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!

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! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/37889590

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! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/37802825

E610: Amazon Has Massive Q2 Ecom Growth 08/05/2025

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! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/37482445

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! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/37397300

E607: 5 Product Trends To Watch On Amazon 07/09/2025

E606: Is Bryan Johnson's "Blueprint" Amazon Brand Dying? 06/30/2025

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! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/37112245

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! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/37023505

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! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/36918405

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! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/36816725

E601: Top 10 Sellers on Amazon 05/26/2025

E600: Mike Left E-Commerce for This - Part 2 05/19/2025

E599: Why Mike Left E-Commerce - Part 1 05/12/2025

E598: Amazon Charged You This Much More for Ads in 2025 05/05/2025

E597: 7 Easy Image Optimization Hacks 04/28/2025

E597: 7 Easy Image Optimization Hacks In this episode, Dave shares some easy Amazon image hacks that can help you improve your click-through rates (CTR) and conversion rates. We'll talk about how important it is to show your packaging in your main images, how you can sneak in some keywords without alerting Amazon's ban hammer, and how you can A/B test against your competition. 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. As an Amazon seller, you always have to be ahead of the competition. This means offering a better customer experience overall, but what does that look like in e-commerce? This means better product imagery. Images are the only way for customers to truly know what they're getting and better images often means higher click-through rates and higher conversion rates. How do you get better product images? Here's 7 easy ways you can make your product imagery better than your competition. The Big Takeaways Include a keyword in your main image packaging and add your packaging to your main Amazon image. More items in the main gallery image convey better value. A/B test your product image against competitors using PickFu. Check Amazon brand analytics for the performance of keywords for your product. Regularly update product images to reflect trends. Do not fear Amazon's TOS when it comes to images. Review competitors' images in competitive categories. Sometimes, ugly images perform better than beautiful ones. Continuously refresh your images to avoid looking dated. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Amazon Image Hacks 01:55 - Utilizing Packaging for Keywords 03:48 - Enhancing Product Images for Better Value 05:15 - A/B Testing Against Competitors 06:38 - Leveraging Amazon Brand Analytics 08:33 - Regularly Updating Product Images 09:59 - Pushing the Limits of Amazon's TOS 10:56 - Learning from Competitors' Successes And that's the 7 ways you can improve your images. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below! Thanks for listening and happy selling! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/36337190

E596: 6 E-Commerce Predictions for the Next 3 Years 04/21/2025

E596: 6 E-Commerce Predictions for the Next 3 Years In this episode, Gary Huang is on to discuss 3 potential predictions for the future of e-commerce within the next three years. Gary and I touch on topics like globalization, the impact of AI, and the potential return of aggregators while emphasizing how important it is to start moving manufacturing out of China. 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. Big Takeaways Globalization is shifting towards a model that may exclude China. AI will significantly impact businesses, potentially leading to many closures. Aggregators in e-commerce are predicted to return with a focus on credible brands. New challenges often give way to new opportunity. New marketplaces present opportunities for sellers to expand beyond Amazon US. YouTube has the opportunity to become a major competitor to Amazon in retail. Diversification away from Amazon is crucial for long-term success. The current economic climate creates both challenges and opportunities for e-commerce. AI tools can enhance efficiency but may also threaten traditional business models. Timestamps 00:00 - E-commerce Predictions and Global Sentiment 02:57 - Globalization 2.0: The Future of Manufacturing 05:50 - The Impact of AI on Business Survival 08:59 - The Return of Aggregators in E-commerce 12:09 - New Market Opportunities Amidst Uncertainty 15:02 - YouTube as Amazon's Biggest Competitor 17:57 - The Seven Figure Seller Summit and Future Trends Gary, thanks for joining us on the podcast today. It was great having you on to talk about your upcoming event and some of your predictions for e-commerce in the future! If you're interested in 7 Figure Seller Summit which will be held on April 22 - 24th, you can get your limited time Free Pass by /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/36243745

