flow challenges for businesses. Alibaba saw a surge in new customers during high tariff periods. Sourcing behavior is shifting towards larger orders and long-term planning. Vietnam and Mexico are emerging as key sourcing countries. Alibaba is committed to increasing supplier diversity. Community engagement is a priority for Alibaba. Alibaba offers various services beyond sourcing, including logistics support. The company is focused on educating suppliers in emerging markets. There is a growing demand for nearshoring and offshoring. Alibaba's headquarters in Hangzhou is open for tours. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to today's guest 05:02 - Impact of Tariffs on Alibaba's Business 09:49 - Shifts in Sourcing Behavior 15:03 - Emerging Markets and Supplier Diversity 19:57 - Community Engagement and Alibaba's Services As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E604: Manufacturing in America vs China - My Honest Take
06/16/2025
E604: Manufacturing in America vs China - My Honest Take
In this episode, Dave explores the differences between manufacturing in China, India and the USA after ordering some products from all three countries. We talk about the good, the bad and the ugly between all three areas and the factors that you should consider if you do choose to move your manufacturing to India or to America. Specifically, we'll dive into the lead times, the cost differences between each country (including tariffs), the quality differences and the other pros and cons we found. Struggling with tariffs? Unsure about upcoming changes? Let’s talk! With Portless, you only pay tariffs after your customers pay you – so your cash always moves faster than your costs. All new customers get $1,000 to reinvest in their business. Now that the tariffs have been somewhat finalized, we can now do a clear and accurate breakdown of the pros and cons of manufacturing in China, India and the US. So for the sake of our audience, Dave ordered products from each country to breakdown the differences in quality, costs, and lead times that you should know about. If you've been considering moving your manufacturing base, then this episode is definitely for you. In a rush? Here's the high-level takeaways: Manufacturing in China currently comes with the caveat of 50%~ tariffs. Lead times in India are basically unpredictable because everything is handmade. Prices in India are generally higher than in China, despite lower tariffs but the quality of products from India is high, especially in textiles and handicrafts. American manufacturing offers lower lead times but comes at 2x the cost of Chinese prices. Finding manufacturers in America can be challenging because of high MOQs and lack of responsiveness. Most manufacturers in America are already selling D2C. A lot of American manufacturers have a lot of requirements to create your product. American manufacturers typically also do not do any additional kitting for free. Online marketplaces for manufacturing are emerging as valuable resources in the US. E-commerce entrepreneurs may need to consider in-house manufacturing as a long-term strategy. The future of manufacturing may involve a mix of domestic and overseas production. Understanding the specific product requirements is crucial when choosing a manufacturing location. Here's some timestamps if you'd like to skip around: 00:00 Manufacturing Landscape: China, India, and America 08:20 The Pros and Cons of Indian Manufacturing 15:21 Navigating American Manufacturing Challenges 22:24 Future of Manufacturing: Trends and Predictions As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E603: The Ultimate 3 Month Product Launch Plan
06/09/2025
E603: The Ultimate 3 Month Product Launch Plan
In this episode, Dave breaks down his personal strategy and process for launching new products on Amazon, detailing a four-stage approach that spans from the first few weeks after launch to ongoing strategies for maintaining sales and optimizing listings. We talk about why its important to have a pricing strategy and an ACOS goal, to have only exact match turned on, and to have reviews as soon as possible. Struggling with tariffs? Unsure about upcoming changes? Let’s talk! With Portless, you only pay tariffs after your customers pay you – so your cash always moves faster than your costs. All new customers get $1,000 to reinvest in their business. Launching a product isn't as crazy as it used to be. Back in the 2010s, you could put up anything on Amazon and it would do huge numbers. But today, its a different story. You have to have enough reviews for your product and a low price to stand out from the competition at the minimum. How do you get this all done? More importantly, what else can I do to guarantee success? Here's the ultimate 3 month launch plan that we incorporate in our businesses for each new product we launch. Takeaways In the first few weeks of launch, price your product 40% lower to attract buyers. Focus on exact targeting for PPC in early stages. Send your products into Amazon Vine to get reviews early. Gradually increase prices; Amazon hates when you increase prices abruptly. Utilize promotions based on how competitive your product category is. Auto campaigns help identify effective keywords that you can eventually add to your manual keywords. Aim for 30+ reviews for basic social proof. Incorporate top keywords into product imagery. If you get a lot of bad reviews, consider relaunching your product. Continuously improve your product based on customer feedback. Timestamps 00:00- The Launch Process Overview 02:22 - Stage One: Weeks One and Two 05:44 - Stage Two: Weeks Three to Six 09:23 - Stage Three: Weeks Seven to Twelve 11:35 - Stage Four: Month Three and Beyond As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E602: BIG Amazon Seller Just Went Public - 5 Takeaways