E595: The Real Cost of Entrepreneurial Success 04/14/2025

E594: 5 Ways to Deal with Tariffs 04/07/2025

E593: How to Develop Products That Piggyback On Popular Brand Names 03/31/2025

E593: How to Develop Products That Piggyback On Popular Brand Names In this episode, Chris Davey discusses his journey in e-commerce, the growth of his networking event at the Canton Fair, and insights into navigating the complexities of sourcing from China. We share our experiences about the safety concerns in China, travel challenges, and the importance of thorough research when attending trade shows. We also talk about the networking opportunities going to China provides for Amazon sellers. We delve into the intricacies of product sourcing and development in the e-commerce space, particularly focusing on the advantages of Chinese manufacturing. We discuss strategies for identifying niche markets, the importance of building strong relationships with suppliers, and the rapid product development process that allows sellers to capitalize on emerging trends. The conversation also highlights the significance of differentiation in a competitive market and the benefits of being a first mover. The Big Takeaway Chris's product sourcing strategy involves developing accessories for popular products. The Canton Fair is divided into three phases, each focusing on different product categories. Networking is a key benefit of attending the Canton Fair. Post-COVID, there are fewer American attendees at the Canton Fair. Visa regulations for entering China can be complex and vary by nationality. Chris emphasizes how important of visiting suppliers' factories in China. Attendees should plan for at least 10 days to fully experience the Canton Fair. Designing accessories around popular products is effective. Predictive keyword popularity can lead to successful products. Niche markets can provide significant opportunities. Building relationships with factories is crucial for success. Rapid product development is key to staying competitive. Differentiation is essential in a crowded market. First-mover advantage can lead to increased sales. Networking events like FBA for You foster community among sellers. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to FBA4U and Chris Davey 01:57 - Chris's Journey to E-commerce and Canton Fair 06:02 - Growth of FBA4U and Networking Opportunities 09:56 - Safety and Visa Concerns in China 15:54 - Canton Fair Insights and Supplier Strategies 23:32 - The Speed of Chinese Manufacturing 24:15 - Innovative Product Sourcing Strategies 27:15 - Niche Markets and Competitive Advantages 30:02 - Building Relationships with Factories 32:10 - Rapid Product Development Process 35:13 - The Importance of CAD in Product Design 39:11 - Differentiation in a Competitive Market 43:24 - Leveraging First-Mover Advantage 44:55 - Managing Minimum Order Quantities 46:51 - Building Strong Supplier Relationships 50:18 - FBA for You: Networking and Community Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/35935430

E592: How to Finally Do Video... Without Dreading It 03/24/2025

E592: How to Finally Do Video... Without Dreading It In this episode, Dave interviews Steve Chou, who shares his journey of growing his YouTube channel from virtually nothing to over 400,000 subscribers in just a 2 to 3 years. We discuss the biggest ways you can make creating video content for e-commerce easier, the importance of SEO, and the differences between short-form and long-form video content. In this episode, Steve emphasizes the significance of watch time in video ranking and shares his strategies to engage audiences effectively. Finally, Steve shares what's in store for the upcoming Seller Summit, happening on May 6th. Need funding for your Canadian Amazon business? Not sure if you should use a Canadian corporation or U.S. LLC to form your company? We'll cover these questions and more in our new course, Start and Grow Your FBA Business as a Canadian. Want to learn more about video from experts, or learn about new strategies for Amazon? Seller Summit covers everything content creation and e-commerce at Fort Lauderdale, Florida this May 6th. The Big Takeaways Starting with reading blog posts out can help ease into video. Joining a YouTube mastermind group was a turning point for Steve. A "hook" in the first 30 seconds are crucial for engagement. Watch time is a key factor in YouTube SEO. Short form videos can attract a wider audience quickly, which could be useful for brand awareness. Your video content should align with audience interests to avoid confusion from the algorithm. "Social selling" is becoming increasingly important for e-commerce. Faceless content creation is possible but requires a personal touch to get a "human" element in your content. Building a subscriber base through contests or giveaways can be effective. Video content takes time to gain traction. Short-form videos can be chopped up from long video content, which contributes to a broader content strategy. Consistency in content creation is key to success. Investing in good audio equipment is the bare minimum for good videos. Thumbnails with very exaggerated facial expressions can increase click-through rates. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 05:07 - Steve's Journey to YouTube Success 10:01 - Content Creation Strategies 14:58 - Short Form vs Long Form Video 19:52 - Building a YouTube Channel for E-commerce 20:45 - Creating Stories with AI 24:20 - Faceless Content Creation in E-commerce 28:10 - Launching a YouTube Channel for E-commerce 30:57 - The Power of Video in E-commerce 32:23 - Essential Equipment for Video Creation 35:20 - Thumbnail Tips for Higher Click-Through Rates 37:09 - Overview of Seller Summit 2025 Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/35836720