06/02/2025
E602: BIG Amazon Seller Just Went Public - 5 Takeaways
In this episode, Dave talks about the recent IPO of a major Chinese Amazon seller, SainStore, and explores key insights from their filings. He covers the diverse brand strategies employed by the company (and a lot of other Chinese companies, in fact), the viability of the aggregator model in China, and the company's profitability metrics, inventory management practices, and even their social credit score. Another Amazon seller has gone public... but in China. It seems that the aggregator model has been working well over in the East, but what specifically are they doing to succeed? Here's the 5 takeaways that I learned when looking over this company's IPO fillings. Struggling with tariffs? Unsure about upcoming changes? Let’s talk! With Portless, you only pay tariffs after your customers pay you – so your cash always moves faster than your costs. All new customers get $1,000 to reinvest in their business. The Big Takeaways The aggregator model in China is thriving, with companies creating multiple brands in-house (rather than purchasing companies at 4x and 5x). Profit margins for major Chinese sellers are significantly lower than Western expectations. SainSmart holds about 25% of their revenue in inventory, which could turn out to be a HUGE risk in cash flow. The social credit score in China is a real and impactful metric for businesses. 75% of SainSmart's revenue comes from Amazon, but they also diversify across other channels that you wouldn't expect. The need for sellers to chase off-Amazon sales for better pricing power is ABSOLUTELY crucial. Chinese sellers are adept at utilizing multiple sales channels, including lesser-known marketplaces. The business model for Amazon sellers is evolving towards higher revenue with lower margins. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Chinese Amazon Sellers Going Public 02:12 - Diverse Brand Strategies of Chinese Companies 04:37 - The Aggregator Model in China 06:31 - Profitability and Revenue Insights 08:28 - Inventory Management Strategies 10:52 - Understanding China's Social Credit Score 12:12 - Revenue Channels Beyond Amazon As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E601: Top 10 Sellers on Amazon
05/26/2025
E601: Top 10 Sellers on Amazon
In this episode, Dave dives into the 10 biggest sellers (by revenue) on Amazon, delving into their business models, what types of products they offer, and what small businesses can learn from them. Dave talks about discuss the importance of targeting the right demographic, the competitive landscape of supplements, and the rise of Amazon-native brands like Anchor. Did you know that the top 10 third party amazon sellers combine for over $3 billion a year in sales? And I’ll bet you think they’re making millions selling toilet paper and airpods. But you couldn’t be more wrong. In this episode, Dave deep dives into the 10 biggest sellers on Amazon by revenue — what industry they sell in, what their best selling products are, and how much revenue they generate for Amazon per month. Struggling with tariffs? Unsure about upcoming changes? Let’s talk! With Portless, you only pay tariffs after your customers pay you – so your cash always moves faster than your costs. All new customers get $1,000 to reinvest in their business. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Amazon's Top Sellers 02:44 - Bigger Than Lululemon? 03:50 - The Gardening Giant 05:28 - The Rise of Korean Beauty 07:16 - The Snail Slime Phenomenon 08:46 - Targeting the Right Demographic As A Strategy 10:34 - The Competitive Lighting Market 11:52 - The Supplements Boom: Key Players 13:10 - A Subscription Model Success 15:21 - The Amazon Native Brand Leader As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E600: Mike Left E-Commerce for This - Part 2
05/19/2025
E600: Mike Left E-Commerce for This - Part 2
Mike is back on the podcast to finally reveal what he's been up to in the past year. He shares his journey from e-commerce to going full-time content creation on launching a YouTube channel while also talking about the importance of video content in promoting e-commerce brands and the potential for YouTube as a business opportunity. Struggling with tariffs? Unsure about upcoming changes? Let’s talk! With Portless, you only pay tariffs after your customers pay you – so your cash always moves faster than your costs. All new customers get $1,000 to reinvest in their business. Timestamps 00:00 – The Journey of Mike Jackness 02:32 – Transitioning from E-commerce to New Ventures 04:03 – The Impact of Amazon and Tariffs on E-commerce 12:01 – The Future of E-commerce and Emerging Opportunities As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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E599: Why Mike Left E-Commerce - Part 1
05/12/2025
E599: Why Mike Left E-Commerce - Part 1
If you've been listening to the podcast recently, you must have asked yourself, "where did Mike Jackness go?". Today, he's on the podcast to talk about his journey from running multiple e-commerce brands to transitioning out of the industry. Struggling with tariffs? Unsure about upcoming changes? Let’s talk! With Portless, you only pay tariffs after your customers pay you – so your cash always moves faster than your costs. All new customers get $1,000 to reinvest in their business. Timestamps 00:00 - The Journey of Mike Jackness 02:32 - Transitioning from E-commerce to New Ventures 04:03 - The Impact of Amazon and Tariffs on E-commerce 12:01 - The Future of E-commerce and Emerging Opportunities As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!
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