E591: Is Etsy The Solution To Amazon? (seriously) 03/17/2025

E591: Is Etsy The Solution To Amazon? (seriously) Tanya Huang shares her entrepreneurial journey, from her experience on Dragon's Den to running a successful ring business. We talk about how customization is another barrier from the competition and how she decided to move on to customized products. We also compare Amazon vs Etsy, and how the two shape up for customized and handmade products. Need funding for your Canadian Amazon business? Not sure if you should use a Canadian corporation or U.S. LLC to form your company? We'll cover these questions and more in our new course, Start and Grow Your FBA Business as a Canadian. The Big Takeaways Customization is a really big consideration to customers and helps your products stand out in e-commerce platforms. Understanding customer needs drives product innovation. Etsy provides valuable insights into market research for customized products. Amazon's interface may not be ideal for customization. Etsy's sales have declined but are still higher than pre-COVID levels. New competitors like Temu are changing the e-commerce landscape, bringing Etsy's market share down. Etsy shoppers seek unique, personalized items over mass-produced products. Customization on Amazon is possible but comes with certain challenges. Etsy's decline may be due to increased competition and changing consumer preferences. Sales dynamics differ significantly between Etsy and Amazon. Etsy requires more attention to customer service and product uniqueness, while Amazon requires quick deliveries and cheaper products. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Tanya Huang and Her Business 02:45 - Experience on Dragon's Den 06:01 - Transitioning to Silicone Rings 07:47 - Customization and Manufacturing in Canada 11:16 - Engraving Process and Challenges 18:10 - Investing in Engraving Technology 21:34 - Market Research for Customization Ideas 24:01 - Exploring Amazon Custom and Handmade 25:42 - Etsy's Decline: Analyzing the Trends 29:09 - The Impact of New Competitors 32:34 - Etsy vs. Amazon: Sales Dynamics 36:30 - Philosophical Insights on Selling Strategies Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/35731825

E590: Amazon Announces Major Fee Increases for AWD 03/10/2025

E590: Amazon Announces Major Fee Increases for AWD Dave breaks down the huge fee increases for the Amazon Warehousing and Distribution program that takes effect on April 1st, 2025. He talks about the changes in warehousing and distribution fees, specifically on how much the fees have increased from previous iterations. Need funding for your Canadian Amazon business? Not sure if you should use a Canadian corporation or U.S. LLC to form your company? We'll cover these questions and more in our on March 12th, 10am PST! Today's episode is sponsored by Maximize your ROI with Autron’s real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) was one of the biggest programs that Amazon introduced in 2022, and pushed a lot of sellers into using AWD by increasing prices on the FBA side of inventory. Back then, it seemed like an attractive alternative because of the low prices despite the shove to get everyone into the program. That is until today where Amazon announced a fee increase to the AWD program in the most confusing way possible. Luckily, Dave is here to break it all down for us and how these fees impact your e-commerce business. Big Takeaways Amazon is increasing fees starting April 1st, 2025. The fee increase is not like previous fee announcements; they've given sellers only three weeks notice. AWD storage fees will increase by 20%. Amazon has changed the name of their "integrated rate" to "smart storage rate". To qualify for the smart storage rate, 70 days of inventory is required. Processing fees will increase from $2.50 to $2.70 per box. Transportation fees will rise from $1.00 to $1.15 per cubic foot. Overall, expect a 15-20% increase in fees. Amazon's tactics make it hard to plan for these increases. Sellers need to increase prices to maintain margins. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Amazon Fee Increases 03:12 - Understanding the New AWD Fees 05:51 - Impact of Storage Fee Changes 09:10 - Processing and Transportation Fee Adjustments 11:03 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/35604115

E589: I Interviewed THE Largest Amazon Seller 03/03/2025

E588: How Steve Churchill Built a Profitable Brand While Working Full Time 02/25/2025

E587: How to Get Free Google Shopping Listings for Amazon Brands 02/17/2025

E587: How to Get Free Google Shopping Listings for Amazon Brands Jeff Oxford is on the podcast today to talk about how you can get free Google Shopping listings as an e-commerce seller. Jeff explains what Google Shopping is, why they're not just paid ads, and how you can achieve better rankings on Google Shopping. We also touch on why diversification away from Amazon is important and the things we have observed in SEO for e-commerce businesses. Today's episode is sponsored by Maximize your ROI with Autron’s real-time algorithmic bidding, optimizing every ad dollar for smarter spending and higher returns. The Big Takeaway Google Shopping is not just about ads; it's a separate search ranking. Amazon dominates Google Shopping listings, holding 50% of the top spots. Domain authority is one of the biggest factors for ranking in Google Shopping. Building backlinks to specific product pages is more effective than general domain authority. Product reviews significantly impact rankings in Google Shopping. Diversifying sales channels beyond Amazon is something worth considering. Recent SEO updates have favored e-commerce sites over content sites, so if you are new to SEO, don't be afraid! E-commerce has seen significant growth, with a 50% increase over five years. Main image and title optimization are critical for product listings. Having keywords in product titles helps with rankings, but correlation is minimal. Lower-priced products tend to rank better in Google Shopping. Premium brands may struggle with SEO due to higher bounce rates. Core updates from Google adjust ranking factors periodically. A good mobile experience is absolutely essential for website ranking. User experience significantly impacts SEO performance. Content on collection pages can enhance SEO effectiveness. Link building remains a key strategy for improving search rankings. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Google Shopping Listings 03:03 - Understanding Google Shopping and Its Importance 06:07 - Getting Started with Google Shopping Listings 09:03 - The Role of Domain Authority in Google Shopping 11:58 - Optimizing Product Pages for Google Shopping 15:05 - The Impact of Product Reviews on Rankings 17:51 - Diversifying Beyond Amazon 21:08 - The Future of E-commerce and SEO Trends 21:33 - E-commerce Growth and Optimization Strategies 30:04 - Understanding Core Updates and Their Impact 35:52 - SEO Best Practices for E-commerce in 2025 As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at . We'd love to help you in any way we can. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/35314370

E586: Amazon Just Revealed Ad & FBA Costs from Q4 2024 02/10/2025

E585: The Winners of EcomCrew’s 2024 Software Poll 02/03/2025

E584: 5 Ways You Should Prepare For Chinese New Year as an E-Commerce Seller 01/27/2025

E584: 5 Ways You Should Prepare For Chinese New Year as an E-Commerce Seller Chinese New Year is coming up in a few days and if you're relatively new to the e-commerce game, there's a few things you should know about the big holiday. Dave is back on the podcast to cover the impact Chinese New Year has on e-commerce sellers and manufacturers, the significance of the Zodiacs, and the common equivalent for those who aren't aware. Let’s be real – email marketing isn’t flashy, but that’s what makes it great. Who needs chaos when you can have steady, reliable results? That’s where Omnisend email and SMS comes in. and use code ECOMCREW. Ever wonder why all of China basically closes down every January for Chinese New Year? You're not alone. Chinese New Year seems like the one time each year that China (and by extension, a lot of the neighbouring asian countries) goes on holiday for a few weeks. As an e-commerce seller, you probably know by now to place your orders well in advance to prepare for the holiday. But there's a few extra things you should know about that could maintain and keep you in the good graces of your factory. Luckily, Dave is on the podcast today to break down what exactly you need to know and The Big Takeaway Chinese New Year is comparable to Christmas in significance. Chinese New Year happens on the second New Moon in the lunar calendar after the Winter's Solstice (December 20th). Zodiac symbols can influence business decisions in China. Quality control tends to take a dip if orders are shipped before Chinese New Year. Suppliers may have varying deadlines for orders before they close for the holiday. Expect delays in shipping and logistics post-New Year as every company that's importing from China will also be placing orders in advance of the holiday. Be considerate to suppliers during the holiday period. Freight prices tend to dip after the New Year rush, as demand declines. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 1:43 - Omnisend Ad 2:17 - What is Chinese New Year? How big is the holiday? 3:28 - The traditions around Chinese New Year 4:28 - When exactly is Chinese New Year? 6:07 - Zodiac symbols and how they can affect business 8:40 - Why is it called the Spring Festival? 9:41 - Tip #1: Deadlines for Chinese New Year orders 11:06 - Tip #2: Days off during Chinese New Years 13:19 - Tip #3: Quality control during Chinese New Year 15:08 - Tip #4: Delays 17:05 - Tip #5: Being considerate As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at . We'd love to help you in any way we can. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/35020610

E583: I Found Where the Biggest Amazon Sellers Operate in China 01/20/2025

E583: I Found Where the Biggest Amazon Sellers Operate in China After visiting a conference recently, a friend of mine told me about a place in where all of the biggest Amazon Sellers (and all the black hat tactics came from) in China congregate: China's New South City. In this episode, Dave talks about his visit to New South City in China, what he found while he was there, and why this place exists. Let’s be real – email marketing isn’t flashy, but that’s what makes it great. Who needs chaos when you can have steady, reliable results? That’s where Omnisend email and SMS comes in. and use code ECOMCREW. Ever heard of China South City? It's where all of the top Chinese Amazon sellers congregate and work together. This is also the place where Chinese black hat Amazon tactics comes from. Dave decides to visit China South City during a recent trip to Asia, and shares what he found, some insider information that he found out about after talking to sellers there, and some of the black hat tactics Chinese sellers are using. The Big Takeaway: China South City is a massive hub of the biggest Chinese Amazon sellers in Shenzhen, China. Chinese sellers are getting subsidies from the government to encourage exports into other countries. Having all sellers within the same area also encourages collaboration and networking among sellers, unlike in the US or the West in general. Chinese sellers inspect a higher percentage of their products more than Western sellers. Many Chinese sellers operate multiple Amazon accounts for security reasons. The 2021 Amazon ban wave had a significant impact on Chinese sellers; reducing China's overall trust in Amazon. Because of the ban wave, Chinese sellers are also diversifying their sales channels beyond Amazon. Temu is starting to become one of the key places for growth among Chinese sellers. Live selling is a major trend in China, with dedicated studios for streaming in each floor. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to China South City 02:53 - The Structure and Purpose of China South City 06:10 - The Community of Amazon Sellers 09:00 - Operational Strategies of Chinese Sellers 11:52 - Challenges Faced by Chinese Sellers 14:45 - The Impact of Amazon's Account Suspension Sweep 18:05 - Tactics and Strategies of Chinese Sellers 20:57 - Diversification Beyond Amazon 23:47 - The Rise of Live Selling in China 27:12 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at if you're interested. Don’t forget to leave us a if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at . We'd love to help you in any way we can. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling! /episode/index/show/ecomcrew/id/34921975

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